Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:BCLI) Files An 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive AgreementItem 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information contained in Item 1.01 below is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Item 1.01Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Chief Executive Officer and President
On July 26, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) amended the terms of the employment agreement between the Company and Chaim Lebovits, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Amendment”). to the Amendment, Mr. Lebovits will be paid an annual salary of $500,000 (the “Base Salary”).Mr. Lebovits was granted on the Effective Date, and will also be eligible to receive in the future, an annual cash bonus equal to 50% of his base salary, subject to his satisfaction of pre-established performance goals to be mutually agreed upon by the Board of Directors of the Company and Mr. Lebovits. Performance shall be evaluated through a performance management framework and a bonus range based on the target bonus. Mr. Lebovits will also receive other benefits that are generally made available to the Company’s employees.
to the Amendment, Mr. Lebovits received on July 26, 2017, and is entitled to receive on each anniversary thereafter, a grant of restricted stock under the Company’s 2014 Global Share Option Plan (or any successor or other equity plan then maintained by the Company) comprised of a number of shares of common stock of the Company, $0.00005 par value (“Common Stock”) with a fair market value (determined based on the price of the Common Stock at the end of normal trading hours on the business day immediately preceding the Effective Date according to Nasdaq) equal to 30% of Mr. Lebovits’ Base Salary (each, an “Equity Grant”). Each Equity Grant shall vest as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the award on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the date of grant, provided Mr. Lebovits remains continuously employed by the Company from the date of grant through each applicable vesting date. Each Equity Grant shall be subject to accelerated vesting upon a Change of Control (as defined in the Amendment) of the Company. In the event of Mr. Lebovits’ termination of employment, any portion of an Equity Grant that is not yet vested (after taking into account any accelerated vesting) shall automatically be immediately forfeited to the Company, without the payment of any consideration to the Executive.
to the Amendment, on July 26, 2017, Mr. Lebovits also received an option (the “Option”) under the Company’s 2014 Global Share Option Plan to purchase up to an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock with a fair market value (as determined based on the closing price of the Common Stock at the end of normal trading hours on the business day immediately preceding the date of grant according to Nasdaq) of $200,000 on the Effective Date. The Option is fully vested and exercisable as of the date of grant and shall remain exercisable until the 2ndanniversary of the date of grant, regardless of whether Mr. Lebovits remains employed by the Company. The exercise price per share shall be equal to the fair market value on the date of grant (as determined based on the price of the Common Stock immediately preceding normal trading hours on the date of grant according to Nasdaq).
The Amendment contains termination provisions, to which if the Company terminates the Employment Agreement or Mr. Lebovits’ employment without Cause (as defined in the Amendment) or if Mr. Lebovits terminates the Employment Agreement or his employment thereunder with Good Reason (as defined in the Amendment), the Company shall: (i) within 90 days pay Mr. Lebovits, as severance pay, a lump sum equal to six (6) months of Base Salary (which shall increase to nine (9) months after the second anniversary of the Effective Date and twelve (12) months after the third anniversary of the Effective Date) (provided Mr. Lebovits is actively employed by the Company on such dates) (the “Payment Period”); (ii) pay Mr. Lebovits within 30 days of his termination of employment any bonus compensation that Mr. Lebovits would be entitled to receive during the Payment Period in the absence of his termination without Cause or for Good Reason; (iii) immediately vest such number of equity or equity based awards that would have vested during the six (6) months following the date of termination of employment; and (iv) shall continue to provide to Mr. Lebovits health insurance benefits during the Payment Period, unless otherwise provided by a subsequent employer. The foregoing severance payments are conditional upon Mr. Lebovits executing a waiver and release in favor of the Company in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.
Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer
On July 26, 2017, the Company approved an increase in the monthly gross base salary paid to Uri Yablonka, the Company’s Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer, to 41,000 NIS (approximately $11,600 per month).
About Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:BCLI)
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company. The Company is engaged in developing adult stem cell therapies for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), among others. Its subsidiary, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Ltd. (the Israeli Subsidiary), holds rights to commercialize the technology, NurOwn. NurOwn is in clinical development for the treatment of ALS. The Company has completed over two clinical trials of NurOwn in patients with ALS at Hadassah Medical Center (Hadassah). The first study, a Phase I/II safety and efficacy study of NurOwn in ALS patients administered either intramuscularly or intrathecally. The Company conducted Phase IIa combined (intramuscular and intrathecal) treatment, dose-escalating trial. It had completed treatment of over 10 patients in its ALS Phase IIa NurOwn dose-escalating clinical trial.
