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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549
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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) May 10, 2022
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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0-26056 |
89-3685595 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1115 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, |
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55403 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (612) 438-2363
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value |
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AATC |
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Preferred Stock Purchase Rights |
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AATC |
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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 Instructions 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))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
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. ☐
Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) Effective on February 17, 2022, the Board of Directors of Autoscope Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) approved the Autoscope Technologies Corporation 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Original Plan”), subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders. On May 2, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors amended the Original Plan in certain respects. (The Original Plan, as amended by the Company’s Board of Directors on May 2, 2022, is referred to in this Current Report on Form 8-K as the “Plan.”) At the annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders held on May 10, 2022, the Company's shareholders, upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors, approved the adoption of the Plan.
The material terms of the Plan were described in the section of the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 22, 2022 (the “2022 Proxy Statement”) entitled “Proposal 5 – Approval of Autoscope Technologies Corporation 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan,” as amended by the section of the Company’s proxy statement Supplement filed with the SEC on May 2, 2022 (the “2022 Supplement”) entitled “Proposal 5 – Approval of Autoscope Technologies Corporation 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan – Summary of the 2022 Stock Plan,” which descriptions are incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
The foregoing description of the Plan, including the descriptions in the Company’s 2022 Proxy Statement and 2022 Supplement referenced above, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
(a) On May 10, 2022, the Company held its 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. Of the 5,378,857 shares of the Company's common stock outstanding and entitled to vote, 4,262,855 shares, or 79%, were represented at the meeting.
(b) During the annual meeting, the Company's shareholders voted on the following matters:
Proposal 1. Election of Directors
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Votes For |
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Votes Withheld |
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Broker Non-Votes |
Andrew T. Berger |
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2,810,033 |
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66,724 |
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1,386,098 |
James W. Bracke |
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2,761,119 |
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115,638 |
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1,386,098 |
Joseph P. Daly |
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2,417,669 |
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459,088 |
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1,386,098 |
Geoffrey C. Davis |
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2,760,780 |
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115,977 |
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1,386,098 |
Ezekiel J. Kruglick |
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2,836,694 |
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40,063 |
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1,386,098 |
Brian J. VanDerBosch |
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2,829,283 |
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47,474 |
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1,386,098 |
Proposal 2. Ratify the appointment of Boulay PLLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2022.
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Votes For |
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Votes Against |
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Abstain |
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4,240,989 |
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13,741 |
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8,125 |
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Proposal 3. Advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company's named executive officers.
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Votes For |
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Votes Against |
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Abstain |
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Broker Non-Votes |
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2,741,117 |
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92,174 |
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43,466 |
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1,386,098 |
Proposal 4. Approve the adoption of an amendment to the Company's Section 382 rights agreement designed to preserve the Company's net operating loss carry forwards and other tax benefits.
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Votes For |
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Votes Against |
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Abstain |
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Broker Non-Votes |
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2,764,104 |
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105,026 |
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7,627 |
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1,386,098 |
Proposal 5. Approve the Autoscope Technologies Corporation 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
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Votes For |
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Votes Against |
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Abstain |
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Broker Non-Votes |
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2,737,027 |
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108,450 |
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31,280 |
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1,386,098 |
Section 7 – Regulation FD
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure
Dividend. On May 10, 2022, the Board of Directors of Autoscope approved a dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock outstanding. The dividend will be payable on May 30, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 23, 2022. Although Autoscope intends to pay quarterly dividends for the foreseeable future, subsequent dividends will continue to be reviewed quarterly and declared by the Board at its discretion.
Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits. The following document is filed as an Exhibit to this Current Report on Form 10-K:
Exhibit No. Description
10.1 Autoscope Technologies Corporation 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended.
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.
Dated: May 12, 2022 |
Autoscope Technologies Corporation |
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By: |
/s/ Frank G. Hallowell |
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Frank G. Hallowell |
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and |
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5 |
Exhibit 10.1
AUTOSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
2022 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
Effective Date: February 17, 2022
table of contents
ARTICLE I. GENERAL
1.1 DEFINITIONS
1.2 PURPOSE
1.3 ADMINISTRATION
1.4 TERM OF THE PLAN
1.5 SHARES TO BE AWARDED
1.6 LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS
1.7 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
1.8 ADJUSTMENTS UPON CERTAIN EVENTS.
1.9 AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTATIONS OF RECIPIENT
ARTICLE II. OPTIONS
2.1 GRANTING OF OPTIONS
2.2 ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS
2.3 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
2.4 SECTION 83(b) ELECTION
2.5 TRANSFERABILITY
2.6 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
ARTICLE III. OTHER AWARDS
3.1 GRANT
3.2 AWARD AGREEMENT
3.3 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
3.4 RESTRICTED STOCK
3.5 RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
3.6 PERFORMANCE AWARDS
3.7 OTHER STOCK GRANTS
3.8 TRANSFERABILITY
ARTICLE IV. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
4.1 NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER
4.2 WITHHOLDING
4.3 RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK
4.4 ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
4.5 INCOME TAX TREATMENT
4.6 EXCEPTIONS TO TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
4.7 OTHER BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
4.8 INTERNATIONAL RECIPIENTS
4.9 NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT, SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR OR AWARDS
4.10 EXPENSES OF PLAN
4.11 RELIANCE ON REPORTS
4.12 STOCK CERTIFICATES
4.13 GENERAL RESTRICTIONS
4.14 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
4.15 SEVERABILITY
4.16 MINNESOTA LAW
4.17 NO TRUST OR FUND
4.18 APPLICATION OF CODE SECTION 409A
AUTOSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
2022 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
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ARTICLE I.
GENERAL
1.1 DEFINITIONS
As used in this Autoscope Technologies Corporation 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, the following definitions shall apply:
Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) a reorganization, by any means whatsoever that results in the Shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction continuing to hold, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting equity securities of the entity surviving such transaction shall not be deemed to be a Change of Control Event, and (ii) a Change in Control shall not occur as the result of a sale or transfer to an employee stock ownership plan, within the meaning of Code Section 4975(e)(7), that is sponsored by the Company.
1.2 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the growth and general prosperity of the Company and its Affiliates by permitting the Company to grant Awards to employees, officers, members of the Board of Directors, consultants, independent contractors, and other service providers of the Company and its Affiliates, thereby assisting the Company in its efforts to attract and retain the best available persons for positions of substantial responsibility, and to provide employees, officers, members of the Board of Directors, consultants, independent contractors, and other service providers an additional incentive to contribute, by the performance of services, to the future success of the Company and its Affiliates.
1.3 ADMINISTRATION
1.4 TERM OF THE PLAN
The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors as of the Effective Date. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the earlier of (a) the date on which the Plan is terminated as provided in Section 1.7 hereof, or (b) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. The expiration of the term of the Plan with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall not affect Awards then outstanding which have not yet expired.
1.5 SHARES TO BE AWARDED
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be awarded under the Plan is 500,000 shares of Common Stock, which number of shares is subject to adjustment in the same manner as the number of shares of Common Stock underlying Awards are subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 1.8 of this Plan. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan may be increased from time to time by approval of the Board of Directors or the Committee and, if required by the Code or any rules or regulations adopted thereunder, the Shareholders. Common Stock subject to Awards which terminate or expire prior to exercise by or vesting in a Recipient shall be available for the issuance of future Awards.
1.6 LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS
1.7 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
1.8 ADJUSTMENTS UPON CERTAIN EVENTS.
1.9 AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTATIONS OF RECIPIENT
As a condition to the grant or exercise of any portion of an Option or receipt of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit, if the issuance of the Award or of any shares of Common Stock is not registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws, upon the request of the Company, the Recipient must represent and agree that any and all shares of Common Stock purchased or received under an Award will be acquired for investment and not for resale. The Company may restrict the transfer of the Common Stock so purchased or received and affix a legend to any certificate representing such shares of Common Stock, stating that such shares may not be transferred without an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company that the proposed transfer may lawfully be made without registration under the Securities Act and registration, notice or approval under any applicable state securities laws, or such applicable registration(s), notice(s) and approval(s).
ARTICLE II.
OPTIONS
2.1 GRANTING OF OPTIONS
An Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall entitle the Recipient, upon vesting and exercise, to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified price during a specified period. Subject to the following, Options shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time approve and may be made exercisable in one or more installments, upon the happening of certain events, upon the fulfillment of certain conditions, or upon such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine; provided, that each Option shall be subject to the following requirements in addition to the requirements set forth in this Article II :
Subject to the requirements of Section 2.6 regarding Incentive Stock Options, Options may be issued to any employees of the Company or of any Affiliate, including, among others, employees who are officers and/or members of the Board of Directors of the Company or any Affiliate. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Committee may grant Options under the Plan which are Non‑Statutory Options to persons who are, at the time of such grant, employees of the Company or its Affiliates, or to persons who are, at the time of such grant, not employees of the Company but who are members of the Board of Directors of the Company or its Affiliates or persons who are deemed by the Committee to be important to the future success of the Company or its Affiliates, including, but not limited to, directors, employees, consultants, independent contractors or other providers of services to the Company or its Affiliates. In addition, eligible persons may be selected to receive Options individually or by group category (for example, by pay grade) as the Committee may determine. A person who has been granted an Option under the Plan or under any other plan of the Company or its Affiliates may be granted additional Options if the Committee shall so determine. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the Agreement evidencing an Option, the granting of an Option under this Plan shall not affect any outstanding Options previously granted under this Plan or under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate.
2.3 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
An Option can be exercised only in the manner provided in this Section 2.3. The Recipients of the Option or other proper parties shall deliver written notice of exercise to the Company at its principal office within the Option period, stating the number of shares of Common Stock as to which the Option is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price for all shares designated in the notice. If required by the Company, such notice shall further contain a representation that such shares are being acquired for investment and not for resale. As provided in the Agreement setting forth the terms of the Option being exercised, the exercise price shall be paid in cash or by certified or cashier’s check or by the delivery of previously acquired shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such Option. The Company shall then cause a certificate or certificates for such Common Stock to be delivered to the Recipient or other proper parties within a reasonable period.
2.4 SECTION 83(b) ELECTION
The Company recognizes that certain persons who receive Options may be subject to restrictions regarding their right to trade shares of Common Stock under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Such restrictions may cause Recipients not to be taxable when they exercise their Options. However, it may be more beneficial to a Recipient to be taxed upon exercise of an Option as opposed to when trading restrictions lapse. Accordingly, Recipients exercising such Options may consider making an election to be taxed upon exercise of the Option under Section 83(b) of the Code. If requested, the Company shall provide reasonable assistance to such Recipients to effect a Section 83(b) election.
2.5 TRANSFERABILITY
Subject to the requirements of Section 2.6 regarding Incentive Stock Options and to the discretion of the Committee to provide otherwise upon the grant of an Option, Options shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and Options shall be exercisable during a Recipient’s lifetime only by such Recipient.
2.6 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
In addition to the foregoing provisions of this Article II, Options that are intended to constitute Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following additional provisions of this Section 2.6.
Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards and Other Stock Grants may be granted either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine to whom Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, the times or other conditions under which such an Award may be subject to forfeiture, and all other conditions of Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in addition to those contained in Section 3.4 and Section 3.5. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units in which the restrictions lapse upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals over a specified performance period.
3.2 AWARD AGREEMENT
Each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards and Other Stock Grants shall be evidenced by a written Agreement, in such form as the Committee may approve from time to time, which Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of this Plan and to such other terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. The Recipient of an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall not have any rights with respect to such Award unless and until such Recipient has executed an Agreement evidencing the Award, has delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, and has otherwise complied with its applicable terms and conditions.
3.3 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Recipients subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a right to receive upon exercise thereof the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at any time during a specified period before or after the date of exercise) over (ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee, which grant price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right; provided, however, that the Committee may designate a per share grant price that is less than Fair Market Value on the date of grant (A) to the extent necessary or appropriate, as determined by the Committee, to satisfy applicable legal or regulatory requirements of a foreign jurisdiction or (B) if the Stock Appreciation Right is granted in substitution for a stock appreciation right previously granted by an entity that is acquired by or merged with the Company or an Affiliate. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the grant price, term, methods of exercise, dates of exercise, methods of settlement and any other terms and conditions (including conditions or restrictions on the exercise thereof) of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Committee.
3.4 RESTRICTED STOCK
Awards of Restricted Stock may be granted under the Plan subject to the following terms and conditions:
The transferability of this certificate and the Common Stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Autoscope Technologies Corporation 2022 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and an Agreement entered into between the registered owner of such Common Stock and the Company. Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file in the offices of the Company.
The Committee shall require that the certificates evidencing such Common Stock be held in custody by the Company or its designated agent for that purpose until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the Recipient shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.
The Common Stock that represents Restricted Stock Units awarded pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:
3.6 PERFORMANCE AWARDS
The Committee may grant Performance Awards to Recipients. A Performance Award granted under the Plan may be payable in cash, in shares of Common Stock, or other Awards (including, without limitation, Restricted Stock). Performance Awards shall be conditioned solely on the achievement of one or more objective Performance Goals, and such Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Agreement, the Performance Goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall also certify in writing that such Performance Goals have been met prior to payment of the Performance Awards.
3.7 OTHER STOCK GRANTS
The Committee may, subject to the terms of the Plan, grant shares of Common Stock to Recipients with or without restrictions thereon as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Agreement, such Stock Awards may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
3.8 TRANSFERABILITY
Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the Award Agreements, Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards or Other Stock Grant may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered during any applicable Restriction Period.
ARTICLE IV.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
No Recipient shall have any rights as a Shareholder of the Company with respect to any Common Stock subject to such Recipient’s Award prior to the date of issuance to such Recipient of a certificate or certificates for such Common Stock or the date on which such issuance is recorded on the Company’s books and records in the case of non‑certificated shares.
4.2 WITHHOLDING
Whenever the Company proposes or is required to issue or transfer shares of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall have the right to require the Recipient to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding tax liability prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares or the date on which such issuance is recorded on the Company’s books and records in the case of non‑certificated shares. Whenever under the Plan payments are to be made in cash, such payments shall include an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, or local withholding tax liability.
4.3 RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK
The Company, during the term of the Plan and all Awards issued under the Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available, and will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to seek or obtain approval from any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated by this Plan necessary in order to issue and sell, such number of Common Stock as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
4.4 ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock under an Award granted under the Plan or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless, in the opinion of the Company’s legal counsel, such issuance, delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act or the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction) and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity. The Company shall be under no obligation to any Recipient to register for offering or resale or to qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, or to register or qualify under the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction, any Awards, shares of Common Stock, security or interest in a security paid or issued under, or created by, the Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made. The Company may issue stock certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock with such legends and subject to such restrictions on transfer and stop transfer instructions as legal counsel for the Company deems necessary or desirable for compliance by the Company with federal, state and foreign securities laws. The Company may also require such other action or agreement by the Recipients as may from time to time be necessary to comply with applicable securities laws.
4.5 INCOME TAX TREATMENT
Government jurisdiction, income reporting and tax withholding requirements will be complied with by the Company whenever Awards are granted or exercised and any income tax payment, and any income tax prepayment requirements (including any tax withholding requirements imposed upon the Company) will be effectively borne by the Recipient. BECAUSE FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAW IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND INCOME TAX LAWS VARY FROM STATE TO STATE, THE COMPANY STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT RECIPIENTS CONSULT WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL TAX ADVISORS PRIOR TO EXERCISING AN OPTION OR ANY OTHER AWARD.
4.6 EXCEPTIONS TO TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Whether military, government or other service or other leave of absence shall constitute a termination of employment or other relationship with the Company shall be determined in each case by the Committee at its discretion, and any determination by the Committee shall be final and conclusive and binding on all Recipients. A termination of employment or other relationship with the Company shall not occur where the Recipient transfers from the Company to one of its Affiliates or transfers from an Affiliate to the Company or another Affiliate.
4.7 OTHER BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
Payments and other benefits received by a Recipient under an Award shall not be deemed a part of a Recipient’s regular, recurring compensation for purposes of any termination, indemnity or severance pay laws and shall not be included in, nor have any effect on, the determination of benefits under any other employee benefit plan, contract or similar arrangement provided by the Company or an Affiliate, unless expressly so provided by such other plan, contract or arrangement or the Committee determines that an Award or portion of an Award should be included to reflect competitive compensation practices or to recognize that an Award has been made in lieu of a portion of competitive cash compensation.
4.8 INTERNATIONAL RECIPIENTS
With respect to Recipients who reside or work outside the United States of America, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or adopt such modifications, procedures or sub‑plans with respect to such Recipients as are necessary or desirable to ensure the viability of the benefits of the Plan, comply with applicable foreign laws or obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Recipient, the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that no such changes shall apply to the Awards to Recipients who may be “covered employees” under Section 162(m) of the Code or any successor thereto unless consistent with the provisions thereof.
4.9 NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT, SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR OR AWARDS
The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Affiliate to continue the employment of a Recipient and shall not lessen or affect the Company’s or the Affiliate’s right to terminate the employment of such Recipient. Nothing in the Plan will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, the Board or the Shareholders to terminate the directorship of any Director at any time, nor confer upon any Director any right to continue to serve as a member of the Board. No Recipient or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniform treatment of Recipients or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.
4.10 EXPENSES OF PLAN
The expenses of administering this Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.
4.11 RELIANCE ON REPORTS
Each Director or of a committee of the Board, including the Committee, shall be fully justified in relying or acting in good faith upon any report made by the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company and its Affiliates and upon any other information furnished in connection with this Plan by any person or persons other than such member. In no event shall any person who is or shall have been a Director or of a committee of the Board, including the Committee, be liable for any determination made or other action taken or omitted in reliance upon any such report or information, or for any action taken or omitted, including the furnishing of information, in good faith.
4.12 STOCK CERTIFICATES
To the extent this Plan or any applicable Agreement provides for the issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Common Stock, the Company may issue such shares on a non‑certificated basis to the extent it reasonably can do so in compliance with the restrictions set forth in this Plan and the applicable Agreement and to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange or market on which such shares are traded.
4.13 GENERAL RESTRICTIONS
Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the requirement that if, in the opinion of the Board or Committee, the listing, registration, or qualification of any shares of Common Stock related thereto upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, the consent or approval of any regulatory body, or an agreement by the Recipient with respect to the disposition of any such shares, is necessary or desirable as a condition of the issuance or sale of such shares, such Award shall not be exercised or shares of Common Stock granted without restriction and/or such shares of Common Stock shall not be sold unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval, or agreement is effected or obtained in form satisfactory to the Board or Committee.
This Plan will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the Recipients, and Agreements entered into in accordance with the Plan shall be binding upon the heirs, successors and assigns of the Company and the Recipients.
4.15 SEVERABILITY
If any provision of the Plan or any Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan or Agreement, and such Plan or Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
4.16 MINNESOTA LAW
The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan; any rules, regulations and actions relating to the Plan; and the Agreements evidencing Awards granted under the Plan, will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to its choice of law provisions.
4.17 NO TRUST OR FUND
The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan. Nothing contained herein shall require the Company to segregate any monies, other property, or shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits for any immediate or deferred amounts payable to any Recipient, and no Recipient shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
4.18 APPLICATION OF CODE SECTION 409A
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Plan and each Agreement issued under the Plan is intended to be interpreted and applied so that the payments and benefits set forth herein either shall either be exempt from the requirements of Code Section 409A and the final Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Final Treasury Regulations” and together with Section 409A of the Code, “Section 409A”), or shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Plan and each Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt from or in compliance with Section 409A. If and to the extent that any provision of an Award is required to comply with Section 409A, such provision shall be administered and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A. If and solely to the extent that any such provision of an Award as currently written would conflict with Section 409A of the Code, the Committee shall have the authority, without the consent of the Recipient, to administer such provision and to amend the Award with respect to such provision to the extent the Committee deems necessary for the purposes of avoiding any portion of amounts owed to the Recipient being retroactively included in the taxable income of the Recipient for any prior taxable year.
I hereby certify that this Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company effective February 17, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), revised by the Board of Directors of the Company effective May 2, 2022, and approved by the Shareholders of the Company on May 10, 2022, with such Plan to be effective on the Effective Date.
AUTOSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION | |
By: | /s/ Frank G. Hallowell |
Its: | Chief Financial Officer |
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