8-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

February 23, 2023

 

 

Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39247   81-1523849
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 

(Commission

File Number)

  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

6200 Lookout Road

Boulder, CO

  80301
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(720) 647-8519

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Imara Inc.

1309 Beacon Street, Suite 300, Office 341

Brookline, MA 02446

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.001 per share   ELVN   The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As a result of the Merger (as defined in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K), the following agreements of Enliven Inc. (formerly Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.) (“Former Enliven”) effectively became the agreements of Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Imara Inc.) (the “Company”).

CVR Agreement

On February 23, 2023 prior to the effective time of the Merger, the Company entered into a Contingent Value Rights Agreement (the “CVR Agreement”) with a rights agent (the “Rights Agent”), pursuant to which the Company’s pre-Merger common stockholders received one contingent value right (each, a “CVR”) for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock held by such stockholder on such date. Each CVR represents the contractual right to receive payments upon the occurrence of certain events related to the Company’s sale of tovinontrine (IMR-687) and all other assets of the Company related to its PDE9 program to Cardurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Cardurion”) pursuant to the Company’s Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of September 6, 2022 with Cardurion, or a potential sale or license involving IMR-261, in each case as set forth in, and subject to the permitted deductions set forth in, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, the CVR Agreement.

The contingent payments under the CVR Agreement, if they become payable, will become payable to the Rights Agent for subsequent distribution to the holders of the CVRs. In the event that no such proceeds are received, or the permitted deductions under the CVR Agreement are greater than any such proceeds, holders of the CVRs will not receive any payment pursuant to the CVR Agreement. There can be no assurance that holders of CVRs will receive any amounts with respect thereto. The right to the contingent payments contemplated by the CVR Agreement is a contractual right only and will not be transferable, except in the limited circumstances specified in the CVR Agreement. The CVRs will not be evidenced by a certificate or any other instrument and will not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The CVRs will not have any voting or dividend rights and will not represent any equity or ownership interest in the Company or any of its affiliates. No interest will accrue on any amounts payable in respect of the CVRs. No adjustment will be made to the Company’s options in connection with the issuance of the CVR.

The foregoing description of the CVR Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of CVR Agreement, which is included hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Contingent Value Rights

On February 23, 2023, prior to the effective time of the Merger, the Company declared a dividend to its common stockholders of record of the right to receive one CVR for each outstanding share of Company common stock held by such stockholder as of such date, each representing the right to receive contingent payments upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in, and subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, the CVR Agreement. The record date for such dividend was February 22, 2023, the close of business on the last business day prior to the day on which the effective time of the Merger occurred and the payment date for which shall be three business days after the effective time of the Merger. In connection with such dividend, the Company caused the CVR Agreement to be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Rights Agent. 

Agreements with Directors and Executive Officers

To the extent required by Item 1.01 of Form 8-K, the information contained in Item 5.02 is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On February 23, 2023, the Company completed its business combination with Former Enliven in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 13, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Former Enliven and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Iguana Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, among other matters, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, Merger Sub merged


with and into Former Enliven, with Former Enliven surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and the surviving corporation of the merger (the “Merger”). As previously reported, on February 22, 2023, the Company implemented an increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock from 200,000,000 to 400,000,000 (the “Share Increase”). Effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 23, 2023, the Company effected a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of its common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”) and implemented a reduction in the number of authorized shares of common stock to 100,000,000 (the “Common Stock Reduction”); effective at 5:01 p.m. Eastern Time, the Company completed the Merger; and effective at 5:02 p.m. Eastern Time, the Company changed its name to “Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.” (the “Name Change”). Following the completion of the Merger, the business conducted by the Company became primarily the business conducted by Former Enliven, which is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule inhibitors to help patients with cancer. Unless noted otherwise, all references to share and per share amounts in this Current Report on Form 8-K reflect the Reverse Stock Split.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, each share of Former Enliven’s preferred stock was converted into a share of Former Enliven’s common stock. At the effective time of the Merger, the Company issued an aggregate of approximately 34,426,351 shares of its common stock to Former Enliven stockholders, based on an exchange ratio of approximately 0.2951 shares of Company common stock for each share of Former Enliven capital stock, including those shares of Former Enliven common stock issued upon conversion of Former Enliven’s preferred stock and those shares of Former Enliven common stock issued in the Former Enliven pre-closing financing transaction which closed on February 23, 2023, prior to the closing of the Merger (the “Former Enliven pre-closing financing”), (but excluding shares to be canceled pursuant to the Merger Agreement and excluding dissenting shares), resulting in approximately 41.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock being issued and outstanding immediately following the effective time of the Merger. Immediately following the Merger, Company securityholders as of immediately prior to the Merger owned approximately 16% of the outstanding shares of the Company on a fully diluted basis and Former Enliven securityholders, including those who purchased shares in the Former Enliven pre-closing financing, owned approximately 84% of the outstanding shares of the Company on a fully diluted basis.

David Bonita, M.D., a former director of the Company, is a member of OrbiMed Advisors LLC, which is referred to collectively, together with its affiliates and affiliated investment entities (including OrbiMed Private Investments VII, L.P., OrbiMed Genesis Master Fund, L.P. and The Biotech Growth Trust PLC) as OrbiMed. OrbiMed was a stockholder of Former Enliven and is a stockholder of the Company. OrbiMed Private Investments VII, L.P. and OrbiMed Genesis Master Fund, L.P. received proceeds as a result of the Merger akin to other stockholders of Former Enliven. Dr. Bonita served as a representative of OrbiMed on the Company’s board of directors (“Board”) prior to the Merger. OrbiMed participated in the Enliven pre-closing financing, which closed immediately prior to the closing of the Merger. Rishi Gupta, a director of Former Enliven who is affiliated with OrbiMed, was appointed to the Company’s Board in connection with the Merger.

In connection with the Merger, each stock option granted under Former Enliven’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Former Enliven 2019 Plan”), that was outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger was assumed by the Company and became an option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Former Enliven stock option immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, a number of shares of Company common stock equal to the number of shares of Former Enliven common stock subject to the unexercised portion of the Former Enliven stock option immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, multiplied by the exchange ratio (rounded down to the nearest whole share number), with an exercise price per share for the options equal to the exercise price per share of such Former Enliven stock option immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger divided by the exchange ratio (rounded up to the nearest whole cent). Such assumed options continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the Former Enliven 2019 Plan. Upon the closing of the Merger, the Company assumed the Former Enliven 2019 Plan.

As previously disclosed, at the special meeting of the Company’s stockholders held on February 22, 2023 (the “Special Meeting”), the Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Amended and Restated 2020 Plan”). The Amended and Restated 2020 Plan is intended to best


position the Company to implement effective, market-competitive equity compensation awards following the Merger. The Company’s stockholders approved the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, prior to the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split, to (i) subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, or similar changes in capitalization, increase the number of shares of Company common stock reserved for issuance under the plan to 17,100,000 shares, (ii) provide for an annual increase, to be added on the first day of each fiscal year during the term of the plan, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2024, of 4.5% of the number of shares of Company common stock outstanding on the first day of such fiscal year or a lesser number of shares determined by the Company’s Board, (iii) provide that up to 17,100,000 shares of Company common stock may be granted as “incentive stock options” under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, (iv) extend the term of the plan to the tenth anniversary of the closing date of the Merger and (v) revise certain provisions of the plan relating to the Board’s ability to delegate authority to make awards under the plan. A description of the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan is included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the SEC on January 9, 2023 (File No. 333-268300) (the “Registration Statement”) in the section titled “Proposal No. 4—Approval of the Imara Inc. Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan” which is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan does not reflect the Reverse Stock Split, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, the related form of stock option agreement under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan and the related form of restricted stock unit agreement under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, which are included hereto as Exhibits 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

As previously disclosed, at the Special Meeting of the Company’s stockholders held on February 22, 2023, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2020 ESPP”). A description of the 2020 ESPP is included in the Registration Statement in the section titled “Proposal No. 5—Approval of an Amendment to the Imara Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the Imara 2020 ESPP, to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Imara 2020 ESPP to 1,628,535 shares” which is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the amendment to the 2020 ESPP does not reflect the Reverse Stock Split, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the amendment to the 2020 ESPP, which is included hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and incorporated herein by reference.

The issuance of the shares of the Company’s common stock issued to the stockholders of Former Enliven, other than shares of the Company’s common stock issued in exchange for shares of Former Enliven common stock sold in the Former Enliven pre-closing financing, was registered with the SEC on the Company’s Registration Statement.

The shares of the Company’s common stock listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, previously trading through the close of business on February 23, 2023 under the ticker symbol “IMRA,” commenced trading on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, on a post-Reverse Stock Split adjusted basis, under the ticker symbol “ELVN,” on February 24, 2023. The Company’s common stock is represented by a new CUSIP number, 29337E102.

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 on the Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on October 13, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference. 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

At the Special Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the restated certificate of incorporation of the Company (the “Stock Split Amendment”) to effect the Reverse Stock Split and the Common Stock Reduction. On February 23, 2023, the Company filed the Stock Split Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the Reverse Stock Split effective as of 5:00 p.m. on February 23, 2023. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the number of issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split was reduced to a smaller number of shares, such that every 4 shares of the Company’s common stock held by a stockholder immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split, including shares of the Company’s common stock issued to Former Enliven stockholders in connection with the Merger, were combined and reclassified into one share of the Company’s common stock. The number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock was also proportionately adjusted from 400,000,000 to 100,000,000 in connection with the Common Stock Reduction. Immediately following the Reverse Stock Split and the effectiveness of the Merger, there were approximately 41.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding.


No fractional shares were issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Any fractional shares resulting from the Reverse Stock Split were rounded down to the nearest whole number, and each stockholder who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of common stock upon the Reverse Stock Split (after aggregating all fractions of a share to which such stockholder would otherwise be entitled) is entitled to receive a proportional cash payment in lieu thereof.

On February 23, 2023, the Company filed a certificate of amendment (the “Name Change Amendment”) to the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to change the name of the Company to “Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.” effective as of 5:02 p.m. on February 23, 2023.

The foregoing descriptions of the Stock Split Amendment and the Name Change Amendment are not complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Stock Split Amendment and the Name Change Amendment, copies of which are included hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) served as the independent registered accounting firm of the Company prior to the completion of the Merger. On February 23, 2023, following the completion of the Merger, EY was informed that the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) approved EY’s dismissal as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately.

The reports of EY on the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and subsequent period from January 1, 2023 to February 23, 2023, there were (i) no disagreements as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K with EY on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its report and (ii) no “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The Company has furnished to EY the statements made in this Item 4.01. Included as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K is EY’s letter to the SEC, dated March 1, 2023, regarding these statements.

Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) served as the independent registered public accounting firm of Former Enliven prior to the completion of the Merger. On February 23, 2023, following the completion of the Merger, the Audit Committee approved the appointment of Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately.

Item 5.01. Changes in Control of Registrant.

To the extent required by Item 5.01 of Form 8-K, the information contained in Item 2.01 and Item 5.02 is incorporated by reference herein.


Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b)

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on February 23, 2023, immediately prior to and effective upon the closing of the Merger, David M. Mott, David Bonita, M.D., Mark Chin, Edward Conner, M.D., Carl Goldfischer, M.D., Barbara J. Dalton, Ph.D, and Laura Williams, M.D., MPH, resigned from the Board and committees of the Board on which they respectively served, which resignations were not the result of any disagreements with the Company relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

On February 23, 2023, immediately prior to and effective upon the closing of the Merger, Rahul D. Ballal, Ph.D., resigned from his position as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Michael P. Gray resigned from his position as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. The resignations of Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray were not the result of any disagreements with the Company relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

The Company entered into letter agreements with Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray in connection with their respective initial hirings (the “Letter Agreements”). As subsequently amended, the Letter Agreements provide that upon a termination of Dr. Ballal’s or Mr. Gray’s employment under certain circumstances, he is entitled to receive certain severance payments and benefits, as well as full acceleration of vesting on all outstanding options and restricted stock units as of the date of such termination. As previously disclosed, on May 5, 2022, the Company entered into retention agreements with Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray. The Company amended and restated the retention agreement with Mr. Gray on May 18, 2022 and further amended the retention agreements with each of Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray on September 6, 2022 (the “Retention Agreements”). Pursuant to the Retention Agreements, since Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray were employed by the Company on the date of the closing of the Merger, the exercise period for the outstanding stock options held by Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share was modified so that the date that each applicable option may be exercised was extended to the earlier of (a) eighteen months following his respective cessation of employment from the Company and (b) the final exercise date for each such applicable stock option. In the case of Dr. Ballal, the applicable exercise period will be the later of 18 months following his cessation of employment from the Company or the exercise period that would otherwise apply following his termination of service as a director (but in either case not beyond the final exercise date for each such applicable stock option).

On February 23, 2023, the Company entered into separation agreements with Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray in connection with the closing. The Company paid Dr. Ballal the gross amount of $1,225,500, representing (i) 18 months of salary at Dr. Ballal’s then-current base rate of pay (less $12,000 in accordance with Dr. Ballal’s Letter Agreement) and (ii) 150% of Dr. Ballal’s then-current target bonus, in each case less lawful taxes, deductions and withholdings, in a lump sum. The Company shall also reimburse Dr. Ballal’s premiums under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) on a monthly basis until the earlier of (i) 18 months following February 23, 2023, or (ii) the date upon which Dr. Ballal commences full time employment (or employment that provides him with eligibility for healthcare benefits substantially comparable to those provided by the Company or its affiliates) with an entity other than the Company or its affiliate. Under his separation agreement, Dr. Ballal waived acceleration of vesting of any outstanding and unvested stock options, but his outstanding equity awards will otherwise continue to vest pursuant to their terms, subject to his continued service as a member of the Company’s board of directors.

The Company paid Mr. Gray the gross amount of $672,980, representing (i) 12 months of salary at Mr. Gray’s then-current base rate of pay and (ii) 100% of Mr. Gray’s then-current target bonus, in each case less lawful taxes, deductions and withholdings, in a lump sum. The Company shall also reimburse Mr. Gray’s premiums under COBRA on a monthly basis until the earlier of (i) 18 months following February 23, 2023, or (ii) the date upon which Mr. Gray commences full time employment (or employment that provides him with eligibility for healthcare benefits substantially comparable to those provided by the Company or its affiliates) with an entity other than the Company or its affiliate.

The separation agreements also contain a general release of claims against the Company except those relating to (i) the officer’s “accrued benefits” as defined in the officer’s applicable Letter Agreement, (ii) benefits and/or the right to seek benefits under the applicable workers’ compensation and/or unemployment compensation statutes, (iii) claims that cannot be waived by signing the applicable separation agreement, (iv) claims under the applicable separation agreement and (v) the officer’s right to indemnification and defense under any insurance policy or otherwise due to the officer’s role at the Company and (vi) the officer’s rights as a shareholder. The separation agreements also contain certain covenants, including non-disparagement and confidentiality obligations.


The above descriptions of the separation agreements do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the copies of the applicable separation agreements of Dr. Ballal and Mr. Gray included as Exhibits 10.6 and 10.7, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference.

(c)

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on February 23, 2023, the Board appointed Sam Kintz, M.B.A, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Benjamin Hohl as Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

Sam Kintz, M.B.A., age 37, is one of Former Enliven’s co-founders and has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors since June 2019, and was appointed as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of directors of the Company in connection with the closing of the Merger. Prior to joining Former Enliven, Mr. Kintz served as Executive Director, Head of Research at AbbVie Stemcentrx LLC, a subsidiary of AbbVie Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from October 2016 to June 2019. He served as Senior Director, Strategy and Business Development at Stemcentrx, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company, from February 2016 to October 2016 until it was acquired by AbbVie. He has also worked as a medicinal chemist at Genentech, where he designed and synthesized small-molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer. Mr. Kintz holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Benjamin Hohl, age 34, has served as Former Enliven’s Chief Financial Officer since August 2021 and was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company in connection with the closing of the Merger. Mr. Hohl joined Former Enliven from the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Goldman Sachs & Co LLC, an investment bank and financial services company, where he worked as an investment banker for nearly a decade advising on and executing biopharmaceutical and life sciences financing and strategic transactions from July 2012 to July 2021. He holds a B.A. in Business Economics and Accounting from the University of California, Los Angeles.

There are no family relationships between Messrs. Kintz and Hohl and any director or executive officer of the Company, and Messrs. Kintz and Hohl do not have a direct or indirect material interest in any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Confirmatory Employment Letters

In connection with and effective as of the closing of the Merger, on February 23, 2023, the Company entered into a confirmatory employment letter with Messrs. Kintz and Hohl and Dr. Helen Collins, who was appointed as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer in connection with the Merger. Each confirmatory employment letter provides for at-will employment and no specific term.

Pursuant to the applicable confirmatory employment letter, Mr. Kintz’s annual base salary was increased from $400,000 to $550,000, and he will be eligible to receive an annual target cash incentive payment of up to 50% of his annual base salary, Dr. Collins’ annual base salary was increased from $400,000 to $465,000, and she will be eligible to receive an annual target cash incentive payment of up to 40% of her annual base salary, and Mr. Hohl’s annual base salary was increased from $350,000 to $410,000, and he will be eligible to receive an annual target cash incentive payment of up to 40% of his annual base salary.

Each of Messrs. Kintz and Hohl and Dr. Collins will be eligible to receive certain severance benefits upon certain involuntary terminations pursuant to a change in control and severance agreement entered into with us, as described in more detail below.

The above descriptions of the confirmatory employment letters do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the copies of the applicable confirmatory employment related agreements of Mr. Kintz, Dr. Collins and Mr. Hohl included as Exhibits 10.8, 10.9 and 10.10, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference.


Change in Control and Severance Agreements

The Board has approved and the Company’s executive officers and other key employees have entered into change in control and severance agreements, in connection with and effective as of the closing of the Merger on February 23, 2023.

Pursuant to the change in control and severance agreements, if, within the 3 month period prior to or the 12 month period following a “change in control” (as defined in the applicable agreement), the Company terminates the employment of the applicable executive without “cause ” (excluding death or disability) or such executive resigns for “good reason” (as defined in the applicable agreement) and within 60 days of such termination the executive executes and does not revoke a separation agreement and release of claims, such executive will be entitled to receive (i) a lump sum payment equal to the sum of 12 months (or 18 months with respect to Mr. Kintz) of such executive’s then current annual base salary and 100% (or 150% with respect to Mr. Kintz) of the executive’s annual target bonus, less applicable withholdings, (ii) payment of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to COBRA for such executive and such executive’s respective eligible dependents for up to 12 months (or 18 months with respect to Mr. Kintz) and (iii) vesting acceleration as to 100% of the then-unvested shares subject to each of such executive’s then outstanding equity awards (and in the case of awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions, such performance-based vesting conditions will be deemed achieved at target, unless otherwise specified in the applicable award agreement governing such award).

Pursuant to the change in control and severance agreements, if, outside of the 3 month period prior to or the 12 month period following a “change in control” (as defined in the applicable agreement), the Company terminates the employment of the applicable executive without “cause” (excluding death or disability) or such executive resigns for “good reason” (as defined in the applicable agreement) and within 60 days of such termination the executive executes and does not revoke a separation agreement and release of claims, such executive will be entitled to receive (i) continuing payments of his or her then current annual base salary for a period of 9 months (or 12 months with respect to Mr. Kintz), and (ii) payment of premiums to maintain group health insurance continuation benefits pursuant to COBRA for such executive and such executive’s respective eligible dependents for up to 9 months (or up to 12 months with respect to Mr. Kintz).

Pursuant to the change in control and severance agreements, in the event any payment to the applicable executive would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”) (as a result of a payment being classified as a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code), such executive will receive such payment as would entitle such executive to receive the greatest after-tax benefit, even if it means that the Company pays such executive a lower aggregate payment so as to minimize or eliminate the potential excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.

The above descriptions of the change in control and severance agreements for Mr. Kintz, Dr. Collins and Mr. Hohl do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the copies of the applicable change and control and severance agreements included as Exhibits 10.11, 10.12 and 10.13, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Post-Closing Executive Equity Awards

The Company expects that the Board will grant new equity awards covering shares of common stock of the Company to its executive officers and certain other key employees, with the size and terms of such equity awards to be based on the recommendations of AON / Radford, the independent compensation consultant of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). These new equity awards are expected to consist of stock options under the Amended and Restated 2020 Plan, and a standard form of option agreement thereunder. Each new equity award will generally vest over four years following the date of grant, subject to the recipient’s continued service to the Company. The Company expects that Mr. Kintz, Dr. Collins and Mr. Hohl will each receive new stock options covering approximately 1.1%, 0.5% and 0.5%, respectively, of the Company’s outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis.


(d)

Board Members

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as of the effective time of the Merger, the size of the Board was fixed at nine members consisting of one member designated by the Company, Dr. Ballal, and all eight members of the board of directors of Former Enliven, namely Sam Kintz, M.B.A., Joseph Lyssikatos, Ph.D., Jake Bauer, Mika Derynck, M.D., Rishi Gupta, J.D., Richard Heyman, Ph.D., Andrew Phillips, Ph.D., and Andrew Schwab. Except for the agreements and plans described in this Item 5.02 and the transactions which were described in the Company’s Form S-4/A which was filed with the SEC on January 9, 2023 under the section “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of the Combined Company - Enliven Transactions”, there are no family relationships between any of the directors of the Board which were appointed on February 23, 2023 and any director or executive officer of the Company, and such directors do not have a direct or indirect material interest in any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Board Classes

Following the Merger, the classes of the Board are as follows:

 

   

Class I directors, whose terms expire at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of stockholders: Dr. Derynck, Mr. Gupta and Dr. Lyssikatos;

 

   

Class II directors, whose terms expire at the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders: Dr. Ballal, Mr. Bauer and Dr. Phillips; and

 

   

Class III directors, whose terms expire at the Company’s 2023 annual meeting of stockholders: Dr. Heyman, Mr. Kintz and Mr. Schwab.

Dr. Heyman was appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Board.

Committee Composition

Mr. Bauer, Dr. Phillips and Mr. Schwab were appointed to the Audit Committee of the Board, and Mr. Bauer was appointed the chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Gupta, Mr. Bauer and Dr. Heyman were appointed to the Compensation Committee of the Board, and Mr. Gupta was appointed the chair of the Compensation Committee. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Derynck were appointed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”), and Dr. Phillips was appointed the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Outside Director Compensation Policy

The Board approved an outside director compensation policy for non-employee directors of the Board, in connection with and effective as of the closing of the Merger on February 23, 2023 (the “Director Compensation Policy”).

Under the Director Compensation Policy, each non-employee director receives the cash and equity compensation for board services described below. The Company also reimburses non-employee directors for reasonable, customary, and documented travel expenses to Board or committee meetings.

The Director Compensation Policy includes a maximum annual limit of $750,000 of cash retainers or fees and the Value (as defined below) of equity awards that may be paid, issued, or granted to a non-employee director in any fiscal year, increased to $1,000,000 in the first year an individual becomes a non-employee director. Any cash compensation paid, or equity awards granted to a person for their services as an employee, or for their services as a consultant (other than as a non-employee director), or prior to the effective date of the non-employee Director Compensation Policy will not count for purposes of the limitation. The maximum limit does not reflect the intended size of any potential compensation or equity awards to the Company’s non-employee directors.


Cash compensation

Non-employee directors are entitled to receive the following cash compensation for their services under the Director Compensation Policy:

 

   

$35,000 per year for service as a Board member;

 

   

$15,000 per year for service as chair of the Audit Committee;

 

   

$7,500 per year for service as a member of the Audit Committee;

 

   

$10,000 per year for service as chair of the Compensation Committee;

 

   

$5,000 per year for service as a member of the Compensation Committee;

 

   

$8,000 per year for service as chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; and

 

   

$4,000 per year for service as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Each non-employee director who serves as the chair of a committee will receive the annual fee for service as a Board member and only the additional annual cash fee as the chair of the committee, and not the annual fee as a member of the committee. All cash payments to outside directors are paid quarterly in arrears on a pro-rated basis.

Equity Compensation

Merger Award: Each individual who is a non-employee director as of the effective date of the Director Compensation Policy will receive, on the first trading date on or after closing of the Merger, an award (a “Merger Award”) of stock options to purchase a number of shares of common stock of the Company having a Value (as defined below) of $500,000 (provided that the Merger Award granted to the outside director who serves as the non-executive chair of the Board (the “Chair”) will have a Value of $625,000), with any resulting fraction rounded down to the nearest whole share; provided that the number of shares subject to a Merger Award will not exceed 64,923 (81,153 with respect to the Chair), with such limit subject to equitable adjustment by the Board in the event of certain capitalization adjustments. Each Merger Award will vest in equal monthly installments over a 36 month period, in each case subject to the non-employee director continuing to be a non-employee director through the applicable vesting date.

Initial Award: Each individual who first becomes a non-employee director after closing of the Merger and who does not receive a Merger Award will receive, on the first trading date on or after the date on which the person first becomes a non-employee director (the “Initial Start Date”), an award (an “Initial Award”) of stock options to purchase a number of shares of common stock of the Company having a Value (as defined below) of $500,000, with any resulting fraction rounded down to the nearest whole share; provided that the number of shares subject to an Initial Award will not exceed 64,923, with such limit subject to equitable adjustment by the Board in the event of certain capitalization adjustments. Each Initial Award will vest in equal monthly installments over a 36 month period, in each case subject to the non-employee director continuing to be a non-employee director through the applicable vesting date. If the individual was a member of the Board and also an employee, becoming a non-employee director due to termination of employment will not entitle them to Initial Awards.

Annual Award: Each non-employee director automatically will receive, on the first trading day immediately following each annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders which occurs in the year following the effective date of the Director Compensation Policy, an annual award (an “Annual Award”) of stock options to purchase a number of shares of common stock of the Company having a Value (as defined below) of $250,000 (provided that an Annual Award granted to the Chair will have a Value of $312,500), with any resulting fraction rounded down to the nearest whole share; provided that the first Annual Award granted to an individual who first becomes a non-employee director following the effective date of the Director Compensation Policy will have a Value (as defined below) equal to the product of (A) $250,000 multiplied by (B) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the number of fully completed months between the applicable Initial Start Date and the date of the first annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders to occur after such individual first becomes a non-employee director, and (ii) the denominator of which is 12; and provided further that the number of shares subject to an Annual Award will not exceed 32,461 (40,576 with respect to the Chair), with such limit subject to equitable adjustment by the Board in the event of certain capitalization adjustments and automatic pro rata adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Director


Compensation Policy with respect to the first Annual Award granted to an individual who first becomes a non-employee director following the effective date of the Director Compensation Policy. Each Annual Award will vest in full on the first anniversary of the date on which the Annual Award is granted, in each case subject to the non-employee director continuing to be a non-employee director through the applicable vesting date.

For purposes of the Director Compensation Policy, “Value” means grant date fair value as determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), or such other methodology the Board or any designated committee of the Board, as applicable, may determine prior to the grant of the applicable equity award becoming effective.

In the event of a “change in control” (as defined in the Director Compensation Policy), each non-employee director will fully vest in their outstanding Company equity awards issued under the Director Compensation Policy, including any Merger Award, Initial Award or Annual Award, immediately prior to the consummation of the change in control provided that the non-employee director continues to be a non-employee director through such date.

The above description of the Director Compensation Policy does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the Director Compensation Policy included as Exhibit 10.14 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Consulting Agreement with Dr. Heyman

Former Enliven entered into a consulting agreement with Dr. Heyman, who also serves on the Company’s scientific advisory board. Pursuant to the consulting agreement with Dr. Heyman, he provides advisory services related to research and development strategy, regulatory and commercial positioning as well as business strategy. These services are provided in a largely informal manner, from time to time as requested by Former Enliven. The consulting agreement contains customary confidentiality, invention assignment, non-solicitation and other customary provisions. The consulting agreement terminates upon the earlier of: (i) final completion of Dr. Heyman’s services; (ii) fourteen days prior written notice by Former Enliven or (iii) termination by Former Enliven without notice if Dr. Heyman refuses to or is unable to provide services or is otherwise in breach of any material provisions of such consulting agreement. In addition, Former Enliven agreed to reimburse reasonable expenses incurred in connection with providing consulting services. The foregoing description of the consulting agreement with Dr. Heyman is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the consulting agreement, which is included hereto as Exhibit 10.15 and incorporated herein by reference.

Indemnification Agreements

In connection with the Merger, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors, executive officers, and certain key consultants on February 23, 2023. The Company’s indemnification agreement with Dr. Ballal replaced and superseded the Company’s previous indemnification agreement with him. Each indemnification agreement provides for indemnification and advancements by the Company of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or other proceedings arising from each individual’s service to the Company to the fullest extent not prohibited by law. The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of indemnification agreement, which is included hereto as Exhibit 10.16 and incorporated herein by reference.

(e)

Assumed Equity Awards

The Company assumed, effective as of the closing of the Merger, the Former Enliven 2019 Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.17 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference including the related forms of stock option agreement, stock option agreement with early exercise and restricted stock purchase agreement, as well as the outstanding awards granted thereunder, the award agreements evidencing the grants of such awards and the remaining shares available under the Former Enliven 2019 Plan, including any awards granted to the Company’s named executive officers, in each case subject to applicable adjustments in the manner set forth in the Merger Agreement to such awards.


(f)

Employee Incentive Compensation Plan

The Board approved an employee incentive compensation plan (the “Master Bonus Plan”) in connection with and effective as of the closing of the Merger on February 23, 2023.

The Board or a committee appointed by the Board will administer the Master Bonus Plan, provided that unless and until the Board determines otherwise, the Company’s Compensation Committee will administer the Master Bonus Plan. The Master Bonus Plan allows the administrator to provide awards to employees selected for participation, who may include certain of the Company’s named executive officers, which awards may be based upon performance goals established by the administrator. The administrator may establish a target award for each participant under the Master Bonus Plan, which may be expressed as a percentage of the participant’s average annual base salary for the applicable performance period, a fixed dollar amount, or such other amount or based on such other formula as the administrator determines to be appropriate.

Under the Master Bonus Plan, the administrator determines the performance goals, if any, applicable to any target award (or portion thereof) for a performance period, which may include, without limitation, goals related to: (i) research and development, (ii) regulatory milestones or regulatory-related goals, (iii) gross margin, (iv) financial milestones, (v) new product or business development (including geographical expansion) or sales, marketing or other commercial matters, (vi) operating margin, (vii) product release timelines or other product release milestones, (viii) publications, (ix) cash flow, (x) procurement, (xi) savings, (xii) internal structure, (xiii) leadership development, (xiv) project, function or portfolio-specific milestones, (xv) license or research collaboration agreements, (xvi) capital raising, (xvii) patent filings and (xviii) individual objectives such as peer reviews or other subjective or objective criteria. As determined by the administrator, the performance goals may be based on GAAP or non-GAAP results and any actual results may be adjusted by the administrator for one-time items or unbudgeted or unexpected items and/or payments of awards under the Master Bonus Plan when determining whether the performance goals have been met. The performance goals may be based on any factors the administrator determines relevant, including without limitation on an individual, divisional, portfolio, project, business unit, segment or company-wide basis. Any criteria used may be measured on such basis as the administrator determines, including without limitation: (a) in absolute terms, (b) in combination with another performance goal or goals (for example, but not by way of limitation, as a ratio or matrix), (c) in relative terms (including, but not limited to, results for other periods, passage of time and/or against another company or companies or an index or indices), (d) on a per-share basis, (e) against the Company’s performance as a whole or a segment and/or (f) on a pre-tax or after-tax basis. The performance goals may differ from participant to participant and from award to award. Failure to meet the applicable performance goals will result in a failure to earn the target award, subject to the administrator’s discretion to modify an award. The administrator also may determine that a target award (or portion thereof) will not have a performance goal associated with it but instead will be granted (if at all) as determined by the administrator.

The administrator may, in its sole discretion and at any time, increase, reduce or eliminate a participant’s actual award, and/or increase, reduce or eliminate the amount allocated to the bonus pool for a particular performance period. The actual award may be below, at or above a participant’s target award, in the administrator’s discretion. The administrator may determine the amount of any increase, reduction or elimination on the basis of such factors as it deems relevant, and it is not required to establish any allocation or weighting with respect to the factors it considers.

Actual awards under the Master Bonus Plan generally will be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum only after they are earned and approved by the administrator, provided that the administrator reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to settle an actual award with a grant of an equity award with such terms and conditions, including vesting requirements, as determined by the administrator in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise determined by the administrator, to earn an actual award, a participant must be employed by the Company (or an affiliate of the Company, as applicable) through the date the bonus is paid. Payment of bonuses occurs as soon as administratively practicable after the end of the applicable performance period, but in no case after the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month of the fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year in which the bonuses vest and (ii) March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the bonuses vest.


Awards under the Company’s Master Bonus Plan will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company adopts pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable laws. In addition, the administrator may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions with respect to an award under the Master Bonus Plan as the administrator determines necessary or appropriate, including without limitation a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired cash, stock or other property provided with respect to an award.

The administrator has the authority to amend or terminate the Master Bonus Plan. However, such action may not materially alter or materially impair the existing rights of any participant with respect to any earned bonus without the participant’s consent. The Master Bonus Plan will remain in effect until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Master Bonus Plan.

The above description of the Master Bonus Plan does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the Master Bonus Plan included as Exhibit 10.18 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

To the extent required by Item 5.03 of Form 8-K, the information contained in Item 2.01 and Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

In connection with the Merger, the Board adopted a new Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) on February 23, 2023. The Code of Conduct superseded the Company’s existing code of business conduct and ethics previously adopted by the Board (the “Pre-Merger Code”). The Code of Conduct applies to all directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants and agents of the Company.

The Code of Conduct is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote fair and accurate financial reporting; compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations including, without limitation, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents the Company files with, or submits to, the SEC and in the Company’s other public communications; the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Conduct as set forth in the Code of Conduct; honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest; and a culture of honesty and accountability.

The newly adopted Code of Conduct did not result in any explicit or implicit waiver of any provision of the Pre-Merger Code. The foregoing description of the Code of Conduct does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Code of Conduct, a copy of which is included hereto as Exhibit 14.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On February 23, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing, among other things, the closing of the Merger. A copy of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

The Company’s Risk Factors, the Company’s Business Section and the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Former Enliven as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and as of September 30, 2022 and for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are filed herewith and included hereto as Exhibits 99.2, 99.3, and 99.4 respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired

The audited financial statements of Former Enliven as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the years then ended are filed herewith as Exhibit 99.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. The audited financial statements of Former Enliven as of December 31, 2022 as required by Item 9.01(a) will be filed in an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

The unaudited condensed interim financial statements of Former Enliven as of September 30, 2022 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are filed herewith as Exhibit 99.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

The unaudited pro forma financial information for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the nine months ended September 30, 2022 are filed herewith as Exhibit 99.7 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. The pro forma financial information for the year ended December 31, 2022 as required by Item 9.01(b) will be filed in an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.


(d) Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

         

Incorporated by Reference (if applicable)

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

  

Form

  

File

Number

    

Exhibit
Number

    

Filing

Date

  

Filed
Herewith

3.1    Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated February 23, 2023                X
3.2    Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.1*    Contingent Value Rights Agreement between the Company and Rights Agent                X
10.2+    Amended and Restated 2020 Plan                X
10.3+    Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan    S-1      333-236465        10.5      February 14, 2020   
10.4+    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan    10-K      001-39247        10.7      March 15, 2022   
10.5+    Amendment to the Company’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan                X
10.6    Rahul Ballal Separation Agreement, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.7    Michael Gray Separation Agreement, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.8+*    Sam Kintz Confirmatory Employment Letter, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.9+*    Helen Collins Confirmatory Employment Letter, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.10+*    Benjamin Hohl Confirmatory Employment Letter, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.11+    Sam Kintz Change in Control and Severance Agreement, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.12+    Helen Collins Change in Control and Severance Agreement, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.13+    Benjamin Hohl Change in Control and Severance Agreement, dated February 23, 2023                X
10.14+    Outside Director Compensation Policy                X
10.15+#*    Consulting Agreement between Richard Heyman and Former Enliven    S-4/A      333-268300        10.5      January 9, 2023   
10.16+    Form of Indemnification Agreement of the Company               
10.17+    Enliven 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, including forms of agreements thereunder    S-4      333-268300        10.2      November 10, 2022   
10.18+    Employee Incentive Compensation Plan                X
14.1    Code of Business Conduct and Ethics                X
16.1    Letter dated March 1, 2023 from Ernst & Young to the Securities and Exchange Commission                X
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP                X
99.1    Press release issued on February 23, 2023                X
99.2    Risk Factors of Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Imara Inc.)                X
99.3    Business Section of Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Imara Inc.)                X


99.4    Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022                X
99.5    Audited financial statements of Enliven Inc. (formerly Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020                X
99.6    Unaudited condensed financial statements of Enliven Inc. (formerly Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.) as of the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021                X
99.7    Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information for the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022                X
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)               

 

+

Management contract or compensatory plan.

#

Certain exhibits or schedules to this exhibit have been omitted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Company agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request.

*

Portions of this exhibit have been redacted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(6).


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.

 

    Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.
Date: March 1, 2023     By:  

/s/ Samuel Kintz

    Name:   Samuel Kintz
    Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

IMARA INC.

Imara Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”), does hereby certify as follows:

 

  1.

The name of the Corporation is Imara Inc.

 

  2.

Article FOURTH of the Restated Certificate of the Corporation is hereby amended by replacing the first paragraph thereof with the following:

“FOURTH: Effective upon the effectiveness of this Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), each four shares of the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issued and outstanding or held by the Corporation in treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be reclassified and combined into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of outstanding Common Stock or treasury share, as applicable, automatically and without any action by the holder thereof upon the Effective Time and shall represent one share of Common Stock from and after the Effective Time (such reclassification and combination of shares, the “Reverse Stock Split”). The par value of the Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split shall remain at $0.001 par value per share. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split and, in lieu thereof, upon surrender after the Effective Time of a certificate or a book-entry position which formerly represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, any person who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, following the Effective Time, shall be entitled to receive a cash payment (without interest) equal to the fraction of a share of Common Stock to which such holder would otherwise be entitled multiplied by the average (after taking into account the exact ratio of the Reverse Stock Split determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation) of the high and low trading prices of the Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market during regular trading hours for the five trading days immediately preceding the Effective Time.

Each stock certificate or book entry position that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent that number of whole shares of Common Stock after the Effective Time into which the shares formerly represented by such certificate or book entry position have been reclassified (as well as the right to receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock after the Effective Time); provided, however, that each person of record holding a


certificate or book entry position that represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall receive, upon surrender of such certificate or book entry position, a new certificate or book entry position evidencing and representing the number of whole shares of Common Stock after the Effective Time into which the shares of Common Stock formerly represented by such certificate or book entry position shall have been reclassified.

The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 110,000,000 shares, consisting of

 

  (i)

100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) and

 

  (ii)

10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”).”

 

  3.

This Certificate of Amendment has been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law.

 

  4.

This Certificate of Amendment shall be effective as of 5:00 P.M. on February 23, 2023.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused its duly authorized officer to execute this Certificate of Amendment on this 23rd day of February, 2023.

 

IMARA INC.
By:  

/s/ Rahul D. Ballal

Name:   Rahul D. Ballal
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF IMARA INC.

(Pursuant to Section 242 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

Imara Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”),

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

 

  1.

A resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law proposing this Amendment of the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and declaring the advisability of this Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:

RESOLVED, that Article I of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, be and hereby is deleted in its entirety and the following is inserted in lieu thereof:

“The name of the Corporation is Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.”

 

  2.

This Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be effective as of 5:02 p.m. Eastern Time as of February 23, 2023.

[Remainder of page intentionally blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its President and Chief Executive Officer this 23rd day of February, 2023.

 

/s/ Rahul D. Ballal, Ph.D

Rahul D. Ballal, Ph.D
President and Chief Executive Officer
EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

[***] Portions of this exhibit have been redacted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(6)

EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

IMARA INC.

and

COMPUTERSHARE INC. AND COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., COLLECTIVELY, AS RIGHTS AGENT

Dated as of February 23, 2023


FORM OF

CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 23, 2023 is entered into by and among Imara Inc. a Delaware corporation (“Public Company”), and Computershare, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its affiliate Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (collectively, the “Rights Agent”).

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS, Public Company, Iguana Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Public Company (“Merger Sub”), and Enliven Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Partner”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 13, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, Merger Sub will merge with and into Merger Partner (the “Merger”), with Merger Partner surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Public Company (the “Surviving Corporation”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, Public Company has agreed to provide to the Holders (as defined herein), who shall initially be Persons who are stockholders of Public Company as of the close of business on the last Business Day prior to the day on which the Effective Time occurs, contingent value rights as hereinafter described, by way of a dividend or distribution consistent with the Merger Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties have done all things necessary to make the contingent value rights, when issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement and hereunder, the valid obligations of Public Company and to make this Agreement a valid and binding agreement of Public Company, in accordance with its terms.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the consummation of the transactions referred to above, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1    Definitions.

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. The following terms have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

Acting Holders” means, at the time of determination, Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding CVRs as set forth on the CVR Register.

Asset Purchase Agreement” means the certain Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Public Company and Cardurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated as of September 6, 2022.

Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5

Calendar Quarter” means the successive period of three (3) consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31, in each case, during the CVR Period.

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

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CVR” means a contingent contractual right of Holders to receive CVR Payments pursuant to this Agreement.

CVR Payment” means the CVR Proceeds for a given payment.

CVR Period” means the period beginning immediately following the Effective Time and ending on the fifteenth anniversary of the Closing Date.

CVR Proceeds” means the amount of Gross Proceeds received by Public Company, less the applicable accrued but unsatisfied and reasonably documented Permitted Deductions, in each case as calculated in accordance with GAAP using the policies, methodologies, processes and procedures used to prepare Public Company’s then most recent year-end financial statements.

CVR Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

Gross Proceeds” means a cash milestone payment or any other cash payment actually paid to Public Company during the CVR Period (a) pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement or (b) pursuant to any Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement) that was entered into in compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

Holder” means, at the relevant time, a Person in whose name CVRs are registered in the CVR Register.

Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(f).

Majority of Holders” means, at any time, the registered Holder or Holders of more than 50% of the total number of CVRs registered at such time, as set forth on the CVR Register.

Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Public Company, in their respective official capacities.

Permitted Deductions” means the following, without duplication:

(a)    any applicable Taxes (including any applicable value added or sales taxes) imposed on the Gross Proceeds and payable by Public Company or any of its Affiliates and any income or other Taxes payable by Public Company or any of its Affiliates that would not have been incurred by Public Company or its Affiliates for the taxable year of receipt or accrual of the Gross Proceeds but for the Gross Proceeds having been received or accrued by Public Company or its Affiliates; provided that, for purposes of calculating income Taxes incurred by Public Company and its Affiliates with respect to Gross Proceeds, any such income Taxes shall be computed (i) after taking into account any net operating loss carryforwards or other Tax attributes (including Tax credits) actually available to Public Company or its Affiliates (owned prior to the Merger) (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, the Surviving Corporation) as of the Closing Date, (A) to the maximum extent permitted by law to offset such Gross Proceeds after taking into account any limits on the usability of such attributes, including under Section 382 or other applicable provisions of the Code or similar state, local, or other Tax laws, and (B) as reasonably determined by a nationally recognized tax advisor, and (ii) assuming for this purpose that the only items of gross income of Public Company and its Affiliates after the Closing Date are the Gross Proceeds (and that the Gross Proceeds are includable in the income of Public Company or any of its Affiliates no later than the taxable year that includes the corresponding CVR Payment and taxable at the highest U.S. federal, state, local or other income Tax rate applicable to the Public Company and its Affiliates for such year);

 

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(b)    any Loss (as defined below) incurred, suffered, sustained, or paid by Public Company or any of its Affiliates arising out of, related to, or in connection with this Agreement (other than as a result of Public Company’s failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or as a result of Public Company’s negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the performance of this Agreement, occurring after the Effective Time), the Asset Purchase Agreement, any Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, including (i) in respect of its performance of this Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreement, or any Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement, and (ii) any indemnification obligations set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement or any Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement; and

(c)    any Liabilities that should have been, but were not, deducted from Public Company Net Cash pursuant to parts (1) through (4) of clause (B) of such definition, but only if the aggregate amount of such Liabilities exceeds three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars ($375,000) (such amount, the “Threshold”), and once such amount exceeds the Threshold, the entire amount of such Liabilities shall be counted in the deduction pursuant to this clause (c), including all those amounts that comprised any portion of the Threshold.

Permitted Transfer” means a Transfer of one or more CVRs (i) upon death of a Holder by will or intestacy; (ii) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the CVRs are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustee; (iii) made pursuant to a court order of a court of competent jurisdiction (such as in connection with divorce, bankruptcy or liquidation); (iv) if the Holder is a partnership or limited liability company, a distribution by the transferring partnership or limited liability company to its partners or members, as applicable (v) made by operation of law (including a consolidation or merger) or without consideration in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity; (vi) in the case of CVRs payable to a nominee, from a nominee to a beneficial owner (and, if applicable, through an intermediary) or from such nominee to another nominee for the same beneficial owner, in each case as permitted by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”); (vii) to Public Company or its Affiliates; or (viii) as provided in Section 2.6.

Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, firm, corporation, unincorporated association or organization, trust or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such Person.

Rights Agent” means the Rights Agent named in the first paragraph of this Agreement, until a successor Rights Agent shall have been appointed pursuant to Article 3 of this Agreement, and thereafter “Rights Agent” will mean such successor Rights Agent.

Transfer” means transfer, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition (whether by sale, merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, dividend, distribution or otherwise), the offer to make such a transfer or other disposition, and each contract, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, to effect any of the foregoing.

ARTICLE 2

CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS

Section 2.1    Holders of CVRs; Appointment of Rights Agent.

(a)    The CVRs shall be issued and distributed by Public Company in the form of a dividend, in connection with the Merger, to the Persons who, as of the close of business on the last Business Day prior to the day on which the Effective Time occurs, are stockholders of Public Company.

(b)    Public Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as rights agent for Public Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions (and no implied terms and conditions) set forth in this Agreement, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment.

 

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Section 2.2    Non-transferable.

A Holder may not at any time Transfer CVRs, other than pursuant to a Permitted Transfer. Any attempted Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer, in whole or in part, will be void ab initio and of no effect. The CVRs will not be listed on any quotation system or traded on any securities exchange.

Section 2.3    No Certificate; Registration; Registration of Transfer; Change of Address.

(a)    Holders’ rights and obligations in respect of CVRs derive solely from this Agreement; CVRs will not be evidenced by a certificate or other instrument.

(b)    The Rights Agent will maintain a register (the “CVR Register”) for the purposes of (i) identifying the Holders of CVRs and (ii) registering the CVRs and Permitted Transfers thereof. The CVR Register will initially show one position for the Rights Agent representing all of the CVRs provided to the holders of shares of Public Company Common Stock held immediately prior to Closing.

(c)    Subject to the restriction on transferability set forth in Section 2.2, every request made to Transfer CVRs must be in writing and accompanied by a written instrument of Transfer reasonably acceptable to the Rights Agent, together with the signature guarantee of a guarantor institution which is a participant in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association (a “Signature Guarantee”) and other requested documentation in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent, duly executed and properly completed, by the Holder or Holders thereof, or by the duly appointed legal representative, personal representative or survivor of such Holder or Holders, setting forth in reasonable detail the circumstances relating to the Transfer. Upon receipt of such written notice, the Rights Agent will, subject to its reasonable determination in accordance with its own internal procedures, ascertain that the Transfer instrument is in proper form and the Transfer on its face is a Permitted Transfer and otherwise complies on its face with the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, register the Transfer of the applicable CVRs in the CVR Register. All Transfers of CVRs registered in the CVR Register will be the valid obligations of Public Company, evidencing the same right, and entitling the transferee to the same benefits and rights under this Agreement, as those held by the transferor. No transfer of CVRs shall be valid until registered in the CVR Register and any transfer not duly registered in the CVR Register shall be void. Public Company and the Rights Agent shall not be responsible for any costs and expenses related to any transfer or assignment of the CVRs (including the cost of any transfer tax).

(d)    A Holder may make a written request to the Rights Agent to change such Holder’s address of record in the CVR Register. Such written request must be duly executed by such Holder. Upon receipt of such written notice, the Rights Agent shall promptly record the change of address in the CVR Register.

Section 2.4    Payment Procedures.

(a)    On the later of the date that is (i) fifteen (15) months following the Closing (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement), and (ii) forty-five (45) days following the end of any Calendar Quarter in which Gross Proceeds are actually received by the Public Company (each a “Payment Deadline”), Public Company shall (i) deliver to the Rights Agent, a certificate (each, a “CVR Certificate”) certifying to and specifying in reasonable detail the aggregate amount of (A) the Gross Proceeds received by Public Company or its Affiliates during such Calendar Quarter (or such earlier period, as applicable); (B) the CVR Proceeds for such Calendar Quarter (or such earlier period, as applicable), including the Permitted Deductions reflected in such CVR Proceeds; and (C) the CVR Payment payable to Holders, if any, in respect of such CVR Proceeds, and (ii) deliver to the Rights Agent, or as the Rights Agent directs, the aggregate CVR Payment (if any) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Rights Agent. Upon receipt of the wire transfer referred to in the foregoing sentence, the Rights Agent shall promptly (and in any event, within ten (10) Business Days) pay, by check mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the address of each Holder set forth in the CVR Register at such time or by other method of delivery as specified by the applicable Holder in writing to the Rights Agent, an amount equal to the product

 

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determined by multiplying (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the applicable CVR Payment by (B) the total number of CVRs registered in the CVR Register at such time, by (ii) the number of CVRs registered to such Holder in the CVR Register at such time. For the avoidance of doubt, Public Company shall have no further liability in respect of the relevant CVR Payment (or the applicable Gross Proceeds or CVR Proceeds) upon delivery of such CVR Payment in accordance with this Section 2.4(a) and the satisfaction of each of Public Company’s obligations set forth in this Section 2.4(a). The Rights Agent shall have no liability with respect to any invalidity of this Agreement or the CVR Certificates (except as to the Rights Agent’s countersignature, by either manual or facsimile signature, thereon). The Rights Agent shall have no obligation under this Agreement to calculate, the CVR Payments due to Holders, nor shall the Rights Agent have any duty or obligation to investigate or confirm whether the Company’s determination of the CVR Payments due to Holders is accurate or correct.

(b)    For U.S. federal income and other applicable Tax purposes, the parties hereto agree to treat (i) the issuance of the CVRs as a distribution of property (and not debt or equity of Public Company) by Public Company to the stockholders of Public Company governed by Section 301 of the Code and (ii) the amount of any CVR Payment as a contractual payment pursuant to the rights afforded by this Agreement to the Holder and not as a distribution by the Public Company in respect of Public Company stock (collectively, the “Intended Tax Treatment”). Consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, Public Company will send, or cause to be sent, IRS Forms 1099-DIV to all Holders notifying them of the portion of the CVR value that is a nondividend distribution (or a dividend to the extent of Public Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits) for U.S. federal income Tax purposes. The parties hereto will not take any position contrary to the Intended Tax Treatment on any Tax Return or for other Tax purposes, except as may be required by a change in applicable Law or pursuant to a final “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code, in each case, after the date hereof. Public Company will independently retain and pay for the services of a third-party valuation firm to determine the fair market value of the CVRs and Public Company will utilize such fair market value for purposes of all Tax reporting (including on IRS Forms 1099-DIV) with respect to the CVRs.

(c)    Public Company and the Rights Agent will be entitled to deduct and withhold, or cause to be deducted and withheld, from any CVR Payment otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of applicable Law relating to Taxes. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld and timely and properly remitted to the applicable taxing authority, such deducted and withheld amounts will be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Holder in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Prior to making any such Tax deductions or withholdings or causing any such Tax deductions or withholdings to be made with respect to any Holder, the Rights Agent will, to the extent reasonably practicable, provide notice to the Holder of such potential Tax deduction or withholding and a reasonable opportunity for the Holder to provide any necessary Tax forms, including an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 or appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable, in order to avoid or reduce such withholding amounts; provided that the time period for payment of a CVR Payment by the Rights Agent set forth in Section 2.4(a) will be extended by a period equal to any delay caused by the Holder providing such forms, provided, further, that in no event shall such period be extended for more than ten (10) Business Days, unless otherwise requested by the Holder for the purpose of delivering such forms and agreed to by the Rights Agent.

(d)    Any portion of a CVR Payment that remains undistributed to the Holders at such time as such portion could be properly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat, or similar applicable Law (including by means of invalid addresses on the CVR Register) will be delivered by the Rights Agent to Public Company or a person nominated in writing by Public Company (with written notice thereof from Public Company to the Rights Agent), who shall be permitted to permanently retain such amounts and each of the applicable Holders will thereafter irrevocably forfeit any rights to such amounts. The Rights Agent shall have no liability for the CVR Payments described in this Section 2.4(d).

(e)    All funds (if any) received by the Rights Agent under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by the Rights Agent in the performance of services hereunder (the “Funds”) shall be held by

 

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the Rights Agent as agent for Public Company and deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by the Rights Agent in its name as agent for Public Company. Until paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Rights Agent will hold the Funds through such accounts in: deposit accounts of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.). The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit made by the Rights Agent in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank or financial institution or other Person. The Rights Agent may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits. The Rights Agent shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to Public Company, any Holder or any other Person.

Section 2.5    No Voting, Dividends or Interest.

(a)    CVRs will not have any voting or dividend rights, and interest will not accrue on any amounts payable in respect of CVRs.

(b)    CVRs will not represent any equity or ownership interest in Public Company or any of its Affiliates (including in the Surviving Corporation). The sole right of the Holders to receive property hereunder is the right to receive CVR Payments, if any, in accordance with the terms hereof. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that a CVR shall not constitute a security of Public Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of the Surviving Corporation.

(c)    By voting in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, the approval of the principal terms of the Merger, and the consummation of the Merger and receiving the benefits thereof, including the receipt of CVRs in connection therewith and any consideration payable in connection with the CVRs, each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that the CVRs and the possibility of any payment hereunder with respect thereto are highly speculative and subject to numerous factors outside of Public Company’s control, and there is no assurance that Holders will receive any payments under this Agreement or in connection with the CVRs. Each Holder acknowledges that it is highly possible that there will not be any Gross Proceeds that may be the subject of a CVR Payment. It is further acknowledged and agreed that neither Public Company nor its Affiliates owe, by virtue of their obligations under this Agreement, a fiduciary duty or any implied duties to the Holders and the parties hereto intend solely the express provisions of this Agreement to govern their contractual relationship with respect to the CVRs. It is acknowledged and agreed that this Section 2.5(c) is an essential and material term of this Agreement.

Section 2.6    Ability to Abandon CVR.

A Holder may at any time, at such Holder’s option, abandon all of such Holder’s remaining rights represented by CVRs by transferring such CVR to Public Company or a person nominated in writing by Public Company (with written notice thereof from Public Company to the Rights Agent) without consideration or compensation therefor, and such rights will be cancelled, with the Rights Agent being promptly notified in writing by Public Company of such transfer and cancellation. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prohibit Public Company or its Affiliates from offering to acquire or acquiring CVRs, in private transactions or otherwise, for consideration in its sole discretion.

Section 2.7    No Obligations of Public Company.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and for the avoidance of doubt, (A) Public Company and its Affiliates shall have the power and right to control all aspects of their businesses and operations (and all of their assets and products), and subject to its compliance with the terms of this Agreement, Public Company and its Affiliates may exercise or refrain from exercising such power and right as it may deem appropriate and in the best overall interests of Public Company and its Affiliates and its and their stockholders, rather than the interest of the Holders (except that Public Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to collect amounts actually due and

 

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payable under the Asset Purchase Agreement or any Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement), (B) none of Public Company or any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to own, operate, use, sell, transfer, convey, license, develop, commercialize or otherwise exploit in any particular manner any of their business or operations (or any of their assets or products) or to negotiate or enter into any agreement, including any Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement, including in order to obtain, maximize or expedite the receipt of any Gross Proceeds or minimize Permitted Deductions, and (C) none of Public Company or any of its Affiliates (or any directors, officer, employee, or other representative of the foregoing) owes any fiduciary duty or similar duty to any Holder in respect of the CVR’s. Public Company shall not amend the Asset Purchase Agreement or any Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement in a manner adverse to the Holders without the consent of the Majority of Holders.

ARTICLE 3

THE RIGHTS AGENT

Section 3.1    Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a)    The Rights Agent will not have any liability for any actions taken or not taken in connection with this Agreement, except to the extent such liability arises as a result of the fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of the Rights Agent (in each case as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any liability of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by Public Company to the Rights Agent during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Rights Agent is being sought, except in the case of fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of the Rights Agent. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damages of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damages, and regardless of the form of action.

(b)    The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any Holder with respect to any action or default by any person or entity, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon Public Company or the Surviving Corporation. The Rights Agent may (but shall not be required to) enforce all rights of action under this Agreement and any related claim, action, suit, audit, investigation or proceeding instituted by the Rights Agent may be brought in its name as the Rights Agent and any recovery in connection therewith will be for the proportionate benefit of all the Holders, as their respective rights or interests may appear on the CVR Register.

Section 3.2    Certain Rights of Rights Agent.

(a)    The Rights Agent undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.

(b)    The Rights Agent may rely and will be protected and held harmless by Public Company in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order or other paper or document reasonably believed by it in the absence of bad faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by or on behalf of Public Company.

(c)    The Rights Agent may engage and consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel will, in the absence of fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence (in each case, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) on the part of the Rights Agent, be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or not taken by the Rights Agent in reliance thereon.

 

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(d)    Any permissive rights of the Rights Agent hereunder will not be construed as a duty.

(e)    The Rights Agent will not be required to give any note or surety in respect of the execution of its powers or otherwise under this Agreement.

(f)    Public Company agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold the Rights Agent harmless from and against, any claim, loss, liability, damage, deficiency, tax (other than income, receipt, franchise or similar taxes), judgment, award, settlement, fine, penalty, interest, fee, cost, or expense, including fees, costs, or expenses of attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, brokers, finders, consultants, and other professionals (each, a “Loss”) suffered or incurred by the Rights Agent and arising out of, related to, or in connection with the Rights Agent’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including the reasonable and documented costs and expenses of defending the Rights Agent against any claims, charges, demands, actions or suits arising out of, related to, or in connection with the execution, acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly, or enforcing its rights hereunder, except to the extent such Loss has been determined by a final non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from any fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of the Rights Agent.

(g)    In addition to the indemnification provided under Section 3.2(g), Public Company agrees (i) to pay the fees of the Rights Agent in connection with the Rights Agent’s performance of its obligations hereunder, as agreed upon in writing by the Rights Agent and Public Company on or prior to the date of this Agreement, and (ii) to reimburse the Rights Agent for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder, including all taxes (other than income, receipt, franchise or similar taxes) and governmental charges, incurred by the Rights Agent in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

(h)    No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(i)    The Rights Agent will not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive notice hereunder but has not received written notice of such event, and the Rights Agent will not incur any liability for failing to take action in connection therewith, in each case, unless and until it has received such notice in writing, subject to the liability limitations set forth herein.

(j)    The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorney or agents and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorney or agents or for any loss to Public Company, the Surviving Corporation or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in the selection and continued employment thereof.

(k)    Public Company shall perform, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

(l)    The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, and all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by Public Company only.

 

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(m)    The Rights Agent shall act hereunder solely as agent for Public Company and shall not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust with any of the owners or holders of the CVRs. The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any Holders with respect to any action or default by Public Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon Public Company.

(n)    The Rights Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon (a) any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing; or (b) any Law or any interpretation of the same even though such Law may thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or repealed.

(o)    The Rights Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of Public Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable Law.

(p)    The obligations of Public Company and the rights of the Rights Agent under this Section 3.2Section 3.1 and Section 2.4 shall survive the expiration of the CVRs and the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent.

Section 3.3    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a)    The Rights Agent may resign at any time by written notice to Public Company. Any such resignation notice shall specify the date on which such resignation will take effect (which shall be at least thirty (30) days following the date that such resignation notice is delivered), and such resignation will be effective on the earlier of (x) the date so specified and (y) the appointment of a successor Rights Agent.

(b)    Public Company will have the right to remove the Rights Agent at any time by written notice to the Rights Agent, specifying the date on which such removal will take effect. Such notice will be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the date so specified (or, if earlier, the appointment of the successor Rights Agent).

(c)    If the Rights Agent resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting, Public Company will promptly appoint a qualified successor Rights Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Public Company fails to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent, then the incumbent Rights Agent or the Acting Holders may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. The successor Rights Agent so appointed will, upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with this Section 3.3(c) and Section 3.4, become the Rights Agent for all purposes hereunder.

(d)    Public Company will give notice to the Holders of each resignation or removal of the Rights Agent and each appointment of a successor Rights Agent in accordance with Section 7.2. Each notice will include the name and address of the successor Rights Agent. If Public Company fails to send such notice within ten (10) Business Days after acceptance of appointment by a successor Rights Agent, the successor Rights Agent will cause the notice to be transmitted at the expense of Public Company. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 3.3, however, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

(e)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.3, unless consented to in writing by the Acting Holders, Public Company will not appoint as a successor Rights Agent any Person that is not a stock transfer agent of national reputation or the corporate trust department of a commercial bank.

 

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(f)    The Rights Agent will reasonably cooperate with Public Company and any successor Rights Agent in connection with the transition of the duties and responsibilities of the Rights Agent to the successor Rights Agent, including the transfer of all relevant data, including the CVR Register, to the successor Rights Agent, but such predecessor Rights Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing.

Section 3.4    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

Every successor Rights Agent appointed hereunder will, at or prior to such appointment, execute, acknowledge and deliver to Public Company and to the resigning or removed Rights Agent an instrument accepting such appointment and a counterpart of this Agreement, and such successor Rights Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, will become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the Rights Agent; provided that upon the request of Public Company or the successor Rights Agent, such resigning or removed Rights Agent will execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Rights Agent all the rights (except for rights that survive the predecessor Rights Agent’s removal, resignation or replacement), powers and trusts of such resigning or removed Rights Agent.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.1    List of Holders.

Public Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Rights Agent, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Rights Agent, the names and addresses of the initial Holders within fifteen (15) Business Days following the Closing Date.

Section 4.2    Books and Records. Until the end of the CVR Period, Public Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, keep true, complete and accurate records in sufficient detail to support the applicable CVR Payments payable hereunder (including the calculation of the Permitted Deductions) in accordance with the terms specified in this Agreement.

Section 4.3    Audits. Subject to reasonable advance written notice from the Acting Holders and prior execution and delivery by it and an independent accounting firm of national reputation chosen by the Acting Holders (the “Accountant”) of a reasonable and customary confidentiality/nonuse agreement, which confidentiality/nonuse agreement shall not prohibit the Acting Holders from communicating any such information with the Holders who have a need to know such information, provided that any such recipients are subject to confidentiality obligations with respect thereto, Public Company shall permit the Acting Holders and the Accountant, acting as agent of the Acting Holders, to have access during normal business hours to the books and records of Public Company as may be reasonably necessary to audit the calculation of any CVR Payment and the Permitted Deductions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Public Company be required to provide any Tax returns or any other Tax information it deems confidential to the Acting Holders or any other party pursuant to this Agreement.

ARTICLE 5

AMENDMENTS

Section 5.1    Amendments Without Consent of Holders.

(a)    Public Company, at any time and from time to time, may (without the consent of any Person, other than the Rights Agent) enter into one or more amendments to this Agreement for any of the following purposes, without the consent of any of the Holders,

 

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(i)    to evidence the appointment of another Person as a successor Rights Agent and the assumption by any successor Rights Agent of the covenants and obligations of the Rights Agent herein in accordance with the provisions hereof;

(ii)    subject to Section 6.1, to evidence the succession of another person to Public Company and the assumption of any such successor of the covenants of Public Company outlined herein in a transaction contemplated by Section 6.1;

(iii)    as Public Company may reasonably determine to be necessary or appropriate to ensure that CVRs are not subject to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations made thereunder, or any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws;

(iv)    as Public Company may reasonably determine to be necessary or appropriate to ensure that Public Company is not required to produce a prospectus or an admission document in order to comply with applicable Law;

(v)    to cancel CVRs (i) in the event that any Holder has abandoned its rights in accordance with Section 2.6, or (ii) following a transfer of such CVRs to Public Company or its Affiliates in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3;

(vi)    as Public Company may reasonably determine to be necessary or appropriate to ensure that Public Company complies with applicable Law; or

(vii)    as Public Company may reasonably determine to facilitate the administration or performance of obligations under this Agreement and does not adversely affect the Holders.

(b) Promptly after the execution by Public Company of any amendment pursuant to this Section 5.1, Public Company will (or will cause the Rights Agent to) notify the Holders in general terms of the substance of such amendment in accordance with Section 7.2.

Section 5.2    Amendments with Consent of Holders.

(a)    In addition to any amendments to this Agreement that may be made by Public Company without the consent of any Holder pursuant to Section 5.1, with the consent of the Majority of Holders, Public Company and the Rights Agent may enter into one or more amendments to this Agreement for the purpose of adding, eliminating or amending any provisions of this Agreement, even if such addition, elimination or amendment is adverse to the interests of the Holders.

(b)    Promptly after the execution by Public Company and the Rights Agent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, Public Company will (or will cause the Rights Agent to) notify the Holders in general terms of the substance of such amendment in accordance with Section 7.2.

Section 5.3    Effect of Amendments.

Upon the execution of any amendment under this Article 5, this Agreement will be modified in accordance therewith, such amendment will form a part of this Agreement for all purposes and every Holder will be bound thereby. Upon the delivery of a certificate from the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, or any other such officers of Public Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 5, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not be required to execute any supplement or amendment to this Agreement that it has determined would adversely affect its own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement. No supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Rights Agent.

 

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ARTICLE 6

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 6.1    Public Company May Not Consolidate, Etc. Public Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or transfer all or substantially all of its business to any Person, unless:

(a)    the Person formed by such consolidation or into which Public Company is merged, the Person that acquires the properties and assets of Public Company substantially as an entirety or the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the Public Company substantially as an entirety (the “Surviving Person”) shall assume payment of amounts on all CVRs and the performance of every duty and covenant of this Agreement on the part of Public Company to be performed or observed; and

(b)    Public Company has delivered to the Rights Agent an Officer’s Certificate, stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease complies with this Article 6 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Section 6.2    Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation of or merger by Public Company with or into any other Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 6.1, the Surviving Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, and shall assume all of the obligations of Public Company under this Agreement with the same effect as if the Surviving Person had been named as Public Company herein.

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1    Notices to Rights Agent and to Public Company.

All notices, requests and other communications (each, a “Notice”) to any party hereunder shall be in writing. Such Notice shall be deemed given (a) on the date of delivery, if delivered in person, by Fedex or other internationally recognized overnight courier service or, (except with respect to any Person other than the Rights Agent), by e-mail (upon confirmation of receipt) prior to 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party or on the next Business Day, if delivered after 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party or (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch, if delivered by FedEx or by other internationally recognized overnight courier service (upon proof of delivery), addressed as follows:

if to the Rights Agent, to:

Computershare Inc.

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

150 Royall Street

Canton, MA 02021

Attention: Client Services

Facsimile: (781) 575-4210

 

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if to Public Company, to:

Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

6200 Lookout Road

Boulder, CO 80301

Email: [***]

with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

Attention: Tony Jeffries

or to such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto.

Section 7.2    Notice to Holders.

All Notices required to be given to the Holders will be given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder at such Holder’s address as set forth in the CVR Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the sending of such Notice, if any, and will be deemed given on the date of mailing. In any case where notice to the Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such Notice, nor any defect in any Notice so mailed, to any particular Holder will affect the sufficiency of such Notice with respect to other Holders.

Section 7.3    Entire Agreement.

As between Public Company and the Rights Agent, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, notwithstanding the reference to any other agreement herein, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

Section 7.4    Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.

Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the stock transfer or other shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 3.3. The purchase of the Rights Agent’s assets employed in the performance of transfer agent activities shall be deemed a merger or consolidation for purposes of this Section 7.4.

Section 7.5    Successors and Assigns.

This Agreement will be binding upon, and will be enforceable by and inure solely to the benefit of, the Holders, Public Company and the Rights Agent and their respective successors and assigns. Except for assignments pursuant to Section 7.4, the Rights Agent may not assign this Agreement without Public Company’s prior written consent. Public Company or an Assignee may not otherwise assign this Agreement without the prior consent of the Majority of Holders. Any attempted assignment of this Agreement in violation of this Section 7.5 will be void ab initio and of no effect.

Section 7.6    Benefits of Agreement; Action by Acting Holders.

Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, will give to any Person (other than Public Company, the Rights Agent, the Holders and their respective permitted successors and assigns hereunder) any benefit or any legal

 

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or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of Public Company, the Rights Agent, the Holders and their permitted successors and assigns. The Holders will have no rights hereunder except as are expressly set forth herein. Except for the rights of the Rights Agent set forth herein, the Acting Holders and/or Acting Holders, in accordance with this agreement and as the case may be, will have the sole right, on behalf of all Holders, by virtue of or under any provision of this Agreement, to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity with respect to this Agreement, and no individual Holder or other group of Holders will be entitled to exercise such rights.

Section 7.7    Governing Law.

This Agreement and the CVRs all matters, claims, counterclaims, or causes of action (whether in contract, tort, statute, or otherwise) arising out of, related to, or in connection with this Agreement or the CVRs or the transactions contemplated hereby (including its interpretation, construction, performance and enforcement), or the actions of any party in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement of this Agreement (collectively, “Relevant Matters”) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdictions other than those of the State of Delaware.

Section 7.8    Jurisdiction.

Each of the parties to this Agreement (and by accepting the CVRs the Holders), (a) consents to submit itself to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, New Castle County, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, a state or federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware in any action or proceeding arising out of, related to, or in connection with any Relevant Matter, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in any such court, (c) agrees that it shall not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (d) agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of, related to, or in connection with any Relevant Matter in any other court. Each of the parties hereto waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Any party may make service on another party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for the giving of notices in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section7.8, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 7.9    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND BY ACCEPTING THE CVR’S, THE HOLDERS) HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY RELEVANT MATTER. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATION OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.9.

 

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Section 7.10    No Fiduciary Obligations

Each of Public Company and the Rights Agent acknowledges and agrees that the other party, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and controlling Persons do not owe any fiduciary duties to the first party or any of its respective Affiliates, officers, directors or controlling Persons. The only obligations of Public Company and the Rights Agent to each other and their Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and controlling Persons arising out of this Agreement are the contractual obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement.

Section 7.11    Severability Clause.

In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application of any such provision to any Person or set of circumstances, is for any reason determined to be invalid, unlawful, void or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement, and the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is determined to be invalid, unlawful, void or unenforceable, will not be impaired or otherwise affected and will continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Upon such a determination, the parties hereto will negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible; provided, however, that if an excluded provision shall affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to Public Company.

Section 7.12    Counterparts; Effectiveness.

This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement or any counterpart may be executed and delivered by facsimile copies or delivered by electronic communications by portable document format (.pdf), each of which shall be deemed an original. This Agreement will become effective when each party hereto will have received a counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto. Until and unless each party has received a counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto, this Agreement will have no effect and no party will have any right or obligation hereunder (whether by virtue of any oral or written agreement or any other communication).

Section 7.13    Termination.

This Agreement will automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and, except as provided in Sections 3.1 and 3.2, the parties hereto will have no further liability hereunder, and the CVRs will expire without any consideration or compensation therefor, upon the earlier to occur of payment to Public Company of the last milestone or other consideration under the Asset Purchase Agreement or Legacy Asset Disposition Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) expiration of the CVR Period. The termination of this Agreement will not affect or limit the right of Holders to receive the CVR Payments under Section 2.4 to the extent earned prior to the termination of this Agreement, and the provisions applicable thereto will survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

Section 7.14    Force Majeure.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, none of the Rights Agent, Public Company or any of its Subsidiaries will be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including acts of God, pandemics (including COVID-19), epidemics, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunctions of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war or civil unrest.

 

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Section 7.15    Construction.

(a)    For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: singular terms will include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender will include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender will include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender will include the masculine and feminine genders.

(b)    As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, will not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

(c)    The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, will not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and will not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

(d)    Any reference in this Agreement to a date or time shall be deemed to be such date or time in New York City, United States, unless otherwise specified. The parties hereto and Public Company have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and Public Company and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Person by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

(e)    All references herein to “$” are to United States Dollars.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

IMARA INC.

By: /s/ Rahul Ballal

Name: Rahul Ballal
Title: Consultant

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

COMPUTERSHARE INC.,

By: /s/ Collin Ekeogu

Name: Collin Ekeogu
Title: Corporate Actions Manager

 

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EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.

Purpose

The purpose of this Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of IMARA Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. The Plan amends and restates the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Original Plan”) that was originally adopted by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) on February 12, 2020 and approved by the stockholders on February 26, 2020. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board.

 

2.

Eligibility

All of the Company’s employees, officers and directors, as well as consultants and advisors to the Company (as such terms consultants and advisors are defined and interpreted for purposes of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any successor form) are eligible to be granted Awards (as defined below) under the Plan. Each person who is granted an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant.” “Award” means Options (as defined in Section 5), SARs (as defined in Section 6), Restricted Stock (as defined in Section 7), Restricted Stock Units (as defined in Section 7) and Other Stock-Based Awards (as defined in Section 8).

 

3.

Administration and Delegation

(a) Administration by Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All actions and decisions by the Board with respect to the Plan and any Awards shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award.

(b) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (each, a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the Delegated Persons referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or such Delegated Persons.

(c) Delegation to Delegated Persons. Subject to any requirements of applicable law (including as applicable Sections 152(b) and 157(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware), the Board may, by resolution, delegate to one or more persons (including officers of the Company) or bodies (such persons or bodies, the “Delegated Persons”) the power to grant Awards (subject to any limitations under the Plan) to

 

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eligible service providers of the Company and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix: (i) the maximum number of Awards, and the maximum number of shares issuable upon exercise thereof, that may be issued by such Delegated Persons, (ii) the time period during which such Awards, and during which the shares issuable upon exercise thereof, may be issued, and (iii) the minimum amount of consideration (if any) for which such Awards may be issued, and a minimum amount of consideration for the shares issuable upon exercise thereof; and provided further, that no Delegated Person shall be authorized to grant Awards to itself; and provided further, that no Delegated Person shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act).

(d) Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Awards to non-employee directors will be granted and administered by a Committee, all of the members of which are independent directors as defined by Section 5605(a)(2) of the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market or corresponding rules of any other exchange or marketplace on which the Company stock is traded or listed (the “Exchange”).

 

4.

Stock Available for Awards

(a) Number of Shares; Share Counting.

(1) Authorized Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to such number of shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) as is equal to the sum of:

(A) 17,100,000 shares of Common Stock; plus

(B) an annual increase to be added on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2024 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including, the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2032, equal to the least of (i) 4.5% of the outstanding shares on such date and (ii) an amount determined by the Board.

Subject to adjustment under Section 9, no more than 17,100,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued as Incentive Stock Options (as defined in Section 5(b)) under the Plan. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

(2) Share Counting. For purposes of counting the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan under this Section 4(a):

(A) all shares of Common Stock covered by SARs shall be counted against the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that (i) SARs that may be settled only in cash shall not be so counted and (ii) if the Company grants an SAR in tandem with an Option for the same number of shares of Common Stock and provides that only one such Award may be exercised (a “Tandem SAR”), only the shares covered by the Option, and not the shares covered by the Tandem SAR, shall be so counted, and the expiration of one in connection with the other’s exercise will not restore shares to the Plan;

(B) to the extent a Restricted Stock Unit award may be settled only in cash, no shares shall be counted against the shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan;

(C) if any Award (i) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) or (ii) results in any Common Stock not being issued (including as a result of an SAR that was settleable either in cash or in stock actually being settled in cash), the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall

 

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again be available for the grant of Awards; provided, however, that (1) in the case of Incentive Stock Options, the foregoing shall be subject to any limitations under the Code, (2) in the case of the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares counted against the shares available under the Plan shall be the full number of shares subject to the SAR multiplied by the percentage of the SAR actually exercised, regardless of the number of shares actually used to settle such SAR upon exercise and (3) the shares covered by a Tandem SAR shall not again become available for grant upon the expiration or termination of such Tandem SAR; and

(D) shares of Common Stock delivered (by actual delivery, attestation, or net exercise) to the Company by a Participant to (i) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Award or (ii) satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to Awards (including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation) shall be added back to the number of shares available for the future grant of Awards.

(b) Substitute Awards. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a)(1) or any sublimit contained in the Plan, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.

(c) Limit on Awards to Non-Employee Directors. The maximum aggregate amount of cash and value (calculated based on grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) of Awards granted in any calendar year to any individual non-employee director shall not exceed $750,000; provided, however, that such maximum aggregate amount shall not exceed $1,000,000 in any calendar year for any individual non-employee director in such non-employee director’s initial year of election; and provided, further, however, that fees paid by the Corporation on behalf of any non-employee director in connection with regulatory compliance and any amounts paid to a non-employee director as reimbursement of an expense shall not count against the foregoing limit. The Board may make additional exceptions to this limit for individual non-employee directors in extraordinary circumstances, as the Board may determine in its discretion, provided that the non-employee director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation.

 

5.

Stock Options

(a) General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable.

(b) Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of IMARA Inc., any of IMARA Inc.’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. An Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option.” The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option or if the Company converts an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

(c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option or the formula by which such exercise price will be determined. The exercise price shall be specified in the applicable Option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Grant Date Fair Market Value (as defined below) of the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of an Option with

 

3


an exercise price to be determined on a future date, the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Grant Date Fair Market Value on such future date. “Grant Date Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock for purposes of the Plan will be determined as follows:

(1) if the Common Stock trades on a national securities exchange, the closing sale price (for the primary trading session) on the date of grant;

(2) if the Common Stock does not trade on any such exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of grant as reported by an over-the-counter marketplace designated by the Board; or

(3) if the Common Stock is not publicly traded, the Board will determine the Grant Date Fair Market Value for purposes of the Plan using any measure of value it determines to be appropriate (including, as it considers appropriate, relying on appraisals) in a manner consistent with the valuation principles under Code Section 409A, except as the Board may expressly determine otherwise.

For any date that is not a trading day, the Grant Date Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock for such date will be determined by using the closing sale price or average of the bid and asked prices, as appropriate, for the immediately preceding trading day and with the timing in the formulas above adjusted accordingly. The Board can substitute a particular time of day or other measure of “closing sale price” or “bid and asked prices” if appropriate because of exchange or market procedures or can, in its sole discretion, use weighted averages either on a daily basis or such longer period as complies with Code Section 409A.

The Board has sole discretion to determine the Grant Date Fair Market Value for purposes of the Plan, and all Awards are conditioned on the Participants’ agreement that the Board’s determination is conclusive and binding even though others might make a different determination.

(d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that no Option will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.

(e) Exercise of Options. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a notice of exercise in a form (which may be electronic, and which may be provided to a third party equity plan administrator) approved by the Company, together with payment in full (in the manner specified in Section 5(f)) of the exercise price for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following exercise.

(f) Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

(1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

(2) except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;

(3) to the extent provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair market value (valued in the manner determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board), provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law, (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant for such minimum period of time, if any, as may be established by the Board and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;

 

4


(4) to the extent provided for in the applicable Nonstatutory Stock Option agreement or approved by the Board, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, as a result of which the Participant would receive (i) the number of shares underlying the portion of the Option being exercised, less (ii) such number of shares as is equal to (A) the aggregate exercise price for the portion of the Option being exercised divided by (B) the fair market value of the Common Stock (valued in the manner determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board) on the date of exercise;

(5) to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or

(6) by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment, to the extent approved by the Board.

(g) Limitation on Repricing. Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Company may not (except as provided for under Section 9): (1) amend any outstanding Option granted under the Plan to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Option, (2) cancel any outstanding option (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan (other than Awards granted pursuant to Section 4(b)) covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled option, (3) cancel in exchange for a cash payment any outstanding Option with an exercise price per share above the then-current fair market value of the Common Stock (valued in the manner determined by (or in the manner approved by) the Board) or (4) take any other action under the Plan that constitutes a “repricing” within the meaning of the Exchange.

 

6.

Stock Appreciation Rights

(a) General. The Board may grant Awards consisting of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount of Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof (such form to be determined by the Board) determined by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the fair market value of a share of Common Stock (valued in the manner determined by (or in the manner approved by) the Board) over the measurement price established pursuant to Section 6(b). The date as of which such appreciation is determined shall be the exercise date.

(b) Measurement Price. The Board shall establish the measurement price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR agreement. The measurement price shall not be less than 100% of the Grant Date Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the SAR is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of an SAR effective as of a future date, the measurement price shall be not less than 100% of the Grant Date Fair Market Value on such future date.

(c) Duration of SARs. Each SAR shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable SAR agreement; provided, however, that no SAR will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.

(d) Exercise of SARs. SARs may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a notice of exercise in a form (which may be electronic) approved by the Company, together with any other documents required by the Board.

(e) Limitation on Repricing. Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Company may not (except as provided for under Section 9): (1) amend any outstanding SAR granted under the Plan to provide a measurement price per share that is lower than the then-current measurement price per share of such outstanding SAR, (2) cancel any outstanding SAR (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan (other than Awards granted pursuant to Section 4(b)) covering

 

5


the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise or measurement price per share lower than the then-current measurement price per share of the cancelled SAR, (3) cancel in exchange for a cash payment any outstanding SAR with a measurement price per share above the then-current fair market value of the Common Stock (valued in the manner determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board) or (4) take any other action under the Plan that constitutes a “repricing” within the meaning of the rules of the Exchange.

 

7.

Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units

(a) General. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”), subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award. The Board may also grant Awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock or cash to be delivered as soon as practicable after the time such Award vests or is settled (“Restricted Stock Units”) (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “Restricted Stock Award”).

(b) Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any.

(c) Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock.

(1) Dividends. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement, any dividends (whether paid in cash, stock or property) declared and paid by the Company with respect to shares of Restricted Stock (“Accrued Dividends”) shall be paid to the Participant only if and when such shares become free from the restrictions on transferability and forfeitability that apply to such shares. Each payment of Accrued Dividends will be made no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to stockholders of that class of stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the lapsing of the restrictions on transferability and the forfeitability provisions applicable to the underlying shares of Restricted Stock.

(2) Stock Certificates. The Company may require that any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, as well as dividends or distributions paid on such Restricted Stock, shall be deposited in escrow by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to his or her Designated Beneficiary. “Designated Beneficiary” means (i) the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death or (ii) in the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, the Participant’s estate.

(d) Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units.

(1) Settlement. As soon as practicable after the vesting of and/or lapsing of any other restrictions (i.e., settlement) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company such number of shares of Common Stock or (if so provided in the applicable Award agreement) an amount of cash equal to the fair market value (valued in the manner determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board) of such number of shares of Common Stock as are set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit agreement. The Board may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

(2) Voting Rights. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units.

 

6


(3) Dividend Equivalents. The Award agreement for Restricted Stock Units may provide Participants with the right to receive an amount equal to any dividends or other distributions declared and paid on an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). Dividend Equivalents may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock and shall be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which paid, in each case to the extent provided in the Award agreement.

 

8.

Other Stock-Based Awards

(a) General. The Board may grant other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine.

(b) Terms and Conditions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock-Based Award, including any purchase price applicable thereto.

 

9.

Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events

(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under the Plan, (ii) the share counting rules set forth in Section 4(a), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iv) the share and per-share provisions and the measurement price of each outstanding SAR, (v) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding award of Restricted Stock and (vi) the share and per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Restricted Stock Unit award and each outstanding Other Stock-Based Award, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) in the manner determined by the Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

(b) Reorganization Events.

(1) Definition. A “Reorganization Event” shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (b) any transfer or disposition of all of the Common Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange or other transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(2) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards Other than Restricted Stock.

(A) In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards other than Restricted Stock on such terms as the Board determines (except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in an applicable Award

 

7


agreement or another agreement between the Company and the Participant): (i) provide that such Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that all of the Participant’s unvested Awards will be forfeited immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event and/or unexercised Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant (to the extent then exercisable) within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that outstanding Awards shall become exercisable, realizable or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to Participants with respect to each Award held by a Participant equal to (A) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the vested portion of the Award (after giving effect to any acceleration of vesting that occurs upon or immediately prior to such Reorganization Event) multiplied by (B) the excess, if any, of (I) the Acquisition Price over (II) the exercise, measurement or purchase price of such Award and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such Award, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise, measurement or purchase price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 9(b)(2), the Board shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically.

(B) Notwithstanding the terms of Section 9(b)(2)(A), in the case of outstanding Restricted Stock Units that are subject to Section 409A of the Code: (i) if the applicable Restricted Stock Unit agreement provides that the Restricted Stock Units shall be settled upon a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i), and the Reorganization Event constitutes such a “change in control event”, then no assumption or substitution shall be permitted pursuant to Section 9(b)(2)(A)(i) and the Restricted Stock Units shall instead be settled in accordance with the terms of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit agreement; and (ii) the Board may only undertake the actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 9(b)(2)(A) if the Reorganization Event constitutes a “change in control event” as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i) and such action is permitted or required by Section 409A of the Code; if the Reorganization Event is not a “change in control event” as so defined or such action is not permitted or required by Section 409A of the Code, and the acquiring or succeeding corporation does not assume or substitute the Restricted Stock Units pursuant to clause (i) of Section 9(b)(2)(A), then the unvested Restricted Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event without any payment in exchange therefor.

(C) For purposes of Section 9(b)(2)(A)(i), an Award (other than Restricted Stock) shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, such Award confers the right to purchase or receive pursuant to the terms of such Award, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award to consist solely of such number of shares of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) that the Board determines to be equivalent in value (as of the date of such determination or another date specified by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.

 

8


(3) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Restricted Stock. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the repurchase and other rights of the Company with respect to outstanding Restricted Stock shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall, unless the Board determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to such Restricted Stock; provided, however, that the Board may provide for termination or deemed satisfaction of such repurchase or other rights under the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, either initially or by amendment. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all Restricted Stock then outstanding shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.

 

10.

General Provisions Applicable to Awards

(a) Transferability of Awards. Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the Participant, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however, that, except with respect to Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Board may permit or provide in an Award for the gratuitous transfer of the Award by the Participant to or for the benefit of any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member thereof if the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 under the Securities Act for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such Award to such proposed transferee; provided further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such permitted transfer until such time as such permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall be deemed to restrict a transfer to the Company.

(b) Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

(c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.

(d) Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, termination or other cessation of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.

(e) Withholding. The Participant must satisfy all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax withholding obligations before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership of Common Stock under an Award. The Company may elect to satisfy the withholding obligations through additional withholding on salary or wages. If the Company elects not to or cannot withhold from other compensation, the Participant must pay the Company the full amount, if any, required for withholding or have a broker tender to the Company cash equal to the withholding obligations. Payment of withholding obligations is due before the Company will issue any shares on exercise, vesting or release from forfeiture of an Award or at the same time as payment of the exercise or purchase price, unless the Company determines

 

9


otherwise. If provided for in an Award or approved by the Board, a Participant may satisfy the tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their fair market value (valued in the manner determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Company); provided, however, except as otherwise provided by the Board, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state and local tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income), except that, to the extent that the Company is able to retain shares of Common Stock having a fair market value (determined by, or in a manner approved by, the Company) that exceeds the statutory minimum applicable withholding tax without financial accounting implications or the Company is withholding in a jurisdiction that does not have a statutory minimum withholding tax, the Company may retain such number of shares of Common Stock (up to the number of shares having a fair market value equal to the maximum individual statutory rate of tax (determined by, or in a manner approved by, the Company)) as the Company shall determine in its sole discretion to satisfy the tax liability associated with any Award. Shares used to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.

(f) Amendment of Award. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5(g) and 6(e) with respect to repricings and Section 11(d) with respect to actions requiring stockholder approval, the Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 9.

(g) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously issued or delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and regulations and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

(h) Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in whole or in part, free from some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in whole or in part, as the case may be.

 

11.

Miscellaneous

(a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award by virtue of the adoption of the Plan, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.

(b) No Rights As Stockholder; Clawback Policy. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be issued with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares. In accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant agrees to be bound by any clawback policy the Company has in effect or may adopt in the future.

 

10


(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Original Plan became effective on March 12, 2020. The Plan, as amended and restated, will become effective upon approval by the Company’s stockholders of the Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Effective Date”). No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years from the Effective Date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

(d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time provided that no amendment that would require stockholder approval under the rules of the Exchange may be made effective unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment. In addition, if at any time the approval of the Company’s stockholders is required as to any other modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Board may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 11(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the Plan. No Award shall be made that is conditioned upon stockholder approval of any amendment to the Plan unless the Award provides that (i) it will terminate or be forfeited if stockholder approval of such amendment is not obtained within no more than 12 months from the date of grant and (ii) it may not be exercised or settled (or otherwise result in the issuance of Common Stock) prior to such stockholder approval.

(e) Authorization of Sub-Plans (including for Grants to non-U.S. Employees). The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan containing (i) such limitations on the Board’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of such supplement.

(f) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. If and to the extent (i) any portion of any payment, compensation or other benefit provided to a Participant pursuant to the Plan in connection with his or her employment termination constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and (ii) the Participant is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, in each case as determined by the Company in accordance with its procedures, by which determinations the Participant (through accepting the Award) agrees that he or she is bound, such portion of the payment, compensation or other benefit shall not be paid before the day that is six months plus one day after the date of “separation from service” (as determined under Section 409A of the Code) (the “New Payment Date”), except as Section 409A of the Code may then permit. The aggregate of any payments that otherwise would have been paid to the Participant during the period between the date of separation from service and the New Payment Date shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on such New Payment Date, and any remaining payments will be paid on their original schedule.

The Company makes no representations or warranty and shall have no liability to the Participant or any other person if any provisions of or payments, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not to satisfy the conditions of that section.

(g) Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan, nor will such individual be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument he

 

11


or she executes in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer, employee or agent of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been or will be delegated, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Board’s approval) arising out of any act or omission to act concerning the Plan unless arising out of such person’s own fraud or bad faith.

(h) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such state that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

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EX-10.5

Exhibit 10.5

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2020 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

The 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) of IMARA Inc. is hereby amended as follows:

 

1.

The second sentence of the first paragraph to the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“Subject to adjustment under Section 15 hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock that have been approved for this purpose is the sum of:

 

  (a)

1,628,535 shares of Common Stock plus

 

  (b)

An annual increase to be added on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2024 and ending with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2043, equal to the least of (i) 1,628,535 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 1% of the outstanding shares on such date and (iii) an amount determined by the Board.

 

2.

The following sentence shall be added to the end of Section 26 of the Plan:

“The amendment to the Plan shall take effect upon approval by the Company’s shareholders, which must occur within twelve months of the amendment of the Plan by the Board.”

 

1

EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between Imara Inc. (referred to throughout this Agreement as “Employer”) and Rahul Ballal (“Employee”). The term “Party” or “Parties” as used herein shall refer to Employer, Employee, or both, as may be appropriate. The Parties are subject to the terms of a certain Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2019, and amended on November 5, 2021 (collectively, the “Letter Agreement”), and to the terms of the Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreement and the Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, each dated May 21, 2018 (together, the “Restrictive Covenant Agreements”).

1.    Last Day of Employment. Employee’s last day of employment with Employer was February 23, 2023 (“Separation Date”); provided, Employee’s service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) shall continue following the Separation Date. This Agreement is not valid if signed by Employee before the Separation Date or more than five (5) days after the Separation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee will not be entitled to any payments or benefits set forth in Paragraph 2 below if (i) Employee voluntarily leaves employment with the Employer before the Separation Date without written approval from the Employer to depart early or (ii) Employer terminates Employee’s employment before the Separation Agreement due to Employee’s violation of Employer’s policies or due to Employee’s failure to satisfactorily perform Employee’s duties and any transition tasks assigned to Employee through the Separation Date, as determined by Employer.

2.    Consideration.

In consideration for Employee timely signing this Agreement, and complying with its terms, Employer agrees to provide the following separation benefits in Sections 2(a) and (b):

(a)    Severance Payment. Employer agrees to pay to Employee the gross amount of one million two hundred and twenty five thousand five hundred dollars ($1,225,500), representing (i) eighteen months of salary at Employee’s current base rate of pay (less twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) in accordance with Section 9 of the Letter Agreement) and (ii) one hundred fifty percent (150%) of Employee’s current target bonus, in each case less lawful taxes, deductions and withholdings, to be paid in a lump sum through a special payroll not more than two (2) business days after both parties have signed this Agreement. Employee agrees and accepts to receive the severance in a lump sum as provided herein.

(b)    COBRA Benefits. Following the Separation Date, if you are eligible for and elect to continue your health insurance coverage pursuant to your rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or any state equivalent (“COBRA”), then Employer (or its affiliate) shall reimburse Employee’s premiums under COBRA on a monthly basis until the earlier of eighteen (18) months following the Separation Date, or (y) the date upon which Employee commences full-time employment (or employment that provides Employee with eligibility for healthcare benefits substantially comparable to those provided by the Employer (or its affiliate)) with an entity other than Employer (or its affiliate) (“COBRA Payment Period”). Reimbursement of the premium for such coverage shall be made by Employer (or its affiliate) commencing after the date on which the release of claims set forth herein becomes

 

1


effective. Employee agrees to promptly notify Employer (or its affiliate) if Employee becomes eligible for coverage under the group health, vision and/or dental plan of another employer during the COBRA Payment Period. Following the COBRA Payment Period, and provided that the COBRA coverage period has not expired, Employee shall be entitled to continue Employee’s elected COBRA coverage for the remainder of the COBRA coverage period, at Employee’s own and sole expense. Employer (or its affiliate) reimbursement of Employee’s COBRA premiums is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Employer’s (or its affiliate’s) group health plan intended to avoid any excise tax under Section 4980D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If Employer (or its affiliate), in its sole discretion, determines the reimbursement of any COBRA premiums would violate the nondiscrimination rules or cause the reimbursement of claims to be taxable under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, together with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Act”) or Section 105(h) of the Code, the premium reimbursement will be imputed as income and treated as taxable to the Employee to the extent necessary to eliminate any discriminatory treatment or taxation under the Act or Section 105(h) of the Code.

(c)    Equity Incentives. All of the restricted stock units and stock options held by Employee and outstanding upon the Separation Date shall be treated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement under which such restricted stock unit or stock option was granted (including any resolutions of the Board prior to the date hereof confirming the treatment of such awards on Employee’s termination of employment), the Letter Agreement and that certain Retention Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2022, as amended September 6, 2022 (the “Retention Agreement”) ; provided, that, Employee hereby waives the acceleration of vesting of any outstanding and unvested stock option held by Employee on such date that would otherwise vest upon Employee’s termination of employment (as identified on Schedule A hereto) (the “Continuing Options”) and acknowledges and agrees that notwithstanding the provisions of any such award agreement (or such prior Board resolution) or the Letter Agreement, in no event will the vesting and exercisability of the Continuing Options accelerate in connection with Employee’s termination of employment. The Company and Employee agree that the Continuing Options will continue to vest and become exercisable in accordance with their terms as if Employee had not experienced a termination of employment, subject to his continued service on the Board.

3.    No Consideration Absent Execution of this Agreement. Employee understands and agrees that Employee would not receive the monies and/or benefits specified in Paragraph 2 above, except for Employee’s timely execution of this Agreement and the fulfillment of the promises contained herein.

4.    General Release, Claims Not Released and Related Provisions.

(a)    General Release of All Claims. Employee, on Employee’s own behalf and on behalf of Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns knowingly and voluntarily release and forever discharges Employer, its direct and indirect parent corporations, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors, insurers, reinsurers, professional employment organizations, representatives, successors and assigns, and their current and former employees, attorneys, officers, directors and agents thereof, both individually and in their business capacities, and their employee benefit plans and programs and their administrators and fiduciaries,

 

2


both individually and in their business capacities (collectively referred to throughout the remainder of this Agreement as “Releasees”), of and from any and all claims, known and unknown, asserted or unasserted, which the Employee has or may have against Releasees as of the date of execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any alleged violation of the following, as amended:

 

   

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;

 

   

Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code;

 

   

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”);

 

   

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

 

   

The Immigration Reform and Control Act;

 

   

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;

 

   

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”);

 

   

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act;

 

   

The Fair Credit Reporting Act;

 

   

The Family and Medical Leave Act;

 

   

The Equal Pay Act;

 

   

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008;

 

   

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA);

 

   

Executive Order 11246, The Rehabilitation Act, and The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) to this list.

 

   

The Massachusetts Law Against Discrimination, G.L. c. 151B, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Equal Rights Act, G.L. c. 93, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, G.L. c. 12, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Privacy Statute, G.L. c. 214, § 1B, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Sexual Harassment Statute, G.L. c. 214, § 1C;

 

3


   

The Massachusetts Wage Payment Statute, G.L. c. 149, §§ 148, 148A, 148B, 149, 150, 150A-150C, 151, 152, 152A, et seq.;

 

   

The Massachusetts Wage and Hour laws, G.L. c. 151§1A et seq. (Massachusetts law regarding payment of wages and overtime, including any rights or claims thereunder to unpaid wages, including overtime, bonuses, commissions, and accrued, unused vacation time);

 

   

The Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Act, G.L. c. 152, § 75B;

 

   

The Massachusetts Small Necessities Act, G.L. c. 149, § 52D;

 

   

The Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, G.L. c. 149, § 105A-C;

 

   

The Massachusetts Equal Rights for the Elderly and Disabled, G.L. c. 93, § 103;

 

   

The Massachusetts AIDS Testing statute, G.L. c. 111, §70F;

 

   

The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, G.L. c. 93A;

 

   

Massachusetts Employment Leave for Victims and Family Members of Abuse, G.L. c. 149, §52E, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law, M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C;

 

   

The Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, M.G.L. c.175M et seq.

 

   

Massachusetts Parental Leave Act, G.L. c. 149, § 105D;

 

   

Massachusetts Age Discrimination Law, G.L. c. 149 §24 A et seq.;

 

   

any other federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, or ordinance

 

   

any public policy, contract, tort, or common law; or

 

   

any basis for recovering costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters.

(b)    Claims Not Released. Employee is not waiving any rights Employee may have to: (i) Employee’s own “Accrued Benefits” (as that term is defined in the Letter Agreement) as of the Separation Date; (ii) benefits and/or the right to seek benefits under applicable workers’ compensation and/or unemployment compensation statutes; (iii) pursue claims which by law cannot be waived by signing this Agreement; (iv) enforce this Agreement; (v) Employee’s rights to indemnification and defense (if any) under any insurance policy or otherwise due to the Employee’s role with the Employer; (vi) Employee’s rights as a shareholder.

 

4


(c)    Governmental Agencies. Nothing in this Agreement prohibits, prevents, or otherwise limits Employee from filing a charge or complaint with or participating, testifying, or assisting in any investigation, hearing, or other proceeding before any federal, state, or local government agency (e.g., EEOC, NLRB, SEC) or in any legislative or judicial proceeding nor does anything in this Agreement preclude, prohibit or otherwise limit, in any way, Employee’s rights and abilities to contact, communicate with or report unlawful conduct, or provide documents, to federal, state, or local officials for investigation or participate in any whistleblower program administered by any such agencies. In addition, nothing in this Agreement, including but not limited to the release of claims nor the confidentiality, non-disparagement, affirmations, and return of property clauses, prohibits Employee from: (1) reporting possible violations of federal or other law or regulations, including any possible securities laws violations, to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. Congress, or any agency Inspector General; (2) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal or other law or regulations; or (3) filing a charge or complaint or otherwise fully participating in any governmental whistleblower programs, including but not limited to any such programs managed or administered by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Employee is not required to notify or obtain permission from Employer when filing a governmental whistleblower charge or complaint or engaging or participating in protected whistleblower activity. Moreover, nothing in this Agreement prohibits or prevents Employee from receiving individual monetary awards or other individual relief by virtue of participating in such governmental whistleblower programs.

(d)    Collective/Class Action Waiver. If any claim is not subject to release, to the extent permitted by law, Employee waives any right or ability to be a class or collective action representative or to otherwise participate in any putative or certified class, collective or multi-party action or proceeding based on such a claim in which Employer or any other Releasee identified in this Agreement is a party.

5.    Acknowledgments and Affirmations.

(a)    Employee affirms that Employee has not filed, caused to be filed, or presently is a party to any claim against Employer. Nothing in this Agreement or these Affirmations is intended to impair Employee’s rights under whistleblower laws or cause Employee to disclose Employee’s participation in any governmental whistleblower program or any whistleblowing statute(s) or regulation(s) allowing for anonymity.

(b)    Employee also affirms that Employee has been paid and/or has received all compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, paid sick leave, predictability pay, and/or benefits which are due and payable as of the date Employee signs this Agreement and Employee has been reimbursed for all necessary expenses or losses incurred by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment. Employee further affirms that Employee has submitted expense reports for all necessary expenses or losses incurred by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment. Employee affirms that Employee has been granted any leave to which Employee was entitled under the Family and Medical Leave Act and state and local leave and disability accommodation laws.

 

5


(c)    Employee further affirms that Employee has no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases.

(d)    Employee also affirms that Employee has not divulged any proprietary or confidential information of Employer and will continue to maintain the confidentiality of such information consistent with Employer’s policies and Employee’s agreement(s) with Employer and/or common law. Under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made to Employee’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit against Employer for retaliation against Employee for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (c) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

(e)    Employee further affirms that Employee has not reported internally to Employer any allegations of wrongdoing by Employer or its officers, including any allegations of corporate fraud, and Employee has not been retaliated against for reporting any such allegations internally to Employer.

(f)    Employee and Employer acknowledge Employee’s rights to make truthful statements or disclosures required by law, regulation, or legal process and to request or receive confidential legal advice, and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to impair those rights.

6.    Return of Property. Except as provided otherwise in this Agreement or by law, Employee affirms that Employee has returned, without copying or reproducing, all of Employer’s property, in any form or format, documents, and/or any confidential information in Employee’s possession or control; provided that Employee is not required to return the laptop and any ancillary home equipment (monitor, keyboard, mouse, docking station) provided by Employer to Employee; and provided further that Employee shall reasonably cooperate with Employer to remove all confidential information and Employer licensed software from any retained laptop. Employee acknowledges that the estimated market value of any retained laptop or other equipment may be reported to state or federal tax agencies as required by applicable law.

Employee also affirms that Employee is in possession of all of Employee’s property that Employee had at Employer’s premises and that Employer is not in possession of any of Employee’s property.

7.    Non-Disparagement. In accordance with the Letter Agreement, Employee agrees that for the three (3)-year period following the Separation Date Employee, directly or indirectly, orally, in writing or through any medium (including, but not limited to, the press or other media, computer networks or bulletin boards, or any other form of communication) will not make any false statement, disparage or defame the goodwill or reputation of Employer, its affiliates or their respective directors, managers, officers, stockholders, members, agents and/or employees. Nothing herein shall prohibit Employee (i) from disclosing that Employee is no longer employed by Employer, (ii) from responding truthfully to subpoena, court order or other compulsory legal process, (iii) from rebutting in good faith statements made by the other party that are untrue or misleading, or (iv) providing truthful information to a government entity.

 

6


8.    Restrictive Covenants. Employee acknowledges and affirms Employee’s continuing obligations set forth in the Restrictive Covenants Agreements, which remain in full force and effect.

9.    Governing Law and Interpretation. This Agreement shall be governed and conformed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to its conflict of laws provision. In the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement, either party may institute an action specifically to enforce any term or terms of this Agreement and/or to seek any damages for breach. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction and cannot be modified to be enforceable, excluding the general release language, such provision shall immediately become null and void, leaving the remainder of this Agreement in full force and effect.

10.    Nonadmission of Wrongdoing. The Parties agree that neither this Agreement nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Agreement shall be deemed or construed at any time for any purpose as an admission by Releasees of wrongdoing or evidence of any liability or unlawful conduct of any kind.

11.    Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified, altered or changed except in writing and signed by both Parties wherein specific reference is made to this Agreement.

12.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties hereto, and fully supersedes any prior agreements or understandings between the Parties, except for (i) the “Section 409A” and the “Resolution of Disputes” provisions of the Letter Agreement, which are incorporated herein by reference, (ii) Restrictive Covenant Agreements, (ii) except as specifically modified herein, the Retention Agreement and (iii) except as specifically modified herein, any stock option agreement or restricted stock unit agreement with respect to outstanding awards made under the Employer’s 2016 Stock Incentive Plan or 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, each of which remains in full force and effect. Employee acknowledges that Employee has not relied on any representations, promises, or agreements of any kind made to Employee in connection with Employee’s decision to accept this Agreement, except for those set forth in this Agreement. In no event whatsoever shall Employer or its affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on Employee by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

13.    Counterparts and Signatures. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which, taken together shall constitute the same instrument. A signature made on a faxed or electronically mailed copy of the Agreement or a signature transmitted by facsimile or electronic mail will have the same effect as the original signature.

EMPLOYEE IS ADVISED THAT EMPLOYEE HAS AT LEAST FIVE (5) CALENDAR DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE ALSO IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EMPLOYEE’S SIGNING OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

7


EMPLOYEE AGREES THAT ANY MODIFICATIONS, MATERIAL OR OTHERWISE, MADE TO THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT RESTART OR AFFECT IN ANY MANNER THE ORIGINAL FIVE (5) CALENDAR DAY CONSIDERATION PERIOD.

EMPLOYEE FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT INTENDING TO WAIVE, SETTLE AND RELEASE ALL CLAIMS EMPLOYEE HAS OR MIGHT HAVE AGAINST RELEASEES.

 

8


The Parties knowingly and voluntarily sign this Agreement as of the date(s) set forth below:

 

Employee     Imara Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Rahul Ballal

   

By:

 

/s/ Michael Gray

Name:

 

Rahul Ballal

   

Name:

 

Michael Gray

     

Title:

 

CFO/COO

Date:

 

23-Feb-2023

   

Date:

 

23-Feb-2023

 

9


Schedule A

Continuing Options

 

Grant Date

   Plan/Type      Granted Shares      Exercise Price  

05/16/2019

     2016/NQ        301,208      $ 4.92  

05/16/2019

     2016/ISO        20,081      $ 4.92  

05/16/2019

     2016/ISO        6,504      $ 4.92  

05/16/2019

     2016/NQ        93,641      $ 4.92  

01/28/2021

     2020/ISO        12,964      $ 13.05  

01/28/2021

     2020/NQ        120,386      $ 13.05  

01/28/2022

     2020/ISO        8,221      $ 1.38  

01/28/2022

     2020/NQ        123,179      $ 1.38  

 

10

EX-10.7

Exhibit 10.7

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between Imara Inc. (referred to throughout this Agreement as “Employer”) and Michael Gray (“Employee”). The term “Party” or “Parties” as used herein shall refer to Employer, Employee, or both, as may be appropriate. The Parties are subject to the terms of a certain Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2019 and amended on November 5, 2021 (collectively, the “Letter Agreement”) and to the terms of the Employee Confidentiality, Assignment and Noncompetition Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2019 (the “Restrictive Covenant Agreement”).

1.    Last Day of Employment. Employee’s last day of employment with Employer was February 23, 2023 (“Separation Date”). This Agreement is not valid if signed by Employee before the Separation Date or more than five (5) days after the Separation Date. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee will not be entitled to any payments or benefits set forth in Paragraph 2 below if (i) Employee voluntarily leaves employment with the Employer before the Separation Date without written approval from the Employer to depart early or (ii) Employer terminates Employee’s employment before the Separation Agreement due to Employee’s violation of Employer’s policies or due to Employee’s failure to satisfactorily perform Employee’s duties and any transition tasks assigned to Employee through the Separation Date, as determined by Employer.

2.    Consideration.

In consideration for Employee timely signing this Agreement, and complying with its terms, Employer agrees to provide the following separation benefits in Sections 2(a) and (b):

(a)    Severance Payment. Employer agrees to pay to Employee the gross amount of six hundred seventy two thousand nine hundred eighty dollars ($672,980), representing (i) twelve (12) months of salary at Employee’s current base rate of pay and (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of Employee’s current target bonus, in each case less lawful taxes, deductions and withholdings, to be paid in a lump sum through a special payroll not more than two (2) business days after both parties have signed this Agreement. Employee agrees and accepts to receive the severance in a lump sum as provided herein.

(b)    COBRA Benefits. Following the Separation Date, if you are eligible for and elect to continue your health insurance coverage pursuant to your rights under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or any state equivalent (“COBRA”), then Employer (or its affiliate) shall reimburse Employee’s premiums under COBRA on a monthly basis until the earlier of twelve (12) months following the Separation Date, or (y) the date upon which Employee commences full-time employment (or employment that provides Employee with eligibility for healthcare benefits substantially comparable to those provided by the Employer (or its affiliate)) with an entity other than Employer (or its affiliate) (“COBRA Payment Period”). Reimbursement of the premium for such coverage shall be made by Employer (or its affiliate) commencing after the date on which the release of claims set forth herein becomes effective. Employee agrees to promptly notify Employer (or its affiliate) if Employee becomes eligible for coverage under the group health, vision and/or dental plan of another employer during

 

1


the COBRA Payment Period. Following the COBRA Payment Period, and provided that the COBRA coverage period has not expired, Employee shall be entitled to continue Employee’s elected COBRA coverage for the remainder of the COBRA coverage period, at Employee’s own and sole expense. Employer (or its affiliate) reimbursement of Employee’s COBRA premiums is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Employer’s (or its affiliate’s) group health plan intended to avoid any excise tax under Section 4980D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If Employer (or its affiliate), in its sole discretion, determines the reimbursement of any COBRA premiums would violate the nondiscrimination rules or cause the reimbursement of claims to be taxable under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, together with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Act”) or Section 105(h) of the Code, the premium reimbursement will be imputed as income and treated as taxable to the Employee to the extent necessary to eliminate any discriminatory treatment or taxation under the Act or Section 105(h) of the Code.

(c)    Equity Incentives. All of the restricted stock units and stock options held by Employee and outstanding upon the Separation Date shall be treated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement under which such restricted stock unit or stock option was granted (including any resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) prior to the date hereof confirming the treatment of such awards on Employee’s termination of employment), the Letter Agreement and that certain Amended and Restated Retention Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2022, as amended September 6, 2022 (the “Retention Agreement”).

3.    No Consideration Absent Execution of this Agreement. Employee understands and agrees that Employee would not receive the monies and/or benefits specified in Paragraph 2 above, except for Employee’s timely execution of this Agreement and the fulfillment of the promises contained herein.

4.    General Release, Claims Not Released and Related Provisions.

(a)    General Release of All Claims. Employee, on Employee’s own behalf and on behalf of Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns knowingly and voluntarily release and forever discharges Employer, its direct and indirect parent corporations, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors, insurers, reinsurers, professional employment organizations, representatives, successors and assigns, and their current and former employees, attorneys, officers, directors and agents thereof, both individually and in their business capacities, and their employee benefit plans and programs and their administrators and fiduciaries, both individually and in their business capacities (collectively referred to throughout the remainder of this Agreement as “Releasees”), of and from any and all claims, known and unknown, asserted or unasserted, which the Employee has or may have against Releasees as of the date of execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any alleged violation of the following, as amended:

 

   

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;

 

   

Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code;

 

2


   

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”);

 

   

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

 

   

The Immigration Reform and Control Act;

 

   

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;

 

   

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”);

 

   

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act;

 

   

The Fair Credit Reporting Act;

 

   

The Family and Medical Leave Act;

 

   

The Equal Pay Act;

 

   

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008;

 

   

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA);

 

   

Executive Order 11246, The Rehabilitation Act, and The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) to this list.

 

   

The Massachusetts Law Against Discrimination, G.L. c. 151B, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Equal Rights Act, G.L. c. 93, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, G.L. c. 12, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Privacy Statute, G.L. c. 214, § 1B, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Sexual Harassment Statute, G.L. c. 214, § 1C;

 

   

The Massachusetts Wage Payment Statute, G.L. c. 149, §§ 148, 148A, 148B, 149, 150, 150A-150C, 151, 152, 152A, et seq.;

 

   

The Massachusetts Wage and Hour laws, G.L. c. 151§1A et seq. (Massachusetts law regarding payment of wages and overtime, including any rights or claims thereunder to unpaid wages, including overtime, bonuses, commissions, and accrued, unused vacation time);

 

   

The Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Act, G.L. c. 152, § 75B;

 

   

The Massachusetts Small Necessities Act, G.L. c. 149, § 52D;

 

3


   

The Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, G.L. c. 149, § 105A-C;

 

   

The Massachusetts Equal Rights for the Elderly and Disabled, G.L. c. 93, § 103;

 

   

The Massachusetts AIDS Testing statute, G.L. c. 111, §70F;

 

   

The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, G.L. c. 93A;

 

   

Massachusetts Employment Leave for Victims and Family Members of Abuse, G.L. c. 149, §52E, as amended;

 

   

The Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law, M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C;

 

   

The Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, M.G.L. c.175M et seq.

 

   

Massachusetts Parental Leave Act, G.L. c. 149, § 105D;

 

   

Massachusetts Age Discrimination Law, G.L. c. 149 §24 A et seq.;

 

   

any other federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, or ordinance

 

   

any public policy, contract, tort, or common law; or

 

   

any basis for recovering costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters.

(b)    Claims Not Released. Employee is not waiving any rights Employee may have to: (i) Employee’s own “Accrued Benefits” (as that term is defined in the Letter Agreement) as of the Separation Date; (ii) benefits and/or the right to seek benefits under applicable workers’ compensation and/or unemployment compensation statutes; (iii) pursue claims which by law cannot be waived by signing this Agreement; (iv) enforce this Agreement; (v) Employee’s rights to indemnification and defense (if any) under any insurance policy or otherwise due to the Employee’s role with the Employer; (vi) Employee’s rights as a shareholder.

(c)    Governmental Agencies. Nothing in this Agreement prohibits, prevents, or otherwise limits Employee from filing a charge or complaint with or participating, testifying, or assisting in any investigation, hearing, or other proceeding before any federal, state, or local government agency (e.g., EEOC, NLRB, SEC) or in any legislative or judicial proceeding nor does anything in this Agreement preclude, prohibit or otherwise limit, in any way, Employee’s rights and abilities to contact, communicate with or report unlawful conduct, or provide documents, to federal, state, or local officials for investigation or participate in any whistleblower program administered by any such agencies. In addition, nothing in this Agreement, including but not limited to the release of claims nor the confidentiality, non-disparagement, affirmations, and return of property clauses, prohibits Employee from: (1) reporting possible violations of federal or other law or regulations, including any possible securities laws violations, to any governmental

 

4


agency or entity, including but not limited to the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. Congress, or any agency Inspector General; (2) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal or other law or regulations; or (3) filing a charge or complaint or otherwise fully participating in any governmental whistleblower programs, including but not limited to any such programs managed or administered by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Employee is not required to notify or obtain permission from Employer when filing a governmental whistleblower charge or complaint or engaging or participating in protected whistleblower activity. Moreover, nothing in this Agreement prohibits or prevents Employee from receiving individual monetary awards or other individual relief by virtue of participating in such governmental whistleblower programs.

(d)    Collective/Class Action Waiver. If any claim is not subject to release, to the extent permitted by law, Employee waives any right or ability to be a class or collective action representative or to otherwise participate in any putative or certified class, collective or multi-party action or proceeding based on such a claim in which Employer or any other Releasee identified in this Agreement is a party.

5.    Acknowledgments and Affirmations.

(a)    Employee affirms that Employee has not filed, caused to be filed, or presently is a party to any claim against Employer. Nothing in this Agreement or these Affirmations is intended to impair Employee’s rights under whistleblower laws or cause Employee to disclose Employee’s participation in any governmental whistleblower program or any whistleblowing statute(s) or regulation(s) allowing for anonymity.

(b)    Employee also affirms that Employee has been paid and/or has received all compensation, wages, bonuses, commissions, paid sick leave, predictability pay, and/or benefits which are due and payable as of the date Employee signs this Agreement and Employee has been reimbursed for all necessary expenses or losses incurred by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment. Employee further affirms that Employee has submitted expense reports for all necessary expenses or losses incurred by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment. Employee affirms that Employee has been granted any leave to which Employee was entitled under the Family and Medical Leave Act and state and local leave and disability accommodation laws.

(c)    Employee further affirms that Employee has no known workplace injuries or occupational diseases.

(d)    Employee also affirms that Employee has not divulged any proprietary or confidential information of Employer and will continue to maintain the confidentiality of such information consistent with Employer’s policies and Employee’s agreement(s) with Employer and/or common law. Under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose

 

5


of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made to Employee’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit against Employer for retaliation against Employee for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (c) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

(e)    Employee further affirms that Employee has not reported internally to Employer any allegations of wrongdoing by Employer or its officers, including any allegations of corporate fraud, and Employee has not been retaliated against for reporting any such allegations internally to Employer.

(f)    Employee and Employer acknowledge Employee’s rights to make truthful statements or disclosures required by law, regulation, or legal process and to request or receive confidential legal advice, and nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to impair those rights.

6.    Return of Property. Except as provided otherwise in this Agreement or by law, Employee affirms that Employee has returned, without copying or reproducing, all of Employer’s property, in any form or format, documents, and/or any confidential information in Employee’s possession or control; provided that Employee is not required to return the laptop and any ancillary home equipment (monitor, keyboard, mouse, docking station) provided by Employer to Employee; and provided further that Employee shall reasonably cooperate with Employer to remove all confidential information and Employer licensed software from any retained laptop. Employee acknowledges that the estimated market value of any retained laptop or other equipment may be reported to state or federal tax agencies as required by applicable law.

Employee also affirms that Employee is in possession of all of Employee’s property that Employee had at Employer’s premises and that Employer is not in possession of any of Employee’s property.

7.    Non-Disparagement. In accordance with the Letter Agreement, Employee agrees that for the three (3)-year period following the Separation Date Employee, directly or indirectly, orally, in writing or through any medium (including, but not limited to, the press or other media, computer networks or bulletin boards, or any other form of communication) will not make any false statement, disparage or defame the goodwill or reputation of Employer, its affiliates or their respective directors, managers, officers, stockholders, members, agents and/or employees. Nothing herein shall prohibit Employee (i) from disclosing that Employee is no longer employed by Employer, (ii) from responding truthfully to subpoena, court order or other compulsory legal process, (iii) from rebutting in good faith statements made by the other party that are untrue or misleading, or (iv) providing truthful information to a government entity.

8.    Restrictive Covenants. Employee acknowledges and affirms Employee’s continuing obligations set forth in the Restrictive Covenants Agreement, which remains in full force and effect.

9.    Governing Law and Interpretation. This Agreement shall be governed and conformed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to its conflict of laws provision. In the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement, either

 

6


party may institute an action specifically to enforce any term or terms of this Agreement and/or to seek any damages for breach. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction and cannot be modified to be enforceable, excluding the general release language, such provision shall immediately become null and void, leaving the remainder of this Agreement in full force and effect.

10.    Nonadmission of Wrongdoing. The Parties agree that neither this Agreement nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Agreement shall be deemed or construed at any time for any purpose as an admission by Releasees of wrongdoing or evidence of any liability or unlawful conduct of any kind.

11.    Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified, altered or changed except in writing and signed by both Parties wherein specific reference is made to this Agreement.

12.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties hereto, and fully supersedes any prior agreements or understandings between the Parties, except for (i) the “Section 409A” and the “Resolution of Disputes” provisions of the Letter Agreement, which are incorporated herein by reference, (ii) Restrictive Covenant Agreement, (ii) the Retention Agreement and (iii) any stock option agreement or restricted stock unit agreement with respect to outstanding awards made under the Employer’s 2016 Stock Incentive Plan or 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, each of which remains in full force and effect. Employee acknowledges that Employee has not relied on any representations, promises, or agreements of any kind made to Employee in connection with Employee’s decision to accept this Agreement, except for those set forth in this Agreement. In no event whatsoever shall Employer or its affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on Employee by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

13.    Counterparts and Signatures. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which, taken together shall constitute the same instrument. A signature made on a faxed or electronically mailed copy of the Agreement or a signature transmitted by facsimile or electronic mail will have the same effect as the original signature.

EMPLOYEE IS ADVISED THAT EMPLOYEE HAS AT LEAST FIVE (5) CALENDAR DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT. EMPLOYEE ALSO IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EMPLOYEE’S SIGNING OF THIS AGREEMENT.

EMPLOYEE AGREES THAT ANY MODIFICATIONS, MATERIAL OR OTHERWISE, MADE TO THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT RESTART OR AFFECT IN ANY MANNER THE ORIGINAL FIVE (5) CALENDAR DAY CONSIDERATION PERIOD.

EMPLOYEE FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT INTENDING TO WAIVE, SETTLE AND RELEASE ALL CLAIMS EMPLOYEE HAS OR MIGHT HAVE AGAINST RELEASEES.

 

7


The Parties knowingly and voluntarily sign this Agreement as of the date(s) set forth below:

 

Employee     Imara Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Michael Gray

   

By:

 

/s/ Rahul Ballal

Name:

 

Michael Gray

   

Name:

 

Rahul Ballal

     

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

Date:

 

23-Feb-2023

   

Date:

 

23-Feb-2023

 

8

EX-10.8

Exhibit 10.8

[***] Portions of this exhibit have been redacted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(6)

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Confirmatory Employment Letter

February 23, 2023

Samuel Kintz

[***]

[***]

Dear Mr. Kintz:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) and you. This Agreement is effective as of the date signed below (the “Effective Date”). The purpose of this Agreement is to confirm the current terms and conditions of your employment with the Company.

1. Position. Prior to the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into on October 13, 2022 between the Company, which was then-named Imara Inc., and your former employing entity, which was then-named Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (“Old Enliven”) and certain other parties, you served in the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Old Enliven. In connection with the Closing, the Company was renamed Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. Following the Closing, your employment will continue as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) without the prior approval of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

2. Compensation and Benefits.

(a) Base Salary. Your rate of annual base salary as of February 1, 2023 is $550,000 per year, less applicable withholding, which will be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures.

(b) Annual Bonus Opportunity. Your annual target bonus opportunity following the Effective Date will be fifty percent (50%) of your annual base salary (the “Target Bonus”). The Target Bonus shall be subject to review and may be adjusted based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. Your actual bonuses shall be based upon achievement of performance objectives to be determined by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion. Bonuses will be paid as soon as practicable after the Board determines that the performance objectives related to such bonuses have been achieved, provided that you must remain an employee of the Company through the date a bonus is paid in order to earn such bonus.


(c) Employee Benefits. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible to participate in the Company’s standard benefit plans as in effect from time to time, on the same basis as those benefit plans are generally made available to other similarly situated executives of the Company. Such benefit plans are subject to change, and may be supplemented, altered, or eliminated, in part or entirely. Any eligibility to participate in such benefits plans, as well as the terms thereof, shall be as set forth in the governing documents for such plans, or there are no such governing documents, in the Company’s policies.

(d) Equity Awards. You will be eligible to receive compensatory equity awards such as stock options or restricted stock unit awards from the Company on the terms and conditions determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

(e) Expenses. You will be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by you in the furtherance of or in connection with the performance of your duties hereunder, in accordance with the applicable policy of the Company, as in effect from time to time. In the event that any expense reimbursements are taxable to you, such reimbursements will be made in the time frame specified by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) unless another time frame that complies with or is exempt from Section 409A is specified in the Company’s expense reimbursement policy.

(f) Vacation. You will be entitled to accrue paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.

3. Severance & Change of Control Benefits. In connection with executing this Agreement, you are also entering into a Change in Control and Severance Agreement between you and the Company (the “Severance Agreement”), which is incorporated herein by reference. The Severance Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety any prior agreement providing for severance or similar benefits entered into between you and the Company or you and Old Enliven.

4. Confidentiality Agreement. As an employee of a member of the Company, you have access to certain confidential information of the Company and you may, during the course of your employment, develop certain information or inventions that will be the property of the Company. You previously entered into an At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement with Old Enliven which is incorporated by reference (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). The Confidentiality Agreement will remain in full force and effect.

5. At-Will Employment. You acknowledge and agree that your employment with the Company will be “at-will” employment and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice. You understand and agree that neither your job performance nor commendations, bonuses, or the like from the Company give rise to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, or extension, by implication or otherwise, of your employment with the Company. You further acknowledge and agree that the Company, may modify job titles, salaries and benefits from time to time as it deems necessary. However, as described in this Agreement, you may be eligible to receive severance benefits under the Severance Agreement depending on the circumstances of the termination of your employment with the Company.


6. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding. All payments made under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law, and you will be solely responsible for any and all taxes arising in connection with this Agreement and compensation paid or payable to you, including but not limited to any taxes, penalties and interest, if any, arising under Section 409A.

(b) Section 409A. The Company intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any final regulations and guidance thereunder and any applicable state law equivalent, as each may be amended or promulgated from time to time (“Section 409A”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities will be interpreted to so be exempt or comply. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.

(c) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation from the Company. You agree that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities.

7. Entire Agreement, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement, the Severance Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement supersede and replace any prior agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the Company, and constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company regarding the subject matter set forth herein. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.

8. Miscellaneous.

(a) Arbitration. You agree that any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, stockholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from your service to the Company, will be subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(b) Successors. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.


(c) Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Acknowledgment. You acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to discuss this Agreement with and obtain advice from your private attorney, have had sufficient time to, and have carefully read and fully understand all the provisions of this Agreement, and are knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

* * * * *

[Signature Page Follows]


We are extremely excited about your continued employment with Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.!

Please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement, and confirmation that it contains our complete agreement regarding the terms and conditions of your employment, by signing the bottom portion of this Agreement and returning a copy to me.

 

Very truly yours,
ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Benjamin Hohl

  Benjamin Hohl
  Chief Financial Officer

 

I have read and accept this Agreement:

/s/ Samuel Kintz

Samuel Kintz
Dated: February 23, 2023
EX-10.9

Exhibit 10.9

[***] Portions of this exhibit have been redacted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(6)

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Confirmatory Employment Letter

February 23, 2023

Helen Collins

[***]

[***]

Dear Dr. Collins:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) and you. This Agreement is effective as of the date signed below (the “Effective Date”). The purpose of this Agreement is to confirm the current terms and conditions of your employment with the Company.

1. Position. Prior to the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into on October 13, 2022 between the Company, which was then-named Imara Inc., and your former employing entity, which was then-named Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (“Old Enliven”) and certain other parties, you served in the role of Chief Medical Officer of Old Enliven. In connection with the Closing, the Company was renamed Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. Following the Closing, your employment will continue as Chief Medical Officer of the Company. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) without the prior approval of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

2. Compensation and Benefits.

(a) Base Salary. Your rate of annual base salary as of February 1, 2023 is $465,000 per year, less applicable withholding, which will be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures.

(b) Annual Bonus Opportunity. Your annual target bonus opportunity following the Effective Date will be forty percent (40%) of your annual base salary (the “Target Bonus”). The Target Bonus shall be subject to review and may be adjusted based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. Your actual bonuses shall be based upon achievement of performance objectives to be determined by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion. Bonuses will be paid as soon as practicable after the Board determines that the performance objectives related to such bonuses have been achieved, provided that you must remain an employee of the Company through the date a bonus is paid in order to earn such bonus.


(c) Employee Benefits. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible to participate in the Company’s standard benefit plans as in effect from time to time, on the same basis as those benefit plans are generally made available to other similarly situated executives of the Company. Such benefit plans are subject to change, and may be supplemented, altered, or eliminated, in part or entirely. Any eligibility to participate in such benefits plans, as well as the terms thereof, shall be as set forth in the governing documents for such plans, or there are no such governing documents, in the Company’s policies.

(d) Equity Awards. You will be eligible to receive compensatory equity awards such as stock options or restricted stock unit awards from the Company on the terms and conditions determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

(e) Expenses. You will be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by you in the furtherance of or in connection with the performance of your duties hereunder, in accordance with the applicable policy of the Company, as in effect from time to time. In the event that any expense reimbursements are taxable to you, such reimbursements will be made in the time frame specified by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) unless another time frame that complies with or is exempt from Section 409A is specified in the Company’s expense reimbursement policy.

(f) Vacation. You will be entitled to accrue paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.

3. Severance & Change of Control Benefits. In connection with executing this Agreement, you are also entering into a Change in Control and Severance Agreement between you and the Company (the “Severance Agreement”), which is incorporated herein by reference. The Severance Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety any prior agreement providing for severance or similar benefits entered into between you and the Company or you and Old Enliven.

4. Confidentiality Agreement. As an employee of a member of the Company, you have access to certain confidential information of the Company and you may, during the course of your employment, develop certain information or inventions that will be the property of the Company. You previously entered into an At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement with Old Enliven which is incorporated by reference (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). The Confidentiality Agreement will remain in full force and effect.

5. At-Will Employment. You acknowledge and agree that your employment with the Company will be “at-will” employment and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice. You understand and agree that neither your job performance nor commendations, bonuses, or the like from the Company give rise to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, or extension, by implication or otherwise, of your employment with the Company. You further acknowledge and agree that the Company, may modify job titles, salaries and benefits from time to time as it deems necessary. However, as described in this Agreement, you may be eligible to receive severance benefits under the Severance Agreement depending on the circumstances of the termination of your employment with the Company.


6. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding. All payments made under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law, and you will be solely responsible for any and all taxes arising in connection with this Agreement and compensation paid or payable to you, including but not limited to any taxes, penalties and interest, if any, arising under Section 409A.

(b) Section 409A. The Company intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any final regulations and guidance thereunder and any applicable state law equivalent, as each may be amended or promulgated from time to time (“Section 409A”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities will be interpreted to so be exempt or comply. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.

(c) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation from the Company. You agree that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities.

7. Entire Agreement, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement, the Severance Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement supersede and replace any prior agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the Company, and constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company regarding the subject matter set forth herein. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.

8. Miscellaneous.

(a) Arbitration. You agree that any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, stockholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from your service to the Company, will be subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(b) Successors. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.


(c) Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Acknowledgment. You acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to discuss this Agreement with and obtain advice from your private attorney, have had sufficient time to, and have carefully read and fully understand all the provisions of this Agreement, and are knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

* * * * *

[Signature Page Follows]


We are extremely excited about your continued employment with Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.!

Please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement, and confirmation that it contains our complete agreement regarding the terms and conditions of your employment, by signing the bottom portion of this Agreement and returning a copy to me.

 

Very truly yours,
ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Samuel Kintz

  Samuel Kintz
  Chief Executive Officer

 

I have read and accept this Agreement:

/s/ Helen Collins

Helen Collins
Dated: February 23, 2023
EX-10.10

Exhibit 10.10

[***] Portions of this exhibit have been redacted in compliance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(6)

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Confirmatory Employment Letter

February 23, 2023

Benjamin Hohl

[***]

[***]

Dear Mr. Hohl:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) and you. This Agreement is effective as of the date signed below (the “Effective Date”). The purpose of this Agreement is to confirm the current terms and conditions of your employment with the Company.

1. Position. Prior to the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into on October 13, 2022 between the Company, which was then-named Imara Inc., and your former employing entity, which was then-named Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (“Old Enliven”) and certain other parties, you served in the role of Chief Financial Officer of Old Enliven. In connection with the Closing, the Company was renamed Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. Following the Closing, your employment will continue as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) without the prior approval of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

2. Compensation and Benefits.

(a) Base Salary. Your rate of annual base salary as of February 1, 2023 is $410,000 per year, less applicable withholding, which will be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures.

(b) Annual Bonus Opportunity. Your annual target bonus opportunity following the Effective Date will be forty percent (40%) of your annual base salary (the “Target Bonus”). The Target Bonus shall be subject to review and may be adjusted based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. Your actual bonuses shall be based upon achievement of performance objectives to be determined by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion. Bonuses will be paid as soon as practicable after the Board determines that the performance objectives related to such bonuses have been achieved, provided that you must remain an employee of the Company through the date a bonus is paid in order to earn such bonus.


(c) Employee Benefits. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible to participate in the Company’s standard benefit plans as in effect from time to time, on the same basis as those benefit plans are generally made available to other similarly situated executives of the Company. Such benefit plans are subject to change, and may be supplemented, altered, or eliminated, in part or entirely. Any eligibility to participate in such benefits plans, as well as the terms thereof, shall be as set forth in the governing documents for such plans, or there are no such governing documents, in the Company’s policies.

(d) Equity Awards. You will be eligible to receive compensatory equity awards such as stock options or restricted stock unit awards from the Company on the terms and conditions determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

(e) Expenses. You will be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by you in the furtherance of or in connection with the performance of your duties hereunder, in accordance with the applicable policy of the Company, as in effect from time to time. In the event that any expense reimbursements are taxable to you, such reimbursements will be made in the time frame specified by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) unless another time frame that complies with or is exempt from Section 409A is specified in the Company’s expense reimbursement policy.

(f) Vacation. You will be entitled to accrue paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.

3. Severance & Change of Control Benefits. In connection with executing this Agreement, you are also entering into a Change in Control and Severance Agreement between you and the Company (the “Severance Agreement”), which is incorporated herein by reference. The Severance Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety any prior agreement providing for severance or similar benefits entered into between you and the Company or you and Old Enliven.

4. Confidentiality Agreement. As an employee of a member of the Company, you have access to certain confidential information of the Company and you may, during the course of your employment, develop certain information or inventions that will be the property of the Company. You previously entered into an At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement with Old Enliven which is incorporated by reference (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). The Confidentiality Agreement will remain in full force and effect.

5. At-Will Employment. You acknowledge and agree that your employment with the Company will be “at-will” employment and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice. You understand and agree that neither your job performance nor commendations, bonuses, or the like from the Company give rise to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, or extension, by implication or otherwise, of your employment with the Company. You further acknowledge and agree that the Company, may modify job titles, salaries and benefits from time to time as it deems necessary. However, as described in this Agreement, you may be eligible to receive severance benefits under the Severance Agreement depending on the circumstances of the termination of your employment with the Company.


6. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding. All payments made under this Agreement shall be subject to reduction to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld by law, and you will be solely responsible for any and all taxes arising in connection with this Agreement and compensation paid or payable to you, including but not limited to any taxes, penalties and interest, if any, arising under Section 409A.

(b) Section 409A. The Company intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any final regulations and guidance thereunder and any applicable state law equivalent, as each may be amended or promulgated from time to time (“Section 409A”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities will be interpreted to so be exempt or comply. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.

(c) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation from the Company. You agree that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities.

7. Entire Agreement, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement, the Severance Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement supersede and replace any prior agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the Company, and constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company regarding the subject matter set forth herein. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.

8. Miscellaneous.

(a) Arbitration. You agree that any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, stockholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from your service to the Company, will be subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(b) Successors. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.


(c) Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Acknowledgment. You acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to discuss this Agreement with and obtain advice from your private attorney, have had sufficient time to, and have carefully read and fully understand all the provisions of this Agreement, and are knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

* * * * *

[Signature Page Follows]


We are extremely excited about your continued employment with Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.!

Please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement, and confirmation that it contains our complete agreement regarding the terms and conditions of your employment, by signing the bottom portion of this Agreement and returning a copy to me.

 

Very truly yours,
ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Samuel Kintz

  Samuel Kintz
  Chief Executive Officer

 

I have read and accept this Agreement:

/s/ Benjamin Hohl

Benjamin Hohl
Dated: February 23, 2023
EX-10.11

Exhibit 10.11

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CHANGE IN CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

This Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made between Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) and Samuel Kintz (the “Executive”), effective as of February 23, 2023 (the “Effective Date”).

This Agreement provides certain protections to the Executive in connection with a change in control of the Company or in connection with the involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment under the circumstances described in this Agreement.

The Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement will continue indefinitely until terminated by written consent of the parties hereto, or if earlier, upon the date that all of the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

2. At-Will Employment. The Company and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive’s employment is and will continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law.

3. Severance Benefits.

(a) Qualifying Non-CIC Termination. On a Qualifying Non-CIC Termination, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:

(i) Salary Severance. Continuing payment of Executive’s Salary in accordance with Company’s standard payroll procedures for a period of twelve (12) months, in each case subject to applicable withholdings.

(ii) COBRA Coverage. Subject to Section 3(d), the Company will pay the premiums for coverage under COBRA for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents, if any, at the rates then in effect, subject to any subsequent changes in rates that are generally applicable to the Company’s active employees (the “COBRA Coverage”), until the earliest of (A) a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, (B) the date upon which the Executive (and the Executive’s eligible dependents, as applicable) becomes covered under similar plans, or (C) the date upon which the Executive ceases to be eligible for coverage under COBRA.

(b) Qualifying CIC Termination. On a Qualifying CIC Termination during the Change in Control Period, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:

(i) Salary Severance. A single, lump sum payment equal to eighteen (18) months of the Executive’s Salary, less applicable withholdings.


(ii) Bonus Severance. A single, lump sum payment equal to 150% of Executive’s Target Bonus.

(iii) COBRA Coverage. Subject to Section 3(d), the Company will provide COBRA Coverage until the earliest of (A) a period of eighteen (18) months from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, (B) the date upon which the Executive (and the Executive’s eligible dependents, as applicable) becomes covered under similar plans, or (C) the date upon which the Executive ceases to be eligible for coverage under COBRA.

(iv) Equity Vesting Acceleration. Vesting acceleration (and exercisability, as applicable) as to 100% of the then-unvested shares subject to each of the Executive’s then-outstanding compensatory equity awards issued by the Company. In the case of an equity award with performance-based vesting, unless otherwise specified in the applicable equity award agreement governing such award, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target.

(c) Termination Other Than a Qualifying Termination. If the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group is not a Qualifying Termination, then the Executive will not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits.

(d) Conditions to Receipt of COBRA Coverage. The Executive’s receipt of COBRA Coverage is subject to the Executive electing COBRA continuation coverage within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents, if any. If the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the COBRA Coverage without potentially violating, or being subject to an excise tax under, applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then in lieu of any COBRA Coverage, the Company will provide to the Executive a taxable monthly payment payable on the last day of a given month (except as provided by the immediately following sentence), in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that the Executive would be required to pay to continue his or her group health coverage in effect on the date of his or her Qualifying Termination (which amount will be based on the premium rates applicable for the first month of COBRA Coverage for the Executive and any of eligible dependents of the Executive) (each, a “COBRA Replacement Payment”), which COBRA Replacement Payments will be made regardless of whether the Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage and will end on the earlier of (x) the date upon which the Executive obtains other employment or (y) the date the Company has paid an amount totaling the number of COBRA Replacement Payments equal to the number of months in the applicable COBRA Coverage period. For the avoidance of doubt, the COBRA Replacement Payments may be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to continuation coverage under COBRA, and will be subject to any applicable withholdings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under this Agreement, if the Company determines in its sole discretion at any time that it cannot provide the COBRA Replacement Payments without violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Executive will not receive the COBRA Replacement Payments or any further COBRA Coverage.

 

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(e) Non-Duplication of Payment or Benefits. For purposes of clarity, in the event of a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination, any severance payments and benefits to be provided to the Executive under Section 3(b) will be reduced by any amounts that already were provided to the Executive under Section 3(a). Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is entitled to any cash severance, continued health coverage benefits, or vesting acceleration of any equity awards (other than under this Agreement) by operation of applicable law or under a plan, policy, contract, or arrangement sponsored by or to which any member of the Company Group is a party (“Other Benefits”), then the corresponding severance payments and benefits under this Agreement will be reduced by the amount of Other Benefits paid or provided to the Executive.

(f) Death of the Executive. In the event of the Executive’s death before all payments or benefits the Executive is entitled to receive under this Agreement have been provided, the unpaid amounts will be provided to the Executive’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the Executive’s personal representative in a single lump sum as soon as possible following the Executive’s death.

(g) Transfer Between Members of the Company Group. For purposes of this Agreement, if the Executive is involuntarily transferred from one member of the Company Group to another, the transfer will not be a termination without Cause but may give the Executive the ability to resign for Good Reason.

(h) Exclusive Remedy. In the event of a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the provisions of this Agreement are intended to be and are exclusive and in lieu of any other rights or remedies to which the Executive may otherwise be entitled, whether at law, tort or contract, or in equity. The Executive will be entitled to no benefits, compensation or other payments or rights upon termination of employment other than those benefits expressly set forth in this Agreement.

4. Accrued Compensation. On any termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the Executive will be entitled to receive all accrued but unpaid vacation, expense reimbursements, wages, and other benefits due to the Executive under any Company-provided plans, policies, and arrangements.

5. Conditions to Receipt of Severance.

(a) Separation Agreement and Release of Claims. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive signing and not revoking the Company’s then-standard separation agreement and release of claims (which may include an agreement not to disparage any member of the Company Group, non-solicit provisions, an agreement to assist in any litigation matters, and other standard terms and conditions) (the “Release” and that requirement, the “Release Requirement”), which must become effective and irrevocable no later than the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s Qualifying Termination (the “Release Deadline”). If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline, the Executive will forfeit any right to severance payments or benefits under Section 3.

 

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(b) Payment Timing. Any lump sum payments under Sections 3(a) and 3(b) will be provided on the first regularly scheduled payroll date of the Company following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable (the “Severance Start Date”), subject to any delay required by Section 5(d) below. Any taxable installments of any COBRA-related severance benefits that otherwise would have been made to the Executive on or before the Severance Start Date will be paid on the Severance Start Date, and any remaining installments thereafter will be provided as specified in the Agreement. Any restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, and/or similar full value awards that accelerate vesting under Section 3(b)(iv) will be settled (x) on a date no later than ten (10) days following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable, or (y) if later, in the event of a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination, on a date no later than the Change in Control.

(c) Return of Company Property. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive returning all documents and other property provided to the Executive by any member of the Company Group (with the exception of a copy of the Company employee handbook and personnel documents specifically relating to the Executive), developed or obtained by the Executive in connection with his or her employment with the Company Group, or otherwise belonging to the Company Group.

(d) Section 409A. The Company intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any guidance promulgated under Section 409A of the Code (collectively, “Section 409A”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities in this Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with this intent. No payment or benefits to be paid to the Executive, if any, under this Agreement or otherwise, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits that are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be paid or otherwise provided until the Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. If, at the time of the Executive’s termination of employment, the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the payment of the Deferred Payments will be delayed to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, which generally means that the Executive will receive payment on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date that is 6 months and 1 day following the Executive’s termination of employment. The Company reserves the right to amend this Agreement as it considers necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Executive or any other individual, to comply with any provision required to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A or to otherwise avoid income recognition under Section 409A prior to the actual payment of any benefits or imposition of any additional tax. Each payment, installment, and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). In no event will any member of the Company Group reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless the Executive for any taxes, penalties and interest that may be imposed, or other costs that may be incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

(e) Resignation of Officer and Director Positions. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive resigning from all officer and director positions with all members of the Company Group and the Executive executing any documents the Company may require in connection with the same.

 

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6. Limitation on Payments.

(a) Reduction of Severance Benefits. If any payment or benefit that the Executive would receive from any Company Group member or any other party whether in connection with the provisions in this Agreement or otherwise (the “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payment will be equal to the Best Results Amount. The “Best Results Amount” will be either (x) the full amount of the Payment or (y) a lesser amount that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of those amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting parachute payments is necessary so that the Payment equals the Best Results Amount, reduction will occur in the following order: (A) reduction of cash payments in reverse chronological order (that is, the cash payment owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the Excise Tax will be the first cash payment to be reduced); (B) cancellation of equity awards that were granted “contingent on a change in ownership or control” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the most recently granted equity awards will be cancelled first); (C) reduction of the accelerated vesting of equity awards in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the vesting of the most recently granted equity awards will be cancelled first); and (D) reduction of employee benefits in reverse chronological order (that is, the benefit owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the Excise Tax will be the first benefit to be reduced). In no event will the Executive have any discretion with respect to the ordering of Payment reductions. The Executive will be solely responsible for the payment of all personal tax liability that is incurred as a result of the payments and benefits received under this Agreement, and the Executive will not be reimbursed, indemnified, or held harmless by any member of the Company Group for any of those payments of personal tax liability.

(b) Determination of Excise Tax Liability. Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in writing, the Company will select a professional services firm (the “Firm”) to make all determinations required under this Section 6, which determinations will be conclusive and binding upon the Executive and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 6, the Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Executive will furnish to the Firm such information and documents as the Firm reasonably may request in order to make determinations under this Section 6. The Company will bear the costs and make all payments for the Firm’s services in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 6. The Company will have no liability to the Executive for the determinations of the Firm.

7. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement will have the following meanings:

(a) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(b) “Cause” means:

 

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(i) any material breach by Executive of any material written agreement between Executive and any member of the Company Group, and Executive’s failure to cure such breach to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(ii) any failure by Executive to comply with the Company’s material written policies or rules as they may be in effect from time to time;

(iii) neglect or persistent unsatisfactory performance of Executive’s duties and Executive’s failure to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(iv) Executive’s repeated failure to follow reasonable and lawful instructions from the Company and Eligible Employee’s failure to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(v) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony, any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or any other act of moral turpitude, or any crime that results in, or is reasonably expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or reputation of the Company;

(vi) Executive’s intentional material damage to the Company’s business, property or reputation;

(vii) Executive’s intentional unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Executive owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship any member of the Company Group; or

(viii) Executive’s gross misconduct.

(c) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, will not be considered a Change in Control; or

(ii) a change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this clause (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

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(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For purposes of this clause (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period beginning three (3) months prior to a Change in Control and ending twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

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

(g) “Company Group” means the Company and any subsidiaries of the Company.

(h) “Confidentiality Agreement” means the At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement executed on July 1, 2019 by the Executive and the Executive’s former employing entity, which was then-named Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

(i) “Disability” means a total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(j) “Good Reason” means the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group by the Executive in accordance with the next sentence after the occurrence of one or more of the following events without the Executive’s express written consent: (i) a material reduction of the Executive’s duties, authorities, or responsibilities relative to the Executive’s duties, authorities, or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to the reduction (for avoidance of doubt, if Executive has public reporting responsibilities prior to a Change in Control, not having similar responsibilities with a publicly-traded parent entity following such Change in Control will be considered a material reduction of duties, authority or responsibilities); (ii) a reduction by a Company Group member in the Executive’s rate of annual base salary by more than 10%; provided, however, that, a reduction of annual base salary

 

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that also applies to substantially all other similarly situated employees of the Company Group members will not constitute “Good Reason”; (iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Executive’s primary work facility or location by more than thirty-five (35) miles from the Executive’s then present location; provided, that a relocation to a location that is within thirty-five (35) miles from the Executive’s then-present primary residence will not be considered a material change in geographic location; provided further, that if the Executive is permitted to primarily work remotely, termination of such remote worker status will be considered a material change in geographic location; or (iv) failure of a successor corporation to assume the obligations under this Agreement as contemplated by Section 8. In order for the termination of the Executive’s employment with a Company Group member to be for Good Reason, the Executive must not terminate employment without first providing written notice to the Company of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and a cure period of thirty (30) days following the date of written notice (the “Cure Period”), the grounds must not have been cured during that time, and the Executive must terminate the Executive’s employment within thirty (30) days following the Cure Period.

(k) “Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination” means a Qualifying CIC Termination that occurs prior to the date of the Change in Control.

(l) “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of the Executive’s employment either (i) by a Company Group member without Cause (excluding by reason of Executive’s death or Disability) or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in either case, during the Change in Control Period (a “Qualifying CIC Termination”) or outside of the Change in Control Period (a “Qualifying Non-CIC Termination”).

(m) “Salary” means the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Qualifying Termination (or if the termination is due to a resignation for Good Reason based on a material reduction in base salary, then the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the reduction) or, if the Executive’s Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination and the amount is greater, at the level in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.

(n) “Target Bonus” means Executive’s annual (or annualized, as applicable) target bonus in effect immediately prior to Executive’s Qualifying Termination or, if greater, Executive’s annual (or annualized, if applicable) target bonus in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.

8. Successors. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the heirs, executors, and legal representatives of the Executive upon the Executive’s death, and (b) any successor of the Company. Any such successor of the Company will be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “successor” means any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company. None of the rights of the Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any other attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition of the Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits will be null and void.

 

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9. Notice.

(a) General. All notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and will be effectively given (i) upon actual delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) upon transmission by email, (iii) twenty-four (24) hours after confirmed facsimile transmission, (iv) one (1) business day after deposit with a recognized overnight courier, or (v) three (3) business days after deposit with the U.S. Postal Service by first class certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed (A) if to the Executive, at the address the Executive shall have most recently furnished to the Company in writing, (B) if to the Company, at the following address:

Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

6200 Lookout Rd.

Boulder, CO 80301

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

(b) Notice of Termination. Any termination by a Company Group member for Cause will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Executive, and any termination by the Executive for Good Reason will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Company, in each case given in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement. The notice will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination under the provision so indicated, and will specify the termination date (which will be not more than thirty (30) days after the giving of the notice.

10. Resignation. The termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason will also constitute, without any further required action by the Executive, the Executive’s voluntary resignation from all officer and/or director positions held at any member of the Company Group, and at the Board’s request, the Executive will execute any documents reasonably necessary to reflect the resignations.

11. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor will any payment be reduced by any earnings that the Executive may receive from any other source except as specified in Section 3(e).

(b) Waiver; Amendment. No provision of this Agreement will be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Executive) and by the Executive. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party will be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(c) Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

 

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(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes in their entirety all prior representations, understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether expressed or implied) of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other employment letter or agreement, severance policy or program, or equity award agreement.

(e) Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to Colorado’s conflicts of law rules that may result in the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Colorado. To the extent that any lawsuit is permitted under this Agreement, Employee hereby expressly consents to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Colorado for any lawsuit filed against the Executive by the Company.

(f) Arbitration. Any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone under this Agreement (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, stockholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, shall be subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(g) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.

(h) Withholding. All payments and benefits under this Agreement will be paid less applicable withholding taxes. The Company is authorized to withhold from any payments or benefits all federal, state, local, and/or foreign taxes required to be withheld from the payments or benefits and make any other required payroll deductions. No member of the Company Group will pay the Executive’s taxes arising from or relating to any payments or benefits under this Agreement.

(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows.]

 

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By its signature below, each of the parties signifies its acceptance of the terms of this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer.

 

COMPANY     ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Benjamin Hohl

    Name: Benjamin Hohl
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
    Date: February 23, 2023
EXECUTIVE    

/s/ Samuel Kintz

    Samuel Kintz
    Date: February 23, 2023

 

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EX-10.12

Exhibit 10.12

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CHANGE IN CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

This Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made between Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) and Helen Collins (the “Executive”), effective as of February 23, 2023 (the “Effective Date”).

This Agreement provides certain protections to the Executive in connection with a change in control of the Company or in connection with the involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment under the circumstances described in this Agreement.

The Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement will continue indefinitely until terminated by written consent of the parties hereto, or if earlier, upon the date that all of the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

2. At-Will Employment. The Company and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive’s employment is and will continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law.

3. Severance Benefits.

(a) Qualifying Non-CIC Termination. On a Qualifying Non-CIC Termination, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:

(i) Salary Severance. Continuing payment of Executive’s Salary in accordance with Company’s standard payroll procedures for a period of nine (9) months, in each case subject to applicable withholdings.

(ii) COBRA Coverage. Subject to Section 3(d), the Company will pay the premiums for coverage under COBRA for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents, if any, at the rates then in effect, subject to any subsequent changes in rates that are generally applicable to the Company’s active employees (the “COBRA Coverage”), until the earliest of (A) a period of nine (9) months from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, (B) the date upon which the Executive (and the Executive’s eligible dependents, as applicable) becomes covered under similar plans, or (C) the date upon which the Executive ceases to be eligible for coverage under COBRA.

(b) Qualifying CIC Termination. On a Qualifying CIC Termination during the Change in Control Period, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:

(i) Salary Severance. A single, lump sum payment equal to twelve (12) months of the Executive’s Salary, less applicable withholdings.


(ii) Bonus Severance. A single, lump sum payment equal to 100% of Executive’s Target Bonus.

(iii) COBRA Coverage. Subject to Section 3(d), the Company will provide COBRA Coverage until the earliest of (A) a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, (B) the date upon which the Executive (and the Executive’s eligible dependents, as applicable) becomes covered under similar plans, or (C) the date upon which the Executive ceases to be eligible for coverage under COBRA.

(iv) Equity Vesting Acceleration. Vesting acceleration (and exercisability, as applicable) as to 100% of the then-unvested shares subject to each of the Executive’s then-outstanding compensatory equity awards issued by the Company. In the case of an equity award with performance-based vesting, unless otherwise specified in the applicable equity award agreement governing such award, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target.

(c) Termination Other Than a Qualifying Termination. If the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group is not a Qualifying Termination, then the Executive will not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits.

(d) Conditions to Receipt of COBRA Coverage. The Executive’s receipt of COBRA Coverage is subject to the Executive electing COBRA continuation coverage within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents, if any. If the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the COBRA Coverage without potentially violating, or being subject to an excise tax under, applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then in lieu of any COBRA Coverage, the Company will provide to the Executive a taxable monthly payment payable on the last day of a given month (except as provided by the immediately following sentence), in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that the Executive would be required to pay to continue his or her group health coverage in effect on the date of his or her Qualifying Termination (which amount will be based on the premium rates applicable for the first month of COBRA Coverage for the Executive and any of eligible dependents of the Executive) (each, a “COBRA Replacement Payment”), which COBRA Replacement Payments will be made regardless of whether the Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage and will end on the earlier of (x) the date upon which the Executive obtains other employment or (y) the date the Company has paid an amount totaling the number of COBRA Replacement Payments equal to the number of months in the applicable COBRA Coverage period. For the avoidance of doubt, the COBRA Replacement Payments may be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to continuation coverage under COBRA, and will be subject to any applicable withholdings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under this Agreement, if the Company determines in its sole discretion at any time that it cannot provide the COBRA Replacement Payments without violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Executive will not receive the COBRA Replacement Payments or any further COBRA Coverage.

 

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(e) Non-Duplication of Payment or Benefits. For purposes of clarity, in the event of a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination, any severance payments and benefits to be provided to the Executive under Section 3(b) will be reduced by any amounts that already were provided to the Executive under Section 3(a). Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is entitled to any cash severance, continued health coverage benefits, or vesting acceleration of any equity awards (other than under this Agreement) by operation of applicable law or under a plan, policy, contract, or arrangement sponsored by or to which any member of the Company Group is a party (“Other Benefits”), then the corresponding severance payments and benefits under this Agreement will be reduced by the amount of Other Benefits paid or provided to the Executive.

(f) Death of the Executive. In the event of the Executive’s death before all payments or benefits the Executive is entitled to receive under this Agreement have been provided, the unpaid amounts will be provided to the Executive’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the Executive’s personal representative in a single lump sum as soon as possible following the Executive’s death.

(g) Transfer Between Members of the Company Group. For purposes of this Agreement, if the Executive is involuntarily transferred from one member of the Company Group to another, the transfer will not be a termination without Cause but may give the Executive the ability to resign for Good Reason.

(h) Exclusive Remedy. In the event of a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the provisions of this Agreement are intended to be and are exclusive and in lieu of any other rights or remedies to which the Executive may otherwise be entitled, whether at law, tort or contract, or in equity. The Executive will be entitled to no benefits, compensation or other payments or rights upon termination of employment other than those benefits expressly set forth in this Agreement.

4. Accrued Compensation. On any termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the Executive will be entitled to receive all accrued but unpaid vacation, expense reimbursements, wages, and other benefits due to the Executive under any Company-provided plans, policies, and arrangements.

5. Conditions to Receipt of Severance.

(a) Separation Agreement and Release of Claims. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive signing and not revoking the Company’s then-standard separation agreement and release of claims (which may include an agreement not to disparage any member of the Company Group, non-solicit provisions, an agreement to assist in any litigation matters, and other standard terms and conditions) (the “Release” and that requirement, the “Release Requirement”), which must become effective and irrevocable no later than the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s Qualifying Termination (the “Release Deadline”). If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline, the Executive will forfeit any right to severance payments or benefits under Section 3.

 

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(b) Payment Timing. Any lump sum payments under Sections 3(a) and 3(b) will be provided on the first regularly scheduled payroll date of the Company following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable (the “Severance Start Date”), subject to any delay required by Section 5(d) below. Any taxable installments of any COBRA-related severance benefits that otherwise would have been made to the Executive on or before the Severance Start Date will be paid on the Severance Start Date, and any remaining installments thereafter will be provided as specified in the Agreement. Any restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, and/or similar full value awards that accelerate vesting under Section 3(b)(iv) will be settled (x) on a date no later than ten (10) days following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable, or (y) if later, in the event of a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination, on a date no later than the Change in Control.

(c) Return of Company Property. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive returning all documents and other property provided to the Executive by any member of the Company Group (with the exception of a copy of the Company employee handbook and personnel documents specifically relating to the Executive), developed or obtained by the Executive in connection with his or her employment with the Company Group, or otherwise belonging to the Company Group.

(d) Section 409A. The Company intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any guidance promulgated under Section 409A of the Code (collectively, “Section 409A”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities in this Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with this intent. No payment or benefits to be paid to the Executive, if any, under this Agreement or otherwise, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits that are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be paid or otherwise provided until the Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. If, at the time of the Executive’s termination of employment, the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the payment of the Deferred Payments will be delayed to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, which generally means that the Executive will receive payment on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date that is 6 months and 1 day following the Executive’s termination of employment. The Company reserves the right to amend this Agreement as it considers necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Executive or any other individual, to comply with any provision required to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A or to otherwise avoid income recognition under Section 409A prior to the actual payment of any benefits or imposition of any additional tax. Each payment, installment, and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). In no event will any member of the Company Group reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless the Executive for any taxes, penalties and interest that may be imposed, or other costs that may be incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

(e) Resignation of Officer and Director Positions. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive resigning from all officer and director positions with all members of the Company Group and the Executive executing any documents the Company may require in connection with the same.

 

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6. Limitation on Payments.

(a) Reduction of Severance Benefits. If any payment or benefit that the Executive would receive from any Company Group member or any other party whether in connection with the provisions in this Agreement or otherwise (the “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payment will be equal to the Best Results Amount. The “Best Results Amount” will be either (x) the full amount of the Payment or (y) a lesser amount that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of those amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting parachute payments is necessary so that the Payment equals the Best Results Amount, reduction will occur in the following order: (A) reduction of cash payments in reverse chronological order (that is, the cash payment owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the Excise Tax will be the first cash payment to be reduced); (B) cancellation of equity awards that were granted “contingent on a change in ownership or control” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the most recently granted equity awards will be cancelled first); (C) reduction of the accelerated vesting of equity awards in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the vesting of the most recently granted equity awards will be cancelled first); and (D) reduction of employee benefits in reverse chronological order (that is, the benefit owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the Excise Tax will be the first benefit to be reduced). In no event will the Executive have any discretion with respect to the ordering of Payment reductions. The Executive will be solely responsible for the payment of all personal tax liability that is incurred as a result of the payments and benefits received under this Agreement, and the Executive will not be reimbursed, indemnified, or held harmless by any member of the Company Group for any of those payments of personal tax liability.

(b) Determination of Excise Tax Liability. Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in writing, the Company will select a professional services firm (the “Firm”) to make all determinations required under this Section 6, which determinations will be conclusive and binding upon the Executive and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 6, the Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Executive will furnish to the Firm such information and documents as the Firm reasonably may request in order to make determinations under this Section 6. The Company will bear the costs and make all payments for the Firm’s services in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 6. The Company will have no liability to the Executive for the determinations of the Firm.

7. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement will have the following meanings:

(a) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(b) “Cause” means:

 

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(i) any material breach by Executive of any material written agreement between Executive and any member of the Company Group, and Executive’s failure to cure such breach to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(ii) any failure by Executive to comply with the Company’s material written policies or rules as they may be in effect from time to time;

(iii) neglect or persistent unsatisfactory performance of Executive’s duties and Executive’s failure to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(iv) Executive’s repeated failure to follow reasonable and lawful instructions from the Company and Eligible Employee’s failure to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(v) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony, any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or any other act of moral turpitude, or any crime that results in, or is reasonably expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or reputation of the Company;

(vi) Executive’s intentional material damage to the Company’s business, property or reputation;

(vii) Executive’s intentional unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Executive owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship any member of the Company Group; or

(viii) Executive’s gross misconduct.

(c) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, will not be considered a Change in Control; or

(ii) a change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this clause (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

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(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For purposes of this clause (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period beginning three (3) months prior to a Change in Control and ending twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

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

(g) “Company Group” means the Company and any subsidiaries of the Company.

(h) “Confidentiality Agreement” means the At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement executed on February 10, 2021 by the Executive and the Executive’s former employing entity, which was then-named Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

(i) “Disability” means a total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(j) “Good Reason” means the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group by the Executive in accordance with the next sentence after the occurrence of one or more of the following events without the Executive’s express written consent: (i) a material reduction of the Executive’s duties, authorities, or responsibilities relative to the Executive’s duties, authorities, or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to the reduction (for avoidance of doubt, if Executive has public reporting responsibilities prior to a Change in Control, not having similar responsibilities with a publicly-traded parent entity following such Change in Control will be considered a material reduction of duties, authority or responsibilities); (ii) a reduction by a Company Group member in the Executive’s rate of annual base salary by more than 10%; provided, however, that, a reduction of annual base salary

 

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that also applies to substantially all other similarly situated employees of the Company Group members will not constitute “Good Reason”; (iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Executive’s primary work facility or location by more than thirty-five (35) miles from the Executive’s then present location; provided, that a relocation to a location that is within thirty-five (35) miles from the Executive’s then-present primary residence will not be considered a material change in geographic location; provided further, that if the Executive is permitted to primarily work remotely, termination of such remote worker status will be considered a material change in geographic location; or (iv) failure of a successor corporation to assume the obligations under this Agreement as contemplated by Section 8. In order for the termination of the Executive’s employment with a Company Group member to be for Good Reason, the Executive must not terminate employment without first providing written notice to the Company of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and a cure period of thirty (30) days following the date of written notice (the “Cure Period”), the grounds must not have been cured during that time, and the Executive must terminate the Executive’s employment within thirty (30) days following the Cure Period.

(k) “Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination” means a Qualifying CIC Termination that occurs prior to the date of the Change in Control.

(l) “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of the Executive’s employment either (i) by a Company Group member without Cause (excluding by reason of Executive’s death or Disability) or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in either case, during the Change in Control Period (a “Qualifying CIC Termination”) or outside of the Change in Control Period (a “Qualifying Non-CIC Termination”).

(m) “Salary” means the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Qualifying Termination (or if the termination is due to a resignation for Good Reason based on a material reduction in base salary, then the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the reduction) or, if the Executive’s Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination and the amount is greater, at the level in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.

(n) “Target Bonus” means Executive’s annual (or annualized, as applicable) target bonus in effect immediately prior to Executive’s Qualifying Termination or, if greater, Executive’s annual (or annualized, if applicable) target bonus in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.

8. Successors. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the heirs, executors, and legal representatives of the Executive upon the Executive’s death, and (b) any successor of the Company. Any such successor of the Company will be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “successor” means any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company. None of the rights of the Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any other attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition of the Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits will be null and void.

 

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9. Notice.

(a) General. All notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and will be effectively given (i) upon actual delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) upon transmission by email, (iii) twenty-four (24) hours after confirmed facsimile transmission, (iv) one (1) business day after deposit with a recognized overnight courier, or (v) three (3) business days after deposit with the U.S. Postal Service by first class certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed (A) if to the Executive, at the address the Executive shall have most recently furnished to the Company in writing, (B) if to the Company, at the following address:

Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

6200 Lookout Rd.

Boulder, CO 80301

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

(b) Notice of Termination. Any termination by a Company Group member for Cause will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Executive, and any termination by the Executive for Good Reason will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Company, in each case given in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement. The notice will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination under the provision so indicated, and will specify the termination date (which will be not more than thirty (30) days after the giving of the notice.

10. Resignation. The termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason will also constitute, without any further required action by the Executive, the Executive’s voluntary resignation from all officer and/or director positions held at any member of the Company Group, and at the Board’s request, the Executive will execute any documents reasonably necessary to reflect the resignations.

11. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor will any payment be reduced by any earnings that the Executive may receive from any other source except as specified in Section 3(e).

(b) Waiver; Amendment. No provision of this Agreement will be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Executive) and by the Executive. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party will be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(c) Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

 

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(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes in their entirety all prior representations, understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether expressed or implied) of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other employment letter or agreement, severance policy or program, or equity award agreement.

(e) Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to Colorado’s conflicts of law rules that may result in the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Colorado. To the extent that any lawsuit is permitted under this Agreement, Employee hereby expressly consents to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Colorado for any lawsuit filed against the Executive by the Company.

(f) Arbitration. Any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone under this Agreement (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, stockholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, shall be subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(g) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.

(h) Withholding. All payments and benefits under this Agreement will be paid less applicable withholding taxes. The Company is authorized to withhold from any payments or benefits all federal, state, local, and/or foreign taxes required to be withheld from the payments or benefits and make any other required payroll deductions. No member of the Company Group will pay the Executive’s taxes arising from or relating to any payments or benefits under this Agreement.

(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows.]

 

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By its signature below, each of the parties signifies its acceptance of the terms of this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer.

 

COMPANY     ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Samuel Kintz

    Name: Samuel Kintz
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
    Date: February 23, 2023
EXECUTIVE    

/s/ Helen Collins

    Helen Collins
    Date: February 23, 2023

 

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EX-10.13

Exhibit 10.13

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CHANGE IN CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

This Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made between Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) and Benjamin Hohl (the “Executive”), effective as of February 23, 2023 (the “Effective Date”).

This Agreement provides certain protections to the Executive in connection with a change in control of the Company or in connection with the involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment under the circumstances described in this Agreement.

The Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement will continue indefinitely until terminated by written consent of the parties hereto, or if earlier, upon the date that all of the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

2. At-Will Employment. The Company and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive’s employment is and will continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law.

3. Severance Benefits.

(a) Qualifying Non-CIC Termination. On a Qualifying Non-CIC Termination, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:

(i) Salary Severance. Continuing payment of Executive’s Salary in accordance with Company’s standard payroll procedures for a period of nine (9) months, in each case subject to applicable withholdings.

(ii) COBRA Coverage. Subject to Section 3(d), the Company will pay the premiums for coverage under COBRA for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents, if any, at the rates then in effect, subject to any subsequent changes in rates that are generally applicable to the Company’s active employees (the “COBRA Coverage”), until the earliest of (A) a period of nine (9) months from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, (B) the date upon which the Executive (and the Executive’s eligible dependents, as applicable) becomes covered under similar plans, or (C) the date upon which the Executive ceases to be eligible for coverage under COBRA.

(b) Qualifying CIC Termination. On a Qualifying CIC Termination during the Change in Control Period, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following payments and benefits from the Company:

(i) Salary Severance. A single, lump sum payment equal to twelve (12) months of the Executive’s Salary, less applicable withholdings.


(ii) Bonus Severance. A single, lump sum payment equal to 100% of Executive’s Target Bonus.

(iii) COBRA Coverage. Subject to Section 3(d), the Company will provide COBRA Coverage until the earliest of (A) a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, (B) the date upon which the Executive (and the Executive’s eligible dependents, as applicable) becomes covered under similar plans, or (C) the date upon which the Executive ceases to be eligible for coverage under COBRA.

(iv) Equity Vesting Acceleration. Vesting acceleration (and exercisability, as applicable) as to 100% of the then-unvested shares subject to each of the Executive’s then-outstanding compensatory equity awards issued by the Company. In the case of an equity award with performance-based vesting, unless otherwise specified in the applicable equity award agreement governing such award, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target.

(c) Termination Other Than a Qualifying Termination. If the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group is not a Qualifying Termination, then the Executive will not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits.

(d) Conditions to Receipt of COBRA Coverage. The Executive’s receipt of COBRA Coverage is subject to the Executive electing COBRA continuation coverage within the time period prescribed pursuant to COBRA for the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents, if any. If the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the COBRA Coverage without potentially violating, or being subject to an excise tax under, applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then in lieu of any COBRA Coverage, the Company will provide to the Executive a taxable monthly payment payable on the last day of a given month (except as provided by the immediately following sentence), in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that the Executive would be required to pay to continue his or her group health coverage in effect on the date of his or her Qualifying Termination (which amount will be based on the premium rates applicable for the first month of COBRA Coverage for the Executive and any of eligible dependents of the Executive) (each, a “COBRA Replacement Payment”), which COBRA Replacement Payments will be made regardless of whether the Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage and will end on the earlier of (x) the date upon which the Executive obtains other employment or (y) the date the Company has paid an amount totaling the number of COBRA Replacement Payments equal to the number of months in the applicable COBRA Coverage period. For the avoidance of doubt, the COBRA Replacement Payments may be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to continuation coverage under COBRA, and will be subject to any applicable withholdings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under this Agreement, if the Company determines in its sole discretion at any time that it cannot provide the COBRA Replacement Payments without violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Executive will not receive the COBRA Replacement Payments or any further COBRA Coverage.

 

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(e) Non-Duplication of Payment or Benefits. For purposes of clarity, in the event of a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination, any severance payments and benefits to be provided to the Executive under Section 3(b) will be reduced by any amounts that already were provided to the Executive under Section 3(a). Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is entitled to any cash severance, continued health coverage benefits, or vesting acceleration of any equity awards (other than under this Agreement) by operation of applicable law or under a plan, policy, contract, or arrangement sponsored by or to which any member of the Company Group is a party (“Other Benefits”), then the corresponding severance payments and benefits under this Agreement will be reduced by the amount of Other Benefits paid or provided to the Executive.

(f) Death of the Executive. In the event of the Executive’s death before all payments or benefits the Executive is entitled to receive under this Agreement have been provided, the unpaid amounts will be provided to the Executive’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the Executive’s personal representative in a single lump sum as soon as possible following the Executive’s death.

(g) Transfer Between Members of the Company Group. For purposes of this Agreement, if the Executive is involuntarily transferred from one member of the Company Group to another, the transfer will not be a termination without Cause but may give the Executive the ability to resign for Good Reason.

(h) Exclusive Remedy. In the event of a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the provisions of this Agreement are intended to be and are exclusive and in lieu of any other rights or remedies to which the Executive may otherwise be entitled, whether at law, tort or contract, or in equity. The Executive will be entitled to no benefits, compensation or other payments or rights upon termination of employment other than those benefits expressly set forth in this Agreement.

4. Accrued Compensation. On any termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the Executive will be entitled to receive all accrued but unpaid vacation, expense reimbursements, wages, and other benefits due to the Executive under any Company-provided plans, policies, and arrangements.

5. Conditions to Receipt of Severance.

(a) Separation Agreement and Release of Claims. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive signing and not revoking the Company’s then-standard separation agreement and release of claims (which may include an agreement not to disparage any member of the Company Group, non-solicit provisions, an agreement to assist in any litigation matters, and other standard terms and conditions) (the “Release” and that requirement, the “Release Requirement”), which must become effective and irrevocable no later than the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s Qualifying Termination (the “Release Deadline”). If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline, the Executive will forfeit any right to severance payments or benefits under Section 3.

 

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(b) Payment Timing. Any lump sum payments under Sections 3(a) and 3(b) will be provided on the first regularly scheduled payroll date of the Company following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable (the “Severance Start Date”), subject to any delay required by Section 5(d) below. Any taxable installments of any COBRA-related severance benefits that otherwise would have been made to the Executive on or before the Severance Start Date will be paid on the Severance Start Date, and any remaining installments thereafter will be provided as specified in the Agreement. Any restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, and/or similar full value awards that accelerate vesting under Section 3(b)(iv) will be settled (x) on a date no later than ten (10) days following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable, or (y) if later, in the event of a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination, on a date no later than the Change in Control.

(c) Return of Company Property. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive returning all documents and other property provided to the Executive by any member of the Company Group (with the exception of a copy of the Company employee handbook and personnel documents specifically relating to the Executive), developed or obtained by the Executive in connection with his or her employment with the Company Group, or otherwise belonging to the Company Group.

(d) Section 409A. The Company intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any guidance promulgated under Section 409A of the Code (collectively, “Section 409A”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities in this Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with this intent. No payment or benefits to be paid to the Executive, if any, under this Agreement or otherwise, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits that are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be paid or otherwise provided until the Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. If, at the time of the Executive’s termination of employment, the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the payment of the Deferred Payments will be delayed to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, which generally means that the Executive will receive payment on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date that is 6 months and 1 day following the Executive’s termination of employment. The Company reserves the right to amend this Agreement as it considers necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Executive or any other individual, to comply with any provision required to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A or to otherwise avoid income recognition under Section 409A prior to the actual payment of any benefits or imposition of any additional tax. Each payment, installment, and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). In no event will any member of the Company Group reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless the Executive for any taxes, penalties and interest that may be imposed, or other costs that may be incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

(e) Resignation of Officer and Director Positions. The Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits upon the Executive’s Qualifying Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive resigning from all officer and director positions with all members of the Company Group and the Executive executing any documents the Company may require in connection with the same.

 

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6. Limitation on Payments.

(a) Reduction of Severance Benefits. If any payment or benefit that the Executive would receive from any Company Group member or any other party whether in connection with the provisions in this Agreement or otherwise (the “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payment will be equal to the Best Results Amount. The “Best Results Amount” will be either (x) the full amount of the Payment or (y) a lesser amount that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of those amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting parachute payments is necessary so that the Payment equals the Best Results Amount, reduction will occur in the following order: (A) reduction of cash payments in reverse chronological order (that is, the cash payment owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the Excise Tax will be the first cash payment to be reduced); (B) cancellation of equity awards that were granted “contingent on a change in ownership or control” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the most recently granted equity awards will be cancelled first); (C) reduction of the accelerated vesting of equity awards in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the vesting of the most recently granted equity awards will be cancelled first); and (D) reduction of employee benefits in reverse chronological order (that is, the benefit owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the Excise Tax will be the first benefit to be reduced). In no event will the Executive have any discretion with respect to the ordering of Payment reductions. The Executive will be solely responsible for the payment of all personal tax liability that is incurred as a result of the payments and benefits received under this Agreement, and the Executive will not be reimbursed, indemnified, or held harmless by any member of the Company Group for any of those payments of personal tax liability.

(b) Determination of Excise Tax Liability. Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in writing, the Company will select a professional services firm (the “Firm”) to make all determinations required under this Section 6, which determinations will be conclusive and binding upon the Executive and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 6, the Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Executive will furnish to the Firm such information and documents as the Firm reasonably may request in order to make determinations under this Section 6. The Company will bear the costs and make all payments for the Firm’s services in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 6. The Company will have no liability to the Executive for the determinations of the Firm.

7. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement will have the following meanings:

(a) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(b) “Cause” means:

 

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(i) any material breach by Executive of any material written agreement between Executive and any member of the Company Group, and Executive’s failure to cure such breach to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(ii) any failure by Executive to comply with the Company’s material written policies or rules as they may be in effect from time to time;

(iii) neglect or persistent unsatisfactory performance of Executive’s duties and Executive’s failure to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(iv) Executive’s repeated failure to follow reasonable and lawful instructions from the Company and Eligible Employee’s failure to cure such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof;

(v) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony, any crime involving fraud, embezzlement or any other act of moral turpitude, or any crime that results in, or is reasonably expected to result in, a material adverse effect on the business or reputation of the Company;

(vi) Executive’s intentional material damage to the Company’s business, property or reputation;

(vii) Executive’s intentional unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Executive owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship any member of the Company Group; or

(viii) Executive’s gross misconduct.

(c) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, will not be considered a Change in Control; or

(ii) a change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this clause (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

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(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For purposes of this clause (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period beginning three (3) months prior to a Change in Control and ending twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

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

(g) “Company Group” means the Company and any subsidiaries of the Company.

(h) “Confidentiality Agreement” means the At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement executed on August 1, 2021 by the Executive and the Executive’s former employing entity, which was then-named Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

(i) “Disability” means a total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(j) “Good Reason” means the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group by the Executive in accordance with the next sentence after the occurrence of one or more of the following events without the Executive’s express written consent: (i) a material reduction of the Executive’s duties, authorities, or responsibilities relative to the Executive’s duties, authorities, or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to the reduction (for avoidance of doubt, if Executive has public reporting responsibilities prior to a Change in Control, not having similar responsibilities with a publicly-traded parent entity following such Change in Control will be considered a material reduction of duties, authority or responsibilities); (ii) a reduction by a Company Group member in the Executive’s rate of annual base salary by more than 10%; provided, however, that, a reduction of annual base salary

 

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that also applies to substantially all other similarly situated employees of the Company Group members will not constitute “Good Reason”; (iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Executive’s primary work facility or location by more than thirty-five (35) miles from the Executive’s then present location; provided, that a relocation to a location that is within thirty-five (35) miles from the Executive’s then-present primary residence will not be considered a material change in geographic location; provided further, that if the Executive is permitted to primarily work remotely, termination of such remote worker status will be considered a material change in geographic location; or (iv) failure of a successor corporation to assume the obligations under this Agreement as contemplated by Section 8. In order for the termination of the Executive’s employment with a Company Group member to be for Good Reason, the Executive must not terminate employment without first providing written notice to the Company of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and a cure period of thirty (30) days following the date of written notice (the “Cure Period”), the grounds must not have been cured during that time, and the Executive must terminate the Executive’s employment within thirty (30) days following the Cure Period.

(k) “Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination” means a Qualifying CIC Termination that occurs prior to the date of the Change in Control.

(l) “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of the Executive’s employment either (i) by a Company Group member without Cause (excluding by reason of Executive’s death or Disability) or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, in either case, during the Change in Control Period (a “Qualifying CIC Termination”) or outside of the Change in Control Period (a “Qualifying Non-CIC Termination”).

(m) “Salary” means the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Qualifying Termination (or if the termination is due to a resignation for Good Reason based on a material reduction in base salary, then the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the reduction) or, if the Executive’s Qualifying Termination is a Qualifying CIC Termination and the amount is greater, at the level in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.

(n) “Target Bonus” means Executive’s annual (or annualized, as applicable) target bonus in effect immediately prior to Executive’s Qualifying Termination or, if greater, Executive’s annual (or annualized, if applicable) target bonus in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.

8. Successors. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the heirs, executors, and legal representatives of the Executive upon the Executive’s death, and (b) any successor of the Company. Any such successor of the Company will be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “successor” means any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company. None of the rights of the Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any other attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition of the Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits will be null and void.

 

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9. Notice.

(a) General. All notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and will be effectively given (i) upon actual delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) upon transmission by email, (iii) twenty-four (24) hours after confirmed facsimile transmission, (iv) one (1) business day after deposit with a recognized overnight courier, or (v) three (3) business days after deposit with the U.S. Postal Service by first class certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed (A) if to the Executive, at the address the Executive shall have most recently furnished to the Company in writing, (B) if to the Company, at the following address:

Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.

6200 Lookout Rd.

Boulder, CO 80301

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

(b) Notice of Termination. Any termination by a Company Group member for Cause will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Executive, and any termination by the Executive for Good Reason will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Company, in each case given in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement. The notice will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination under the provision so indicated, and will specify the termination date (which will be not more than thirty (30) days after the giving of the notice.

10. Resignation. The termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason will also constitute, without any further required action by the Executive, the Executive’s voluntary resignation from all officer and/or director positions held at any member of the Company Group, and at the Board’s request, the Executive will execute any documents reasonably necessary to reflect the resignations.

11. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor will any payment be reduced by any earnings that the Executive may receive from any other source except as specified in Section 3(e).

(b) Waiver; Amendment. No provision of this Agreement will be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Executive) and by the Executive. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party will be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(c) Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

 

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(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes in their entirety all prior representations, understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether expressed or implied) of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other employment letter or agreement, severance policy or program, or equity award agreement.

(e) Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to Colorado’s conflicts of law rules that may result in the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Colorado. To the extent that any lawsuit is permitted under this Agreement, Employee hereby expressly consents to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Colorado for any lawsuit filed against the Executive by the Company.

(f) Arbitration. Any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone under this Agreement (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, stockholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, shall be subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(g) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.

(h) Withholding. All payments and benefits under this Agreement will be paid less applicable withholding taxes. The Company is authorized to withhold from any payments or benefits all federal, state, local, and/or foreign taxes required to be withheld from the payments or benefits and make any other required payroll deductions. No member of the Company Group will pay the Executive’s taxes arising from or relating to any payments or benefits under this Agreement.

(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows.]

 

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By its signature below, each of the parties signifies its acceptance of the terms of this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer.

 

COMPANY     ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Samuel Kintz

    Name:   Samuel Kintz
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer
    Date:   February 23, 2023
EXECUTIVE    

/s/ Benjamin Hohl

    Benjamin Hohl
    Date: February 23, 2023

 

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EX-10.14

Exhibit 10.14

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

OUTSIDE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY

Adopted and approved February 23, 2023 (the “Effective Date”)

Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) believes that providing cash and equity compensation to members of its Board of Directors (the “Board,” and members of the Board, the “Directors”) represents an effective tool to attract, retain and reward Directors who are not employees of the Company (the “Outside Directors”). This Outside Director Compensation Policy (the “Policy”) is intended to formalize the Company’s policy regarding cash compensation and grants of equity awards to its Outside Directors. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Policy will have the meaning given such term in the Company’s Amended and Restated 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (or if such plan no longer is in use at the time of the grant of an equity award, the meaning given such term or any similar term in the equity plan then in place under which such equity award is granted) (such applicable plan, the “Plan”). Each Outside Director will be solely responsible for any tax obligations incurred by such Outside Director as a result of the equity awards and cash and other compensation such Outside Director receives under this Policy.

Subject to Section 8 of this Policy, this Policy will be effective as of the Effective Date.

1. CASH COMPENSATION

a. Annual Cash Retainers for Service as Outside Director. Each Outside Director will be paid a cash retainer of $35,000 per year. There are no per-meeting attendance fees for attending Board meetings or meetings of any committee of the Board.

b. Additional Annual Cash Retainers for Service as Committee Chair and Committee Member

i. As of the Effective Date, each Outside Director who serves as the chair or a member of a committee of the Board will be eligible to earn additional annual fees as follows:

 

Audit Committee Chair:

   $ 15,000  

Member of Audit Committee:

   $ 7,500  

Compensation Committee Chair:

   $ 10,000  

Member of Compensation Committee:

   $ 5,000  

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair:

   $ 8,000  

Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

   $ 4,000  

For clarity, each Outside Director who serves as the chair of a committee will receive only the additional annual fee as the chair of the committee and not the additional annual fee as a member of such committee while serving as such chair.


c. Payments. Each annual cash retainer under this Policy will be paid quarterly in arrears on a prorated basis to each Outside Director who has served in the relevant capacity at any point during the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company (“Fiscal Quarter”), and such payment will be made no later than thirty (30) days following the end of such immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter. For purposes of clarity, an Outside Director who has served as an Outside Director, as a member of an applicable committee (or chair thereof) during only a portion of the relevant Fiscal Quarter will receive a prorated payment of the quarterly payment of the applicable annual cash retainer(s), calculated based on the number of days during such Fiscal Quarter such Outside Director has served in the relevant capacities. For purposes of clarity, an Outside Director who has served as an Outside Director, as a member of an applicable committee (or chair thereof), as applicable, from the Effective Date through the end of the Fiscal Quarter containing the Effective Date (the “Initial Period”) will receive a prorated payment of the quarterly payment of the applicable annual cash retainer(s), calculated based on the number of days during the Initial Period that such Outside Director has served in the relevant capacities.

2. EQUITY COMPENSATION

Outside Directors will be eligible to receive all types of Awards (except Incentive Stock Options) under the Plan, including discretionary Awards not covered under this Policy. All grants of Awards to Outside Directors pursuant to Section 2 of this Policy will be automatic and nondiscretionary, except as otherwise provided herein, and will be made in accordance with the following provisions:

a. No Discretion. No person will have any discretion to select which Outside Directors will be granted any Awards under this Policy or to determine the number of shares of Common Stock (“Shares”) to be covered by such Awards, except as provided in Sections 2(e)(ii) and 8 below.

b. Merger Awards. Each individual who is an Outside Director as of the Effective Date (an “Existing Director”) will be granted an award of stock options (an “Option,” and such award, a “Merger Award”) to purchase a number of Shares having a Value (as defined below) of $500,000 (provided that the Merger Award granted to the Outside Director who serves as the Non-Executive Chair of the Board (the “Chair”) will have a Value of $625,000), with any resulting fraction rounded down to the nearest whole Share; provided that the number of Shares subject to a Merger Award will not exceed 64,923 (81,153 with respect to the Chair) (meaning, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Value of a Merger Award automatically will be reduced as applicable in order to prevent the number of Shares subject to such Merger Award from exceeding 64,923 (81,153 with respect to the Chair)), with such limit subject to equitable adjustment by the Board in the event of a capitalization adjustment described in Section 9(a) of the Plan. The Merger Award will be granted automatically on the first Trading Day on or after the Effective Date. Each Merger Award will be scheduled to vest in equal monthly installments over the next thirty-six (36) months on the same day of each relevant month as the applicable vesting date, in each case subject to the Outside Director continuing to be an Outside Director through the applicable vesting date.

c. Initial Awards. Each individual who first becomes an Outside Director following the Effective Date and who does not receive a Merger Award will be granted an award of Options (an “Initial Award”) to purchase a number of Shares having a Value (as defined below) of $500,000, with any resulting fraction rounded down to the nearest whole Share;

 

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provided that the number of Shares subject to an Initial Award will not exceed 64,923 (meaning, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Value of an Initial Award automatically will be reduced as applicable in order to prevent the number of Shares subject to such Initial Award from exceeding 64,923), with such limit subject to equitable adjustment by the Board in the event of a capitalization adjustment described in Section 9(a) of the Plan. The Initial Award will be granted automatically on the first Trading Day on or after the date on which such individual first becomes an Outside Director (the first date as an Outside Director, the “Initial Start Date”), whether through election by the Company’s stockholders or appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy. If an individual was a member of the Board and also an employee, becoming an Outside Director due to termination of employment will not entitle the Outside Director to an Initial Award. Each Initial Award will be scheduled to vest in equal monthly installments over the next thirty-six (36) months on the same day of each relevant month as the applicable vesting date, in each case subject to the Outside Director continuing to be an Outside Director through the applicable vesting date.

d. Annual Award. On the first Trading Day immediately following the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of the Company’s stockholders (an “Annual Meeting”) and each Annual Meeting occurring thereafter, each Outside Director automatically will be granted an award of Options (an “Annual Award”) to purchase a number of Shares having a Value (as defined below) of $250,000 (provided that an Annual Award granted to the Chair will have a Value of $312,500), with any resulting fraction rounded down to the nearest whole Share; provided that the first Annual Award granted to an individual who first becomes an Outside Director following the Effective Date will have a Value equal to the product of (A) $250,000 multiplied by (B) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the number of fully completed months between the applicable Initial Start Date and the date of the first Annual Meeting to occur after such individual first becomes an Outside Director, and (ii) the denominator of which is twelve (12); and provided further that the number of Shares subject to an Annual Award will not exceed 32,461 (40,576 with respect to the Chair) (meaning, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Value of an Annual Award automatically will be reduced as applicable in order to prevent the number of Shares subject to such Annual Award from exceeding 32,461 (40,576 with respect to the Chair)), with such limit subject to equitable adjustment by the Board in the event of a capitalization adjustment described in Section 9(a) of the Plan and automatic pro rata adjustment pursuant to the terms of this subsection with respect to the first Annual Award granted to an individual who first becomes an Outside Director following the Effective Date. Each Annual Award will be scheduled to vest in full on the first anniversary of the date on which the Annual Award is granted, in each case subject to the Outside Director continuing to be an Outside Director through the applicable vesting date.

e. Additional Terms of Merger Awards, Initial Awards and Annual Awards. The terms and conditions of each Initial Award and Annual Award will be as follows:

i. Each Merger Award, Initial Award and Annual Award will be granted under and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable form of Award Agreement previously approved by the Board or its Designated Committee (as defined below), as applicable, for use thereunder.

 

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ii. Revisions. The Board or any committee of the Board designed by the Board with appropriate authority (the “Designated Committee”), as applicable and in its discretion, may change and otherwise revise the terms of Merger Awards, Initial Awards and Annual Awards granted under this Policy, including, without limitation, the number of Shares subject thereto and type of Award.

iii. For purposes of this Policy, “Value” means the grant date fair value as determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or such other methodology the Board or any Designated Committee, as applicable, may determine prior to the grant of the applicable Award becoming effective.

3. OTHER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Outside Directors also may be eligible to receive other compensation and benefits, as may be determined by the Board or its Designated Committee, as applicable, from time to time.

4. CHANGE IN CONTROL

In the event of a Reorganization Event that constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i) (a “Change in Control”), each Outside Director will fully vest in his or her outstanding Company equity awards as of immediately prior to a Change in Control, including any Initial Awards and Annual Awards, provided that the Outside Director continues to be an Outside Director through the date of the Change in Control.

5. ANNUAL COMPENSATION LIMIT

No Outside Director may be granted Awards with Values, and be provided cash retainers or fees, with amounts that, in any fiscal year of the Company (“Fiscal Year”), in the aggregate, exceed $750,000, provided that, in the Fiscal Year containing an Outside Director’s Initial Start Date, such limit will be increased to $1,000,000. Any Awards or other compensation provided to an individual (a) for his or her services as an employee, or for his or her services as an advisor or consultant other than as an Outside Director, or (b) prior to the Effective Date, will be excluded for purposes of the foregoing limit.

6. TRAVEL EXPENSES

Each Outside Director’s reasonable, customary, and properly documented, out-of-pocket travel expenses to meetings of the Board and any of its committees, as applicable, will be reimbursed by the Company.

7. CODE SECTION 409A

In no event will cash compensation or expense reimbursement payments under this Policy be paid after the later of (a) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the compensation is earned or expenses are incurred, as applicable, or (b) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following the end of the calendar year in which the compensation is earned or expenses are incurred, as applicable, in

 

4


compliance with the “short-term deferral” exception under Code Section 409A. It is the intent of this Policy that this Policy and all payments hereunder be exempt or excepted from or otherwise comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A so that none of the compensation to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein will be interpreted to be so exempt or comply. In no event will the Company or any affiliate have any responsibility, liability or obligation to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless an Outside Director or any other person for any taxes imposed, or other costs incurred, as a result of Code Section 409A.

8. REVISIONS

The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate this Policy at any time and for any reason. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of this Policy will materially impair the rights of an Outside Director with respect to compensation that already has been paid or awarded, unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing between the Outside Director and the Company. Termination of this Policy will not affect the Board’s or the Designated Committee’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it with respect to Awards granted pursuant to this Policy prior to the date of such termination, including without limitation such applicable powers set forth in the Plan.

*         *         *

 

5

EX-10.16

Exhibit 10.16

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [insert date], and is between Enliven Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [insert name of indemnitee] (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

A.    Indemnitee’s service to the Company substantially benefits the Company.

B.    Individuals are reluctant to serve as directors, officers or consultants of corporations or in certain other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or indemnification against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of such service.

C.    Indemnitee does not regard the protection currently provided by applicable law, the Company’s governing documents and any insurance as adequate under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as a director, officer or consultant without additional protection.

D.    In order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to contractually obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, Indemnitee as permitted by applicable law.

E.    This Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the indemnification provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and this Agreement shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor shall this Agreement be deemed to limit, diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

The parties therefore agree as follows:

1.    Definitions.

(a)    A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

(i)    Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

(ii)    Change in Board Composition. During any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Company’s board of directors, and any new directors (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 1(a)(i), 1(a)(iii) or 1(a)(iv)) whose election by the board of directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Company’s board of directors;


(iii)    Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

(iv)    Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

(v)    Other Events. Any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

For purposes of this Section 1(a), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1)    “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(2)    “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that “Beneficial Owner” shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of (i) the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity or (ii) the Company’s board of directors approving a sale of securities by the Company to such Person.

(b)    “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise.

(c)    “DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

(d)    “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(e)    “Enterprise” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary.

(f)    “Expenses” include all reasonable and actually incurred attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and costs of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements

 

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or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or their equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 12(d), Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(g)    “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a partner or member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than as Independent Counsel with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(h)    “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, including any appeal therefrom and including without limitation any such Proceeding pending as of the date of this Agreement, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, a potential party, a non-party witness or otherwise by reason of (i) the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer or consultant of the Company, (ii) any action taken by Indemnitee or any action or inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director, officer or consultant of the Company, or (iii) the fact that he or she is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

(i)    Reference to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, consultant or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, consultant or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

2.    Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 2, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

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3.    Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

4.    Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. To the extent that Indemnitee is a party to or a participant in and is successful (on the merits or otherwise) in defense of any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. For purposes of this section, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

5.    Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. To the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

6.    Additional Indemnification.

(a)    Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 2, 3 or 4, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with the Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein.

(b)    For purposes of Section 6(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

(i)    the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL; and

(ii)    the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers, directors or consultants.

 

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7.    Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

(a)    for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid, subject to any subrogation rights set forth in Section 15;

(b)    for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

(d)    initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Company’s board of directors authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, (iii) otherwise authorized in Section 12(d) or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law; or

(e)    if prohibited by applicable law.

8.    Advances of Expenses. The Company shall advance the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding prior to its final disposition, and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than 90 days, after the receipt by the Company of a written statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by Indemnitee in connection with such Expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditure made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be included with the invoice). Advances shall be unsecured and interest free and made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay such advances. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. This Section 8 shall not apply to the extent advancement is prohibited by law and shall not apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) for which indemnity is not permitted under this Agreement, but shall apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) referenced in Section 7(b) or 7(c) prior to a determination that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

9.    Procedures for Notification and Defense of Claim.

(a)    Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include, in reasonable detail, a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights, except to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

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(b)    If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a Proceeding pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect that may be applicable to the Proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of the Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company shall thereafter take all commercially-reasonable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(c)    In the event the Company may be obligated to make any indemnity in connection with a Proceeding, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee for any fees or expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding. Notwithstanding the Company’s assumption of the defense of any such Proceeding, the Company shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s separate counsel to the extent (i) the employment of separate counsel by Indemnitee is authorized by the Company, (ii) counsel for the Company or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there is a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense such that Indemnitee needs to be separately represented, (iii) the Company is not financially or legally able to perform its indemnification obligations or (iv) the Company shall not have retained, or shall not continue to retain, counsel to defend such Proceeding. The Company shall have the right to conduct such defense as it sees fit in its sole discretion. Regardless of any provision in this Agreement, Indemnitee shall have the right to employ counsel in any Proceeding at Indemnitee’s personal expense. The Company shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Company.

(d)    Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation in connection with the Proceeding as may be reasonably appropriate.

(e)    The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee for any settlement of any Proceeding (or any part thereof) without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(f)    The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (or any part thereof) in a manner that imposes any penalty or liability on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

10.    Procedures upon Application for Indemnification.

(a)    To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and as is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of the Proceeding. Any delay in providing the request will not relieve the Company from its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent such failure is prejudicial.

(b)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a), a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Company’s board of directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Company’s board of directors, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote

 

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of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Company’s board of directors, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Company’s board of directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Company’s board of directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information that is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and that is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

(c)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 10(b), the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 10(c). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company’s board of directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Company’s board of directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after the later of (i) submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding, the parties have not agreed upon an Independent Counsel, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 10(b) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

(d)    The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of any Independent Counsel.

11.    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a)    In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption.

 

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(b)    The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

(c)    Neither the knowledge, actions nor failure to act of any other director, officer, consultant, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

12.    Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a)    Subject to Section 12(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 or 12(d) of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement within 90 days after the later of the receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification or the final disposition of the Proceeding, (iv) payment of indemnification pursuant to this Agreement is not made (A) within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or (B) with respect to indemnification pursuant to Sections 4, 5 and 12(d) of this Agreement, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) the Company or any other person or entity takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration with respect to his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses, to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration in accordance with this Agreement.

(b)    Neither (i) the failure of the Company, its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders to have made a determination that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor (ii) an actual determination by the Company, its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

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(c)    To the fullest extent not prohibited by law, the Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statements not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d)    To the extent not prohibited by law, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses that are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to the extent Indemnitee is successful in such action, and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than 90 days, after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, subject to the provisions of Section 8.

(e)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

13.    Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amounts incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the events and transactions giving rise to such Proceeding; and (ii) the relative fault of Indemnitee and the Company (and its other directors, officers, employees, consultants and agents) in connection with such events and transactions.

14.    Non-exclusivity. The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change, subject to the restrictions expressly set forth herein or therein. Except as expressly set forth herein, no right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. Except as expressly set forth herein, the assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

15.    Primary Responsibility. The Company acknowledges that to the extent Indemnitee is serving as a director on the Company’s board of directors at the request or direction of a venture capital fund or other entity and/or certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Secondary Indemnitors”), Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by such Secondary

 

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Indemnitors. The Company agrees that, as between the Company and the Secondary Indemnitors, the Company is primarily responsible for amounts required to be indemnified or advanced under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement and any obligation of the Secondary Indemnitors to provide indemnification or advancement for the same amounts is secondary to those Company obligations. To the extent not in contravention of any insurance policy or policies providing liability or other insurance for the Company or any director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise, the Company waives any right of contribution or subrogation against the Secondary Indemnitors with respect to the liabilities for which the Company is primarily responsible under this Section 15. In the event of any payment by the Secondary Indemnitors of amounts otherwise required to be indemnified or advanced by the Company under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement, the Secondary Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of expenses under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement or, to the extent such subrogation is unavailable and contribution is found to be the applicable remedy, shall have a right of contribution with respect to the amounts paid. The Secondary Indemnitors are express third-party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 15.

16.    No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment for such amounts under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

17.    Insurance. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, trustees, general partners, managing members, officers, employees, consultants, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or any other Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies to the same extent as the most favorably-insured persons under such policy or policies in a comparable position.

18.    Subrogation. In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

19.    Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, officer or consultant of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or is removed from such position. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that any employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, with or without notice, except as may be otherwise expressly provided in any executed, written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), any existing formal severance policies adopted by the Company’s board of directors or, with respect to service as a director, officer or consultant of the Company, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or the DGCL. No such document shall be subject to any oral modification thereof.

20.    Duration. This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of (a) ten years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer or consultant of the Company

 

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or as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary of any other Enterprise, as applicable; or (b) one year after the final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement relating thereto.

21.    Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, including any direct or indirect successor, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

22.    Severability. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (ii) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (iii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

23.    Enforcement. The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or consultant of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or consultant of the Company.

24.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable law.

25.    Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement shall adversely affect any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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26.    Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, sent by facsimile or electronic mail or otherwise delivered by hand, messenger or courier service addressed:

(a)    if to Indemnitee, to Indemnitee’s address, facsimile number or electronic mail address as shown on the signature page of this Agreement or in the Company’s records, as may be updated in accordance with the provisions hereof; or

(b)    if to the Company, to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company at 6200 Lookout Road, Boulder, CO 80301, or at such other current address as the Company shall have furnished to Indemnitee, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Tony Jeffries, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., 650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304.

Each such notice or other communication shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated as effective or having been given (i) if delivered by hand, messenger or courier service, when delivered (or if sent via a nationally-recognized overnight courier service, freight prepaid, specifying next-business-day delivery, one business day after deposit with the courier), (ii) if sent via mail, at the earlier of its receipt or five days after the same has been deposited in a regularly-maintained receptacle for the deposit of the United States mail, addressed and mailed as aforesaid, or (iii) if sent via facsimile, upon confirmation of facsimile transfer or, if sent via electronic mail, upon confirmation of delivery when directed to the relevant electronic mail address, if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, or if not sent during normal business hours of the recipient, then on the recipient’s next business day.

27.    Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801, as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

28.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

29.    Captions. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

(signature page follows)

 

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The parties are signing this Indemnification Agreement as of the date stated in the introductory sentence.

 

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

(Signature)

 

(Print name)

 

(Title)

[INSERT INDEMNITEE NAME]

 

(Signature)

 

(Print name)

 

(Street address)

 

(City, State and ZIP)

EX-10.18

Exhibit 10.18

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

1.    Purposes of the Plan. The Plan is intended to increase stockholder value and the success of the Company by motivating Employees to (a) perform to the best of their abilities and (b) achieve the Company’s objectives.

2.    Definitions.

2.1    “Actual Award” means as to any Performance Period, the actual award (if any) payable to a Participant for the Performance Period, subject to the authority of the Administrator (as defined in Section 3) under Section 4.4.

2.2    “Administrator” has the meaning ascribed to it under Section 3.1.

2.3    “Affiliate” means any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) that, from time to time and at the time of any determination, directly or indirectly, is in control of or is controlled by the Company.

2.4    “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.5    “Bonus Pool” means the pool of funds available for distribution to Participants. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator establishes the Bonus Pool for each Performance Period.

2.6    “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or formal guidance of general or direct applicability promulgated under such section or regulation, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

2.7    “Committee” means a committee appointed by the Board (pursuant to Section 3) to administer the Plan.

2.8    “Company” means Enliven Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

2.9    “Company Group” means the Company and any Parents, Subsidiaries, and Affiliates.

2.10    “Disability” means a permanent and total disability determined in accordance with uniform and nondiscriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.


2.11    “Employee” means any executive, officer, or other employee of the Company Group, whether such individual is so employed at the time the Plan is adopted or becomes so employed subsequent to the adoption of the Plan.

2.12    “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

2.13    “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).

2.14    “Participant” means as to any Performance Period, an Employee who has been selected by the Administrator for participation in the Plan for that Performance Period and who has, if so requested by the Company or the employing member of the Company Group, signed an acknowledgement form in the form provided by the Company Group.

2.15    “Performance Period” means the period of time for the measurement of the performance criteria that must be met to receive an Actual Award, as determined by the Administrator. A Performance Period may be divided into one or more shorter periods if, for example, but not by way of limitation, the Administrator desires to measure some performance criteria over twelve (12) months and other criteria over three (3) months.

2.16    “Plan” means this Employee Incentive Compensation Plan (including any appendix attached hereto), as may be amended from time to time.

2.17    “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and/or any state law equivalent as each may be amended or promulgated from time to time.

2.18    “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(f), in relation to the Company.

2.19    “Target Award” means the target award, at 100% of target level performance achievement, payable under the Plan to a Participant for a Performance Period, as determined by the Administrator in accordance with Section 4.2.

2.20    “Tax Withholdings” means tax, social insurance and social security liability or premium obligations in connection with the awards under the Plan, including without limitation: (a) all federal, state, and local income, employment and any other taxes (including the Participant’s U.S. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) obligation) that are required to be withheld by the Company Group, (b) the Participant’s and, to the extent required by the Company Group, the fringe benefit tax liability of the Company Group associated with an award under the Plan, and (c) any other taxes or social insurance or social security liabilities or premium the responsibility for which the Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to such award under the Plan.

2.21    “Termination of Employment” means a cessation of the employee-employer relationship between an Employee and the Company Group, including without limitation a termination by resignation, discharge, death, Disability, retirement, or the disaffiliation of a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate. For purposes of the Plan, transfer of employment of a Participant between any members of the Company Group (for example, between the Company and a Subsidiary) will not be deemed a Termination of Employment.

 

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3.    Administration of the Plan.

3.1    Administrator. The Plan will be administered by the Board or a Committee (the “Administrator”). The members of any Committee will be appointed from time to time in a manner that satisfies applicable laws by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board. The Board may retain the authority to administer the Plan concurrently with a Committee and may revoke the delegation of some or all authority previously delegated. Different Administrators may administer the Plan with respect to different groups of Employees. Unless and until the Board otherwise determines, the Board’s Compensation Committee will administer the Plan.

3.2    Administrator Authority. It will be the duty of the Administrator to administer the Plan in accordance with the Plan’s provisions and in accordance with applicable law. The Administrator will have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (a) determine which Employees will be granted awards, (b) prescribe the terms and conditions of awards, (c) interpret the Plan and the awards, (d) adopt such procedures, appendices and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees who are non-U.S. nationals or employed outside of the U.S. or to qualify awards for special tax treatment under the laws of jurisdictions other than the U.S., (e) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and (f) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. Any determinations and decisions made or to be made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, unless specified otherwise by the Administrator, will be in the Administrator’s sole discretion.

3.3    Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Administrator and/or any delegate of the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and will be given the maximum deference permitted by law.

3.4    Delegation by Administrator. The Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or part of its authority and powers under the Plan to one or more directors and/or officers of the Company. Such delegation may be revoked at any time.

3.5    Indemnification. Each person who is or will have been a member of the Administrator will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (a) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan or any award, and (b) from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she will give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification will not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

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4.    Selection of Participants and Determination of Awards.

4.1    Selection of Participants. The Administrator will select the Employees who will be Participants for any Performance Period. Participation in the Plan will be on a Performance Period by Performance Period basis. Accordingly, an Employee who is a Participant for a given Performance Period in no way is guaranteed or assured of being selected for participation in any subsequent Performance Period or Performance Periods. No Employee will have the right to be selected to receive an award under this Plan or, if so selected, to be selected to receive a future award.

4.2    Determination of Target Awards. The Administrator may establish a Target Award for each Participant (which may be expressed as a percentage of a Participant’s average annual base salary for the Performance Period or a fixed dollar amount or such other amount or based on such other formula or factors as the Administrator determines).

4.3    Bonus Pool. Each Performance Period, the Administrator may establish a Bonus Pool, which pool may be established before, during or after the applicable Performance Period. Actual Awards will be paid from the Bonus Pool, if a Bonus Pool has been established.

4.4    Discretion to Modify Awards. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time prior to payment of an Actual Award, may: (a) increase, reduce or eliminate a Participant’s Actual Award, and/or (b) increase, reduce or eliminate the amount allocated to the Bonus Pool. The Actual Award may be below, at or above the Target Award, as determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may determine the amount of any increase, reduction, or elimination based on such factors as it deems relevant, and will not be required to establish any allocation or weighting with respect to the factors it considers.

4.5    Discretion to Determine Criteria. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, the Administrator will determine the performance goals, if any, applicable to any Target Award (or portion thereof) which may include, without limitation, goals related to: (i) research and development, (ii) regulatory milestones or regulatory-related goals, (iii) gross margin, (iv) financial milestones, (v) new product or business development (including geographical expansion) or sales, marketing or other commercial matters, (vi) operating margin, (vii) product release timelines or other product release milestones, (viii) publications, (ix) cash flow, (x) procurement, (xi) savings, (xii) internal structure, (xiii) leadership development, (xiv) project, function or portfolio-specific milestones, (xv) license or research collaboration agreements, (xvi) capital raising, (xvii) patent filings and (xix) individual objectives such as peer reviews or other subjective or objective criteria. As determined by the Administrator, the performance goals may be based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) or non-GAAP results and any actual results may be adjusted by the Administrator for one-time items or unbudgeted or unexpected items and/or payments of Actual Awards under the Plan when determining whether the performance goals have been met. The performance goals may be based on any factors the Administrator determines relevant, including without limitation on an individual, divisional, portfolio, project, business unit, segment or Company-wide basis. Any criteria used may be measured on such basis as the Administrator determines, including without limitation: (a) in absolute terms, (b) in combination with another performance goal or goals (for example, but not by way of limitation, as a ratio or matrix), (c) in relative terms (including, but not limited to, results

 

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for other periods, passage of time and/or against another company or companies or an index or indices), (d) on a per-share basis, (e) against the performance of the Company as a whole or a segment of the Company and/or (f) on a pre-tax or after-tax basis. The performance goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from award to award. Failure to meet the applicable performance goals will result in a failure to earn the Target Award, except as provided in Section 4.4. The Administrator also may determine that a Target Award (or portion thereof) will not have a performance goal associated with it but instead will be granted (if at all) as determined by the Administrator.

4.6    Appendices and Sub-Plan. The Administrator may determine, at any time prior to payment of an Actual Award, that any Target Award or Actual Award (or portion thereof) are subject to any special provisions set forth in a country-specific appendix (or portion thereof) or sub-plan made available to the Participant in connection with this Award Agreement (as may be amended and/or restated from time to time) (collectively, an “Applicable Appendix”). If the Administrator determines that an Applicable Appendix applies, such terms and conditions supplement, amend and/or supersede the terms of this Plan, provided, however, that no such terms or conditions shall be effective with respect to a Participant who is a U.S. taxpayer or otherwise subject to Section 409A unless such terms and conditions would result in the terms of a Target Award or Actual Award to such Participant remaining exempt or excepted from the requirements of Section 409A pursuant to the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception or exemption under Section 409A, or otherwise complying with Section 409A, in each case such that none of this Plan or Actual Awards provided under this Plan to such Participant will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A.

5.    Payment of Awards.

5.1    Right to Receive Payment. Each Actual Award will be paid solely from the general assets of the Company Group. Nothing in this Plan will be construed to create a trust or to establish or evidence any Participant’s claim of any right other than as an unsecured general creditor with respect to any payment to which the Participant may be entitled.

5.1    Timing of Payment. Payment of each Actual Award will be made as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period to which the Actual Award relates and after the Actual Award is approved by the Administrator, but in no event after the later of (a) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month of the Fiscal Year immediately following the Fiscal Year in which the Participant’s Actual Award first becomes no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and (b) March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant’s Actual Award first becomes no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, to earn an Actual Award a Participant must be employed by the Company Group on the date the Actual Award is paid, and in all cases subject to the Administrator’s discretion pursuant to Section 4.4.

5.2    Form of Payment. Subject to the terms of this Plan, including Section 6.1.2, each Actual Award generally will be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum. The Administrator reserves the right to settle an Actual Award with a grant of an equity award with such terms and conditions, including any vesting requirements, as determined by the Administrator.

 

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5.3    Payment in the Event of Death or Disability. If a Termination of Employment occurs due to a Participant’s death or Disability prior to payment of an Actual Award that the Administrator has determined will be paid for a prior Performance Period, then the Actual Award will be paid to the Participant or the Participant’s estate, as the case may be, subject to the Administrator’s discretion pursuant to Section 4.4.

6.    General Provisions.

6.1    Tax Matters.

6.1.1    Section 409A. It is the intent that this Plan be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the payments to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms will be interpreted to be so exempt or so comply. Each payment under this Plan is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). In no event will the Company Group have any liability, obligation, or responsibility to reimburse, indemnify or hold harmless any Participant or other Employee for any taxes, penalties or interest imposed, or other costs incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

6.1.2    Tax Withholdings. The Company Group will have the right and authority to deduct from any Actual Award all applicable Tax Withholdings. Prior to the payment of an Actual Award or such earlier time as any Tax Withholdings are due, the Company Group is permitted to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company Group, an amount sufficient to satisfy any Tax Withholdings with respect to such Actual Award.

6.2    No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any award under the Plan will confer upon a Participant any right regarding continuing the Participant’s relationship as an Employee or other service provider to the Company Group, nor will they interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company Group or the Participant to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by applicable laws.

6.3    Forfeiture Events.

6.3.1    Clawback Policy; Applicable Laws. All awards under the Plan will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company Group is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable laws. In addition, the Administrator may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions with respect to an award under the Plan as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate, including without limitation a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired cash, stock, or other property provided with respect to an award. Unless this Section 6.3.1 is specifically mentioned and waived in a written agreement between a Participant and a member of the Company Group or other document, no recovery of compensation under a clawback policy will give the Participant the right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with a member of the Company Group.

 

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6.3.2    Additional Forfeiture Terms. The Administrator may specify when providing for an award under the Plan that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to the award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of the award. Such events may include, without limitation, termination of the Participant’s status as an Employee for “cause” or any act by a Participant, whether before or after the Participant’s status as an Employee terminates, that would constitute “cause.”

6.3.3    Accounting Restatements. If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, then any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, will reimburse the Company Group the amount of any payment with respect to an award earned or accrued during the twelve (12) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

6.4    Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan, with respect to awards under the Plan, 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 or assets of the Company.

6.5    Nontransferability of Awards. No award under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and except as provided in Section 5.3. All rights with respect to an award granted to a Participant will be available during his or her lifetime only to the Participant.

7.    Amendment, Termination, and Duration.

7.1    Amendment, Suspension, or Termination. The Administrator may amend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan will not, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Actual Award earned by such Participant. No award may be granted during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan. Any payments under this Plan, including the method of calculating such payments, do not create any contractual or other acquired right to participate in a similar Plan, receive any similar payments (or benefits in lieu) or have the Participant’s payments calculated in a certain way in the future. The actual or anticipated value of any awards under the Plan will not be taken into account in assessing any other employment benefits or termination payments, including any payments in lieu of notice or severance, except as required by applicable law.

7.2    Duration of Plan. The Plan will commence on the date first adopted by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board, and subject to Section 7.1 (regarding the Administrator’s right to amend or terminate the Plan), will remain in effect thereafter until terminated.

 

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8.    Legal Construction.

8.1    Gender and Number. Unless otherwise indicated by the context, any feminine term used herein also will include the masculine and any masculine term used herein also will include the feminine; the plural will include the singular and the singular will include the plural.

8.2    Severability. If any provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason in any jurisdiction or as to any Participant, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had not been included.

8.3    Governing Law. The Plan and all awards and all determinations made and actions taken under the Plan will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, but without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this Plan, a Participant’s acceptance of an award is his or her consent to the jurisdiction of the State of Colorado, and agreement that any such litigation will be conducted in Boulder County, Colorado, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Colorado, and no other courts, regardless of where a Participant’s services are performed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Applicable Appendix may provide that, with respect to the Participant, the Plan and one or more awards and determinations actions taken under the Plan will be construed in accordance with and governed by, the country where the Participant permanently resides or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such other jurisdiction as the Applicable Appendix may provide, and may provide for consent to jurisdiction, and agreement that litigation will be conducted in, the country where the Participant permanently resides or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such other jurisdiction as the Applicable Appendix may provide.

8.4    Bonus Plan. The Plan is intended to be a “bonus program” as defined under U.S. Department of Labor regulations section 2510.3-2(c) and will be construed and administered in accordance with such intention.

8.5    Headings. Headings are provided herein for convenience only, and will not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.

9.    Compliance with Applicable Laws. Awards under the Plan (including without limitation the granting of such awards) 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.

 

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PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

You have been designated as a Participant who may be eligible to participate in the Employee Incentive Compensation Plan (“Plan”), subject to meeting the terms of the Plan and this Acknowledgment Form. You must sign and return this Acknowledgment Form to become an eligible Participant in the Plan. Relevant details in relation to your participation in the Plan are set out in the Plan.

By signing below, you acknowledge and agree that you received a copy of the Plan and have read and understand its terms. You acknowledge that you have not relied upon any representations or statements made by the Company or any of its affiliates which are not specifically set out in the Plan. You understand that the Plan, your participation in the Plan and any awards made under the Plan are discretionary and that the Company may amend, suspend, replace or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion in accordance with the terms of the Plan to the full extent permitted under applicable law.

Name:                                                                                  

Signature:                                                                                 Date:                                         

 

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EX-14.1

Exhibit 14.1

ENLIVEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

(Adopted on February 23, 2023)

 

A.

PURPOSE

This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this “Code”) is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

1.    fair and accurate financial reporting;

2.    compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations including, without limitation, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents the Company files with, or submit to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in the Company’s other public communications;

3.    the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code as set forth in this Code;

4.    honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest; and

5.    a culture of honesty and accountability.

This Code applies to all directors, officers and employees (who, unless otherwise specified, will be referred to jointly as “employees”) of Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (together with any subsidiaries, collectively the “Company”), as well as Company contractors, consultants and agents.

This Code serves as a guide, and the Company expects employees to use good judgment and adhere to the high ethical standards to which the Company is committed.

For purposes of this Code, the Company’s General Counsel serves as the Compliance Officer. The Compliance Officer may designate others, from time to time, to assist with the execution of his or her duties under this Code.

Employees are expected to read the policies set forth in this Code and ensure that they understand and comply with them. The Compliance Officer is responsible for applying these policies to specific situations in which questions may arise and has the authority to interpret these policies in any particular situation. You should direct any questions about this Code or the appropriate course of conduct in a particular situation to your manager, the Compliance Officer or Human Resources, who may consult with the Company’s outside legal counsel or the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), as appropriate.

You should read this Code in conjunction with other policies applicable to employees.

 

B.

FINANCIAL REPORTS AND OTHER RECORDS – DISCLOSURE

Employees are responsible for the accurate and complete reporting of financial information within their respective areas and for the timely notification to senior management of financial and non-financial information that may be material to the Company to ensure full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with government agencies or releases to the general public.


Each employee involved in the Company’s disclosure process must familiarize themselves with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company and the business and financial operations of the Company, and must not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent auditors, governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations.

Employees must maintain all of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements in reasonable detail, and reflect the matters to which they relate accurately, fairly and completely. Furthermore, employees must ensure that all books, records, accounts and financial statements conform both to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls. Employees must carefully and properly account for all assets of the Company. Employees may not establish any undisclosed or unrecorded account or fund for any purpose. Employees shall not make any false or misleading entries in the Company’s books or records for any reason, or disburse any corporate funds or other corporate property without adequate supporting documentation and authorization. Employees shall not misclassify transactions related to accounts, business units or accounting periods. Each employee bears responsibility for ensuring that they are not party to a false or misleading accounting entry.

 

C.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

You must act and behave in the Company’s best interests and not based on personal relationships or benefits. You should avoid situations where your personal activities and relationships conflict, or appear to conflict, with the Company’s interests. Examples of conflicts of interest may include: transactions with family members, interests in other businesses, gifts or gratuities and personal use of Company assets.

Evaluating whether a conflict of interest exists can be difficult and may involve a number of considerations. Employees should seek guidance from their manager, the Compliance Officer or Human Resources when they have any questions or doubts.

If an employee is aware of an actual or potential conflict of interest where their interests may conflict with the Company’s interests, or is concerned that a conflict might develop, they should discuss with their manager, the Compliance Officer or Human Resources and then obtain approval from the Compliance Officer before engaging in that activity or accepting something of value.

 

D.

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

Except as otherwise set forth in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, employees owe a duty to the Company to advance the Company’s business interests when the opportunity to do so arises. Employees are prohibited from taking or directing to a third party to take, a business opportunity that is discovered through the use of corporate property, information or position, unless the Company has already been offered the opportunity and turned it down. Employees are further prohibited from competing with the Company directly or indirectly during their employment with the Company and as otherwise provided in any written agreement with the Company.

Sometimes the line between personal and Company benefits is difficult to draw, and sometimes there are both personal and Company benefits in certain activities. Employees should discuss with their manager, the Compliance Officer or Human Resources if they have any questions.

 

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E.

PROTECTION OF ASSETS, CONFIDENTIALITY AND COMMUNICATIONS

All employees should endeavor to protect the Company’s assets and ensure their efficient use. Any suspected incident of fraud or theft should be reported immediately to the employee’s manager or the Compliance Officer for investigation.

In carrying out the Company’s business, employees may learn confidential or proprietary information about the Company, its customers, suppliers or business partners. Confidential or proprietary information of the Company, and of other companies, includes any non-public information that would be harmful to the relevant company or useful to competitors if disclosed.

Employees must maintain the confidentiality of information about the Company and other companies entrusted to them by the Company, use the information only for permissible business purposes and in accordance with any restrictions imposed by the disclosing party, and limit dissemination of the confidential information, both inside and outside the Company, to people who need to know the information for business purposes and who are bound by similar obligations of confidentiality, unless disclosure is authorized or legally mandated.

The obligation to protect confidential information does not end when an employee leaves the Company. Any questions about whether information is confidential should be directed to the Compliance Officer.

Any employee who is contacted by a member of the financial community, the press or any other outside organization or individual, should refer them to the Chief Financial Officer. Any questions on overall business trends, business in different geographies, pricing, suppliers, new products or technologies, lawsuits or disputes or any other aspects of the Company’s business should be referred to the Chief Financial Officer.

 

F.

FAIR DEALING

The Company does not seek competitive advantages through illegal or unethical business practices. Each employee should endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s customers, service providers, suppliers, competitors, business partners and employees. No employee should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any unfair dealing practice.

 

G.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS

All employees must respect and obey all laws when carrying out responsibilities on behalf of the Company and refrain from illegal conduct.

Employees have an obligation to be knowledgeable about specific laws, rules and regulations that apply to their areas of responsibility. If a law conflicts with a policy in this Code, employees must comply with the law.

Any questions as to the applicability of any law should be directed to the Compliance Officer. The following is a brief summary of certain topics about which employees should be aware:

1.    Antitrust. Antitrust laws (or, as they are known in most of the world, “competition” laws) are designed to foster competitive markets and prohibit activities that unreasonably restrain trade. In general, actions taken in combination with another company that unreasonably reduce competition may violate

 

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antitrust laws. Certain types of agreements with competitors (including, but not limited to, agreements on prices and output) are always illegal and may result in criminal penalties such as prison terms for the individuals involved and large fines for the corporations involved. In addition, unilateral actions by a company with market power in the sale or purchase of a particular good or service may violate antitrust laws if those actions unfairly exclude competition. As a result of the numerous antitrust laws and enforcement regimes in various jurisdictions inside and outside the United States, at times it is possible that certain actions may simultaneously violate some jurisdictions’ antitrust laws while not violating other jurisdictions’ antitrust laws.

The Company is dedicated to complying with the numerous laws that govern competition. Any activity that undermines this commitment is unacceptable. The laws governing this area are complex, and employees should reach out to the Compliance Officer before taking any action that may implicate these laws whenever appropriate.

2.    Health, Safety and Environment. The Company works to conduct its business activities and operations in a manner that promotes protection of people and the environment to the extent practicable. Employees are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, rules and regulations governing health, safety and the environment.

3.    Fair Employment Practices. The Company strives to maintain a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Every individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and where discriminatory practices, including harassment, are prohibited.

The Company requires each employee to treat all colleagues in a respectful manner and to forge working relationships that are uniformly free of bias, prejudice and harassment. The Company prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any team member on the basis of race, religion or religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), nationality, national origin, ancestry, immigration status or citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including genetic information or characteristics, or those of a family member), military service or veteran status, marital status or family care status, sexual orientation, family medical leave, gender (including gender identity, gender expression, transgender status or sexual stereotypes), political views or activity, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, or any other basis or classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Any employee who is found to have discriminated against another employee is subject to discipline up to and including termination.

No individual will suffer any reprisals or retaliation for making complaints or reporting any incidents of discrimination or perceived discrimination, or for participating in any investigation of incidents of discrimination or perceived discrimination.

4.    Foreign Corrupt Practices and Anti-Bribery Laws. The Company has a “zero tolerance” policy and strictly prohibits all forms of bribery and corruption, regardless of whether they involve a public official or a private person. Bribery and corruption are antithetical to the Company’s commitment to operating with the utmost integrity and transparency and are also prohibited under the laws of most countries around the world, including pursuant to laws such as the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the United Kingdom Bribery Act of 2010. Employees should seek guidance from the Compliance Officer when they have any questions.

 

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5.    Insider Trading. Under federal and state securities laws, it is illegal to trade in the securities of a company while in possession of material non-public information about that company. Because employees will have knowledge of specific confidential information that is not disclosed outside the Company which may constitute material nonpublic information, trading in the Company’s securities or in the securities of those companies with which the Company does business by employees or persons employees provide material nonpublic information to, could constitute insider trading, violating the law. It is an employee’s responsibility to comply with these laws and not to share material nonpublic information.

6.    Relationship Policy. Conflicts of interest can arise based on the activities of third parties in significant relationships (e.g., domestic partners, dating relationships, etc.). An actual or potential conflict of interest occurs when an individual is in a position to influence a decision that may result in a personal gain for that individual as a result of business dealings with the Company (e.g., a personal relationship with a subordinate employee or vendor). In addition, personal or romantic involvement with a competitor, supplier or subordinate employee of the Company creates an actual or potential conflict of interest.

An employee that is involved in any of the types of relationships or situations described in this policy should immediately and fully disclose the relevant circumstances to their manager or Human Resources for guidance about whether a potential or actual conflict exists. When necessary, the Company will take appropriate action according to the circumstances. In cases where there is an actual or potential conflict because of the relationship between employees or others engaged in business dealings with the Company, even if there is no line of authority or reporting involved, the individual(s) may, at the Company’s sole discretion, be separated by reassignment or terminated from employment. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

7.    Policy Concerning Employment of Relatives. The Company may hire relatives of employees where there are no potential problems of supervision, morale or potential conflicts of interest. Employees who marry or become related will be permitted to continue to work as long as there are no substantial conflicts. Reasonable accommodations will be made when possible in the event a conflict arises. For the purpose of this policy, a relative is any person who is related by blood or marriage or whose relationship with the employee is similar to that of persons who are related by blood or marriage. An employee should immediately and fully disclose the relevant circumstances to Human Resources for guidance about whether a potential or actual conflict exists.

8.    Anti-Money Laundering. The Company is committed to complying fully with all anti-money laundering laws. Money laundering generally involves conducting a transaction to conceal the illegal origins of funds or to facilitate illegal activity. The Company aims to conduct business only with reputable customers involved in legitimate business activities using funds derived from legitimate sources. Employees should avoid engaging in any transaction that is structured in any way that could be viewed as concealing illegal conduct or the tainted nature of the proceeds or assets at issue in the transaction.

9.    U.S. Economic Sanctions Compliance and Export Controls. The Company requires compliance with laws and regulations governing trade in both the United States and in the countries where the Company conducts its business. A number of countries maintain controls on the export of hardware, software and technology. Some of the strictest export controls are maintained by the United States against countries and certain identified individuals or entities that the U.S. government considers unfriendly or as supporting international terrorism. These controls include:

 

  a.

restrictions on the export and reexport of products, services, software, information or technology that can occur via physical shipments, carrying by hand, electronic transmissions (e.g., emails, distribution of source code and software) and verbal communications;

 

-5-


  b.

sanctions and embargoes that restrict activities including exports, monetary payments, travel and the provision of services to certain individuals (including individuals and entities included in, and owned or controlled by an individual or entity included in, the List of Specially Designated Nationals & Blocked Persons, the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List or Foreign Sanctions Evaders List maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or any other applicable list of sanctioned, embargoed, blocked, criminal or debarred persons maintained by any U.S. or non-U.S. government, the European Union, Interpol, the United Nations, the World Bank or any other public international organization relevant to Company business), companies and countries;

 

  c.

international boycotts not sanctioned by the U.S. government that prohibit business activity with a country, its nationals or targeted companies; and

 

  d.

imports of products that are subject to the importing country’s customs laws and regulations, which apply regardless of the mode of transportation, including courier shipments and carrying by hand.

Employees must comply with all applicable trade controls and must not cause the Company to be in violation of those laws. If an employee becomes aware of any information suggesting that the Company has or may in the future engage in a transaction that could violate applicable economic sanctions, they should report this information to the Compliance Officer immediately. In addition, please consult the Compliance Officer in relation to any proposed export of Company products or services.

10.    Keeping the Audit Committee Informed. The Audit Committee plays an important role in ensuring the integrity of the Company’s public reports. If an employee believes that questionable accounting or auditing conduct or practices have occurred or are occurring, they should notify the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. In particular, any employee should promptly bring to the attention of the Audit Committee any information of which they may become aware concerning:

 

  a.

the accuracy of material disclosures made by the Company in its public filings;

 

  b.

material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting;

 

  c.

any evidence of fraud that involves an employee who has a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls or procedures; or

 

  d.

any evidence of a material violation of the policies in this Code regarding financial reporting.

11.    Maintaining and Managing Records. The Company is required by local, state, federal, foreign and other applicable laws, rules and regulations to retain certain records and to follow specific guidelines in managing its records. Records include all recorded information, regardless of medium or characteristics. Civil and criminal penalties for failure to comply with such guidelines can be severe for employees, agents, contractors and the Company.

Additionally, please note that all Company issued devices, computers, hardware, cell phones, media, documents, records and information are the property of the Company. As such, the Company requires employees to cooperate with any request made by the Compliance Officer to preserve or produce any documents, records, information, devices, computers, hardware, cell phones or other media. Employees

 

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should consult with the Compliance Officer regarding the retention of records in the case of an actual or threatened litigation or government investigation. The Compliance Officer will notify employees if a legal hold is placed on records for which employees are responsible. A legal hold suspends all document destruction procedures in order to preserve appropriate records under special circumstances, such as litigation or government investigations. The Compliance Officer determines and identifies what types of records or documents are required to be placed under a legal hold. If a legal hold is placed on records for which employees are responsible, employees must preserve and protect the necessary records in accordance with instructions from the Compliance Officer. Records or supporting documents that are subject to a legal hold must not be destroyed, altered or modified under any circumstance. A legal hold remains effective until it is officially released in writing by the Compliance Officer. If an employee is unsure whether a document has been placed under a legal hold, they should preserve and protect that document while they check with the Compliance Officer.

12.    Political Activities. The Company does not make contributions to political candidates or political parties except as permitted by applicable laws.

Employees engaging in political activity will do so as private citizens and not as representatives of the Company. An employee’s personal lawful political contribution, or decision not to make a contribution, will not influence the employee’s compensation, job security or opportunities for advancement.

 

H.

COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING

1.    Seeking Guidance. Employees are encouraged to seek guidance from their manager, the Compliance Officer or Human Resources when in doubt about the best course of action to take in a particular situation. In most instances, questions regarding this Code should be brought to the attention of the Compliance Officer.

2.    Reporting Violations. If an employee knows of or suspects a violation of this Code, or of applicable laws and regulations (including complaints or concerns about accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters), or an employee has concerns about a situation that they believe does not reflect the Company’s culture and values, the employee must report it immediately to their manager, the Compliance Officer or Human Resources. An employee may also report concerns anonymously at 844-982-1598 or https://www.whistleblowerservices.com/ELVN.

All reports will be kept confidential, to the extent practical, except where disclosure is required to investigate a report or mandated by law. The Company does not permit retaliation of any kind for good faith reports of violations or possible violations.

3.    Investigations. Reported violations will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. As a general matter, the Board will oversee investigations of potential violations by directors or executive officers, and the Compliance Officer will oversee investigations of potential violations by other employees. However, it is imperative that the person reporting the violation not conduct an investigation on their own. Employees are expected to cooperate fully with any appropriately authorized investigation, whether internal or external, into reported violations. Employees should never withhold, tamper with or fail to communicate relevant information in connection with an appropriately authorized investigation.

In addition, employees are expected to maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of an investigation to the extent possible, except as otherwise provided below or by applicable law. Making false statements to or otherwise misleading internal or external auditors, investigators, legal counsel, Company representatives, regulators or other governmental entities may be grounds for immediate termination of employment or other relationship with the Company and also be a criminal act that can result in severe penalties.

 

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4.    Sanctions. Employees who violate this Code may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Moreover, employees who direct or approve of any conduct in violation of this Code, or who have knowledge of such conduct but do not immediately report it may also be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. A director who violates this Code or directs or approves conduct in violation of this Code shall be subject to action as determined by the Board.

Furthermore, violations of some provisions of this Code are illegal and may subject employees to civil and criminal liability.

5.    Disclosure. Nothing in this Code limits or prohibits employees from engaging for a lawful purpose in any “Protected Activity.” “Protected Activity” means filing a charge or complaint, or otherwise communicating, cooperating or participating, with any state, federal or other governmental agency, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board. Notwithstanding any other policies in this Code (or elsewhere), employees are not required to obtain authorization from the Company prior to disclosing information to, or communicating with, such agencies, nor are employees obligated to advise the Company as to any such disclosures or communications. Notwithstanding, in making any such disclosures or communications, employees must take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company confidential information to any parties other than the relevant government agencies. “Protected Activity” does not include the disclosure of any Company attorney-client privileged communications; any such disclosure, without the Company’s written consent, violates Company policy.

 

I.

WAIVERS OF THIS CODE

Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Code must be approved in writing by the Board or, if appropriate, its delegate(s), and promptly disclosed pursuant to applicable laws and regulations. Any waiver or modification of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, or any other persons performing similar functions in the Company will be promptly disclosed to stockholders if and as required by applicable law or the rules of the stock exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed.

 

J.

AMENDMENT

The Company reserves the right to amend this Code at any time, for any reason, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

K.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

All new employees must sign an acknowledgment form confirming that they have read this Code and that they understand and agree to comply with its provisions. Signed acknowledgment forms will be kept in employee personnel files. Failure to read this Code or to sign an acknowledgment form does not excuse any person from the terms of this Code.

 

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

   

I acknowledge that I have received and read the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

 

   

I acknowledge that I understand the standards, policies and procedures contained in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and understand that there may be additional standards, policies, procedures and laws relevant to my position.

 

   

I agree to comply with the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

 

   

I acknowledge that if I have questions concerning the meaning or application of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, any Company policies or the legal or regulatory requirements applicable to my position, it is my responsibility to seek guidance from my manager, the Compliance Officer or Human Resources.

 

   

I acknowledge that neither this Acknowledgment nor the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is meant to vary or supersede the regular terms and conditions of my employment by the Company or to constitute an employment contract.

Please review, sign and return this form to Human Resources.

 

 

(print name)

  

 

(signature)

  

 

(date)

  
EX-16.1

Exhibit 16.1

 

LOGO   

Ernst & Young LLP

200 Clarendon Street

Boston, Ma 02116

 

Tel: (617) 266-2000

Fax: (617) 266-5843

www.ey.com

March 1, 2023

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated February 23, 2023, of Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (Formerly known as IMARA, Inc.) and are in agreement with the statements contained in the first, second, third, and fourth paragraphs on page 4 therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-254978 on Form S-3 and Registration Statements Nos. 333-237117, 333-258538, 333-263554 on Form S-8 of Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. of our report dated November 8, 2022, relating to the financial statements of Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. appearing in this Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 1, 2023.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

San Jose, California

March 1, 2023

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Enliven Therapeutics Closes Merger with Imara and Private Placement of $165 Million

February 23, 2023

Combined company will be focused on advancing Enliven’s clinical-stage pipeline of precision oncology programs

Shares to trade on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbol “ELVN” on February 24, 2023

Combined company is expected to have cash runway into early 2026

BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enliven Therapeutics, Inc. (Enliven) (Nasdaq: ELVN), a clinical-stage precision oncology company focused on the discovery and development of next-generation small molecule kinase inhibitors, today announced the completion of its previously announced merger. The combined company will operate under the name, Enliven Therapeutics, Inc., and its shares will trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on February 24, 2023 under the ticker symbol “ELVN”.

Concurrent with the merger, Enliven completed a $165 million private placement co-led by new investors Fairmount and Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, with participation from additional new investors, including Fidelity Management & Research Company, RA Capital Management, Frazier Life Sciences and Commodore Capital, and support from all of Enliven’s existing institutional investors. Following the transaction, Enliven is expected to have a cash runway through multiple clinical milestones and into early 2026.

“We are thrilled to complete this merger, which will accelerate the development of our differentiated pipeline of small molecule kinase inhibitors to address existing and emerging unmet needs in oncology,” said Sam Kintz, MBA, Enliven’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We are thankful to have stockholder support and a well-respected syndicate of new and existing investors. With a strong financial position, growing pipeline and experienced team, we are well positioned to achieve multiple clinical milestones with our two parallel lead programs and build a leading precision oncology company.”

“We are pleased to announce the completion of our merger with Enliven, which represents an exciting opportunity for our stockholders,” said Rahul Ballal, Ph.D., former President and Chief Executive Officer of Imara. “Enliven has built a promising clinical-stage pipeline of next-generation kinase inhibitors, and we believe in the ability of the team to deliver value to both stockholders and patients.”

Enliven’s Precision Oncology Portfolio

The combined company will focus on advancing Enliven’s pipeline of small molecule kinase inhibitors. The company’s two parallel lead product candidates are in the clinic:

 

   

ELVN-001: a potent, highly selective kinase inhibitor designed to specifically target the BCR-ABL gene fusion, the oncogenic driver for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). ELVN-001 is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in adults with CML. To learn more, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05304377).

 

   

ELVN-002: a potent, selective and irreversible HER2 inhibitor with activity against various HER2 mutations, including Exon 20 insertion mutations (E20IMs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for which there are currently no approved small molecule inhibitors. A Phase 1 clinical trial has been activated to evaluate ELVN-002 in people with cancers harboring an abnormal HER2 gene. To learn more, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05650879).

Enliven is also screening and optimizing the chemistry for multiple programs and expects to make a product candidate nomination for its third program in the first half of 2023.

Transaction Details

In connection with the closing of the merger, Imara enacted a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of its common stock and issued one contingent value right (each, a “CVR”) for each outstanding share of Imara common stock held by stockholders of Imara as of February 22, 2023 (which such CVRs are non-transferrable). Following the reverse stock split and closing of the merger, there are approximately 41.1 million shares of the combined company’s common stock outstanding, with prior Imara stockholders owning approximately 16% and prior Enliven stockholders (including investors in the private placement) holding approximately 84%. There will also be approximately 3.6 million options outstanding with a weighted average strike price of $5.40. Additionally, Rahul Ballal, Ph.D., Imara’s previous President and Chief Executive Officer, has joined Enliven’s board of directors.

Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC, Jefferies and Cowen served as financial advisors and placement agents to Enliven. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as legal counsel to Enliven, and Cooley as legal counsel to the placement agents. SVB Securities served as the exclusive financial advisor and WilmerHale as legal counsel to Imara.

About Enliven Therapeutics

Enliven Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule inhibitors to help patients with cancer live not only longer, but better. Enliven aims to address existing and emerging unmet needs with a precision oncology approach that improves survival and enhances overall patient well-being. Enliven’s discovery process combines deep insights from clinically validated biological targets and differentiated chemistry to design potentially first-in-class or best-in-class therapies. Enliven is based in Boulder, Colorado.


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act)) concerning Enliven and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the management of Enliven, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management of Enliven. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” and other similar expressions or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this communication include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential of, and expectations regarding, Enliven’s programs, including ELVN-001 and ELVN-002; the expected timing to make a product candidate nomination for Enliven’s third program; expectations regarding the sufficiency of the combined company’s capital resources and cash runway; statements by Enliven’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer; and statements by Imara’s former President and Chief Executive Officer. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the limited operating history of Enliven; the significant net losses incurred since its inception; the ability to generate revenue and achieve or maintain profitability; the ability to advance product candidates through preclinical and clinical development; the ability to obtain regulatory approval for, and ultimately commercialize, product candidates; the outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials for product candidates; Enliven’s limited resources; the decision to develop or seek strategic collaborations to develop Enliven’s current or future product candidates in combination with other therapies; Enliven’s lack of experience in commercializing a product candidate; the ability to attract, hire, and retain skilled executive officers and employees; the ability of Enliven to protect its intellectual property and proprietary technologies; the scope of any patent protection Enliven obtains or the loss of any of Enliven’s patent protection; the ability to prevent competitors from commercializing similar or identical product candidates; and reliance on third parties, contract manufacturing organizations, and contract research organizations. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in Enliven’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC as well as the registration statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the SEC by Enliven. Enliven can give no assurance that the conditions to the proposed transactions will be satisfied. Except as required by applicable law, Enliven undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release contains hyperlinks to information that is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this press release.

Contact:

Enliven Investors & Media:

Argot Partners

Enliven@argotpartners.com

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risks described below. The occurrence of any of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects or cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements we have made or may make from time to time. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. We cannot assure you that any of the events discussed below will not occur. Such risks may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on our business and the global economy.

Unless otherwise stated in these risk factors or the context otherwise requires, references in these risk factors to:

 

   

“Enliven” refers to Enliven Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly, Imara Inc.)

 

   

“Former Enliven” refers to Enliven Inc. (formerly, Enliven Therapeutics, Inc.)

 

   

“Merger” refers to the series of transactions, completed on February 23, 2023, on which, among other things, Iguana Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Enliven, merged with and into Former Enliven, with Former Enliven continuing as the wholly owned subsidiary of Enliven and the surviving corporation of the Merger. Following the completion of the Merger, the business conducted by Enliven became the business conducted by Former Enliven.

Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning granted to them in the Company’s definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 23, 2023 (the “definitive proxy statement/prospectus”).

Risk Factor Summary

Enliven is early in its development efforts, with a limited operating history, and it has no products approved for commercial sale, which may make it difficult for you to evaluate its current business and likelihood of success and future viability.

 

   

Former Enliven incurred significant net losses in each period since its inception, and Enliven expects to continue to incur significant net losses for the foreseeable future.

 

   

Former Enliven never generated revenue from product sales and Enliven may never achieve or maintain profitability.

 

   

Enliven is substantially dependent on ELVN-001 and ELVN-002. If Enliven is unable to advance ELVN-001 or ELVN-002 through clinical development, obtain regulatory approval and ultimately commercialize such product candidates, or experiences significant delays in doing so, Enliven’s business will be materially harmed.

 

   

The outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and the results of Enliven’s clinical trials may not satisfy the requirements of the FDA, European Medicines Agency, or EMA, or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities.

 

   

Enliven has limited resources and is currently focusing its efforts on ELVN-001 and ELVN-002 for development in particular indications and advancing its other research programs. As a result, Enliven may fail to capitalize on programs, product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.


   

Enliven’s prospects depend in large part upon developing and commercializing ELVN-001 and ELVN-002 and discovering, developing and commercializing product candidates from its other research programs, and failure to successfully identify, develop and commercialize additional product candidates could impair Enliven’s ability to grow.

 

   

If clinical trials of Enliven’s product candidates fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of regulatory authorities or do not otherwise produce positive results, Enliven would incur additional costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be unable to complete, the development and commercialization of its product candidates.

 

   

The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, EMA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable. If Enliven is ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval of its product candidates, Enliven will be unable to generate product revenue and its business will be substantially harmed.

 

   

Enliven’s success depends on its ability to protect its intellectual property and its proprietary technologies.

 

   

The market price of Enliven’s common stock is expected to be volatile, and the market price of the common stock may drop.

 

   

Enliven may be unable to integrate successfully and realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger.

 

   

Enliven will need substantial additional funding before it can complete the development of its product candidates. If Enliven is unable to obtain such additional capital on favorable terms, on a timely basis or at all, it would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate its product development and clinical programs and may not have the capital required to otherwise operate its business.

 

   

Enliven will continue to incur additional costs and increased demands upon management as a result of complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies.

Risks Related to Enliven’s Limited Operating History, Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital

Enliven is early in its development efforts, with a limited operating history, and it has no products approved for commercial sale, which may make it difficult for you to evaluate its current business and likelihood of success and future viability.

Enliven is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history upon which you can evaluate its business and prospects.

Former Enliven commenced operations in June 2019, has never completed a clinical trial, has no products approved for commercial sale and has never generated any revenue. Drug development is a highly uncertain undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk. To date, Former Enliven has devoted substantially all of its resources to developing ELVN-001 and ELVN-002, its research and development activities, business planning, establishing and maintaining its intellectual property portfolio, hiring personnel, raising capital, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. Enliven is currently evaluating ELVN-001 in a Phase 1 clinical trial in adults with CML, and Enliven filed an IND for ELVN-002 and received clearance of the IND from the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2022. Enliven recently advanced its ELVN-002 program into Phase 1 based on the activation of the first clinical site. Enliven has not initiated clinical trials for any other product candidate.

Enliven has not yet demonstrated its ability to complete any clinical trials, obtain marketing approvals, manufacture a commercial-scale product or arrange for a third party to do so on its behalf, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization. As a result, it may be more difficult for investors to accurately predict Enliven’s likelihood of success and viability than it could be if it had a longer operating history.

 

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In addition, Enliven may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors and risks frequently experienced by early-stage biopharmaceutical companies in rapidly evolving fields. Enliven also expects that, as it advances its product candidates, it will need to transition from a company with a research and development focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. Enliven has not yet demonstrated an ability to successfully overcome such risks and difficulties, or to make such a transition. If Enliven does not adequately address these risks and difficulties or successfully make such a transition, its business will suffer.

Former Enliven has incurred significant net losses in each period since its inception, and Enliven expects to continue to incur significant net losses for the foreseeable future.

Former Enliven incurred significant net losses in each reporting period since its inception, has not generated any revenue to date and has financed its operations principally through private placements of its preferred stock. Former Enliven’s net loss was $24.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of September 30, 2022, Former Enliven had an accumulated deficit of $73.3 million. Enliven is still in the very early stages of development of its product candidates and has not yet completed any clinical trials. As a result, it expects that it will be many years, if ever, before it has commercialized a product and can generate revenue from product sales. Even if it succeeds in receiving marketing approval for and commercializing one or more of its product candidates, it expects that it will continue to incur substantial research and development and other expenses in order to discover, develop and market additional potential products.

Enliven expects to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future. The net losses Enliven incurs may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter such that a period-to-period comparison of its results of operations may not be a good indication of its future performance. The size of Enliven’s future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of future growth of its expenses and its ability to generate revenue. Enliven’s prior losses and expected future losses have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on its working capital, its ability to fund the development of its product candidates and its ability to achieve and maintain profitability and the performance of its stock.

Former Enliven has never generated revenue from product sales and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

Former Enliven has never generated any revenue from commercial product sales. To become and remain profitable, Enliven must develop and eventually commercialize product candidates with significant market potential, which will require it to be successful in a range of challenging activities. These activities can include completing preclinical studies and clinical trials of Enliven’s product candidates, obtaining marketing approval for these product candidates, manufacturing, marketing and selling those products that are approved and satisfying any post-marketing requirements. Enliven does not anticipate generating any revenue from product sales for many years, if ever. Enliven’s ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends significantly on its ability to achieve several objectives, including:

 

   

successful and timely completion of clinical development of ELVN-001 and ELVN-002 and preclinical and clinical development of other research programs and any other future programs;

 

   

establishing and maintaining relationships with CROs and clinical sites for the clinical development of ELVN-001, ELVN-002 and any other future programs;

 

   

timely receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities for any product candidates for which Enliven successfully completes clinical development;

 

   

developing an efficient and scalable manufacturing process for Enliven’s product candidates, including obtaining finished products that are appropriately packaged for sale;

 

   

establishing and maintaining commercially viable supply and manufacturing relationships with third parties that can provide adequate, in both amount and quality, products and services to support clinical development and meet the market demand for Enliven’s product candidates, if approved;

 

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successful commercial launch following any marketing approval, including the development of a commercial infrastructure, whether in-house or with one or more collaborators;

 

   

a continued acceptable safety profile following any marketing approval of Enliven’s product candidates;

 

   

commercial acceptance of Enliven’s product candidates by patients, the medical community and third-party payors;

 

   

satisfying any required post-marketing approval commitments to applicable regulatory authorities;

 

   

identifying, assessing and developing new product candidates;

 

   

obtaining, maintaining and expanding patent protection, trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity, both in the United States and internationally;

 

   

defending against third-party interference or infringement claims, if any;

 

   

entering into, on favorable terms, any collaboration, licensing or other arrangements that may be necessary or desirable to develop, manufacture or commercialize Enliven’s product candidates;

 

   

obtaining and maintaining coverage and adequate reimbursement by third-party payors for Enliven’s product candidates;

 

   

addressing any competing therapies and technological and market developments; and

 

   

attracting, hiring and retaining qualified personnel.

Enliven may never be successful in achieving its objectives and, even if it does, may never generate revenue that is significant or large enough to achieve profitability. If Enliven does achieve profitability, it may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Enliven’s failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of its company and could impair its ability to maintain or further its research and development efforts, raise additional necessary capital, grow its business and continue its operations.

Any changes in the manufacturing process, suppliers, or facilities will require further comparability analysis and approval by the FDA before implementation, which could delay Enliven’s clinical trials and product candidate development, and could require additional clinical trials, including bridging studies, to demonstrate consistent and continued safety and efficacy.

Former Enliven has not previously submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA or similar approval filings to a comparable foreign regulatory authority for any product candidate. An NDA or other relevant regulatory filing must include extensive nonclinical and clinical data and supporting information to establish that the product candidate is safe and effective for each desired indication. The NDA or other relevant regulatory filing must also include significant information regarding the chemistry, manufacturing and controls for the product candidate. Enliven cannot be certain that its current or future product candidates will be successful in clinical trials or receive regulatory approval. If Enliven does not receive regulatory approvals for current or future product candidates, it may not be able to continue its operations. Even if Enliven successfully obtains regulatory approval to market a product candidate, its revenue will depend, in part, upon the size of the markets in the territories for which it receives regulatory approval and has commercial rights, the availability of competitive therapies and whether there are sufficient levels of reimbursement and adoption by physicians.

Risks Related to the Discovery, Development and Commercialization of Enliven’s Product Candidates

Enliven is very early in its development efforts. In addition, Enliven is substantially dependent on ELVN-001 and ELVN-002. If Enliven is unable to advance ELVN-001 or ELVN-002 through clinical development, obtain regulatory approval and ultimately commercialize such product candidates, or experience significant delays in doing so, Enliven’s business will be materially harmed.

 

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Enliven is very early in its development efforts. Enliven is currently evaluating ELVN-001 in a Phase 1 clinical trial in adults with CML and Enliven filed an IND for ELVN-002 and received clearance of the IND from the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2022. Enliven recently advanced its ELVN-002 program into Phase 1 based on the activation of the first clinical site. Enliven has not initiated clinical trials for any other product candidate and Enliven may experience unexpected or adverse results in the future. Enliven will be required to demonstrate thorough, adequate and well-controlled clinical trials that its product candidates are safe and effective, with a favorable benefit-risk profile, for use in their target indications before Enliven can seek regulatory approvals for their commercial sale. Enliven’s initial clinical trials will begin with relatively small cohorts before expanding in size in subsequent cohorts. If safety issues arise in an early cohort, Enliven may be delayed or prevented from subsequently expanding into larger trial cohorts. Enliven’s ability to generate product revenue, which it does not expect will occur for many years, if ever, will depend heavily on the successful clinical development and eventual commercialization of ELVN-001 and ELVN-002. Enliven is not permitted to market or promote any product candidate before it receives marketing approval from the FDA, EMA or any comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and Enliven may never receive such marketing approvals.

The outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and the results of Enliven’s clinical trials may not satisfy the requirements of the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities.

Enliven will be required to demonstrate with substantial evidence through well-controlled clinical trials that its product candidates are safe and effective for use in a diverse population before it can seek marketing approvals for their commercial sale. Preclinical and clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the preclinical study and clinical trial processes, and, because Enliven’s product candidates are in early stages of developments, there is a high risk of failure and Enliven may never succeed in developing marketable products.

The results of preclinical studies may not be predictive of the results of clinical trials of Enliven’s product candidates. Moreover, the results of early clinical trials may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. Although product candidates may demonstrate promising results in preclinical studies and early clinical trials, they may not prove to be safe or effective in subsequent clinical trials. Favorable results from certain animal studies may not accurately predict the results of other animal studies or of human trials, due to the inherent biologic differences in species, the differences between testing conditions in animal studies and human trials, and the particular goals, purposes, and designs of the relevant studies and trials.

There is typically an extremely high rate of attrition from the failure of product candidates proceeding through preclinical studies and clinical trials. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy profile despite having progressed through preclinical studies and initial clinical trials. Likewise, early, smaller-scale clinical trials may not be predictive of eventual safety or effectiveness in large-scale pivotal clinical trials. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval of their drugs. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy, insufficient durability of efficacy or unacceptable safety issues, notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. Most product candidates that commence preclinical studies and clinical trials are never approved as products. The development of Enliven’s product candidates and Enliven’s stock price may also be impacted by inferences, whether correct or not, that are drawn between the success or failure of preclinical studies or clinical trials of Enliven’s competitors or other companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, in addition to Enliven’s own preclinical studies and clinical trials.

In some instances, there can be significant variability in safety and efficacy results between different clinical trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in trial protocols, differences in size and type of the patient populations, differences in and adherence to the dose and dosing regimen and other trial protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants. Patients treated with Enliven’s product candidates may also be undergoing surgical, radiation and chemotherapy treatments and may be using other approved products or investigational new drugs, which can cause side effects or adverse events that are unrelated to Enliven’s product candidates. As a result, assessments of efficacy can vary widely for a particular patient, and from patient to patient and site to site within a clinical trial. This subjectivity can increase the uncertainty of, and adversely impact, Enliven’s clinical trial outcomes.

 

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Any preclinical studies or clinical trials that Enliven conducts may not demonstrate the safety and efficacy necessary to obtain regulatory approval to market its product candidates. If the results of Enliven’s ongoing or future preclinical studies and clinical trials are inconclusive with respect to the safety and efficacy of its product candidates, if it does not meet the clinical endpoints with statistical and clinically meaningful significance, or if there are safety concerns associated with its product candidates, Enliven may be prevented or delayed in obtaining marketing approval for such product candidates. In some instances, there can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different preclinical studies and clinical trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in trial procedures set forth in protocols, differences in the size and type of the patient populations, changes in and adherence to the clinical trial protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants.

Enliven does not know whether any preclinical studies or clinical trials it may conduct will demonstrate consistent or adequate efficacy and safety sufficient to obtain approval to market any of its product candidates.

Enliven has limited resources and is currently focusing its efforts on ELVN-001 and ELVN-002 for development in particular indications and advancing its other research programs. As a result, Enliven may fail to capitalize on programs, product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.

Enliven is currently focusing its resources and efforts on ELVN-001, ELVN-002 and advancing its other research programs. Because Enliven has limited financial and managerial resources, it must focus on a limited number of research programs and product candidates and on specific indications. As a result, Enliven may forgo or delay pursuit of opportunities for other indications or with other product candidates that may have greater commercial potential. Enliven’s resource allocation decisions may cause it to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities. Enliven’s spending on current and future research and development activities for ELVN-001, ELVN-002 and its other research programs may not yield any commercially viable products. If Enliven does not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target markets for ELVN-001, ELVN-002 and its other research programs, or the product candidates it is currently developing in these programs, Enliven may relinquish valuable rights to its product candidates or programs through collaboration, licensing or other strategic arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for it to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate or program.

Enliven’s prospects depend in large part upon developing and commercializing ELVN-001 and ELVN-002 and discovering, developing and commercializing product candidates from its other research programs, and failure to successfully identify, develop and commercialize additional product candidates could impair Enliven’s ability to grow.

Enliven’s future operating results are dependent on its ability to successfully discover, develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize product candidates including ELVN-001, ELVN-002 and product candidates from its research programs. A product candidate can unexpectedly fail at any stage of development. The historical failure rate for product candidates is high due to risks relating to safety, efficacy, clinical execution, changing standards of medical care and other unpredictable variables. The results from preclinical testing or early clinical trials of a product candidate may not be predictive of the results that will be obtained in later stage clinical trials of the product candidate.

The success of ELVN-001, ELVN-002 and other product candidates Enliven may develop will depend on many factors, including the following:

 

   

successful and timely completion of preclinical studies, including generating sufficient data to support the initiation or continuation of preclinical studies and clinical trials, including data that demonstrates improved efficacy, safety, and patient convenience compared to Enliven’s competitors’ products;

 

   

obtaining IRB approval at each clinical trial site;

 

   

approval of INDs for Enliven’s planned clinical trials and future clinical trials;

 

   

addressing any potential delays resulting from factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

the timely manufacture of sufficient quantities of a product candidate for use in clinical trials;

 

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successful initiation and completion of clinical trials;

 

   

successful and timely patient selection and enrollment in and completion of clinical trials;

 

   

maintaining and establishing relationships with CROs and clinical sites for the clinical development of Enliven’s product candidates both in the United States and internationally;

 

   

the frequency and severity of adverse events in clinical trials;

 

   

demonstrating efficacy, safety and tolerability profiles that are satisfactory to the FDA, EMA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority for marketing approval;

 

   

the timely receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;

 

   

the extent of any required post-marketing approval commitments to applicable regulatory authorities;

 

   

the maintenance of existing or the establishment of new supply arrangements with third-party drug product suppliers and manufacturers for clinical development and, if approved, commercialization of Enliven’s product candidates;

 

   

obtaining and maintaining patent protection, trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity, both in the United States and internationally;

 

   

the protection of Enliven’s rights in its intellectual property portfolio;

 

   

the successful launch of commercial sales following any marketing approval;

 

   

a continued acceptable safety profile following any marketing approval;

 

   

commercial acceptance by patients, the medical community and third-party payors; and

 

   

Enliven’s ability to compete with other therapies, as detailed in the section titled “Enliven’s Business— Competition” in Exhibit 99.3 to Enliven’s Current Report on Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 is a part.

Enliven does not have complete control over many of these factors, including certain aspects of preclinical and clinical development and the regulatory submission process, potential threats to its intellectual property rights and the manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales efforts of any future collaborator. If Enliven is not successful with respect to one or more of these factors in a timely manner or at all, it could experience significant delays or an inability to successfully commercialize any product candidates from its lead programs, which would materially harm its business. If Enliven does not receive marketing approvals for such product candidates, it may not be able to continue its operations.

Although a substantial amount of Enliven’s efforts will focus on the continued preclinical and clinical testing and potential approval of its product candidates in its current pipeline, Enliven expects to continue to innovate and potentially expand its portfolio. Because Enliven has limited financial and managerial resources, research programs to identify product candidates may require substantial additional technical, financial and human resources, whether or not any new potential product candidates are ultimately identified. Enliven’s success may depend in part upon its ability to identify, select and develop promising product candidates and therapeutics. Enliven may expend resources and ultimately fail to discover and generate additional product candidates suitable for further development. Even if Enliven successfully advances any product candidates into preclinical and clinical development, their success will be subject to all of the preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial risks described elsewhere in this section. All product candidates are prone to risks of failure typical of biotechnology product development, including the possibility that a product candidate may not be suitable for clinical development as a result of its harmful side effects, limited efficacy or other characteristics indicating that it is unlikely to receive approval by the FDA, the EMA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities and achieve market acceptance. If Enliven does not successfully develop and commercialize ELVN-001 or ELVN-002, or successfully identify, develop and commercialize new product candidates, Enliven’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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If clinical trials of Enliven’s product candidates fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of regulatory authorities or do not otherwise produce positive results, Enliven would incur additional costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be unable to complete, the development and commercialization of its product candidates.

Before obtaining marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of Enliven’s product candidates, Enliven must conduct preclinical studies in animals and extensive clinical trials in humans to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the product candidates. Clinical testing is expensive and difficult to design and implement, can take many years to complete and has uncertain outcomes. The outcome of preclinical studies and early clinical trials may not predict the success of later clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or unacceptable safety profiles, notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. Enliven does not know whether the clinical trials it may conduct will demonstrate adequate efficacy and safety to result in regulatory approval to market any of its product candidates in any jurisdiction. Enliven’s product candidates may fail to demonstrate efficacy in humans, and particularly across tumor types. A product candidate may fail for safety or efficacy reasons at any stage of the testing process. A major risk Enliven faces is the possibility that none of its product candidates under development will successfully gain market approval from the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities, resulting in Enliven being unable to derive any commercial revenue from them after investing significant amounts of capital in their development.

If the results of Enliven’s ongoing or future preclinical studies and future clinical trials are inconclusive with respect to the safety and efficacy of its product candidates, if it does not meet the clinical endpoints with statistical and clinically meaningful significance, or if there are safety concerns associated with its product candidates, Enliven may be prevented or delayed in obtaining marketing approval for such product candidates. In some instances, there can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different preclinical studies and clinical trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in trial procedures set forth in protocols, differences in the size and type of the patient populations, changes in and adherence to the clinical trial protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants.

It is likely that there will be side effects associated with the use of Enliven’s product candidates. Results of Enliven’s future trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of side effects or adverse events. In such an event, Enliven’s trials could be suspended or terminated and the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order Enliven to cease further development of or deny approval of its product candidates for any or all targeted indications. Treatment-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims. Any of these occurrences may harm Enliven’s business, financial condition and prospects significantly.

Further, Enliven’s product candidates could cause undesirable side effects in clinical trials related to on-target toxicity. If on-target toxicity is observed, or if Enliven’s product candidates have characteristics that are unexpected, Enliven may need to abandon their development or limit development to more narrow indications or subpopulations in which the undesirable side effects or other characteristics are less prevalent, less severe or more acceptable from a risk-benefit perspective. Many compounds that initially showed promise in early stage testing for treating cancer have later been found to cause side effects that prevented further development of the compound.

The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, EMA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable. If Enliven is ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval of its product candidates, Enliven will be unable to generate product revenue and its business will be substantially harmed.

Enliven’s product candidates are and will continue to be subject to extensive governmental regulations relating to, among other things, research, testing, development, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, approval, recordkeeping, reporting, labeling, storage, packaging, advertising and promotion, pricing, marketing and distribution of drugs. Rigorous preclinical testing and clinical trials and an extensive regulatory approval process must be successfully completed in the United States and in many foreign jurisdictions before a new drug can be approved for marketing.

 

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Obtaining approval by the FDA, EMA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities is unpredictable, typically takes many years following the commencement of clinical trials and depends upon numerous factors, including the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. In addition, approval policies, regulations or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions, which may cause delays in the approval or the decision not to approve an application. For example, FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence initiated Project Optimus to reform the dose optimization and dose selection paradigm in oncology drug development and Project FrontRunner to help develop and implement strategies to support approvals in early clinical setting, among other goals. How the FDA plans to implement these goals and their impact on specific clinical programs and the industry are unclear. Regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that Enliven’s data are insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical, clinical or other data. Even if Enliven eventually completes clinical testing and receives approval for Enliven’s product candidates, the FDA, EMA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may approve its product candidates for a more limited indication or a narrower patient population than it originally requested or may impose other prescribing limitations or warnings that limit the product candidate’s commercial potential. Enliven has not submitted for, or obtained, regulatory approval for any product candidate, and it is possible that none of its product candidates will ever obtain regulatory approval. Further, development of Enliven’s product candidates and/or regulatory approval may be delayed for reasons beyond its control.

Applications for Enliven’s product candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including the following:

 

   

the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design, implementation or results of Enliven’s clinical trials;

 

   

the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may determine that Enliven’s product candidates are not safe and effective, are only moderately effective or have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that preclude its obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use;

 

   

the population studied in the clinical trial may not be sufficiently broad or representative to assure efficacy and safety in the full population for which Enliven seeks approval;

 

   

the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with Enliven’s interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials;

 

   

Enliven may be unable to demonstrate to the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate’s risk-benefit ratio for its proposed indication is acceptable;

 

   

the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes, test procedures and specifications or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which Enliven contracts for clinical and commercial supplies;

 

   

the FDA, EMA or other comparable regulatory authorities may fail to approve companion diagnostic tests required for Enliven’s product candidates; and

 

   

the approval policies or regulations of the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering Enliven’s clinical data insufficient for approval.

This lengthy approval process, as well as the unpredictability of the results of clinical trials, may result in Enliven failing to obtain regulatory approval to market any of its product candidates, which would significantly harm its business, results of operations and prospects.

 

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Enliven is also subject to numerous foreign regulatory requirements governing, among other things, the conduct of clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing authorization, pricing and third-party reimbursement. The foreign regulatory approval process varies among countries, and generally includes all of the risks associated with FDA approval described above as well as risks attributable to the satisfaction of local regulations in foreign jurisdictions. Moreover, the time required to obtain approval may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval.

Enliven has limited experience as a company in designing and conducting clinical trials.

The design and implementation of clinical trials is a complex process. Enliven has limited experience as a company in designing and conducting clinical trials. Enliven is currently evaluating ELVN-001 in a Phase 1 clinical trial in adults with CML and Enliven filed an IND for ELVN-002 and received clearance of the IND from the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2022. Enliven recently advanced its ELVN-002 program into Phase 1 based on the activation of the first clinical site. However, Enliven has not initiated clinical trials for any other product candidate and Enliven may experience unexpected or adverse results in the future. In part because of this lack of experience as a company and its limited infrastructure, Enliven cannot be certain that its ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials will be completed on time, that it will successfully or cost-effectively design and implement clinical trials that achieve the desired clinical endpoints efficiently, or at all. Large-scale clinical trials would require significant additional financial and management resources and reliance on CROs and consultants. Relying on third-party clinical investigators, CROs and consultants may force Enliven to encounter delays that are outside of its control. Enliven may be unable to identify and contract with sufficient investigators, CROs and consultants on a timely basis or at all. There can be no assurance that Enliven will be able to negotiate and enter into any necessary services agreement with CROs on terms that are acceptable to it on a timely basis or at all.

Any delays in the commencement or completion, or termination or suspension of Enliven’s planned or future clinical trials could result in increased costs, delay or limit its ability to generate revenue and adversely affect its commercial prospects. Enliven may not be able to file INDs to commence clinical trials on the timelines it expects, and even if it is able to, the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not permit it to proceed.

Before Enliven can initiate clinical trials of a product candidate in any indication, it must submit the results of preclinical studies to the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities along with other information, including information about the product candidate’s chemistry, manufacturing and controls and its proposed clinical trial protocol, as part of an IND or similar regulatory submission under which it must receive authorization to proceed with clinical development. Enliven filed an IND for ELVN-002 and received clearance of the IND from the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2022, and it recently advanced its ELVN-002 program into Phase 1 based on the activation of the first clinical site. However, the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require Enliven to conduct additional preclinical studies before they allow it to initiate clinical trials under any IND, clinical trial authorization or comparable application, if ever, which may lead to additional delays and increase the costs of Enliven’s preclinical development programs. Before obtaining marketing approval from the FDA of ELVN-001, ELVN-002 or any other programs, Enliven must conduct extensive clinical studies to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Clinical testing is expensive, time consuming and uncertain as to outcome. In addition, Enliven expects to rely in part on preclinical, clinical and quality data generated by its CROs and other third parties for regulatory submissions for its product candidates. While Enliven has or will have agreements governing these third parties’ services, Enliven has limited influence over their actual performance. If these third parties do not make data available to Enliven, or, if applicable, make regulatory submissions in a timely manner, in each case pursuant to Enliven’s agreements with them, Enliven’s development programs may be significantly delayed and it may need to conduct additional studies or collect additional data independently. In either case, Enliven’s development costs would increase. Enliven may not be able to file INDs for future product candidates on the timelines it expects. For example, Enliven may experience manufacturing delays or other delays with IND enabling studies. Moreover, Enliven cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to begin, or that, once begun, issues will not arise that suspend or terminate clinical trials. Additionally, even if the FDA agrees with the design and implementation of the clinical trials set forth in an IND, Enliven cannot guarantee that it will not change its requirements in the future. These considerations also apply to new clinical trials Enliven may submit as amendments to existing INDs or to a new IND. Any failure to file INDs on the timelines Enliven expects or to obtain regulatory approvals for its planned clinical trials may prevent Enliven from initiating or completing its clinical trials or commercializing its product candidates on a timely basis, if at all.

 

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Enliven could also encounter delays if a clinical trial is suspended or terminated by Enliven, by the IRBs or independent ethics committees of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, by a Data Safety Monitoring Board for such trial or by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities. Such authorities may impose such a suspension or termination due to a number of factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or Enliven’s clinical protocols, inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold, unforeseen safety issues or adverse events, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using a pharmaceutical, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial. In addition, changes in regulatory requirements and policies may occur, and Enliven may need to amend clinical trial protocols to comply with these changes. Amendments may require Enliven to resubmit its clinical trial protocols to IRBs or ethics committees for reexamination, which may impact the costs, timing or successful completion of a clinical trial. From time to time, certain of Enliven’s current or future scientific advisors or consultants who receive compensation from Enliven may become investigators for Enliven’s future clinical trials. Under certain circumstances, Enliven may be required to report some of these relationships to the FDA.

Although Enliven expects any such relationships to be within the FDA’s guidelines, the FDA may conclude that a financial relationship between Enliven and a principal investigator has created a conflict of interest or otherwise affected interpretation of the study. The FDA may therefore question the integrity of the data generated at the applicable clinical trial site and the utility of the clinical trial itself may be jeopardized. This could result in a delay in approval, or rejection, of Enliven’s marketing applications by the FDA and may ultimately lead to the denial of marketing approval of Enliven’s product candidates. If Enliven experiences delays in the completion of, or termination of, any clinical trial of any product candidate, the commercial prospects of such product candidate will be harmed, and Enliven’s ability to generate product revenues will be delayed. Moreover, any delays in completing Enliven’s clinical trials will increase its costs, slow down its development and approval process and jeopardize its ability to commence product sales and generate revenues which may harm Enliven’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects significantly.

Enliven’s product candidates may cause significant adverse events, toxicities or other undesirable side effects when used alone or in combination with other approved products or investigational new drugs that may result in a safety profile that could prevent regulatory approval, prevent market acceptance, limit their commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences.

If Enliven’s product candidates are associated with undesirable side effects or have unexpected characteristics in preclinical studies or clinical trials when used alone or in combination with other approved products or investigational new drugs Enliven may need to interrupt, delay or abandon their development or limit development to more narrow uses or subpopulations in which the undesirable side effects or other characteristics are less prevalent, less severe or more acceptable from a risk-benefit perspective. Treatment-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled subjects to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims. Any of these occurrences may prevent Enliven from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the affected product candidate and may harm its business, financial condition and prospects significantly. It is likely that there will be side effects associated with the use of Enliven’s product candidates as is typically the case with oncology drugs. Results of Enliven’s studies or trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of side effects or adverse events. In such an event, Enliven’s trials could be suspended or terminated and the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order Enliven to cease further development of or deny approval of its product candidates for any or all targeted indications. Drug-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims. Any of these occurrences may harm Enliven’s business, financial condition and prospects significantly.

In addition, Enliven’s product candidates may be used in populations for which safety concerns may be particularly scrutinized by regulatory agencies. In addition, Enliven’s product candidates may be studied in combination with other therapies, which may exacerbate adverse events associated with the therapy. Patients treated with Enliven’s product candidates may also be undergoing surgical, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, which can cause side effects or adverse events that are unrelated to Enliven’s product candidate but may still impact the success of Enliven’s clinical trials. The inclusion of critically ill patients in Enliven’s clinical trials may result in deaths or other adverse medical events due to other therapies or medications that such patients may be using or due to the gravity of such patients’ illnesses. For example, it is expected that some of the patients to be enrolled in Enliven’s future clinical trials will die or experience major clinical events either during the course of Enliven’s clinical trials or after participating in such trials for non-treatment related reasons.

 

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If significant adverse events or other side effects are observed in any of Enliven’s current or future clinical trials, Enliven may have difficulty recruiting patients to the clinical trials, patients may drop out of Enliven’s trials, or Enliven may be required to abandon the trials or its development efforts of that product candidate altogether. Enliven, the FDA, EMA, other comparable foreign regulatory authorities or an IRB may suspend clinical trials of a product candidate at any time for various reasons, including a belief that subjects in such trials are being exposed to unacceptable health risks or adverse side effects. Some potential therapeutics developed in the biotechnology industry that initially showed therapeutic promise in early-stage trials have later been found to cause side effects that prevented their further development. Even if the side effects do not preclude the product candidate from obtaining or maintaining marketing approval, undesirable side effects may inhibit market acceptance due to its tolerability versus other therapies. Any of these developments could materially harm Enliven’s business, financial condition and prospects. Further, if any of Enliven’s product candidates obtains marketing approval, toxicities associated with such product candidates previously not seen during clinical testing may also develop after such approval and lead to a requirement to conduct additional clinical safety trials, additional contraindications, warnings and precautions being added to the drug label including “black box” warnings, significant restrictions on the use of the product or the withdrawal of the product from the market. Enliven cannot predict whether its product candidates will cause toxicities in humans that would preclude or lead to the revocation of regulatory approval based on preclinical studies or early-stage clinical trials.

Interim, topline and preliminary data from Enliven’s preclinical studies and clinical trials that Enliven announces or publishes from time to time may change as more data become available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.

From time to time, Enliven may publicly disclose preliminary, interim or topline data from its preclinical studies and clinical trials. These interim updates are based on a preliminary analysis of then-available data, and the results and related findings and conclusions are subject to change following a more comprehensive review of the data related to the particular study or trial. For example, Enliven may report responses in certain patients that are unconfirmed at the time and which do not ultimately result in confirmed responses to treatment after follow-up evaluations. Enliven also makes assumptions, estimations, calculations and conclusions as part of its analyses of data, and Enliven may not have received or had the opportunity to fully and carefully evaluate all data. As a result, the topline results that Enliven reports may differ from future results of the same studies or trials, or different conclusions or considerations may qualify such results, once additional data have been received and fully evaluated. Topline data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary data Enliven previously published. As a result, topline data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. In addition, Enliven may report interim analyses of only certain endpoints rather than all endpoints. Interim data from clinical trials that Enliven may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data become available. Adverse changes between interim data and final data could significantly harm Enliven’s business and prospects. Further, additional disclosure of interim data by Enliven or by its competitors in the future could result in volatility in the price of Enliven’s common stock.

In addition, the information Enliven chooses to publicly disclose regarding a particular study or trial is typically selected from a more extensive amount of available information. Investors may not agree with what Enliven determines is the material or otherwise appropriate information to include in its disclosure, and any information Enliven determines not to disclose may ultimately be deemed significant with respect to future decisions, conclusions, views, activities or otherwise regarding a particular product candidate or its business. If the preliminary or topline data that Enliven reports differ from late, final or actual results, or if others, including regulatory authorities, disagree with the conclusions reached, Enliven’s ability to obtain approval for, and commercialize, any of its product candidates may be harmed, which could harm Enliven’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If Enliven experiences delays or difficulties in the enrollment or maintenance of patients in clinical trials, its regulatory submissions or receipt of necessary marketing approvals could be delayed or prevented.

Enliven may not be able to initiate or continue clinical trials for its product candidates if it is unable to locate and enroll a sufficient number of eligible patients to participate in these trials to such trial’s conclusion as required by the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Patient enrollment is a significant factor in the timing of clinical trials. Enliven’s ability to enroll eligible patients may be limited or may result in slower enrollment than it anticipates. Because there are approved drugs and ongoing clinical trials being conducted for CML, it may make it difficult for Enliven to enroll patients. For example, patient enrollment could have been and will likely be affected by the

 

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recent approval of asciminib as well as Enliven’s competitors that have ongoing clinical trials for programs that are under development for the same indications as its product candidates since patients who would otherwise be eligible for its clinical trials instead enroll in clinical trials of its competitors’ programs. Additionally, the CML patient population is relatively small and certain clinical trials for future product candidates may be focused on indications with relatively small patient populations, which may further limit enrollment of eligible patients or may result in slower enrollment than Enliven anticipates. In Enliven’s ELVN-001 and ELVN-002 programs, Enliven will utilize genomic profiling of patients’ tumors to identify suitable patients for recruitment into its clinical trials. Enliven cannot be certain (1) how many patients will have the requisite alterations for inclusion in its clinical trials, (2) that the number of patients enrolled in each program will suffice for regulatory approval or (3) whether each specific BCR-ABL or HER2 mutation will be included in the approved drug label. If Enliven’s strategies for patient identification and enrollment prove unsuccessful, Enliven may have difficulty enrolling or maintaining patients appropriate for its product candidates.

Enliven’s ability to enroll patients may also be significantly delayed by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and Enliven does not know the extent and scope of such delays at this point. In addition, patients may not be able or willing to visit clinical trial sites for dosing or data collection purposes due to limitations on travel and physical distancing imposed or recommended by federal or state governments or patients’ reluctance to visit the clinical trial sites during the pandemic. These factors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could delay Enliven’s clinical trials and its regulatory submissions.

Patient enrollment for Enliven’s current or any future clinical trials may be affected by other factors, including:

 

   

size and nature of the patient population;

 

   

severity of the disease under investigation;

 

   

availability and efficacy of approved drugs for the disease under investigation;

 

   

patient eligibility criteria for the trial in question as defined in the protocol, including biomarker-driven identification and/or certain highly-specific criteria related to stage of disease progression, which may limit the patient populations eligible for Enliven’s clinical trials to a greater extent than competing clinical trials for the same indication that do not have biomarker-driven patient eligibility criteria;

 

   

perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate under study;

 

   

clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages of the product candidate being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new products that may be approved or other product candidates being investigated for the indications Enliven is investigating;

 

   

clinicians’ willingness to screen their patients for biomarkers to indicate which patients may be eligible for enrollment in Enliven’s clinical trials;

 

   

patient referral practices of physicians;

 

   

the ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment;

 

   

proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients; and

 

   

the risk that patients enrolled in clinical trials will drop out of the trials before completion or, because they may be late-stage cancer patients, will not survive the full terms of the clinical trials.

Enliven’s inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients for its clinical trials would result in significant delays or may require it to abandon one or more clinical trials altogether. Enrollment delays in Enliven’s clinical trials may result in increased development costs for its product candidates and jeopardize its ability to obtain marketing approval for the sale of its product candidates. Furthermore, even if Enliven is able to enroll a sufficient number of patients for its clinical trials, Enliven may have difficulty maintaining participation in its clinical trials through the treatment and any follow-up periods.

 

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Enliven faces substantial competition which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before or more successfully than Enliven does.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. In particular, precision oncology is a very competitive space and Enliven has chosen to prioritize addressing well-validated biological targets, and therefore expects to face competition from existing products and products in development for each of its product candidates. While Enliven believes that its technology, the expertise of its team, and its development experience and scientific knowledge provide it with competitive advantages, Enliven faces increasing competition from many different sources, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions. Product candidates that Enliven successfully develops and commercializes may compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.

Many of Enliven’s competitors, either alone or with their collaborators, have significantly greater financial resources, established presence in the market, and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical and clinical testing, obtaining regulatory approvals and reimbursement and marketing approved products than Enliven does. These competitors also compete with Enliven in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, its programs. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Additional mergers and acquisitions may result in even more resources being concentrated in Enliven’s competitors. As a result of all of these factors, Enliven’s competitors may succeed in obtaining approval from the FDA, EMA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities or in discovering, developing and commercializing product candidates in its field before Enliven does.

Enliven’s commercial potential could be reduced or eliminated if its competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer or more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, and are more convenient or less expensive than products that Enliven may develop. Enliven’s competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than Enliven can, which could result in its competitors establishing a strong market position before Enliven is able to enter the market or could otherwise make its development more complicated. Enliven believes the key competitive factors affecting the success of all of its programs are likely to be efficacy, safety and patient convenience. Even if the product candidates Enliven develops achieve marketing approval, they may be priced at a significant premium over competitive products if any have been approved by then, resulting in reduced competitiveness.

There are currently six BCR-ABL TKIs approved for use in CML: Novartis AG’s Gleevec (imatinib), Tasigna (nilotinib), and Scemblix (asciminib), Bristol Myers Squibb’s Sprycel (dasatinib), Pfizer’s Bosulif (bosutinib), and Takeda’s Iclusig (ponatinib).

There are no approved TKIs for HER2 mutant NSCLC. Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan), an antibody drug conjugate, marketed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi-Sankyo, received accelerated approval from the FDA for this patient population in August 2022. Most of the investigational TKIs for this population are all dual EGFR and HER2 inhibitors such as Spectrum’s poziotinib, Takeda’s mobocertinib, Black Diamond’s BDTX-189 and Jiangsu HengRui Medicine Co., Ltd’s pyrotinib. Pyrotinib is currently being investigated in a Phase 3 pivotal study. Finally, Boehringer Ingelheim recently initiated clinical development on a HER2 selective, irreversible TKI, BI-1810631, for HER2 mutant NSCLC and other cancers.

For HER2 amplified and overexpressing tumors, such as breast cancer (BRC), there are several FDA-approved antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, and TKIs. For example, Genentech’s Herception (trastuzumab) and Perjecta (pertuzumab) are approved HER2-antibodies. Approved HER2-antibody drug conjugates include Genentech’s Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan). Approved TKIs for HER2 BRC include Puma’s Nerlynx (neratinib), Novartis AG’s Tykerb (lapatinib), and Seagen’s Tukysa (tucatinib). Several of these drugs are approved for other HER2-driven indications such as gastric and colorectal cancer.

 

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Finally, there are numerous other investigational therapies, spanning many modalities, that are being evaluated preclinically and in clinical trials for various HER2-altered cancers.

Technological advances or products developed by Enliven’s competitors may render Enliven’s technologies or product candidates obsolete, less competitive or not economical. If Enliven is unable to compete effectively, its opportunity to generate revenue from the sale of its products it may develop, if approved, could be adversely affected. For additional information regarding Enliven’s competition, see the section titled “Enliven’s Business— Competition” in Exhibit 99.3 to Enliven’s Current Report on Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 is a part.

The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact Enliven’s business, including its ongoing and planned preclinical and clinical trials.

The COVID-19 pandemic and government measures taken in response have had a significant impact, both direct and indirect, on businesses and commerce, as worker shortages have occurred; supply chains have been disrupted; facilities and production have been suspended; and demand for certain goods and services, such as medical services and supplies, has spiked, while demand for other goods and services, such as travel, has fallen. Enliven may experience disruptions that could severely impact its business and clinical trials, including:

 

   

delays or difficulties in clinical site initiation, including difficulties in recruiting clinical site investigators and clinical site staff;

 

   

delays or difficulties in enrolling and retaining patients in any clinical trials, particularly elderly subjects, who are at a higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19;

 

   

difficulties interpreting data from Enliven’s clinical trials due to the possible effects of COVID-19 on patients;

 

   

diversion of healthcare resources away from the conduct of clinical trials, including the diversion of hospitals serving as Enliven’s clinical trial sites and hospital staff supporting the conduct of clinical trials;

 

   

interruption of key clinical trial activities, such as clinical trial site monitoring, due to limitations on travel imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others;

 

   

interruption or delays in the operations of the FDA, EMA or other regulatory authorities, which may impact review and approval timelines;

 

   

limitations in resources that would otherwise be focused on the conduct of Enliven’s business, its preclinical studies or its clinical trials, including because of sickness or the desire to avoid contact with large groups of people or as a result of government-imposed “shelter in place” or similar working restrictions;

 

   

interruptions, difficulties or delays arising in Enliven’s existing operations and company culture as a result of all of its employees working remotely, including those hired during the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

delays in receiving approval from regulatory authorities to initiate Enliven’s clinical trials;

 

   

delays in clinical sites receiving the supplies and materials needed to conduct Enliven’s clinical trials;

 

   

interruptions in preclinical studies or clinical trials due to restricted or limited operations at the CROs conducting such studies;

 

   

interruption in global freight and shipping that may affect the transport of clinical trial materials, such as investigational drug product to be used in Enliven’s clinical trials;

 

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changes in regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 pandemic which may require Enliven to change the ways in which its clinical trials are to be conducted, or to discontinue