Report of Foreign Issuer (6-k)
March 06 2018 - 4:10PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
United
States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE
ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16
OR 15d-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the Month of March, 2018
Commission File Number: 001-35892
GW PHARMACEUTICALS PLC
(Translation of registrant’s
name into English)
Sovereign House
Vision Park
Histon
Cambridge CB24 9BZ
United Kingdom
(Address of principal
executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant
is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant
is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
¨
2018 GRANT OF AWARDS UNDER LONG TERM INCENTIVE
PLAN
Cambridge, UK, March
6, 2018 - On February 26, 2018, GW Pharmaceuticals plc (the “Company”) granted the following awards to its directors
and officers over the Company’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) in the form of options (“Awards”)
under the GW Pharmaceuticals plc Long-Term Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on March 14, 2017:
Awards to Executive
Directors and Officers:
Name
|
Role
|
Number of ADS’s
under this Option Award
|
Justin Gover
|
Chief Executive
|
44,715
|
Geoffrey Guy
|
Chairman of the Board
|
32,516
|
Scott Giacobello
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
20,737
|
Julian Gangolli
|
President, US
|
22,441
|
Volker Knappertz
|
Chief Medical Officer
|
16,821
|
Doug Snyder
|
Chief Legal Officer
|
19,156
|
Chris Tovey
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
17,836
|
Adam George
|
Managing Director, UK
|
15,288
|
50% of the Awards are
in the form of performance stock options, whereby the options will vest upon the third anniversary of the date of grant subject
to certain corporate performance conditions having been achieved. In this case, vesting of half of the performance stock options
will occur upon FDA grant of Epidiolex regulatory approval and the remaining half will vest upon Epidiolex US commercial launch.
The Company’s Remuneration Committee considers these particular milestones to be the most important elements of its agreed
strategy and the key value drivers for the business at this time.
25% of the Awards are
in the form of market-priced options, whereby the options have an exercise price equivalent to the market price at market close
on the day prior to grant ($115.31 per ADS). These options become exercisable on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Future
gains upon exercise of these options will be linked to the extent of share price growth over the vesting period. The Company’s
Remuneration Committee considers this element of the Awards will help to ensure continuing alignment between executive and shareholders’
interests.
25% of the Awards are
in the form of restricted stock options whereby these options are subject to a four year service condition and vesting period.
25% of the options will vest on each anniversary of the date of grant over the next four years. The Company’s Remuneration
Committee considers that this element of the Awards should help to ensure retention of its team of Directors and executive officers,
a key factor for the Company’s future success.
In general, the Awards may be exercised at
any time between the vesting date and the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. US based Directors and officers will be required
to exercise their performance stock and restricted stock options within six months of the vesting date. The exercise price of the
performance stock option and restricted stock options is $0.02 per ADS, being the par value of the underlying ordinary shares.
Awards which do not vest at the end of the vesting period will lapse permanently.
These Awards are in made in accordance with
the Company’s remuneration policy, approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting in February 2015 and are subject
to an equity retention policy whereby the executive Directors and certain specified officers are required to build up and retain
an equity stake in the Company, which may include retained vested share options, representing an agreed multiple of salary, over
a 5 year term.
For further information,
please contact:
Adam George
Company Secretary
GW Pharmaceuticals plc
+44 (0)207 291 0552
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,
thereunto duly authorized.
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GW Pharmaceuticals plc
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By:
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/s/ Adam George
|
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Name:
|
Adam George
|
|
Title:
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Secretary
|
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Date: March 6, 2018
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