Exhibit 10.9
iBio, Inc.
Officer Severance Benefit Plan
This iBio, Inc. Officer Severance Benefit Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby adopted effective as of May 9, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). The purpose of the Plan is to provide for the payment of severance benefits to certain eligible executive officers of iBio, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Affiliates that have been designated by the Company on the attached Appendix A as eligible to participate in the Plan (each of the Company and any such Affiliate, a “Participating Employer” and collectively, the “Participating Employers”) in the event such persons experience a Qualifying Termination and who meet the additional criteria set forth in Section 4 of the Plan (each an “Eligible Officer” and collectively “Eligible Officers”). This Plan supplements and does not supersede any other change in control related severance benefit plan, policy or practice maintained by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company for Eligible Officers. This Plan document also is the Summary Plan Description for the Plan.
For purposes of this Plan, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
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provided, however, that, any such termination by the employee shall only be deemed for Good Reason pursuant to this definition if: (1) the employee gives the Company written notice of his or her intent to terminate for Good Reason within ten (10) days following the occurrence of the condition(s) that he or she believes constitute(s) Good Reason, which notice shall describe such condition(s); (2) the Company fails to remedy such condition(s) within thirty (30) days following receipt of the written notice (the “Cure Period”); and (3) the employee voluntarily terminates his or her employment within thirty (30) days following the end of the Cure Period. A “Good Reason” condition for resignation is not triggered due to any Participating Employer initiated action to move a person’s employment with a Participating Employer to employment with another Affiliate.
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An Eligible Officer will not be entitled to any severance benefit under the Plan unless and until the Eligible Officer returns all Company Property. For this purpose, “Company Property” means all Company and Affiliate documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company and Affiliate property which the Eligible Officer had in his or her possession at any time, including, but not limited to, Company and Participating Employer files, notes, drawings, records, plans, forecasts, reports, studies, analyses, proposals, agreements, financial information, research and development information, sales and marketing information, operational and personnel information, specifications, code, software, databases, computer-recorded information, tangible property and equipment (including, but not limited to, computers, facsimile machines, mobile telephones, servers), credit cards, entry cards, identification badges and keys; and any materials of any kind which contain or embody any proprietary or confidential information of the Company or any Affiliate (and all reproductions thereof in whole or in part).
The timing of payment of severance benefits will be as set forth on Appendix B subject to the provisions of this Section 6. All severance benefits provided under the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements for an exemption from application of Section 409A of the Code and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or on Appendix B, any payments and benefits provided under the Plan that constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”) shall not commence in connection with an Eligible Officer’s termination of employment unless and until the Eligible Officer has also incurred a “separation from service,” as such term is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h) (“Separation from Service”), unless the Company reasonably determines that such amounts may be provided to the Eligible Officer without causing the Eligible Officer to incur the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A.
It is intended that (i) each installment of any benefits payable under the Plan to an Eligible Officer be regarded as a separate “payment” for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i), (ii) all payments of any such benefits under the Plan satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and (iii) any such benefits consisting of COBRA premiums also satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemption from the application of Section 409A provided
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under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v). However, if the Company determines that any such benefits payable under the Plan constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and the Eligible Officer is a “specified employee” of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, (A) the timing of such benefit payments shall be delayed until the earlier of (1) the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day after the Eligible Officer’s Separation from Service and (2) the date of the Eligible Officer’s death (such applicable date, the “Delayed Initial Payment Date”), and (B) the Company shall (1) pay the Eligible Officer a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the benefit payments that the Eligible Officer would otherwise have received through the Delayed Initial Payment Date if the commencement of the payment of the benefits had not been delayed pursuant to this paragraph and (2) commence paying the balance, if any, of the benefits in accordance with the applicable payment schedule.
In no event shall payment of any benefits under the Plan be made prior to an Eligible Officer’s termination date or prior to the effective date of the Release. Additionally, if the Company determines that any payments or benefits provided under the Plan constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, and the Eligible Officer’s Separation from Service occurs at a time during the calendar year when the Release could become effective in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Eligible Officer’s Separation from Service occurs, then regardless of when the Release is returned to the Company and becomes effective, the Release will not be deemed effective any earlier than the latest permitted effective date for purposes of determining the timing of payment of severance benefits.
All severance payments under the Plan shall be subject to applicable withholding for federal, state and local taxes. If an Eligible Officer is indebted to the Company at his or her termination date, the Company reserves the right to offset any severance payments under the Plan by the amount of such indebtedness.
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In the event of an Eligible Officer’s reemployment by the Company or an Affiliate during the period of time in respect of which severance benefits provided under the Plan have been paid, the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may cease payment of future severance benefits under the Plan as a condition of reemployment.
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The Plan shall not be deemed (i) to give any Executive Officer or other person any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or a Participating Employer or (ii) to interfere with the right of a Participating Employer to discharge any employee or other person at any time, with or without cause, which right is hereby reserved.
This Plan is intended to be governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and, to the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the State of North Carolina.
iBio, Inc.
11750 Sorrento Valley Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
This notice of denial will be given to the applicant within ninety (90) days after the Plan Administrator receives the application, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case, the Plan Administrator has up to an additional ninety (90) days for processing the application. If an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial ninety (90) day period.
This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Plan Administrator is to render its decision on the application.
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iBio, Inc.
11750 Sorrento Valley Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
A request for review must set forth all of the grounds on which it is based, all facts in support of the request and any other matters that the applicant feels are pertinent. The applicant (or his or her representative) shall have the opportunity to submit (or the Plan Administrator may require the applicant to submit) written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to his or her claim. The applicant (or his or her representative) shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to his or her claim. The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the applicant (or his or her representative) relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.
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The Plan shall be unfunded, and all cash payments under the Plan shall be paid only from the general assets of the Company.
Corporate Secretary
iBio, Inc.
11750 Sorrento Valley Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
In addition, service of legal process may be made upon the Plan Administrator.
iBio, Inc.
11750 Sorrento Valley Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92121
The Plan Sponsor’s and Plan Administrator’s telephone number is (979) 446-0027. The Plan Administrator is the named fiduciary charged with the responsibility for administering the Plan.
Participants in this Plan (which is a welfare benefit plan sponsored by [Company]) are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. If you are an Eligible Officer, you are considered a participant in the Plan and, under ERISA, you are entitled to:
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Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of Plan documents or the latest annual report from the Plan, if applicable, and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a Federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator.
If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or Federal court.
If you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a Federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If you are successful, the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.
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Appendix A
iBio
Officer Severance Benefit Plan
The Participating Employer entities in the Officer Severance Benefit Plan are as follows:
iBio, Inc., a Delaware corporation
All majority-owned subsidiaries of the Company that are incorporated in the United States and which were not acquired by the Company in exchange for consideration in a share purchase, merger, or similar corporate transaction
The foregoing list of Participating Employers is subject to such change as the Company, pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan, may determine in its sole and absolute discretion at any time prior to a Sale Event. Any such change to the Participating Employers shall be set forth in a revised version of this Appendix A approved by the Board. This Appendix A may not be amended at any time following a Sale Event.
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Appendix B
iBio
Officer Severance Benefit Plan
Capitalized terms used herein have the definitions set forth in the Plan. Subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 3(b) of the Plan, each Executive Officer who is terminated in a Qualifying Termination and meets all the requirements set forth in Sections 3(a) and 5 of the Plan, including, without limitation, timely provision of an effective Release and any required PIIA, and who therefore is an Eligible Officer shall receive severance benefits as set forth in this Appendix B.
Qualifying Termination Benefits
1. | Cash Severance Benefits. |
a. | Base Salary. A cash severance benefit equal to the number of months of the Eligible Officer’s Base Salary as determined based on the Eligible Officer’s Position with the Company, as set forth below. Such cash severance benefit will be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Participating Employer’s regular payroll procedures over the monthly period following the date of the Qualifying Termination as indicated in the table below (the “Severance Period”), subject to any delay in payment required by Section 6 of the Plan including any delay necessary so that no payments are made prior to the effectiveness of the Release or provision of any required PIIA; provided, however, that to the extent such cash severance benefits are exempt from Section 409A, the Company retains the right to elect to instead pay such amounts in a single lump sum within the 30 day period following the later of effectiveness of the Release or provision of any required PIIA to the extent approved by the Plan Administrator. |
Position | Sale Event Related Termination Months of Base Salary | Non-Sale Event Related Termination Months of Base Salary |
Chief Executive Officer | 18 | 12 |
Other Executive Officers | 12 | 9 |
b. | Bonus. A cash severance benefit equal to the applicable percentage of the Eligible Officer’s Target Bonus as determined based on the Eligible Officer’s Position with the Company, as set forth below. Such cash severance benefit will be paid in a single lump sum cash payment on the first payroll date following the date of the Qualifying Termination, subject to any delay in payment required by Section 6 of the Plan including any delay necessary so that no payments are made prior to the effectiveness of the Release. |
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Position | Sale Event Related Termination Target Bonus Percentage | Non-Sale Event Related Termination Target Bonus Percentage |
Chief Executive Officer | 150% | 100% Pro-Rata during Fiscal Year of the Qualifying Termination |
Other Executive Officers | 100% | 100% Pro-Rata during Fiscal Year of the Qualifying Termination |
2. | COBRA Premium Benefit. If the Eligible Officer timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, the Participating Employer shall pay the full amount of the Eligible Officer’s COBRA premiums, or shall provide coverage under any self-funded plan, on behalf of the Eligible Officer for the Eligible Officer’s continued coverage under the Participating Employer’s group health plans, including coverage for the Eligible Officer’s eligible dependents, for the period commencing with the first calendar month following the Qualifying Termination and continuing through the end of the calendar month that includes the last day of the Severance Period (the “COBRA Payment Period”); provided, however, that no such premium payments shall be made, and no coverage shall be provided under any group health plan, following the Eligible Officer’s death or the effective date of the Eligible Officer’s coverage by a group health plan of a subsequent employer. Each Eligible Officer shall be required to notify the Participating Employer immediately if the Eligible Officer becomes covered by a group health plan of a subsequent employer. Upon the conclusion of such period of insurance premium payments made by the Participating Employer, the Eligible Officer will be responsible for the entire payment of premiums required under COBRA for the remainder of the COBRA period, if any. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participating Employer determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participating Employer cannot provide the COBRA premium benefits without potentially incurring financial costs or penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Participating Employer shall in lieu thereof pay the Eligible Officer a taxable cash amount, which payment shall be made regardless of whether the Eligible Officer or his or her eligible dependents elect health care continuation coverage (the “Health Care Benefit Payment”). The Health Care Benefit Payment shall be paid in monthly or bi-weekly installments on the same schedule that the COBRA premiums would otherwise have been paid to the insurer. The Health Care Benefit Payment shall be equal to the amount that the Participating Employer otherwise would have paid for COBRA insurance premiums (which amount shall be calculated based on the premium for the first month of coverage), and shall be paid until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the COBRA Payment Period, or (ii) the effective date of the Eligible Officer’s coverage by a group health plan of a subsequent employer.
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For purposes of this Section 2, (i) references to COBRA shall be deemed to refer also to analogous provisions of state law and (ii) any applicable insurance premiums that are paid by the Participating Employer shall not include any amounts payable by the Eligible Officer under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan, which amounts, if any, are the sole responsibility of the Eligible Officer.
3. | Sale Event Related Termination Equity Vesting Benefits. (i) The vesting and exercisability of all outstanding Time-Based Vesting Equity Awards and Performance-Based Vesting Equity Awards (together, “the “Equity Awards”) that are held by the Eligible Officer on such date shall be accelerated in full as of the date of such Sale Event Related Termination, (ii) any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of common stock issued pursuant to any other Equity Awards granted to the Eligible Officer by the Company shall lapse in full as of the date of such Sale Event Related Termination, and (iii) the vesting of any other Equity Awards granted to the Eligible Officer by the Company, and any issuance of shares triggered by the vesting of such Equity Awards, shall be accelerated in full as of the date of such Sale Event Related Termination. For purposes of determining the number of shares that will vest pursuant to this provision with respect to any Performance-Based Vesting Equity Awards for which the performance period has not ended and that has multiple vesting levels depending upon the level of performance, vesting acceleration with respect to any ongoing performance period(s) shall occur with respect to the number of shares subject to the award as if the applicable performance criteria had been attained at a 100% level or, if greater, based on actual performance as of the Sale Event Related Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3 shall not apply to common stock issued under or held in any Qualified Plan. |
4. | Reductions Pursuant to Section 4(c) of the Plan. The severance benefits set forth in this Appendix B are subject to certain reductions under Section 4(c) of the Plan. |
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