LIVEPERSON, INC.
2019 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Effective as of June 6, 2019)
1. Purpose
The purpose of this 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of LivePerson, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).
2. Eligibility
All of the Company’s employees, officers, and directors are eligible to be granted options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-and cash-based awards (each, an “Award”) under the Plan. Consultants and advisors to the Company (as such terms are defined and interpreted for purposes of Form S-8 (or any successor form)) are also eligible to be granted Awards. Each person who is granted an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant.”
3. Administration and Delegation
(a) Administration by Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award.
(b) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or officers.
(c) Delegation to Officers. To the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant (i) Options and other Awards that constitute rights under Delaware law (subject to any limitations under the Plan) and (ii) Awards that constitute stock under Delaware law (subject to any limitations under the Plan), in each case, to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including, in the case of Options, the exercise price of the Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined), the maximum number of shares subject to such Awards that the officers may grant and, in the case of Restricted Stock Awards, the time period during which the Awards may be granted by such officers; provided further, however, that no officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act).
(d) Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Discretionary Awards to non-employee directors will only be granted and administered by a Committee, all of the members of which are independent as defined by Section 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
4. Stock Available for Awards
(a) Number of Shares; Share Counting.
(1) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to the number of shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) that is equal to the sum of:
(A) 4,250,000 shares of Common Stock; plus
(B) such additional number of shares of Common Stock is equal to the sum of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2009 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Existing Plans”) that remained available for grant under the Existing Plans as of June 6, 2019, and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted under the Existing Plans which awards expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by the Company at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right, in each case, on or after June 6, 2019, subject, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined) to any limitations of the Code; provided that in no event shall the sum of (x) and (y) above exceed 11,645,851.
(2) Fungible Share Pool. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, any Award that is not a Full-Value Award shall be counted against the share limits specified in Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(b) as 1 share for each share of Common Stock subject to such Award and any Award that is a Full-Value Award shall be counted against the share limits specified in Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(b) as 1.5 shares for each 1 share of Common Stock subject to such Full-Value Award. “Full-Value Award” means any Restricted Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award with a per share price or per unit purchase price lower than 100% of Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date of grant. To the extent a share that was subject to an Award that counted as 1 share is returned to the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(3), each applicable share reserve will be credited with 1 share. To the extent that a share that was subject to an Award that counts as 1.5 shares is returned to the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(3), each applicable share reserve will be credited with 1.5 shares.
(3) Share Counting. For purposes of counting the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan and under the sublimits contained in Sections 4(b), (i) all shares of Common Stock covered by independent SARs shall be counted against the number of shares available for the grant of Awards; provided, however, that independent SARs that may be settled only in cash shall not be so counted; (ii) if any Award (A) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) or (B) results in any Common Stock not being issued (including as a result of an independent SAR that was settleable either in cash or in stock actually being settled in cash), the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards; provided, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), the foregoing shall be subject to any limitations under the Code; and provided further, in the case of independent SARs, that the full number of shares subject to any stock-settled SAR shall be counted against the shares available under the Plan and against the sublimits listed in the first clause of this Section in proportion to the portion of the SAR actually exercised regardless of the number of shares actually used to settle such SAR upon exercise; (iii) shares of Common Stock delivered (either by actual delivery, attestation, or net exercise) to the Company by a Participant to (A) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Award or (B) satisfy tax withholding obligations (including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation) shall not be added back to the number of shares available for the future grant of Awards; and (iv) shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Award shall not increase the number of shares available for future grant of Awards.
(b) Sub-limits. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, the following sub-limits on the number of shares subject to Awards shall apply as follows:
(1) Per-Participant Limit. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be one million (1,000,000) per calendar year. For purposes of the foregoing limit, the combination of an Option in tandem with a SAR (as each is hereafter defined) shall be treated as a single Award.
(2) Limit on Awards to Directors. The maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to directors who are not employees of the Company at the time of grant shall be 5% of the maximum number of authorized shares set forth in Section 4(a)(1).
(c) Substitute Awards. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a)(1) or any sublimits contained in the Plan, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.
5. Stock Options
(a) General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option.”
(b) Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of LivePerson, Inc., any of LivePerson, Inc.’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option or if the Company converts an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify the exercise price in the applicable option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date the Option is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of an Option with an exercise price to be determined on a future date, the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.
(d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that no Option will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.
(e) Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Company, together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following exercise.
(f) Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:
(1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;
(2) except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable option agreement, 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 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 provided for in the applicable option agreement or approved by 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 as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (“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 provided for in the applicable Nonstatutory Stock Option agreement or 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 the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Option so exercised reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise;
(5) to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or
(6) by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.
(g) Limitation on Repricing. Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders: (1) no outstanding Option granted under the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Option (other than adjustments pursuant to Section 9) and (2) the Board may not cancel any outstanding Option (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled Option.
6. Stock Appreciation Rights
(a) General. The Board may grant Awards consisting of SARs entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount of Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof (such form to be determined by the Board) determined by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock over the measurement price established pursuant to Section 6(c). The date as of which such appreciation is determined shall be the exercise date.
(b) Grants. SARs may be granted in tandem with, or independently of, Options granted under the Plan.
(1) Tandem Awards. When SARs are expressly granted in tandem with Options, (i) the SAR will be exercisable only at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable (except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event) and will be exercisable in accordance with the procedure required for exercise of the related Option; (ii) the SAR will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option, except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event and except that a SAR granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by an Option will not be reduced until the number of shares as to which the related Option has been exercised or has terminated exceeds the number of shares not covered by the SAR; (iii) the Option will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the exercise of the related SAR; and (iv) the SAR will be transferable only with the related Option.
(2) Independent SARs. A SAR not expressly granted in tandem with an Option will become exercisable at such time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board may specify in the SAR Award.
(c) Measurement Price. The Board shall establish the measurement price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR agreement. The measurement price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of a SAR with a measurement price to be determined on a future date, the measurement price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.
(d) Duration of SARs. Each SAR shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable SAR agreement; provided, however, that no SAR will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.
(e) Exercise of SARs. SARs may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Company, together with any other documents required by the Board.
(f) Limitation on Repricing. Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders: (1) no outstanding SAR granted under the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding SAR (other than adjustments pursuant to Section 9) and (2) the Board may not cancel any outstanding SAR (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled SAR.
7. Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units
(a) General. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”), subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award. Instead of granting Awards for Restricted Stock, the Board may grant Awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock or cash to be delivered at the time such Award vests (“Restricted Stock Units”) (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “Restricted Stock Award”).
(b) Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any. Restricted Stock Awards that vest solely based on the passage of time shall be zero percent vested prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the first annual meeting held after the date of grant), no more than one-third vested prior to the second anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the second annual meeting held after the date of grant), and no more than two-thirds vested prior to the third anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the third annual meeting held after the date of grant). Restricted Stock Awards that do not vest solely based on the passage of time shall not vest prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the first annual meeting held after the date of grant). The two foregoing sentences shall not apply to (1) Performance Awards granted pursuant to Section 10(i) or (2) Restricted Stock Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards granted, in the aggregate, for up to 5% of the maximum number of authorized shares set forth in Section 4(a)(1). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan (other than Section 10(i), if applicable), the Board may, in its discretion, either at the time a Restricted Stock Award is made or at any time thereafter, waive its right to repurchase shares of Common Stock (or waive the forfeiture thereof) or remove or modify any part or all of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Award, provided that the Board may only exercise such rights in extraordinary circumstances which shall include, without limitation, death, disability or retirement of the Participant; or a merger, consolidation, sale, reorganization, recapitalization, or change in control of the Company.
(c) Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock.
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(A)
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Subject to Section 7(c)(1)(C) below, Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such shares, unless otherwise provided by the Board.
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(B)
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Subject to Section 7(c)(1)(C) below, if any dividends or distributions are paid in shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, the shares, cash or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.
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(C)
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Each dividend amount shall be credited to an account for the Participant and shall become payable if and when the Restricted Stock to which it relates vests or, if later, when the shareholders actually receive that dividend payment. Any such amount shall be paid within 30 days of the applicable vesting event or shareholder payment date, if later.
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(2) Stock Certificates. The Company may require that any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock shall be deposited in escrow by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” shall mean the Participant’s estate.
(d) Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units.
(1) Settlement. Upon the vesting of and/or lapsing of any other restrictions (i.e., settlement) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share of Common Stock or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock, as provided in the applicable Award agreement. The Board may, in its discretion, provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A.
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(2)
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Voting Rights. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units.
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(3)
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Dividend Equivalents.
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(A)
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Subject to Section 7(d)(3)(C) below, to the extent provided by the Board, in its sole discretion, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide Participants with the right to receive an amount equal to any dividends or other distributions declared and paid on an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”).
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(B)
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Subject to Section 7(d)(3)(C) below, Dividend Equivalents may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and will be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which paid, subject in each case to such terms and conditions as the Board shall establish, in each case to be set forth in the applicable Award agreement.
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(C)
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To the extent a Dividend Equivalent right is provided in an award agreement, each Dividend Equivalent shall be credited to an account for the Participant and become payable if and when the Restricted Stock Units to which it relates vest (and shall be paid at the same time as settlement of the Restricted Stock Units) or, if later, when the shareholders actually receive the corresponding dividend payment.
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8. Other Stock-Based and Cash-Based Awards.
(a) General. Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“Other Stock-Based Awards”), including without limitation Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of Common Stock to be delivered in the future. Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine. The Company may also grant Performance Awards or other Awards denominated in cash rather than shares of Common Stock (“Cash-Based Awards”).
(b) Terms and Conditions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock-Based Award or Cash-Based Awards, including any purchase price applicable thereto. Other Stock-Based Awards that vest solely based on the passage of time shall be zero percent vested prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the first annual meeting held after the date of grant), no more than one-third vested prior to the second anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the second annual meeting held after the date of grant), and no more than two-thirds vested prior to the third anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the third annual meeting held after the date of grant). Other Stock-Based Awards that do not vest solely based on the passage of time shall not vest prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the first annual meeting held after the date of grant). The two foregoing sentences shall not apply to (1) Performance Awards granted pursuant to Section 10(i) or (2) Restricted Stock Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards granted, in the aggregate, for up to 5% of the maximum number of authorized shares set forth in Section 4(a)(1). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan (other than Section 10(i), if applicable), the Board may, in its discretion, either at the time a Other Stock-Based Award is made or at any time thereafter, waive its right to repurchase shares of Common Stock (or waive the forfeiture thereof) or remove or modify any part or all of the restrictions applicable to the Other Stock-Based Award, provided that the Board may only exercise such rights in extraordinary circumstances which shall include, without limitation, death, disability or retirement of the Participant; or a merger, consolidation, sale, reorganization, recapitalization, or change in control of the Company.
9. 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, (i) the number and class of securities available under the Plan, (ii) the sub-limits and share counting rules set forth in Sections 4(a) and 4(b) and the minimum vesting rules of Sections 7(b) and 8(b) (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iv) the share- and per-share provisions and the measurement price of each SAR, (v) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share, if any, subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (vi) the share- and per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Other Stock-Based Award, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) 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 an outstanding Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an 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 with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, 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.
(1) Definition. 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 transactions or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(2) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards Other than Restricted Stock Awards. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards other than Restricted Stock Awards on such terms as the Board determines: (i) provide that Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that the Participant’s unexercised Awards 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 outstanding Awards shall become exercisable, realizable, or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award 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 a Participant equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s Awards (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Awards and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such Awards, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 9(b), the Board shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically.
For purposes of clause (i) above, an Option shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, the Option confers the right to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to the 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 Options to consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value (as determined by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.
(3) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Restricted Stock Awards. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Restricted Stock Awards on such terms as the Board determines: (i) provide that Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) provide that restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iii) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment of an Acquisition Price, make or provide for a cash payment to a Participant equal the Acquisition Price times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s Awards, less any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such Awards, (iv) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds, net of any applicable tax withholdings and (v) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 9(b), the Board shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically.
For purposes of clause (i) above, a Restricted Stock Award shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, the Restricted Stock Award confers the right to hold or receive upon the lapsing of the applicable restrictions or vesting and settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award 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 vesting of the Restricted Stock Award to consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value (as determined by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.
Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock Award or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all Restricted Stock Awards then outstanding shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.
10. General Provisions Applicable to Awards
(a) Transferability of Awards. Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however, that the Board may permit or provide in an Award for the gratuitous transfer of the Award by the Participant to or for the benefit of any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such Award under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such transfer until such time as the Participant and such permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.
(b) Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Plan and any Award agreement, the Plan shall govern and the Award agreement shall be interpreted to minimize or eliminate any such conflict or inconsistency.
(c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical. In exercising its authority under the terms of the Plan, the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.
(d) Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, termination or other cessation of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.
(e) Withholding. The Participant must satisfy all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax withholding obligations before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership of Common Stock under an Award. 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 or release from forfeiture of an Award or, if the Company so requires, at the same time as is payment of the exercise price unless the Company determines otherwise. If provided for in an Award or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, a Participant may satisfy all or any portion of the Company’s statutory minimum tax obligations, or, if greater, a Participant’s election for tax withholding up to an amount determined under the maximum individual statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdiction, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value. Shares used to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.
(f) Amendment of Award. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. 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’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 9 hereof.
(g) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed 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 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.
(h) Acceleration. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 7(b), 8(b) and 10(i), the Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.
(i) Performance Awards.
(1) Grants. Options, Restricted Stock Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards under the Plan may be made subject to the achievement of performance goals pursuant to this Section 10(i) (“Performance Awards”), subject to the limit in Section 4(b) on shares covered by such grants. No Performance Awards shall vest prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant. Performance Awards can also provide for cash payments of up to $1 million per calendar year per individual.
(2) Performance Measures. For each Performance Award, the Board shall specify that the degree of granting, vesting and/or payout shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance measures established by the Board, which shall be based on the relative or absolute attainment of specified levels of one or any combination of the following: net income, earnings before or after discontinued operations, interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization, operating profit before or after discontinued operations and/or taxes, sales, sales growth, earnings growth, cash flow or cash position, gross margins, stock price, market share, return on sales, assets, equity or investment, improvement of financial ratings, achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives, total shareholder return, or any other strategic, operational or individual performance goals as the Board may determine. Such goals may reflect absolute entity or business unit performance or a relative comparison to the performance of a peer group of entities or other external measure of the selected performance criteria and may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated. The Board in its sole discretion may adjust the performance measures to include, exclude or otherwise reflect any one or more of (i) extraordinary items, (ii) gains or losses on the dispositions of discontinued operations, (iii) the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, (iv) the writedown of any asset, (v) charges for restructuring and rationalization programs, and (vi) other material changes to the business. Such performance measures: (i) may vary by Participant and may be different for different Awards; and (ii) may be particular to a Participant or the department, branch, line of business, subsidiary or other unit in which the Participant works and may cover such period as may be specified by the Board.
11. Forfeiture Events; Clawback. The Board may specify in any Award agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, clawback or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events or as required by law, in addition to any otherwise applicable forfeiture provisions that apply to the Award.
12. Miscellaneous
(a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a 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 a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.
(b) No Rights As Stockholder. Except with respect to Restricted Stock or as otherwise explicitly provided in the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.
(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan became effective on June 6, 2019 (the “Effective Date”). No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years from the Effective Date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.
(d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time provided that (i) no amendment that would require stockholder approval under the rules of NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) may be made effective unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment; and (ii) if the NASDAQ amends its corporate governance rules so that such rules no longer require stockholder approval of NASDAQ “material amendments” to equity compensation plans, then, from and after the effective date of such amendment to the NASDAQ rules, no amendment to the Plan (A) materially increasing the number of shares authorized under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section 4(c) or 9), (B) expanding the types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan, or (C) materially expanding the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan shall be effective unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment. In addition, if at any time the approval of the Company’s stockholders is required as to any other modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Board may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 12(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the Plan. No Award shall be made that is conditioned upon stockholder approval of any amendment to the Plan.
(e) Authorization of Sub-Plans. The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan containing (i) such limitations on the Board’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of such supplement.
(f) Non U.S. Employees. Awards may be granted to Participants who are non-U.S. citizens or residents employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Participants employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Board’s obligation with respect to tax equalization for Participants on assignments outside their home country. The Board may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the Secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan.
(g) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Except as provided in individual Award agreements initially or by amendment, if and to the extent any portion of any payment, compensation or other benefit provided to a Participant in connection with his or her employment termination is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Participant is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, as determined by the Company in accordance with its procedures, by which determination the Participant (through accepting the Award) agrees that he or she is bound, such portion of the payment, compensation or other benefit shall not be paid before the day that is six months plus one day after the date of “separation from service” (as determined under Code Section 409A) (the “New Payment Date”), except as Code Section 409A may then permit. The aggregate of any payments that otherwise would have been paid to the Participant during the period between the date of separation from service and the New Payment Date shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on such New Payment Date, and any remaining payments will be paid on their original schedule.
The Company makes no representations or warranty and shall have no liability to the Participant or any other person if any provisions of or payments, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A but do not to satisfy the conditions of that section.
(h) Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan, nor will such individual be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument he or she executes in his or her capacity as a director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been or will be delegated, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Board’s approval) arising out of any act or omission to act concerning this Plan unless arising out of such person’s own fraud or bad faith.
(i) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder 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 such state.
LIVEPERSON, INC.
2019 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(Effective as of June 6, 2019)
1. Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of this 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is to encourage and enable Eligible Employees of the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries to acquire proprietary interests in the Company through the ownership of Shares. It is the intention of the Company to have this Plan and the Options granted pursuant to this Plan satisfy the requirements for “employee stock purchase plans” that are set forth under Code Section 423, although the Company makes no undertaking nor representation to maintain the qualified status of this Plan or such Options. In addition, Options that do not satisfy the requirements for “employee stock purchase plans” that are set forth under Code Section 423 may be granted under this Plan pursuant to the rules, procedures or sub-plans adopted by the Board.
2. Definitions. Unless otherwise provided in the Plan, capitalized terms, when used herein, shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) “Account” shall mean a bookkeeping account established and maintained to record the amount of funds accumulated pursuant to the Plan with respect to a Participant for the purpose of purchasing Shares under this Plan.
(b) “Administrator” shall mean the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee appointed by the Board.
(c) “Applicable Laws” shall mean all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including, but not limited to, U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any other country or jurisdiction where Options are granted under the Plan or where Eligible Employees reside or provide services, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in effect from time to time.
(d) “Board” shall mean the Company's Board of Directors.
(e) “Change in Control” shall mean an event in which the Company or its stockholders enter into an agreement to dispose of all or substantially all of the assets or outstanding capital stock of the Company by means of a sale, merger or reorganization in which the Company will not be the surviving corporation (other than a reorganization effected primarily to change the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated, a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned Subsidiary, or any other transaction in which there is no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative stock holdings, regardless of whether the Company is the surviving corporation) or in the event the Company is liquidated.
(f) “Code” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder.
(g) “Common Stock” shall mean the Company's common stock.
(h) “Company” shall mean LivePerson, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(i) “Designated Subsidiaries” shall mean any Subsidiary designated by the Administrator from time to time, in its sole discretion, whose employees may participate in the Plan, if such employees otherwise qualify as Eligible Employees.
(j) “Eligible Compensation” shall mean and refer to the Participant's cash compensation paid through the Company’s or a Designated Subsidiary’s payroll system for personal services actually rendered in the course of employment. “Eligible Compensation” shall be limited to amounts received by the Participant during the period he or she is participating in the Plan and includes salary, wages, bonus and other incentive payments, amounts contributed by the Participant to any benefit plan maintained by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (including any 401(k) plan, 125 plan, or any other deferred compensation plan), overtime pay, commissions, draws against commissions, shift premiums, sick pay, vacation pay, holiday pay, and shutdown pay, except to the extent that the exclusion of any such item (or a sub-set of any such item) is specifically directed by the Administrator for all Eligible Employees. “Eligible Compensation” does not include any remuneration paid in a form other than cash, fringe benefits (including car allowances and relocation payments), employee discounts, expense reimbursement or allowances, long-term
disability payments, workmen’s compensation payments, welfare benefits, and any contributions that the Company or any Designated Subsidiary makes to any benefit plan (including any 401(k) plan or any other welfare or retirement plan).
(k) “Eligible Employee” shall mean any person, including an officer, who is regularly employed by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary except for those persons whose customary employment is for only 20 hours or less per week or for not more than five months in any calendar year (unless otherwise specified by the Administrator).
(l) “Enrollment Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and an Eligible Employee, in such form as may be established by the Administrator from time to time, pursuant to which an Eligible Employee elects to participate in this Plan, or elects to make changes with respect to such participation as permitted by this Plan.
(m) “Enrollment Period” shall mean that period of time prescribed by the Administrator during which Eligible Employees may elect to participate in an Offering Period. The duration and timing of Enrollment Periods may be changed or modified by the Administrator from time to time.
(n) “Fair Market Value” shall mean the market price of a Share as determined in good faith by the Administrator. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons. The Fair Market Value shall be determined by the following:
(i) If the Shares are admitted to trading on any established national stock exchange or market system, including without limitation NASDAQ, on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on such national exchange or system on such date; or
(ii) if the Shares are admitted to quotation on NASDAQ or are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the mean between the bid and asked prices of the Shares reported for such date.
In each case, the applicable price shall be the price reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; provided, however, that if there is no such reported price for the Shares for the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the price reported on the last preceding date for which such price exists. If neither (i) or (ii) are applicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate.
(o) “Maximum Offering” shall mean the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Plan at any given time. Unless otherwise designated by the Administrator, the Maximum Offering shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) Shares during any consecutive twelve (12)-month period, provided that the limit on the maximum number of Shares that may be issued on any Purchase Date shall be established by the Administrator prior to the beginning of the Offering Period within which such Purchase Date will occur. With respect to some or all Participants in any Non-423(b) Plan, it may also mean a maximum number or value of Shares made available for purchase during a specified period (e.g., a twelve (12)-month period) as the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to avoid a securities filing, to achieve tax objectives or to meet other Company objectives.
(p) “Non-423(b) Plan” shall mean the rules, procedures or sub-plans, if any, adopted by the Administrator as a part of this Plan, pursuant to which Options that do not satisfy the requirements for “employee stock purchase plans” that are set forth under Code Section 423 may be granted.
(q) “Offering Date” shall mean the first business day of each Offering Period as designated by the Administrator.
(r) “Offering Period” shall mean the period established in advance by the Administrator during which payroll deductions shall be collected to purchase Shares pursuant to an offering made under this Plan. An Offering Period shall not exceed twenty-four (24) months.
(s) “Option” shall mean the right granted to Participants to purchase Shares pursuant to an offering made under this Plan.
(t) “Outstanding Election” shall mean a Participant's then-current election to purchase Shares in an Offering Period, or that part of such an election which has not been cancelled (including any voluntary cancellation under Section
9 and deemed cancellation under Section 14) prior to the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Offering Period or such other date as determined by the Administrator.
(u) “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Employee who has elected to participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 6.
(v) “Plan” shall mean this LivePerson, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.
(w) “Purchase Date” shall mean the last Trading Day of a Purchase Period.
(x) “Purchase Period” shall mean the period within each Offering Period established in advance by the Administrator during which payroll deductions shall be collected to purchase Shares at the end of such period pursuant to an offering.
(y) “Purchase Price Per Share” shall mean the purchase price per Share established by the Administrator prior to the Offering Date for each Offering Period; provided that it shall be no less than the lower of (i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value on the Offering Date or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value on the Purchase Date.
(z) “Shares” shall mean shares of Company Common Stock.
(aa) “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.
(bb) “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the NASDAQ is open for trading.
3. Shares Reserved for Plan. Subject to adjustment pursuant to this Section 3, an aggregate of one million (1,000,000) Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to this Plan. The Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to this Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares. If any Option granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such Option shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than Shares in an amount that will have a material effect on the price of the Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Shares (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Shares, a recapitalization, spin-off or similar occurrence, the Administrator shall make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number and/or kind of Shares or securities which may thereafter be issued under the Plan, the number and/or kind of Shares or securities subject to outstanding Options, the number and/or kind of Shares or securities or value of any “Maximum Offering”, and the “Purchase Price Per Share” of outstanding Options.
If the number of Shares to be purchased by Participants on any Purchase Date exceeds (i) the total number of Shares then available in the Plan’s Share reserve, or (ii) the Maximum Offering, then the Administrator shall make a pro-rata allocation of any Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Plan in as uniform and equitable a manner as is reasonably practicable, as determined in the Administrator's sole discretion. In such event, the Company shall provide written notice to each affected Participant of the reduction of the number of Shares to be purchased under the Participant’s Option.
If the Administrator determines that some or all of the Shares to be purchased by Participants on the Purchase Date would not be issued in accordance with Applicable Laws or any approval by any regulatory body as may be required, or the Shares would not be issued pursuant to an effective Form S-8 registration statement or that the issuance of some or all of such Shares pursuant to a Form S-8 registration statement is not advisable due to the risk that such issuance will violate Applicable Laws, the Administrator may, without Participant consent, terminate any outstanding Offering Period and the Options granted pursuant thereto and refund in cash all affected Participants' entire Account balances for such Offering Period as soon as practicable thereafter.
4. Administration of the Plan. The Administrator shall have the authority and responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Plan, which, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, it may delegate to a sub-committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have full authority, in its sole discretion, to take any actions it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to:
(a) Interpreting the Plan and adopting rules and regulations it deems appropriate to implement the Plan including amending any outstanding Option as it may deem advisable or necessary to comply with Applicable Laws, and making all other decisions relating to the operation of the Plan;
(b) Establishing the timing and length of Offering Periods and Purchase Periods;
(c) Establishing minimum and maximum contribution rates;
(d) Establishing new or changing existing limits on the number of Shares an Eligible Employee may elect to purchase with respect to any Offering Period or Purchase Period (including the limit set forth in Section 5(b) below), other than increasing the Maximum Offering, if such limits are announced prior to the first Offering Period or Purchase Period to be affected; and
(e) Adopting such rules or sub-plans as may be deemed necessary or appropriate to comply with the laws of other countries, allow for tax-preferred treatment of the Options or otherwise provide for the participation by Eligible Employees who reside outside of the U.S., including determining which Eligible Employees are eligible to participate in the Non-423(b) Plan or other sub-plans established by the Administrator;
(f) Establishing the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars; and
(g) Permitting payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the processing of properly completed enrollment forms.
The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.
5. Grant of Option; Limitations.
(a) Grant of Option. On each Offering Date, each Participant shall automatically be granted an Option to purchase as many whole Shares as the Participant will be able to purchase with the payroll deductions credited to the Participant’s Account during the applicable Offering Period.
(b) Limit on Number of Shares Purchased. Notwithstanding the above, the maximum number of Shares that a Participant may purchase during any consecutive twelve (12)-month period shall be two thousand (2,000) Shares, provided that the limit on the maximum number of Shares that may be purchased on any Purchase Date shall be established by the Administrator prior to the beginning of the Offering Period within which such Purchase Date will occur and such limitation shall be further limited by the Maximum Offering as described in Section 3.
(c) Limit on Value of Shares Purchased. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, excluding Options granted pursuant to any Non-423(b) Plan, no Participant shall be granted an Option to purchase Shares under this Plan which permits the Participant’s rights to purchase Shares under all employee stock purchase plans (described in Code Section 423) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of the Fair Market Value of such Shares (determined at the time such rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such rights are outstanding at any time.
(d) 5% Owner Limit. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Participant shall be granted an Option to purchase Shares under this Plan if such Participant (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Participant pursuant to Code Section 424(d)), immediately after such Option is granted, would own or hold options to purchase Shares possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of Shares or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) Other Limitation. The Administrator may determine, as to any Offering Period, that the offer will not be extended to highly compensated Eligible Employees within the meaning of Code Section 414(q).
6. Participation in the Plan. An Eligible Employee may become a Participant for an Offering Period by completing the prescribed Enrollment Agreement and submitting such form to the Company (or the Company’s designee), or by following an electronic or other enrollment process as prescribed by the Company, during the Enrollment Period prior to the commencement of the Offering Period to which it relates. Such Enrollment Agreement shall contain the payroll deduction authorization described in Section 8. A payroll deduction authorization will be effective for the first Offering
Period following the submission of the Enrollment Agreement and all subsequent Offering Periods as provided by Section 7 until it is terminated in accordance with Sections 9 or 14, it is modified by filing another Enrollment Agreement in accordance with this Section 6 or an election is made to decrease payroll deductions in accordance with Section 8 or until the Participant’s employment terminates or the Participant is otherwise ineligible to participate in the Plan.
7. Automatic Re-Enrollment. Following the end of each Offering Period, each Participant shall be automatically re-enrolled in the next Offering Period at the applicable rate of payroll deductions in effect on the last Trading Day of the prior Offering Period or otherwise as provided under Section 8, unless the Participant has elected to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 9, the Participant’s employment terminates or the Participant is otherwise ineligible to participate in the next Offering Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may require current Participants to complete and submit a new Enrollment Agreement at any time it deems necessary or desirable to facilitate Plan administration or for any other reason.
8. Payroll Deductions. Each Participant’s Enrollment Agreement shall contain a payroll deduction authorization pursuant to which he or she shall elect to have a designated whole percentage of Eligible Compensation between 1% and 15% deducted on each payday during the Offering Period and credited to the Participant's Account for the purchase of Shares pursuant to the offering. Payroll deductions shall commence on the Offering Date of the first Offering Period to which the Enrollment Agreement relates (or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter) and shall continue through subsequent Offering Periods pursuant to Section 7. Participants shall not be permitted to make any separate cash payments into their Account for the purchase of Shares pursuant to an offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if local law prohibits payroll deductions, a Participant may elect to participate in an Offering Period through contributions to his or her Account in a form acceptable to the Administrator. In such event, any such Participant shall be deemed to participate in a sub-plan to the Plan, unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides that such Participant shall be treated as participating in the Plan.
If in any payroll period, a Participant has no pay or his or her pay is insufficient (after other authorized deductions) to permit deduction of the full amount of his or her payroll deduction election, then (i) the payroll deduction election for such payroll period shall be reduced to the amount of pay remaining, if any, after all other authorized deductions, and (ii) the percentage or dollar amount of Eligible Compensation shall be deemed to have been reduced by the amount of the reduction in the payroll deduction election for such payroll period. Deductions of the full amount originally elected by the Participant will recommence as soon as his or her pay is sufficient to permit such payroll deductions; provided, however, no additional amounts will be deducted to satisfy the Outstanding Election.
A Participant may elect to decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions 1 (one) time during any Purchase Period by submitting the prescribed form to the Company (or the Company’s designee) at any time prior to the date specified by the Administrator or, if not such date is specified by the Administrator, the fifth (5th) day prior to the Purchase Date. Any such payroll deduction change will be effective as soon as administratively practicable thereafter and will remain in effect for successive Purchase Periods or Offering Periods as provided in Section 7 unless the Participant submits a new Enrollment Agreement for a later Purchase Period or Offering Period, the Participant elects to decrease his or her payroll deductions during a future Purchase Period, the Participant elects to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 9, or the Participant is withdrawn from the Plan in accordance with Section 14 or is otherwise ineligible to participate in the Plan. A Participant may not increase the rate of his or her payroll deductions during a Purchase Period. A Participant may only increase his or her rate of payroll deductions to be effective for the next Purchase Period or Offering Period by completing and filing with the Company a new Enrollment Agreement authorizing the payroll deductions, and such increase will be effective on the start date of the first Purchase Period or Offering Period following the filing of such form.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may adjust a Participant’s payroll deductions at any time during an Offering Period to the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 423(b)(8) and the limitations of Section 5. Payroll deductions will recommence and be made in accordance with the Outstanding Election prior to such Company adjustment starting with (x) the first Offering Period that begins in the next calendar year (if the adjustment is made to comply with Code Section 423(b)(8)) or (y) the next Purchase Period (if the adjustment is made to comply with Section 5), or (z) such other time as is determined by the Administrator, unless the Participant withdraws in accordance with Section 9, is withdrawn from the Plan in accordance with Section 14 or is otherwise ineligible to participate in the Plan.
9. Withdrawal from Offering Period After Offering Date. An Eligible Employee may withdraw from any Offering Period after the applicable Offering Date, in whole but not in part, at any time prior to the date specified by the Administrator or, if no such date is specified by the Administrator, the Purchase Date, by submitting the prescribed withdrawal notice to the Company (or the Company’s designee). If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period,
the Participant’s Option for such Offering Period will automatically be terminated, and the Company will refund in cash the Participant’s entire Account balance for such Offering Period as soon as practicable thereafter. A Participant’s withdrawal from a particular Offering Period shall be irrevocable. If a Participant wishes to participate in a subsequent Offering Period, he or she must re-enroll in the Plan by timely submitting a new Enrollment Agreement in accordance with Section 6.
10. Purchase of Stock. On each Purchase Date, the Administrator shall cause the amount credited to each Participant’s Account to be applied to purchase as many Shares pursuant to the Participant’s Option as possible at the Purchase Price Per Share, subject to limitations of Sections 3 and 5. The amount applied to purchase Shares pursuant to the Option shall be deducted from the Participant’s Account. Any amounts remaining credited to the Participant’s Account on the Purchase Date shall be retained in the Participant’s Account and rolled forward to the next Purchase Period or Offering Period.
11. Interest on Payments. No interest shall be paid on sums withheld from a Participant's pay for the purchase of Shares under this Plan unless otherwise determined necessary by the Administrator for Participants in the Non-423(b) Plan.
12. Rights as Stockholder. A Participant will not be a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to the Participant’s Options issued under the Plan until the Shares are purchased pursuant to the Options and such Shares are transferred into the Participant's name on the Company’s books and records.
13. Options Not Transferable. A Participant’s Options under this Plan may not be sold, pledged, assigned, or transferred in any manner. If a Participant sells, pledges, assigns or transfers his or her Options in violation of this Section 13, such Options shall immediately terminate, and the Participant shall immediately receive a refund of the amount then credited to the Participant’s Account.
14. Deemed Cancellations.
(a) Leave of Absence, Layoff or Temporarily Out of Continuous Employment. Any Participant who is: (y) granted a paid leave of absence by the Participant's employer, or (z) otherwise temporarily not an Eligible Employee even though the Participant is still an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary (the date of any such event is referred to herein as the “Transition Date”), shall continue to be a Participant for a period no longer than 90 days after such Transition Date or, if longer, so long as the Participant's right to reemployment with his or her employer is guaranteed either by statute or Applicable Laws (but not beyond the last day of the Offering Period). Notwithstanding the foregoing and Section 8, the Participant will be treated as if he or she has withdrawn from the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 if the Participant has no pay or his or her pay is insufficient (after other authorized deductions) to make payroll deductions to the Plan during such period. If the Participant does not return from his or her leave of absence or otherwise become an Eligible Employee by the date that is 90 days from the Transition Date, his or her election to participate in the Plan shall be deemed to have been cancelled on the 91st day after the Transition Date, unless the Participant’s right to reemployment with his or her employer is guaranteed either by statute or Applicable Laws, in which case his or her election to participate in the Plan shall be deemed to have been cancelled on the 1st day after the date that the Participant’s right to reemployment with his or her employer is no longer guaranteed either by statute or Applicable Laws.
(b) Termination of Employment. If a Participant resigns, is dismissed or transfers to a company other than the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, or if the entity that employs the Participant ceases to be a Designated Subsidiary, any outstanding Option held by the Participant shall immediately terminate, the Participant shall be withdrawn from the Plan and the Participant shall receive a refund of the amount then credited to the Participant's Account.
(c) Death of a Participant. If a Participant dies, any outstanding Option held by the Participant shall immediately terminate and the Participant shall be withdrawn from the Plan. As soon as administratively practicable after the Participant’s death, the Shares purchased or, as applicable, the amount then credited to the Participant’s Account shall be remitted to the executor, administrator or other legal representative of the Participant’s estate or, if the Administrator permits a beneficiary designation, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Participant if such designation has been filed with the Company or the Company’s designee before such Participant’s death. If such executor, administrator or other legal representative of the Participant’s estate has not been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company) or if the beneficiary or beneficiaries are no longer living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company, in its discretion, may deliver the outstanding Account balance to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant or to such other person as the Company may designate.
15. Application of Funds. All funds received by the Company in payment for Shares purchased under this Plan and held by the Company at any time may be used for any valid corporate purpose. The amounts collected from a Participant may be commingled with the general assets of the Company and may be used for general corporate purposes.
16. No Employment/Service Rights. Neither the action of the Company in establishing the Plan, nor any action taken under the Plan by the Board or the Administrator, nor any provision of the Plan itself, shall be construed so as to grant any person the right to remain in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary for any period of specific duration, and such person’s employment may be terminated at any time, with or without cause.
17. Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, all outstanding Options under the Plan shall automatically be exercised immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control by causing all amounts credited to each Participant’s Account to be applied to purchase as many Shares pursuant to the Participant’s Option as possible at the Purchase Price Per Share, subject to the limitations of Sections 3 and 5. The Company shall use its best efforts to provide at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the occurrence of a Change in Control and Participants shall, following the receipt of such notice, have the right to terminate their outstanding Options prior to the effective date of such Change in Control.
18. Acquisitions and Dispositions. The Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion and in accordance with principles under Code Section 423, create special Offering Periods for individuals who become Eligible Employees solely in connection with the acquisition of another company or business by merger, reorganization or purchase of assets and, notwithstanding Section 14(b), may provide for special purchase dates for Participants who will cease to be Eligible Employees solely in connection with the disposition of all or a portion of any Designated Subsidiary or a portion of the Company, which Offering Periods and purchase rights granted pursuant thereto shall, notwithstanding anything stated herein, be subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator considers appropriate in the circumstances.
19. Automatic Termination of Offering Period. Should the Fair Market Value on any Purchase Date within an Offering Period be less than the Fair Market Value on the Offering Date, then that Offering Period shall automatically terminate immediately after the purchase of Shares on such Purchase Date, and a new Offering Period shall commence on the next business day following such Purchase Date. The new Offering Period shall have a duration equal to the duration of the Offering Period that was just terminated or such other duration as is established by the Administrator.
20. Commencement of Plan. This Plan as set forth herein adopted by the Board on April 11, 2019 shall become effective upon its approval by the Company’s stockholders and shall apply to all Offering Periods beginning after such date.
21. Government Approvals or Consents. This Plan and any offering and sales of Shares or delivery of Shares under this Plan to Eligible Employees under it are subject to any governmental or regulatory approvals or consents that may be or become applicable in connection therewith.
22. Plan Amendment; Plan Termination.
(a) The Board may from time to time amend or terminate the Plan in any manner it deems necessary or advisable; provided, however, that no such action shall adversely affect any then outstanding Options under the Plan unless such action is necessary or desirable to comply with Applicable Laws or is necessary to assure that the Company will not recognize, for financial accounting purposes, any additional compensation expense in connection with the Shares offered for purchase under the Plan, should the financial accounting rules applicable to the Plan be revised; and provided, further, that no such action of the Board shall be effective without the approval of the Company’s stockholders if such approval is required by Applicable Laws.
(b) Without stockholder approval and without regard to whether any Participant’s rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Board shall be entitled to, in addition to, and without limitation with respect to, what is permitted pursuant to Section 22(a), cancel or change Purchase Periods or Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during a Purchase Period or Offering Period, change or establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed enrollment forms, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Shares for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Eligible Compensation, and establish
such other limitations or procedures as the Board determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.
(c) Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) June 6, 2029, (ii) the date on which all Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been sold pursuant to Options exercised under the Plan, or (iii) the date on which all Options are exercised in connection with a Change in Control.
(d) Upon the termination of the Plan, any balance in a Participant’s Account shall be refunded to him or her as soon as practicable thereafter.
23. Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (except its choice-of-law provisions) and applicable U.S. federal laws.