View:
Download DOC
Download PDF
Download XLS
Document


As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2019
Registration Statement No. 333-



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


Sesen Bio, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




 
 
 
Delaware
 
26-2025616
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
245 First Street, Suite 1800
Cambridge, MA
 
02142
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)

SESEN BIO, INC. 2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
INDUCEMENT STOCK OPTION AWARDS
(Full Title of the Plan)

Thomas R. Cannell, D.V.M.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sesen Bio, Inc.
245 First Street, Suite 1800
Cambridge, MA 02142
(Name and address of agent for service)




(617) 444-8550
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


with a copy to:
Steven J. Abrams, Esq.
Hogan Lovells US LLP
1735 Market Street, 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 675-4600


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
¨
 
Accelerated filer
 
x
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨  
 
 
 
 
 
Smaller reporting company
 
x
 
Emerging growth company
 
x
 
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. x

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Securities
to be Registered
Amount
to be
Registered (4)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share 
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price 
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, issuable under the Sesen Bio, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (1)
7,908,972 shares
$1.14 (5)
$9,016,228.08 (5)
$1,170.31
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, issuable under the Inducement Nonqualified Stock Option Award (2)
240,000 shares
$1.16 (6)
$278,400 (6)
$36.14
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, issuable under the Inducement Nonqualified Stock Option Award (3)
410,000 shares
$1.07 (7)
$438,700 (7)
$56.94






(1)
Represents additional shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Registrant (the “Common Stock”) available for issuance under the Sesen Bio, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”).
(2)
Represents shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of the nonqualified stock option award granted to the Vice President, Finance of the Registrant as an inducement material to her acceptance of employment with the Registrant (the “VP of Finance Inducement Option Award”).
(3)
Represents shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of the nonqualified stock option award granted to the Vice President, Business Development and Alliance Management of the Registrant as an inducement material to his acceptance of employment with the Registrant (the “VP of Business Development Inducement Option Award,” and together with the VP of Finance Inducement Award, the “Inducement Awards”).
(4)
Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common Stock which become issuable under the 2014 Plan or the Inducement Awards by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the Registrant.
(5)
This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act. The price shown is based upon the average of the high and low prices reported for the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 11, 2019.
(6)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee under Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act on the basis of the price at which the VP of Finance Inducement Option Award may be exercised, which was the closing price of the Common Stock on August 1, 2019, the grant date of such stock option award, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.
(7)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee under Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act on the basis of the price at which the VP of Business Development Inducement Option Award may be exercised, which was the closing price of the Common Stock on September 3, 2019, the grant date of such stock option award, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.




Statement of Incorporation by Reference
This Registration Statement is being filed for the purpose of registering an additional 7,908,972 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of Sesen Bio, Inc. (the “Registrant”) that were added to the shares authorized for issuance under the Sesen Bio, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) for which a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the same employee benefit plan is effective.
The Registrant previously filed the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-195170) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) to register 710,247 shares of Common Stock that were authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan. On March 12, 2015, March 31, 2016, May 5, 2017, May 16, 2018 and May 21, 2019, the Registrant filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File No. 333-202677, 333-210523, 333-217686, 333-224959 and 333-231644, respectively) with the Commission to register an additional 722,331, 786,431, 982,164, 1,102,362 and 1,102,362 shares of Common Stock, respectively, for issuance under the 2014 Plan. Upon the effectiveness of this Registration Statement, an aggregate of 13,314,869 shares of Common Stock will be registered for issuance from time to time under the 2014 Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-195170, 333-202677, 333-210523, 333-217686 333-224959 and 333-231644) filed with the Commission on April 9, 2014, March 12, 2015, March 31, 2016, May 5, 2017, May 16, 2018 and May 21, 2019, respectively, are incorporated herein by reference except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.
This Registration Statement also registers shares issuable upon the exercise of the nonqualified stock option awards granted to the Vice President, Finance and Vice President, Business Development and Alliance Management of the Registrant to induce them to accept employment with the Registrant (collectively, the “Inducement Awards”). The Inducement Awards were granted as detailed below:
•
a nonstatutory stock option award to purchase 240,000 shares of Common Stock granted to Monica Forbes, effective as of August 1, 2019; and
•
a nonstatutory stock option award to purchase 410,000 shares of Common Stock granted to Omar Rifi, effective as of September 3, 2019.
The Inducement Awards were approved by the Registrant’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in compliance with and in reliance on Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The Inducement Awards were granted outside of the 2014 Plan.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
As permitted by the rules of the Commission, this Registration Statement omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the 2014 Plan or Inducement Agreements, as applicable, as required by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents of the Registrant filed with the Commission are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement as of their respective dates:

2


(a)
The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Commission on March 1, 2019;
(b)
The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits accompanying such reports that are related to such items) filed on January 3, 2019, January 4, 2019, February 25, 2019, March 4, 2019, April 30, 2019, May 13, 2019, June 10, 2019, June 19, 2019, June 25, 2019, July 18, 2019, August 7, 2019 (as amended by Form 8-K/A filed on August 8, 2019), August 26, 2019, September 10, 2019, October 29, 2019, November 5, 2019 and November 8, 2019;
(c)
The Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019, filed with the Commission on May 10, 2019, August 8, 2019 and November 12, 2019; and
(d)
The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Form 8-A filed with the Commission on February 3, 2014 pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of further updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission rules, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4.    Description of Securities.
Not applicable.

Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.

Item 6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of its directors or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

3


Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he or she is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person 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 corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides that it will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an Indemnitee), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Registrant’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
The Registrant’s certificate of incorporation also provides that the Registrant will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in the Registrant’s favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee or, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Registrant’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If the Registrant does not assume the defense, expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. In general, these agreements provide that the Registrant will indemnify the director or executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Registrant or in connection with their service at the Registrant’s request for another corporation or entity. The indemnification agreements also provide for procedures that will apply in the event that a director or executive officer makes a claim for indemnification and establish certain presumptions that are favorable to the director or executive officer.
The Registrant maintains a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of its directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

4



Item 7.     Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.


Item 8.    Exhibits.

The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed in the Exhibit Index attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.    Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been

5


advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

6


EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
4.1
 
 
 
 
4.2
 
 
 
 
4.3
 
 
 
 
5.1
 
 
 
 
23.1
 
 
 
23.2
 
 
 
24.1
 
 
 
 
99.1
 
 
 
 
99.2
 
 
 
 
99.3
 


7


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Cambridge, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 14th day of November, 2019.
SESEN BIO, INC.
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Thomas R. Cannell, D.V.M

Name:
 
Thomas R. Cannell, D.V.M.
Title:
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Thomas R. Cannell, D.V.M. and Monica Forbes, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with the full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
 
Title
Date
/s/ Thomas R. Cannell, D.V.M
 
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
November 14, 2019
Thomas R. Cannell, D.V.M.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Monica Forbes
 
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
November 14, 2019
Monica Forbes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Kirstin Anderson
 
Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
November 14, 2019
Kirstin Anderson
 
 
 
/s/ Wendy L. Dixon, Ph.D.
 
Chair of the Board of Directors
November 14, 2019
Wendy L. Dixon, Ph.D.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jay S. Duker, M.D.
 
Director
November 14, 2019
Jay S. Duker, M.D.
 
 
 



 
 
 
/s/ Jane V. Henderson
 
Director
November 14, 2019
Jane V. Henderson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Daniel S. Lynch
 
Director
November 14, 2019
Daniel S. Lynch
 
 
 


8
Exhibit

https://cdn.kscope.io/7ced4e6c1d4135c40415902c25da2a12-sesnexhibit51november_image1.jpg
Hogan Lovells US LLP
1735 Market Street, 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
T +1 267 675 4600
F +1 267 675 4601
www.hoganlovells.com




November 14, 2019


Board of Directors
Sesen Bio, Inc.
245 First Street, Suite 1800
Cambridge, MA 02142

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Sesen Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the proposed offering of up to 8,558,972 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”), which includes (i) an aggregate of 7,908,972 Shares issuable pursuant to the Sesen Bio, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), (ii) 240,000 Shares that are issuable upon the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option award granted to the Vice President, Finance of the Company as an inducement material to her acceptance of employment with the Company (the “VP of Finance Inducement Option Award”) and (iii) 410,000 Shares that are issuable upon the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option award granted to the Vice President, Business Development and Alliance Management of the Company as an inducement material to his acceptance of employment with the Company (the “VP of Business Development Inducement Option Award,” and together with the VP of Finance Inducement Award, the “Inducement Awards”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including pdfs). As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended. We express no opinion herein as to any other statutes, rules or regulations.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that following (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan or the Inducement Awards, as applicable, and (iii) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares specified in the resolutions of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and in accordance with the Plan or the Inducement Awards, as applicable, and any underlying award agreements or letters, as applicable, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
  
This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Hogan Lovells US LLP

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP





Hogan Lovells US LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in the District of Columbia. “Hogan Lovells” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP, with offices in: Alicante Amsterdam Baltimore Beijing Birmingham Boston Brussels Colorado Springs Denver Dubai Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Houston Johannesburg London Los Angeles Luxembourg Madrid Mexico City Miami Milan Minneapolis Monterrey Moscow Munich New York Northern Virginia Paris Perth Philadelphia Rio de Janeiro Rome San Francisco São Paulo Shanghai Silicon Valley Singapore Sydney Tokyo Warsaw Washington DC Associated offices: Budapest Jakarta Shanghai FTZ Ulaanbaatar Zagreb. Business Service Centers: Johannesburg Louisville. For more information see www.hoganlovells.com
Exhibit

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan and Inducement Stock Option Awards of Sesen Bio, Inc. of our report dated March 1, 2019, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Sesen Bio, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP                
Boston, Massachusetts
November 14, 2019


Exhibit


Sesen Bio, Inc.
Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement
1.
Grant of Option.
This agreement evidences the grant by Sesen Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on September 3, 2019 (the “Grant Date”) to Omar Rifi (the “Participant”), of an option to purchase, in whole or in part, on the terms provided herein, a total of 410,000 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) at $1.07 per Share.  Unless earlier terminated, this option shall expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on September 3, 2029 (the “Final Exercise Date”).
The option evidenced by this agreement was granted to the Participant pursuant to the inducement grant exception under Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c)(4), and not pursuant to the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) or any equity incentive plan of the Company, as an inducement that is material to the Participant’s employment with the Company.
It is intended that the option evidenced by this agreement shall not be an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”).  Except as otherwise indicated by the context, the term “Participant”, as used in this option, shall be deemed to include any person who acquires the right to exercise this option validly under its terms.
2.
Vesting Schedule.
Except as otherwise provided herein, this option will become exercisable (“vest”) as to 25% of the original number of Shares on one-year anniversary of the Grant Date and as to an additional 6.25% of the original number of Shares at the end of each successive three-month period following the one-year anniversary of the Grant Date until the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date.
The right of exercise shall be cumulative so that to the extent the option is not exercised in any period to the maximum extent permissible it shall continue to be exercisable, in whole or in part, with respect to all Shares for which it is vested until the earlier of the Final Exercise Date or the termination of this option under Section 3 hereof.
3.
Exercise of Option.
(a)Form of Exercise.  Each election to exercise this option shall be in writing, signed by the Participant (or such electronic notice as is approved by the Company), and received by the Company at its principal office, accompanied by this agreement and payment in full as follows:
(1)in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;
(2)    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

- 1 -


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 approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), in its sole discretion, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair market value per share as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (the “Fair Market Value”), 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 in its discretion and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;
(4)    to the extent approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, 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 this being exercised, less (ii) such number of shares as is equal to (A) the aggregate exercise price for the portion of this option being exercised divided by (B) the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise;
(5)    to the extent permitted by applicable law or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or
(6)    by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.
The Participant may purchase less than the number of shares covered hereby, provided that no partial exercise of this option may be for any fractional share or for fewer than ten whole shares.
(b)    Continuous Relationship with the Company Required.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3, this option may not be exercised unless the Participant, at the time he exercises this option, is, and has been at all times since the Grant Date, an employee, officer or a director of, or consultant or advisor to, the Company or any other entity the employees, officers, directors, consultants, or advisors of which are eligible to receive option grants under the Plan (an “Eligible Participant”).
(c)    Termination of Relationship with the Company.  If the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Participant for any reason, then, except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) below, the right to exercise this option shall terminate three months after such cessation (but in no event after the Final Exercise Date), provided that this option shall be exercisable only to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise this option on the date of such cessation. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant, prior to the Final Exercise Date, violates the non-competition or confidentiality provisions of any employment contract, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, the right to exercise this option shall terminate immediately upon written notice to the Participant from the Company describing such violation.
(d)    Exercise Period Upon Death or Disability.  If the Participant dies or becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) prior to the Final Exercise Date while he is an Eligible Participant and the Company has not terminated such relationship for “cause” as specified

- 2 -


in paragraph (e) below, this option shall be exercisable, within the period of one year following the date of death or disability of the Participant, by the Participant (or in the case of death by an authorized transferee), provided that this option shall be exercisable only to the extent that this option was exercisable by the Participant on the date of his death or disability, and further provided that this option shall not be exercisable after the Final Exercise Date.
(e)    Termination for Cause.  If the Participant, prior to the Final Exercise Date, is terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined in the Letter Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2019 between the Participant and the Company, or any successor agreement thereto (the “Letter Agreement”)), the right to exercise this option shall terminate immediately upon the effective date of such termination.
(f)    Letter Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3 or in Section 7, this option shall be subject to any applicable vesting terms set forth in the Letter Agreement, including the accelerated vesting provisions set forth in the Letter Agreement applicable in connection with certain terminations within the specified period following a Change in Control Transaction (as defined in the Letter Agreement).
 
4.
Agreement in Connection with Public Offering.
The Participant agrees, in connection with an underwritten public offering of the Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act, (i) not to (a) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company or (b) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, whether any transaction described in clause (a) or (b) is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise, during the period beginning on the date of the filing of such registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the offering (plus up to an additional 34 days to the extent requested by the managing underwriters for such offering in order to address Rule 2711(f) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or any similar successor provision), and (ii) to execute any agreement reflecting clause (i) above as may be requested by the Company or the managing underwriters at the time of such offering.  The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Common Stock or other securities subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of the “lock-up” period.
5.
Withholding.
No Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of this option unless and until the Participant pays to the Company, or makes provision satisfactory to the Company for payment of, any federal, state or local withholding taxes required by law to be withheld in respect of this option. The Participant must satisfy all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax

- 3 -


withholding obligations before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership of Common Stock under this option.  The Company may decide 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 of this option or at the same time as payment of the exercise price, unless the Company determines otherwise. If approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, a Participant may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock underlying this option valued at their Fair Market Value; 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 and state 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 forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.
6.
Transfer Restrictions.
This option may 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, and, during the lifetime of the Participant, this option shall be exercisable only by the Participant.
7.
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, the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of this option shall be equitably adjusted by the Company 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 this option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then the Participant, if he exercises this 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

- 4 -


with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of this option, 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.  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.  In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions with respect to this option (or any portion thereof) on such terms as the Board determines: (i) provide that this option shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent option shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice to the Participant, provide that the unvested and/ or unexercised portion of this option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that this option shall become exercisable, realizable, or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to this option 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 the Participant with respect to this option equal to (A) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the vested portion of this option (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 price of this option and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of this option, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, this option 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.
For purposes of clause (i) above, this option shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, this option confers the right to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to this option 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 of this option to consist solely of such number of shares of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) that the Board determined to be equivalent in value (as of the

- 5 -


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.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
No Right To Employment or Other Status.  The grant of this option shall not be construed as giving the 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 the Participant free from any liability or claim hereunder, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or provided for in the Letter Agreement.
(b)    No Rights As Stockholder.  Subject to the provisions of this option, the  Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to this option until becoming the record holder of such shares.
(c)    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the Letter Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the parties, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, relating to the subject matter hereof.
(d)    Amendment.  Except with respect to any vesting terms set forth in the Letter Agreement, the Board may amend, modify or terminate this Agreement, including but not limited to, substituting another option of the same or a different type and changing the date of exercise or realization.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant, or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 7 and the Letter Agreement.
(e)    Acceleration.  The Board may at any time provide that this option shall become immediately exercisable in whole or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in whole or in part, as the case may be.
(f)    Conditions on Delivery of Stock.  The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement until (i) all conditions of this Agreement have been met 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.
(g)    Administration by Board.  The Board will administer this Agreement and may construe and interpret the terms hereof.  Subject to the terms and provisions of the Letter Agreement,

- 6 -


the Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Agreement into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency.  No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under this Agreement made in good faith.
(h)    Appointment of Committees.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers hereunder to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”).  All references herein to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority hereunder have been delegated to such Committee.
(i)    Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, and each such other provision shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.
(j)    Governing Law.  This Agreement 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.
(k)    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one in the same instrument.




[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]





- 7 -


The Company has caused this option to be executed by its duly authorized officer.
 
 
 
 
 
SESEN BIO, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 /s/ Thomas Cannell
 
Name:
 Thomas Cannell
 
Title:
 President & CEO


[Signature Page to Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement]



The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing option and agrees to the terms and conditions thereof.


PARTICIPANT
/s/ Omar Rifi                
Omar Rifi

    


[Signature Page to Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement]