UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 


 

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):   June 17, 2015

 


 

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-24477

 

30-0645032

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File
Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

2150 E. Lake Cook Road, Suite 750
Buffalo Grove, Illinois

 

60089

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(847) 777-8092

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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:

 

o             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o             Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01                                            Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information set forth under Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03                                            Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

On June 18, 2015, RestorGenex Corporation (“RestorGenex”) changed its state of incorporation from the State of Nevada to the State of Delaware (the “Reincorporation”) pursuant to a plan of conversion, dated June 18, 2015 (the “Plan of Conversion”).  The Reincorporation was accomplished by the filing of (i) articles of conversion (the “Nevada Articles of Conversion”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, and (ii) a certificate of conversion (the “Delaware Certificate of Conversion”) and a certificate of incorporation (the “Delaware Certificate of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.  Pursuant to the Plan of Conversion, RestorGenex also adopted new bylaws under Delaware corporate law (the “Delaware Bylaws”).

 

The Reincorporation was previously submitted to a vote of, and approved by, RestorGenex’s stockholders at its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 17, 2015 (the “Annual Meeting”) as described under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.  Upon the effectiveness of the Reincorporation:

 

·                   the affairs of RestorGenex ceased to be governed by the Nevada Revised Statutes, RestorGenex’s existing Articles of Incorporation and its existing Bylaws, and the affairs of RestorGenex became subject to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware Bylaws;

 

·                   each outstanding share of the Nevada corporation’s common stock converted into an outstanding share of the Delaware corporation’s common stock;

 

·                   each outstanding option to acquire shares of the Nevada corporation’s common stock converted into an equivalent option to acquire, upon the same terms and conditions (including the vesting schedule and exercise price per share applicable to each such option), the same number of shares of the Delaware corporation’s common stock;

 

·                   each outstanding warrant or other right to acquire shares of the Nevada corporation’s common stock converted into an equivalent warrant or other right to acquire, upon the same terms and conditions the same number of shares of the Delaware corporation’s common stock;

 

·                   each employee benefit, stock option or other similar plan of the Nevada corporation continued to be an employee benefit, stock option or other similar plan of the Delaware corporation; and

 

·                   each director and officer of the Nevada corporation continued to hold his or her respective position with the Delaware corporation.

 

RestorGenex effected the Reincorporation because the corporate laws of the State of Delaware are more comprehensive, widely-used and extensively interpreted than the corporate laws of other states, including Nevada.  As a result of the flexibility and responsiveness of the Delaware corporate laws to the legal and business needs of corporations, many corporations have incorporated in Delaware or have changed their corporate domiciles to Delaware in a manner similar to the Reincorporation.  The Delaware judiciary has become particularly familiar with corporate law matters and a substantial body of court decisions has developed construing the laws of Delaware, thus providing greater clarity and predictability

 

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with respect to RestorGenex’s corporate legal and governance affairs.  Although the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware Bylaws are substantially similar to provisions from RestorGenex’s articles of incorporation and bylaws under Nevada corporate law, certain rights of RestorGenex’s stockholders are different as a result of the Reincorporation, as described in RestorGenex’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2015, under the section entitled “Proposal No. 6 — Approval of Reincorporation of RestorGenex to the State of Delaware — Rights of Stockholders Prior to and After Reincorporation from Nevada to Delaware,” which description is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Reincorporation did not affect any of RestorGenex’s contracts with any third parties, and RestorGenex’s rights and obligations under such contractual arrangements continue to be rights and obligations of RestorGenex after the Reincorporation.  The Reincorporation did not result in any change in headquarters, business, jobs, management, location of any of the offices or facilities, number of employees, assets, liabilities or net worth (other than as a result of the costs incident to the Reincorporation) of RestorGenex.

 

RestorGenex will not be replacing nor will RestorGenex’s stockholders be required to exchange their stock certificates for new stock certificates in connection with the Reincorporation.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Plan of Conversion, the Nevada Articles of Conversion, the Delaware Certificate of Conversion, the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware Bylaws do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan of Conversion, the Nevada Articles of Conversion, the Delaware Certificate of Conversion, the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and the Delaware Bylaws, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

In connection with the Reincorporation, RestorGenex adopted a new form of common stock certificate, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference, and a new form of indemnification agreement with its directors and officers, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02                                            Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Indemnification Agreements with Directors and Officers

 

In connection with the Reincorporation, RestorGenex entered into new indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers, effective as of June 18, 2015, which replace the previous indemnification agreements entered into between RestorGenex and its directors and officers.

 

The indemnification agreements are substantially similar to those previously entered into between RestorGenex and its directors and officers, except that the new indemnification agreements are governed by Delaware law and have been modified to conform to Delaware law. The indemnification agreements require RestorGenex, among other things, to indemnify the director or officer against specified expenses and liabilities, such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlements, paid by the individual in connection with any action, suit or proceeding arising out of the individual’s status or service as a director or officer of RestorGenex, other than liabilities arising from actions not taken in good faith or of which indemnification would be otherwise unlawful, and to advance expenses incurred by the individual in connection with any proceeding against the individual with respect to which the individual may be entitled to indemnification by RestorGenex.

 

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The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements entered into between RestorGenex and each of its directors and officers is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of indemnification agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

 

At the Annual Meeting on June 17, 2015, RestorGenex’s stockholders, upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, approved the RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”).  The material terms of the 2015 Plan are as described in RestorGenex’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2015, under the section entitled “Proposal No. 5 — Approval of RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan,” which description is incorporated herein by reference.  The description of the 2015 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2015 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

In connection with the approval of the 2015 Plan, RestorGenex adopted new forms of option agreements to be used for future option grants under the 2015 Plan, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.3 and 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03                                            Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

The information set forth under Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07                                            Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

The 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of RestorGenex was held on June 17, 2015.  The final results of the stockholder vote on each proposal brought before the meeting were as follows:

 

 

 

For

 

Withhold

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Proposal No. 1— Election of directors for a term of one year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sol J. Barer, Ph.D.

 

11,069,594

 

41,930

 

708,164

 

Isaac Blech

 

11,069,594

 

41,930

 

708,164

 

Rex Bright

 

11,085,994

 

25,530

 

708,164

 

Stephen M. Simes

 

11,019,897

 

91,627

 

708,164

 

Nelson K. Stacks

 

11,069,594

 

41,930

 

708,164

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Proposal No. 2—Ratification of selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accounting firm

 

11,770,911

 

25,400

 

23,377

 

0

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Proposal No. 3—Advisory vote on executive compensation

 

10,875,073

 

197,301

 

39,150

 

708,164

 

 

4



 

 

 

1 Year

 

2 Years

 

3 Years

 

Abstain

 

Proposal No. 4—Indicate on an advisory basis, whether future votes to approve the compensation of executive officers should occur every one, two or three years

 

10,109,843

 

920,029

 

48,152

 

33,500

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Proposal No. 5—Approval of the RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

 

10,846,195

 

190,552

 

74,777

 

708,164

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Proposal No. 6—Approval of the reincorporation of RestorGenex from the State of Nevada to the State of Delaware

 

11,098,223

 

400

 

12,901

 

708,164

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

Proposal No. 7—Adjournment of the meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes in favor of Proposal No. 6.

 

11,757,864

 

18,447

 

43,377

 

0

 

 

With respect to Proposal No. 1, each of the director nominees was elected by RestorGenex’s stockholders by the required vote and Proposal Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 were approved by RestorGenex’s stockholders by the required vote.

 

With respect to Proposal No. 4, RestorGenex’s stockholders expressed a preference for an advisory vote on executive compensation to be held every year.  As this vote is consistent with the recommendation of the Board of Directors of RestorGenex, the Board of Directors has determined that RestorGenex will hold a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation every year.

 

Item 9.01.                                         Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)                                  Exhibits . The following exhibits are being filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

2.1

 

Plan of Conversion, dated June 18, 2015 (filed herewith)

 

 

 

3.1

 

Articles of Conversion, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on June 18, 2015 (filed herewith)

 

 

 

3.2

 

Certificate of Conversion, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2015 (filed herewith)

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Incorporation of RestorGenex Corporation (filed herewith)

 

 

 

3.4

 

Bylaws of RestorGenex Corporation (filed herewith)

 

 

 

4.1

 

Specimen Stock Certificate (filed herewith)

 

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Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between RestorGenex Corporation and Each of its Directors and Officers (filed herewith)

 

 

 

10.2

 

RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (filed herewith)

 

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the RestorGenex 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (filed herewith)

 

 

 

10.4

 

Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement under the RestorGenex 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (filed herewith)

 

6



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: June 18, 2015

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Phillip B. Donenberg

 

Name:

Phillip B. Donenberg

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

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RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

Method of Filing

 

 

 

 

 

2.1

 

Plan of Conversion, dated June 18, 2015

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Articles of Conversion, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on June 18, 2015

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

Certificate of Conversion, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 18, 2015

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Incorporation of RestorGenex Corporation

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

 

Bylaws of RestorGenex Corporation

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Specimen Stock Certificate

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between RestorGenex Corporation and Each of its Directors and Officers

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.4

 

Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement under the RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Filed herewith

 

8


EXHIBIT 2.1

 

PLAN OF CONVERSION

OF

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

A NEVADA CORPORATION

INTO

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION,

A DELAWARE CORPORATION

 

THIS PLAN OF CONVERSION, dated as of June 17, 2015 (including all of the Exhibits attached hereto, this “ Plan ”), is hereby adopted by RestorGenex Corporation, a Nevada corporation, in order to set forth the terms, conditions and procedures governing the conversion of RestorGenex Corporation from a Nevada corporation to a Delaware corporation pursuant to Section 265 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “ DGCL ”), and Section 92A.120 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, as amended (the “ NRS ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, RestorGenex Corporation is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (the “ Converting Entity ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Converting Entity has determined that it would be advisable and in the best interests of the Converting Entity and its stockholders for the Converting Entity to convert from a Nevada corporation to a Delaware corporation pursuant to Section 265 of the DGCL and Sections 92A.120 and 92A.250 of the NRS;

 

WHEREAS, the form, terms and provisions of this Plan have been authorized, approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Converting Entity;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Converting Entity has submitted this Plan to the stockholders of the Converting Entity for approval; and

 

WHEREAS, this Plan has been authorized, approved and adopted by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stockholders of the Converting Entity.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Converting Entity hereby adopts this Plan as follows:

 

PLAN OF CONVERSION

 

1.                                       Conversion; Effect of Conversion .

 

(a)                                  Upon the Effective Time (as defined in Section 3 below), the Converting Entity shall be converted from a Nevada corporation to a Delaware corporation pursuant to Section 265 of the DGCL and Sections 92A.120 and 92A.250 of the NRS (the “ Conversion ”) and the Converting Entity, as converted to a Delaware corporation (the “ Converted Entity ”), shall thereafter be subject to all of the provisions of the DGCL, except that notwithstanding Section 106 of the DGCL, the existence of the Converted Entity shall be deemed to have commenced on the date the Converting Entity commenced its existence in the State of Nevada.

 



 

(b)                                  Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of the Converting Entity or its stockholders, the Converted Entity shall, for all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, be deemed to be the same entity as the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time. Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of the Converting Entity or its stockholders, for all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, all of the rights, privileges and powers of the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time, as well as all other things and causes of action belonging to the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall remain vested in the Converted Entity and shall be the property of the Converted Entity and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Conversion; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain attached to the Converted Entity upon the Effective Time, and may be enforced against the Converted Entity to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by the Converted Entity in its capacity as a corporation of the State of Delaware. The rights, privileges, powers and interests in property of the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time, as well as the debts, liabilities and duties of the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the Conversion, to have been transferred to the Converted Entity upon the Effective Time for any purpose of the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(c)                                   The Conversion shall not be deemed to affect any obligations or liabilities of the Converting Entity incurred prior to the Conversion or the personal liability of any person incurred prior to the Conversion.

 

(d)                                  Upon the Effective Time, the name of the Converted Entity shall remain unchanged and continue to be “RestorGenex Corporation”.

 

(e)                                   The Converting Entity intends for the Conversion to constitute a tax-free reorganization qualifying under Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

2.                                       Filings .  As promptly as practicable following the adoption of this Plan by the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the Converting Entity, the Converting Entity shall cause the Conversion to be effective by:

 

(a)                                  executing and filing (or causing the execution and filing of) Articles of Conversion pursuant to Section 92A.205 of the NRS, substantially in the form of

 

2



 

Exhibit A hereto (the “ Nevada Articles of Conversion ”), with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada;

 

(b)                                  executing and filing (or causing the execution and filing of) a Certificate of Conversion pursuant to Sections 103 and 265 of the DGCL, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (the “ Delaware Certificate of Conversion ”), with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and

 

(c)                                   executing and filing (or causing the execution and filing of) a Certificate of Incorporation of the Converted Entity, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “ Delaware Certificate of Incorporation ”), with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

3.                                       Effective Time .  The Conversion shall become effective upon the last to occur of the filing of the Nevada Articles of Conversion, the Delaware Certificate of Conversion and the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation (the time of the effectiveness of the Conversion, the “ Effective Time ”).

 

4.                                       Effect of Conversion .

 

(a)                                  Effect on Common Stock .  Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of the Converting Entity or its stockholders, each share of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Converting Entity (“ Converting Entity Common Stock ”) that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall convert into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Converted Entity (“ Converted Entity Common Stock ”).

 

(b)                                  Effect on Outstanding Stock Options .  Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of the Converting Entity or its stockholders, each option to acquire shares of Converting Entity Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall convert into an equivalent option to acquire, upon the same terms and conditions (including the vesting schedule and exercise price per share applicable to each such option) as were in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, the same number of shares of Converted Entity Common Stock.

 

(c)                                   Effect on Outstanding Warrants or Other Rights .  Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of the Converting Entity or its stockholders, each warrant or other right to acquire shares of Converting Entity Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall convert into an equivalent warrant or other right to acquire, upon the same terms and conditions (including the vesting schedule and exercise price per share applicable to each such warrant or other right) as were in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, the same number of shares of Converted Entity Common Stock.

 

3



 

(d)                                  Effect on Stock Certificates .  All of the outstanding certificates representing shares of Converting Entity Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed for all purposes to continue to evidence ownership of and to represent the same number of shares of Converted Entity Common Stock.

 

(e)                                   Effect on Employee Benefit, Equity Incentive or Other Similar Plans .  Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of the Converting Entity or its stockholders, each employee benefit plan, equity incentive plan or other similar plan to which the Converting Entity is a party shall continue to be a plan of the Converted Entity. To the extent that any such plan provides for the issuance of Converting Entity Common Stock, upon the Effective Time, such plan shall be deemed to provide for the issuance of Converted Entity Common Stock.

 

(f)                                    Effect of Conversion on Directors and Officers .  Upon the Effective Time, by virtue of the Conversion and without any further action on the part of the Converting Entity or its stockholders, the members of the Board of Directors and the officers of the Converting Entity holding their respective offices in the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time shall continue in their respective offices as members of the Board of Directors and officers, respectively, of the Converted Entity.

 

5.                                       Further Assurances .  If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Converted Entity shall determine or be advised that any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, agreements, documents or assurances or any other acts or things are necessary, desirable or proper, consistent with the terms of this Plan, (a) to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Converted Entity its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, purposes, franchises, properties or assets of the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time, or (b) to otherwise carry out the purposes of this Plan, the Converted Entity and its officers and directors (or their designees), are hereby authorized to solicit in the name of the Converted Entity any third-party consents or other documents required to be delivered by any third party, to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Converted Entity, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments, agreements, documents and assurances and do, in the name and on behalf of the Converted Entity, all such other acts and things necessary, desirable or proper to vest, perfect or confirm its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, purposes, franchises, properties or assets of the Converting Entity existing immediately prior to the Effective Time and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Plan.

 

6.                                       Delaware Bylaws .  Upon the Effective Time, the bylaws of the Converted Entity shall be the Bylaws of RestorGenex Corporation, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

 

7.                                       Delaware Indemnification Agreements .  As promptly as practicable following the Effective Time, the Converted Entity shall enter into an Indemnification Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto with each member of the Board of Directors of the Converted Entity and each executive officer of the Converted Entity.

 

4



 

8.                                       Copy of Plan of Conversion .  After the Conversion, a copy of this Plan will be kept on file at the offices of the Converted Entity, and any stockholder of the Converted Entity (or former stockholder of the Converting Entity) may request a copy of this Plan at no charge at any time.

 

9.                                       Termination .  At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Plan may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned by action of the Board of Directors of the Converting Entity if, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Converting Entity, such action would be in the best interests of the Converting Entity and its stockholders. In the event of termination of this Plan, this Plan shall become void and of no further force or effect

 

10.                                Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Plan shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than as expressly provided herein.

 

11.                                Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision of this Plan will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Plan is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Plan.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

5



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby causes this Plan to be duly executed as of the date hereof.

 

 

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

a Nevada corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen M. Simes

 

 

Stephen M. Simes

 

Its:

Chief Executive Officer

 

6


EXHIBIT 3.1

 

GRAPHIC

EXHIBIT 3.1 BARBARA K. CEGAVSKE Secretary of State 202 North Carson Street Carson City, Nevada 89701-4201 (775) 684-5708 Website: www.nvsos.gov USE BLACK INK ONLY - DO NOT HIGHLIGHT ABOVE SPACE IS FOR OFFICE USE ONLY PLEASE NOTE: The charter document for the resulting entity must be submitted/filed simultaneously with the articles of conversion. Articles of Conversion (Pursuant to NRS 92A.205) 1. Name and jurisdiction of organization of constituent entity and resulting entity: Name of constituent entity Entity type * Jurisdiction and, Name of resulting entity Jurisdiction Entity type * 2. A plan of conversion has been adopted by the constituent entity in compliance with the law of the jurisdiction governing the constituent entity. 3. Location of plan of conversion: (check one) The entire plan of conversion is attached to these articles. The complete executed plan of conversion is on file at the registered office or principal place of business of the resulting entity. The complete executed plan of conversion for the resulting domestic limited partnership is on file at the records office required by NRS 88.330. * corporation, limited partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, limited-liability company or business trust . This form must be accompanied by appropriate fees. Nevada Secretary of State 92A Conversion Page 1 Revised: 1-5-15 Articles of Conversion (PURSUANT TO NRS 92A.205) Page 1

 


GRAPHIC

BARBARA K. CEGAVSKE Secretary of State 202 North Carson Street Carson City, Nevada 89701-4201 (775) 684-5708 Website: www.nvsos.gov USE BLACK INK ONLY - DO NOT HIGHLIGHT ABOVE SPACE IS FOR OFFICE USE ONLY 4. Forwarding address where copies of process may be sent by the Secretary of State of Nevada (if a foreign entity is the resulting entity in the conversion): Attn: c/o: 5. Effective date and time of filing: (optional) (must not be later than 90 days after the certificate is filed) Date: Time: 6. Signatures - must be signed by: 1. If constituent entity is a Nevada entity: an officer of each Nevada corporation; all general partners of each Nevada limited partnership or limited-liability limited partnership; a manager of each Nevada limited-liability company with managers or one member if there are no managers; a trustee of each Nevada business trust; a managing partner of a Nevada limited-liability partnership (a.k.a. general partnership governed by NRS chapter 87). 2. If constituent entity is a foreign entity: must be signed by the constituent entity in the manner provided by the law governing it. Name of constituent entity X /s/ Stephen M. Simes Signature Title Date * Pursuant to NRS 92A.205(4) if the conversion takes effect on a later date specified in the articles of conversion pursuant to NRS 92A.240, the constituent document filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to paragraph (b) subsection 1 must state the name and the jurisdiction of the constituent entity and that the existence of the resulting entity does not begin until the later date. This statement must be included within the resulting entity's articles. FILING FEE: $350.00 IMPORTANT: Failure to include any of the above information and submit with the proper fees may cause this filing to be rejected. Nevada Secretary of State 92A Conversion Page 2 Revised: 1-5-15 This form must be accompanied by appropriate fees. Articles of Conversion (PURSUANT TO NRS 92A.205) Page 2

 

EXHIBIT 3.2

 

STATE OF DELAWARE

CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION

FROM A NON-DELAWARE CORPORATION

TO A DELAWARE CORPORATION

PURSUANT TO SECTION 265 OF THE

DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

FIRST :  The jurisdiction where the Non-Delaware Corporation first formed is Nevada.

 

SECOND : The jurisdiction immediately prior to filing this Certificate is Nevada.

 

THIRD :  The date the Non-Delaware Corporation first formed is January 10, 1995.

 

FOURTH : The name of the Non-Delaware Corporation immediately prior to filing this Certificate is RestorGenex Corporation.

 

FIFTH : The name of the Corporation as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation is RestorGenex Corporation.

 

SIXTH : The Certificate of Conversion shall be effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 18, 2015.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned being duly authorized to sign on behalf of the converting Non-Delaware Corporation have executed this Certificate on the 17th day of June, A.D. 2015.

 

 

 

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

a Nevada corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen M. Simes

 

 

Stephen M. Simes

 

Its:

Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT 3.3

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

ARTICLE I
NAME

 

The name of the corporation is RestorGenex Corporation (the “ Corporation ”).

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

 

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 615 South Dupont Hwy., in the City of Dover, Zip Code of 19901, County of Kent.  The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at that address is National Corporate Research, Ltd.

 

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“ DGCL ”).

 

ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK

 

A.                                     The total number of shares of common stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000,000,000, at a par value of $0.001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), and the total number of shares of preferred stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 5,000,000, at a par value of $0.001 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”).

 

1.                                       Common Stock . All preferences, voting powers, relative, participating, optional or other special rights and privileges, and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of the Common Stock are expressly made subject and subordinate to those that may be fixed with respect to any shares of the Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote, in person or by proxy, on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation. Subject to the preferential rights of the Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of the assets of the Corporation which are by law available therefor, dividends payable either in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock. In the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be distributed to the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled, unless otherwise provided by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation of whatever kind available for

 



 

distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively.

 

2.                                       Preferred Stock . The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”). The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to provide for the issue, in one or more series, of all or any of the remaining shares of Preferred Stock and, in the resolution or resolutions providing for such issue, to establish for each such series the number of its shares, the voting powers, full or limited, of the shares of such series, or that such shares shall have no voting powers, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, of the shares of such series, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.  The Board of Directors is further expressly authorized to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of any such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series, the number of which was fixed by it, subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series then outstanding, subject to the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof stated in this Certificate of Incorporation or the resolution of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares of such series. If the number of shares of any series is so decreased, then the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

ARTICLE V
EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

A.                                     Limitation of Liability .  A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended.  Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right arising prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

B.                                     Right of Indemnification .  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “ Covered Person ”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or, while a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in section D of this Article V, the Corporation shall not be required

 

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to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person unless the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.

 

C.                                     Prepayment of Expenses .  The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article V or otherwise.

 

D.                                     Claims .  If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of the Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought, including any settlement of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article V is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by the Covered Person has been received by the Corporation, the Covered Person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.  In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article V and applicable law.

 

E.                                      Non-Exclusivity of Rights .  The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation, or any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

F.                                       Insurance .  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article V, the DGCL or otherwise.

 

G.                                     Amendment or Repeal .  Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of this Article V after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

 

H.                                    Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .  This Article V shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

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ARTICLE VI
MANAGEMENT

 

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and in further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation, of its directors and of its stockholders or any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided that:

 

A.                                     The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors shall fix the number of directors that constitute the whole Board of Directors in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation, subject to any restrictions that may be set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

B.                                     In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation or adopt new Bylaws of the Corporation without any action on the part of the stockholders.  Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the directors then in office.  The stockholders of the Corporation shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

C.                                     The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

 

ARTICLE VII
STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS

 

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws of the Corporation may provide.  Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws of the Corporation so provide.  Any action required to or which may be taken at a meeting of stockholders of the corporation may be taken without a meeting if authorized by a writing signed by all of the holders of shares who would be entitled to vote upon the action at a meeting for such purpose.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

INCORPORATOR

 

The name and mailing address of the incorporator of the Corporation are as follows:

 

Amy E. Culbert

Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

Campbell Mithun Tower, Suite 2000

222 South Ninth Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

 

ARTICLE IX
EFFECTIVE TIME

 

This Certificate of Incorporation shall be effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 18, 2015.

 

The undersigned, being the incorporator named above, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the DGCL, does hereby make this Certificate of Incorporation, hereby acknowledging, declaring and certifying that the foregoing Certificate of Incorporation is the undersigned’s act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly has hereunto set the undersigned’s hand this 17th day of June, 2015.

 

 

 

INCORPORATOR:

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Amy E. Culbert

 

Amy E. Culbert

 

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EXHIBIT 3.4

 

BYLAWS
OF
RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

 

1.1                                Registered Office .  The address of the registered office of RestorGenex Corporation (the “ Corporation ”) in the State of Delaware shall be 615 South Dupont Hwy., Dover, Kent County, Delaware 19901.  The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at that address is National Corporate Research, Ltd.

 

1.2                                Other Offices .  The Corporation may have other offices, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”), from time to time shall determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

2.1                                Place of Meetings .  Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be held at any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders hall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the “ DGCL ”).  In the absence of any such designation or determination, meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.

 

2.2                                Annual Meetings .

 

(a)                                  The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other business as may lawfully come before it, shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice with respect to such meeting; (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice provided for in the following subsection (b), who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth below in this Section 2.2.

 

(b)                                  At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.  For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(iii) above, (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) such other business must be a proper

 



 

matter for stockholder action under the DGCL, and (iii) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, has provided the Corporation with a Solicitation Notice (as defined below in Section 2.2(d)(iii)(C)(2)), such stockholder or beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”)  or these Bylaws (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “ Bylaws ”) to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares reasonably believed by such stockholder or beneficial owner to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder, and must, in either case, have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice.

 

(c)                                   To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement delivered to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event (i) the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, (ii) no proxy statement was delivered to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting, or (iii) the Corporation did not hold an annual meeting in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(d)                                  Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

(i)                                      as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (as amended from time to time, the “ 1934 Act ”) (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);

 

(ii)                                   as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 

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(iii)                                as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made:

 

(A)                                the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner;

 

(B)                                (1) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; (2) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “ Derivative Instrument ”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder and such beneficial owner and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation; (3) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; (4) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this Bylaw a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security) held directly or indirectly by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; (5) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation; (6) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or such beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; and (7) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or such beneficial owner is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, in each case including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or such beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date);

 

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(C)                                any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including without limitation:

 

(1)                                  a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder or beneficial owner and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder; and

 

(2)                                  whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of the proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent, a “ Solicitation Notice ”).

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.2(c) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least seventy (70) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (or, if the annual meeting is held more than thirty (30) days before or thirty (30) days after such anniversary date, at least seventy (70) days prior to such annual meeting) a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.2 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(f)                                    Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.2 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.2.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.

 

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(g)                                   Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.2, in order to include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholders’ meeting, stockholders must provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated under the 1934 Act. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act.

 

(h)                                  For purposes of these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, PR Newswire, Reuters or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.

 

2.3                                Special Meetings .

 

(a)                                  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, only by (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, and shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                                  If a special meeting is properly called by any person or persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in writing, specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be delivered personally or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation.  No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice.  The Board of Directors shall determine the time and place of such special meeting, which shall be held not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the receipt of the request.  Upon determination of the time and place of the meeting, the Secretary shall cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.4 of these Bylaws.  Nothing contained in this subsection (b) shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

 

(c)                                   Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in these Bylaws who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.3(c).  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice otherwise required by Section 2.2 of these Bylaws shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices

 

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of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(d)                                  Unless the Certificate of Incorporation provides otherwise, any special meeting of the stockholders may be cancelled by resolution duly adopted by a majority of the directors then in office upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

 

2.4                                Notice of Meetings .  Except as otherwise provided by law, notice, given in writing or by electronic transmission, of each meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.  Such notice shall specify the place, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication(s), if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting (as authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion pursuant to Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL), the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the meeting.  Notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation and otherwise is given when delivered.  Notice of the time, place, and purpose of any meeting of stockholders may be waived in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice thereof, or by electronic transmission by such person, either before or after such meeting, and will be waived by any stockholder by his or her attendance thereat in person or by proxy, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission.

 

2.5                                Determination of Stockholders of Record .

 

(a)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before

 

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the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the DGCL, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

2.6                                Quorum .  At all meetings of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, either by the chairman of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented thereat, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting.  The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.  Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, except where otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy duly authorized, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

 

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2.7                                Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings .  Any meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time either by the chairman of the meeting or by the vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting.  When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof, and the means of remote communication(s), if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting (as authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion pursuant to Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL), are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

2.8                                Voting .  Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the election of directors.  Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, except where otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the majority (plurality, in the case of the election of directors) of shares of such class or series or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class or series or classes or series.

 

2.9                                Voting Rights .  For the purpose of determining those stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock records of the Corporation on the record date, as provided in Section 6.5 of these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders.  Every person entitled to vote shall have the right to do so either in person or by an agent or agents authorized by a proxy granted in accordance with the DGCL.  An agent so appointed need not be a stockholder.  No proxy shall be voted after three (3) years from its date of creation unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

 

2.10                         Joint Owners of Stock .  If shares or other securities having voting power stand of record in the names of two (2) or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two (2) or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (a) if only one (1) votes, his or her act binds all; (b) if more than one (1) votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; (c) if more than one (1) votes,

 

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but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in question proportionally, or may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for relief as provided in Section 217(b) of the DGCL.  If the instrument filed with the Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purpose of clauses (b) and (c) shall be a majority or even-split in interest.

 

2.11                         List of Stockholders .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10 th ) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Nothing contained in this Section 2.11 shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.  If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder of the Corporation who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then such list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder of the Corporation during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

 

2.12                         Action Without Meeting .

 

(a)                                  Any action to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action to be so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered (by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded.

 

(b)                                  Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this Section 2.11, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation as aforesaid.

 

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Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Any person executing a consent may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that such a consent will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made, and, if evidence of such instruction or provision is provided to the Corporation, such later effective time shall serve as the date of signature. Unless otherwise provided, any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

 

(c)                                   Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing.

 

(d)                                  Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall, to the extent required by applicable law, be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing, and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

 

2.13                         Organization .

 

(a)                                  At every meeting of stockholders, (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, if a Chairman of the Board of Directors has not been appointed or is absent, (ii) the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or, if the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors is absent or there is no Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, (iii) the Chief Executive Officer or, if the Chief Executive Officer is absent, (iv) such person as the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall appoint or, if such Chairman has not been appointed, (v) any officer of the Corporation chosen by the Board of Directors, shall act as chairman of the meeting.  The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

(b)                                  The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may, and shall if required by law, appoint one (1) or more inspector(s), who may include individual(s) who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including without limitation as officers, employees or agents, to act at the meeting of stockholders and make a written report thereof.  The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or more persons as alternate inspector(s) to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one (1) or more inspector(s) to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.  The inspector(s) or alternate(s) shall have the duties prescribed pursuant to Section 231 of the DGCL or other applicable law.

 

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(c)                                   The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of the stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot.  The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of the stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

2.14                         Postponement and Cancellation of Meeting .  Any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of stockholders may be postponed, and any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of stockholders may be cancelled, by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for such meeting.

 

ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

 

3.1                                General Powers .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided in the DGCL or in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and procedures, not inconsistent with the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law, as it may deem proper for the conduct of its meetings and the management of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided by the DGCL or by the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3.2                                Number, Term of Office and Qualifications .  The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Each director shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until the director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Directors shall be natural persons, but need not be stockholders of the Corporation unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3.3                                Vacancies .  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or

 

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newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board of Directors.  Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

3.4                                Resignation .  Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.  If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Verbal resignation shall not be deemed effective until confirmed by the director in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary.  When one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place shall be vacated and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

3.5                                Removal .  Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

 

3.6                                Meetings .

 

(a)                                  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or date and at any place within or without the State of Delaware which has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other electronic means. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                                  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or a majority of the directors then in office.

 

(c)                                   Any member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment pursuant to which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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(d)                                  Notice of the time and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director (i) by giving notice to such director in person or by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, during normal business hours, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting, (ii) by sending a telegram or delivering notice by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail or by hand, to such director at his or her last known business or home address, during normal business hours, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting, or (iii) by mailing notice, via first class United States mail, to such director at his or her last known business or home address at least three (3) days in advance of the meeting.  Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing, or by electronic transmission, at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purpose of the meeting.

 

(e)                                   The transaction of all business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present who did not receive notice shall sign a written waiver of notice or shall waive notice by electronic transmission.  All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission.

 

3.7                                Quorum and Voting .

 

(a)                                  Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a greater number, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the directors then in office.  At any meeting whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.

 

(b)                                  At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at the meeting, unless a different vote be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

3.8                                Action Without Meeting .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the

 

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minutes are maintained in electronic form. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given at such effective time so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective.

 

3.9                                Fees and Compensation .  Directors shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, including, if so approved by resolution of the Board of Directors or such committee, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors.  Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.

 

3.10                         Committees .

 

(a)                                  The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint such committees as may be permitted by law. Such committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall consist of one (1) or more members of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such committees, but no committee shall have the power or authority in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these Bylaws.

 

(b)                                  The Board of Directors, subject to any requirements of any outstanding series of preferred stock and the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 3.10, may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee.  The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his or her death or voluntary resignation from the committee or from the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board of Directors may fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee.  The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

(c)                                   Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide, regular meetings of any committee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall be held at such times and places as are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further notice of

 

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such regular meetings need be given thereafter.  Special meetings of any such committee may be held at any place which has been determined from time to time by such committee, and may be called by any director who is a member of such committee, upon notice to the members of such committee of the time and place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special meetings of the Board of Directors.  Notice of any special meeting of any committee may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends such special meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolutions authorizing the creation of the committee, a majority of the members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.

 

3.11                         Organization .  At every meeting of the directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman of the Board of Directors has not been appointed or is absent, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or if a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors has not been appointed or is absent, the Chief Executive Officer (if a director), or if the Chief Executive Officer is absent, or, in the absence of any such person, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall preside over the meeting.  The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

 

4.1                                Positions; Election and Qualification .  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors and shall include a President or Chief Executive Officer (“ Chief Executive Officer ”), a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect a Chairman (who must be a director), one or more Vice Chairmen (who must be directors) and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries and other officers. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as it shall deem appropriate.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. No officer need be a stockholder.

 

4.2                                Term .  Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under contract of employment.  If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors. The election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights.

 

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4.3                                Duties .

 

(a)                                  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall, if present, preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or as may be prescribed by these Bylaws.

 

(b)                                  Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as the Board of Directors may give to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall report directly to the Board of Directors.  All other officers, officials, employees and agents shall report directly or indirectly to the Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.

 

(c)                                   In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President(s), if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chief Executive Officer.  The Vice President(s) shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as form time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents or may otherwise specify the order of seniority of the Vice Presidents.

 

(d)                                  The Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital and retained earnings. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all money and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, whenever they request, an account of all of his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws. In lieu of any contrary resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall also be the Treasurer of the Corporation.

 

(e)                                   The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation, or such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors, committees of directors, and stockholders.  The minutes shall show the time and place of each meeting, whether regular or special (and, if special, how authorized and the notice given), the names of those present at directors’ meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders’ meetings, and the proceedings thereof.

 

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The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

 

The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committee(s) of the Board of Directors, required to be given by law or by these Bylaws. The Secretary shall keep the seal of the Corporation, if one be adopted, in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws.

 

(f)                                    The Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman of the Board and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

(g)                                   The Assistant Secretary(ies), if any, in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

(h)                                  The Assistant Treasurer(s), if any, in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Chief Financial Officer or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

4.4                                Delegation of Authority .  The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

4.5                                Resignations .  Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, or to the Chief Executive Officer or to the Secretary.  Verbal resignation shall not be deemed effective until confirmed by the officer in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or Secretary.  Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later time.  Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract with the resigning officer.

 

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4.6                                Removal .  Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under contract of employment, any officer may be removed from office at any time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office at the time, or by the unanimous written consent of the directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers upon whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION

 

5.1                                Execution of Corporate Instruments .  The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf of the Corporation any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of the Corporation the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts on behalf of the Corporation, except where otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the Corporation.

 

All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the Corporation or in special accounts of the Corporation shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to do.

 

Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

 

5.2                                Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation .  All stock and other securities of other Corporations owned or held by the Corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President.

 

ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF STOCK

 

6.1                                Form and Execution of Certificates .  Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, or shall be uncertificated. Certificates for the shares of stock of the Corporation, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.  Every holder of stock represented by certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her in the Corporation.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles.  In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar

 

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before such certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.

 

6.2                                Transfers of Stock . Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and, in the case of stock represented by certificate, upon the surrender of a properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares. To the extent designated by the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President or the Treasurer of the Corporation, the Corporation may recognize the transfer of fractional uncertificated shares, but shall not otherwise be required to recognize the transfer of fractional shares.  The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

6.3                                Transfer Agents and Registrars .  The Board of Directors may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.

 

6.4                                Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .  A new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares shall be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed.  The Corporation may require, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to agree to indemnify the Corporation in such manner as it shall require or to give the Corporation a surety bond in such form and amount as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

6.5                                Fixing Record Dates .

 

(a)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the determination of

 

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stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote therewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting: (i) when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery (by hand, or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

(c)                                   In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

6.6                                Registered Stockholders .  The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION

 

7.1                                Execution of Other Securities .  All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the Corporation, other than stock certificates (covered in Section 6.1), may be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President, or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, and the corporate seal, if any, may be impressed thereon or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon

 

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and attested by the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signatures of the persons signing and, if applicable, attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons.  Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person.  In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the Corporation and issued and delivered as though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VIII
DIVIDENDS

 

8.1                                Declaration of Dividends .  Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors pursuant to law at any regular or special meeting.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

 

8.2                                Dividend Reserve .  Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interests of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

9.1                                Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

9.2                                Corporate Seal .  The Corporation may, but need not, have a corporate seal.  In the event the Corporation has a seal, the seal need not be affixed for any contract, resolution or other document executed by or on behalf of the Corporation to be valid and duly authorized.

 

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9.3                                Notices .

 

(a)                                  Written notice to stockholders of stockholder meetings shall be given as provided in Section 2.4 herein.  Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given effectively to stockholders under any agreement or contract with such stockholder, and except as otherwise required by law, written notice to stockholders for purposes other than stockholder meetings may be sent by United States mail or nationally recognized overnight courier, or by facsimile, telegraph or telex or by electronic mail or other electronic means.

 

(b)                                  Notice to directors of special meetings shall be given as provided in Section 3.7(d) herein.  Subject to the preceding sentence and except as expressly stated otherwise herein, notice may otherwise be given by the methods stated in subsection (a) above.

 

(c)                                   An affidavit of mailing, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the Corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, or other agent, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, or director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.

 

(d)                                  It shall not be necessary that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all recipients of notice, but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more recipients, and any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others.

 

(e)                                   Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person.  Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.  In the event the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

 

(f)                                    Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any stockholder to whom (i) notice of two (2) consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two (2), payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a twelve (12) month period, have been mailed addressed to such person at such person’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required.  Any actions or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to such person shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.  If any such person shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such person’s then current address, the requirement that

 

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notice be given to such person shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate need not state that the Corporation did not give notice to persons not required to be given notice pursuant to Section 230(b) of the DGCL.  The exception in clause (i) above to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.

 

(g)                                   Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, any notice given under the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given.  Such consent shall be deemed to have been given if such stockholder fails to object in writing to the Corporation within sixty (60) days of having been given notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice.  Any consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation.

 

(h)                                  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission previously consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given.  Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent, and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the transfer agent or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

 

Notice given pursuant to the above paragraph shall be deemed given (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with a separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice, and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

For purposes of these Bylaws, “ electronic transmission ” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process. This Section 9.3 shall not apply to Section 164 (failure to pay for stock; remedies), Section 296 (adjudication of claims; appeal), Section 311 (revocation of voluntary

 

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dissolution), Section 312 (renewal, revival, extension and restoration of certificate of incorporation) or Section 324 (attachment of shares of stock) of the DGCL.

 

9.4                                Construction .  Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these Bylaws.  The singular number includes the plural, and the plural number includes the singular.  All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine and/or neuter, as the identity of the person or persons so designated may require.

 

9.5                                Conflict With Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation .  These Bylaws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.  Whenever these Bylaws may conflict with any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

10.1                         Right to Indemnification .  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (an “ Indemnitee ”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (any such entity, an “ Other Entity ”), against all liability and loss suffered (including, but not limited to expenses (including but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any such Proceeding) provided, that the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any Proceeding that is criminal in nature, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner in which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or that, with respect to any criminal proceeding he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The Corporation shall not indemnify an Indemnitee for any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the Corporation or for any amounts paid in settlement to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the Proceeding was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts as the court deems proper.

 

10.2                         Advancement of Expenses .  The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an

 

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Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Indemnitee to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article X or otherwise.

 

10.3                         Former Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents .  Indemnification pursuant to this Article X shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or member, manager or managing member of a predecessor limited liability company or affiliate of such limited liability company or a director, officer, employee, agent, partner, member, manager or fiduciary of, or to serve in any other capacity for, another corporation or any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, or other enterprise and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.

 

10.4                         Claims .  If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of the Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought, including any settlement of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article X is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnitee has been received by the Corporation, the Indemnitee may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.  In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article X and applicable law.

 

10.5                         Non-Exclusivity of Rights .  The rights conferred on any Indemnitee by this Article X shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

10.6                         Insurance .  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this Article X, the DGCL or otherwise.

 

10.7                         Amendment or Repeal .  Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Indemnitee arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of this Article X after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

 

10.8                         Saving Clause .  If this Article X or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director, officer, employee and agent to the fullest extent not prohibited by any applicable

 

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portion of this Article X that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law.  If this Article X shall be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of another jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall indemnify each director, officer, employee and agent to the fullest extent under any other applicable law.

 

ARTICLE XI
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS

 

11.1                         Exclusive Jurisdiction for Certain Actions .  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.

 

ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS

 

12.1                         Amendments .  The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of these Bylaws or adoption of new Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the directors then in office.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the stockholders of the Corporation shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

Adopted as of June 18, 2015.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

GRAPHIC

ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS# . COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $0.001 COMMON STOCK THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CANTON, MA, JERSEY CITY, NJ AND COLLEGE STATION, TX Shares * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Certificate Number ZQ00000000 RESTORGENEX CORPORATION INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David THIS CERTIFIES THAT Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE & David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample Sample **** Mr. AlexandeMr DaviRd Sam.ple S**** MAr. AleMxandePr DavLid SEample *&*** Mr. AMlexanRder DaSvid S.ampSle ***A* Mr.MAlexanPder DLavidESample **** Mr. Alexander **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample is the owner of **000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares*** *000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares**** 000000**Shar*es****0*000Z00**SEhareRs****00O0000**ShHares**U**0000N00**SDhares*R***000E000**DShares**T**000H000**SOhares*U***000S000**AShareNs****00D0000**Shares****0 00000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00 0000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000 000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000 00**Shares****0Z0000E0**ShRares***O*000000*H*ShareUs****0N00000D**SharRes****0E0000D0**ShareAs****0N00000D**SharesZ****00E0000R**SharOes****0*000*00**Shares****00000 0**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000 **Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000* *Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000** Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**S THIS CERTIFIES THAT the registered owner whose name is inscribed hereon is the owner of the number of shares of the Common Stock of RestorGenex Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the “Corporation”), transferable only on the books of the Corporation in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Corporation has caused this Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers. DATED DD-MMM-YYYY COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR, FACSIMILE SIGNATURE TO COME President FACSIMILE SIGNATURE TO COME By Secretary AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE CUSIP Holder ID Insurance Value Number of Shares DTC Certificate Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Total Transaction XXXXXX XX X XXXXXXXXXX 1,000,000.00 123456 12345678 123456789012345 PO BOX 43004, Providence, RI 02940-3004 Num/No. Denom. Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 CUSIP 76132G 10 5

 


 

GRAPHIC

. RESTORGENEX CORPORATION THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH STOCKHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS OR HER LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE CORPORATION A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE. (Cust) (Minor) (State) and not as tenants in common (Cust) (Minor) (State) PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the Capital Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said Stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: 20 Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. The IRS requires that we report the cost basis of certain shares acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares were covered by the legislation and you have sold or transferred the shares and requested a specific cost basis calculation method, we have processed as requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please visit our website or consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with us or do not have any activity in your account for the time periods specified by state law, your property could become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state. Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ............................................Custodian ................................................ TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act......................................................... JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIF TRF MIN ACT - ............................................Custodian (until age ................................) .............................under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act ................... Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of            , 20   by and between RestorGenex Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                                          (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement except as otherwise provided herein.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities.  Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions.  At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself.  The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the directors and officers of the Company. Indemnitee also may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 



 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as a director or officer without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity.  Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or she be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company, as applicable, or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as applicable.  Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position.  This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL.  The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company, as applicable, or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions .  As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

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i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party .  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50.1% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors .  During any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions .  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50.1% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation .  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events .  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided , however , that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

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(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided , however , that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) Expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether the Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the

 

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Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory, legislative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or her (or a failure to take action by him or her) or of any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting pursuant to his or her Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings .  The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.  The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification in excess of that expressly

 

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permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of its stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company .  The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful .  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any aspect of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he or she shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification .  If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4 or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act); or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross-claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the

 

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indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses .  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee, and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by the Indemnitee in connection with such Expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditures made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be so included), whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof or Indemnitee’s becoming aware thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement, except to the extent (solely with respect to the indemnity hereunder) that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person

 

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so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided , however , that such sixty (60)-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good

 

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faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided , further , that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)           The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)           For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.  Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)           The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.            Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)           Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten

 

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(10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided , however , that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)           In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)           If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)           The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case

 

12



 

of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.            Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation .

 

(a)           The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors or otherwise, and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)           For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company and for a reasonable period of time thereafter, which such period shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage for directors and/or officers of the Company, and, if applicable, that is substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.  Upon reasonable request, the Company shall provide Indemnitee or his or her counsel with a copy of all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials.  In all policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance obtained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the Company’s directors and officers most favorably insured by such policy.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Company may, but shall not be required to, create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means, including, without limitation, a letter of credit, to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy its obligations to indemnify and advance expenses pursuant to this Agreement and (b) in renewing or seeking to renew any insurance hereunder, the Company will

 

13



 

not be required to expend more than two (2) times the premium amount of the immediately preceding policy period (equitably adjusted if necessary to reflect differences in policy periods).

 

(c)           To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(d)           In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(e)           The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 16.            Duration of Agreement .  This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company, as applicable, or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced (including any appeal thereof) by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his or her spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.  The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

14



 

Section 17.            Severability .  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.            Enforcement .

 

(a)           The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)           This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided ,  however , that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.            Modification and Waiver .  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.            Notice by Indemnitee .  Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 21.            Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed,

 

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or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)           If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)           If to the Company to:

 

RestorGenex Corporation

2150 East Lake Cook Road, Suite 750

Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.            Contribution .  To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.            Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction .  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably National Corporate Research, Ltd., 615 South Dupont Hwy, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, 19901 as its agent in the State of Delaware for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

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Section 24.            Identical Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.            Miscellaneous .  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Name:

Title:

 

Address:

 

18


Exhibit 10.2

 

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                       Purpose of Plan .

 

The purpose of the RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to advance the interests of RestorGenex Corporation (the “Company”) and its stockholders by enabling the Company and its Subsidiaries to attract and retain qualified individuals to perform services for the Company and its Subsidiaries, providing incentive compensation for such individuals that is linked to the growth and profitability of the Company and increases in stockholder value, and aligning the interests of such individuals with the interests of its stockholders through opportunities for equity participation in the Company.

 

2.                                       Definitions.

 

The following terms will have the meanings set forth below, unless the context clearly otherwise requires.  Terms defined elsewhere in the Plan will have the same meaning throughout the Plan.

 

2.1                                Adverse Action ” means any action by a Participant that the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines to be injurious, detrimental, prejudicial or adverse to the interests of the Company or any Subsidiary, including:  (a) disclosing confidential information of the Company or any Subsidiary to any person not authorized by the Company or Subsidiary to receive it, (b) engaging, directly or indirectly, in any commercial activity that in the judgment of the Committee competes with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary or (c) interfering with the relationships of the Company or any Subsidiary and their respective employees, independent contractors, customers, prospective customers and vendors.

 

2.2                                Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.3                                Broker Exercise Notice ” means a written notice pursuant to which a Participant, upon exercise of an Option, irrevocably instructs a broker or dealer to sell a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or loan a sufficient amount of money to pay all or a portion of the exercise price of the Option and/or any related withholding tax obligations and remit such sums to the Company and directs the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock to be issued upon such exercise directly to such broker or dealer or their nominee.

 

2.4                                Cause ” means “cause” as defined in any employment or other agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or if no such agreement or policy exists, will mean (a) dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, embezzlement or deliberate injury or attempted injury, in each case related to the Company or any Subsidiary, (b) any unlawful or criminal activity of a serious nature, (c) any intentional and deliberate breach of a duty or duties that, individually or in the aggregate, are material in relation to the Participant’s overall duties, or (d) any material breach by a Participant of any employment, service, consulting, confidentiality, assignment of inventions, non-compete or non-solicitation agreement entered into with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

2.5                                Change in Control ” means an event described in Section 15.1 of the Plan; provided, however, if payment under an Incentive Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code is triggered by a Change in Control, the term Change in Control will mean a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code.

 



 

2.6                                Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Code in the Plan will be deemed to include a reference to any applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any successor or amended section of the Code.

 

2.7                                Committee ” means the group of individuals administering the Plan, as provided in Section 3 of the Plan.

 

2.8                                Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, or the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities into which such Common Stock may be changed in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Plan.

 

2.9                                Company ” means RestorGenex Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Section 21.7 of the Plan.

 

2.10                         Consultant ” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to the Company or any Subsidiary that: (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

 

2.11                         Director ” means a member of the Board.

 

2.12                         Disability ” means the disability of the Participant such as would entitle the Participant to receive disability income benefits pursuant to the long-term disability plan of the Company or Subsidiary then covering the Participant or, if no such plan exists or is applicable to the Participant, the permanent and total disability of the Participant within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code; provided, however, that if distribution of an Incentive Award subject to Section 409A of the Code is triggered by an Eligible Recipient’s Disability, such term will mean that the Eligible Recipient is disabled as defined by Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and rulings issued thereunder.

 

2.13                         Effective Date ” means June 17, 2015 or such later date as the Plan is initially approved by the Company’s stockholders.

 

2.14                         Eligible Recipients ” means (a) for the purposes of granting Incentive Stock Options, all Employees and (b) for the purposes of granting Non-Statutory Stock Options and other Incentive Awards, means all Employees, Directors and Consultants.

 

2.15                         Employee ” means any individual performing services for the Company or a Subsidiary and designated as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary on the payroll records thereof.  An Employee will not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company or Subsidiary as an independent contractor, a consultant, or any employee of an employment, consulting or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified as a common-law employee of the Company or Subsidiary during such period.  An individual will not cease to be an Employee in the case of:  (a) any leave of absence approved by the Company, or (b) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company or any Subsidiaries.  For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract.  If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company or a Subsidiary, as applicable, is not so guaranteed, then three (3) months following the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by a Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Non-Statutory

 

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Stock Option.  Neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

2.16                         Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Exchange Act in the Plan will be deemed to include a reference to any applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any successor or amended section of the Exchange Act.

 

2.17                         Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to the Common Stock, as of any date: (a) the closing sale price of the Common Stock as of such date at the end of the regular trading session, as reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market, The New York Stock Exchange, NYSE MKT LLC or any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed (or, if no shares were traded on such date, as of the next preceding date on which there was such a trade); or (b) if the Common Stock is not so listed, admitted to unlisted trading privileges, or reported on any national securities exchange, the closing sale price as of such date at the end of the regular trading session, as reported by OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC Markets Group Inc. or other comparable service (or, if no shares were traded or quoted on such date, as of the next preceding date on which there was such a trade or quote); or (c) if the Common Stock is not so listed or reported, such price as the Committee determines in good faith, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, and consistent with the definition of “fair market value” under Section 409A of the Code and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  If determined by the Committee, such determination will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes and on all persons, including the Company, the stockholders of the Company, the Participants and their respective heirs and other successors-in-interest.  No member of the Committee will be liable for any determination regarding the fair market value of the Common Stock that is made in good faith.

 

2.18                         Full Value Award ” means an Incentive Award other than in the form of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and which is settled by the issuance of shares of Common Stock.

 

2.19                         Grant Date ” means the date an Incentive Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan and as determined pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.

 

2.20                         Incentive Award ” means an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Stock Bonus or Other Stock-Based Award granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.21                         Incentive Award Agreement ” means either:  (a) a written or electronic (as provided in Section 21.9) agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Incentive Award granted under the Plan, including any amendment or modification thereof, or (b) a written or electronic (as provided in Section 21.9) statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such an Incentive Award, including any amendment or modification thereof.  The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Incentive Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.

 

2.22                         Incentive Stock Option ” means a right to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to an Employee pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan that is designated as and intended to meet the requirements of an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.23                         Non-Statutory Stock Option ” means a right to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan that is not intended to meet the requirements of or does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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2.24                         Option ” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option.

 

2.25                         Other Stock-Based Award ” means an equity-based or equity-related Incentive Award not otherwise described by the terms of the Plan, granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.

 

2.26                         Participant ” means an Eligible Recipient who receives one or more Incentive Awards under the Plan.

 

2.27                         Performance Award ” means a right granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan to receive an amount of cash, a number of shares of Common Stock, or a combination of both, contingent upon and the value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a function of the extent of the achievement of specified performance objectives during a specified period.  A Performance Award is also commonly referred to as a “performance unit” or “performance share.”

 

2.28                         Previously Acquired Shares ” means shares of Common Stock that are already owned by the Participant or, with respect to any Incentive Award, that are to be issued to the Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of such Incentive Award.

 

2.29                         Restricted Stock Award ” means an award of shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan that is subject to restrictions on transferability and a risk of forfeiture.

 

2.30                         Restricted Stock Unit ” means an award denominated in shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan to receive an amount of cash, a number of shares of Common Stock, or a combination of both, contingent upon the achievement of specified performance objectives or that the Participant remain in the continuous employment or service with the Company for a certain period or other conditions.

 

2.31                         Retirement ” means unless otherwise defined in the Incentive Award Agreement or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary, means “Retirement” as defined from time to time for purposes of the Plan by the Committee or by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, if not so defined, means voluntary termination of employment or service by the Participant on or after the date the Participant reaches age fifty-five (55) with the present intention to leave the Company’s industry or to leave the general workforce and completion of at least ten (10) years of continuous service with the Company or a Subsidiary.

 

2.32                         Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Securities Act in the Plan will be deemed to include a reference to any applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any successor or amended section of the Securities Act.

 

2.33                         Stock Appreciation Right ” means a right granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan to receive a payment from the Company, in the form of shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination of both, equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of one or more shares of Common Stock and a specified exercise price of such shares.

 

2.34                         Stock Bonus ” means an award of shares of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan.

 

2.35                         Subsidiary ” means any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Committee,

 

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provided the Company has a “controlling interest” in the Subsidiary as defined in Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E)(1).

 

2.36                         Tax Date ” means the date any withholding tax obligation arises under the Code for a Participant with respect to an Incentive Award.

 

3.                                       Plan Administration.

 

3.1                                The Committee .  The Plan will be administered by the Board or by a committee of the Board.  So long as the Company has a class of its equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, any committee administering the Plan will consist solely of two or more members of the Board who are “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and who are “independent directors” as required by the Listing Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market (or other applicable exchange or market on which the Company’s Common Stock may be traded or quoted).  Such a committee, if established, will act by majority approval of the members (but may also take action by the written consent of all of the members of such committee), and a majority of the members of such a committee will constitute a quorum.  As used in the Plan, “Committee” will refer to the Board or to such a committee, if established.

 

3.2                                Authority of the Committee .  In accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the authority to determine all provisions of Incentive Awards as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable and as consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the following:  (a) the Eligible Recipients to be selected as Participants; (b) the nature and extent of the Incentive Awards to be made to each Participant (including the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to each Incentive Award, any exercise price, the manner in which Incentive Awards will vest or become exercisable and whether Incentive Awards will be granted in tandem with other Incentive Awards) and the form of Incentive Award Agreement; (c) the time or times when Incentive Awards will be granted; (d) the duration of each Incentive Award; and (e) the restrictions and other conditions to which the payment or vesting of Incentive Awards may be subject.  In addition, the Committee will have the authority to:  (i) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Incentive Award granted under, the Plan; (ii) establish, amend, suspend or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee may deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (iii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee may deem necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  In addition, the Committee will have the authority under the Plan in its sole discretion to pay the economic value of any Incentive Award in the form of cash, Common Stock or any combination of both.  The Committee may exercise its duties, power and authority under the Plan in its sole discretion without the consent of any Participant or other party, unless the Plan specifically provides otherwise.  The Committee will not be obligated to treat Participants or Eligible Recipients uniformly, and determinations made under the Plan may be made by the Committee selectively among Participants or Eligible Recipients, whether or not such Participants and Eligible Recipients are similarly situated.  Each determination, interpretation or other action made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes and on all persons, and no member of the Committee will be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Incentive Award granted under the Plan.

 

3.3                                Delegation .  Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and

 

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powers to any person or persons selected by it. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and to the extent consistent with the applicable corporate law of the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation, the Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more Directors or one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as can the Committee:  (a) designate Eligible Recipients to be recipients of Incentive Awards pursuant to the Plan; and (b) determine the size of any such Incentive Awards; provided, however, that (x) the Committee will not delegate such responsibilities to any such Director(s) or officer(s) for any Incentive Awards granted to an Eligible Recipient who is subject to the reporting and liability provisions of Section 16 under the Exchange Act; (y) the resolution providing such authorization will set forth the type of Incentive Awards and total number of each type of Incentive Awards such Director(s) or officer(s) may grant; and (z) such Director(s) or officer(s) will report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the Incentive Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

 

3.4                                No Re-Pricing .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan other than Section 4.3, the Committee may not, without prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, seek to effect any re-pricing of any previously granted, “underwater” Option or Stock Appreciation Right by:  (a) amending or modifying the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to lower the exercise price; (b) canceling the underwater Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for (i) cash; (ii) replacement Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower exercise price; or (iii) other Incentive Awards; or (c) repurchasing the underwater Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and granting new Incentive Awards under the Plan.  For purposes of this Section 3.4, Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will be deemed to be “underwater” at any time when the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock is less than the exercise price of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

3.5                                Participants Based Outside the United States .  In addition to the authority of the Committee under Section 3.2 of the Plan and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Incentive Awards with respect to Participants resident outside of the United States or employed by a non-U.S. Subsidiary in order to comply with local legal requirements, to otherwise protect the Company’s or Subsidiary’s interests, or to meet objectives of the Plan, and may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub-plans (including the adoption of any required rules and regulations) for the purposes of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws.  The Committee will have no authority, however, to take action pursuant to this Section 3.5 of the Plan: (a) to reserve shares or grant Incentive Awards in excess of the limitations provided in Section 4.1 of the Plan; (b) to effect any re-pricing in violation of Section 3.4 of the Plan; (c) to grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having an exercise price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date in violation of Section 6.3 or 7.3 of the Plan, as the case may be; or (d) for which stockholder approval would then be required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code or the Listing Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market (or other applicable exchange or market on which the Company’s Common Stock may be traded or quoted).

 

4.                                       Shares Available for Issuance .

 

4.1                                Maximum Number of Shares Available; Certain Restrictions on Awards .  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that will be available for issuance under the Plan will be the sum of:

 

(a)                                  2,500,000;

 

(b)                                  the number of shares issued or Incentive Awards granted under the Plan in connection with the settlement, assumption or substitution of outstanding awards or obligations to

 

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grant future awards as a condition of the Company and/or any Subsidiary(ies) acquiring, merging or consolidating with another entity; and

 

(c)                                   the number of shares that are unallocated and available for grant under a stock plan assumed by the Company or any Subsidiary(ies) in connection with the merger, consolidation, or acquisition of another entity by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, based on the applicable exchange ratio and other transaction terms, but only to the extent that such shares may be utilized by the Company or its Subsidiaries following the transaction pursuant to the rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market (or other applicable exchange or market on which the Company’s Common Stock may be traded or quoted).

 

The shares available for issuance under the Plan may, at the election of the Committee, be either treasury shares or shares authorized but unissued, and, if treasury shares are used, all references in the Plan to the issuance of shares will, for corporate law purposes, be deemed to mean the transfer of shares from treasury.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, (i) no more than 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan; and (ii) no more than 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued or issuable under the Plan in connection with the grant of Full Value Awards.  All of the foregoing share limits are subject, in each case, to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 of the Plan.  Incentive Stock Options issued as a result of the Company’s assumption or substitution of like awards issued by any acquired, merged or consolidated entity pursuant to applicable provisions of the Code will not count towards the limit in clause (i).

 

The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to Incentive Awards to any one Director who is not an Employee in any one calendar year may not exceed 275,000; provided, that such limit shall not apply to any election of a Director to receive shares of Common Stock in lieu of all or a portion of any annual Board, chair and other retainers and any meeting fees otherwise payable in cash.

 

4.2                                Accounting for Incentive Awards .  Shares of Common Stock that are issued under the Plan or that are subject to outstanding Incentive Awards will be applied to reduce the maximum number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for issuance under the Plan.  All shares so subtracted from the amount available under the Plan with respect to an Incentive Award that lapses, expires, is forfeited (including issued shares forfeited under a Restricted Stock Award) or for any reason is terminated unexercised or unvested or is settled or paid in cash or any form other than shares of Common Stock will automatically again become available for issuance under the Plan; provided, however, that the full number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Appreciation Right granted that is settled by the issuance of shares of Common Stock will be counted against the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan, regardless of the number of shares actually issued upon settlement of such Stock Appreciation Right.  Furthermore, any shares of Common Stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on Incentive Awards issued under the Plan, any shares of Common Stock withheld to pay the exercise price of Incentive Awards under the Plan and any shares of Common Stock not issued or delivered as a result of the “net exercise” of an outstanding Option pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Plan or settlement of a Stock Appreciation Right in shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 7.7 of the Plan will be counted against the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan and will not be available again for grant under the Plan.  Any shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Incentive Award will not increase the number of shares available for future grant of Incentive Awards.  Any shares of Common Stock related to Incentive Awards under the Plan that terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the

 

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issuance of shares of Common Stock, or are settled in cash in lieu of shares, or are exchanged with the Committee’s permission, prior to the issuance of shares, for Incentive Awards not involving shares, will be available again for grant under the Plan.

 

4.3                                Adjustments to Shares and Incentive Awards .

 

(a)                                  In the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, divestiture or extraordinary dividend (including a spin-off) or any other similar change in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) will make appropriate adjustment (which determination will be conclusive) as to the number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) available for issuance or payment under the Plan, including the sub-limits set forth in Section 4.1 of the Plan and, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants, (a) the number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) subject to outstanding Incentive Awards, and (b) the exercise price of outstanding Incentive Awards.  The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, will be final, conclusive and binding on Participants under the Plan.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything else in the Plan to the contrary, without affecting the number of shares of Common Stock reserved or available under the Plan, including the sub-limits in Section 4.1 of the Plan, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under the Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with the rules under Sections 422 and 424 of the Code, as and where applicable.

 

5.                                       Participation .

 

Participants in the Plan will be those Eligible Recipients who, in the judgment of the Committee, have contributed, are contributing or are expected to contribute to the achievement of objectives of the Company or its Subsidiaries.  Eligible Recipients may be granted from time to time one or more Incentive Awards, singly or in combination or in tandem with other Incentive Awards, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Incentive Awards will be deemed to be granted as of the date specified in the grant resolution of the Committee, which date will be the Grant Date of any related Incentive Award Agreement with the Participant.

 

6.                                       Options .

 

6.1                                Grant .  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Options under the Plan, and such Options will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  The Committee may designate whether an Option is to be considered an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option.  An Option will be an Incentive Stock Option only if the Eligible Recipient receiving the Option is an Employee.  To the extent that any Incentive Stock Option (or portion thereof) granted under the Plan ceases for any reason to qualify as an “incentive stock option” for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, such Incentive Stock Option (or portion thereof) will continue to be outstanding for purposes of the Plan but will thereafter be deemed to be a Non-Statutory Stock Option.  Options may be granted to an Eligible Recipient for services provided to a Subsidiary only if, with respect to such Eligible Recipient, the underlying shares of Common Stock constitute “service recipient stock” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii).

 

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6.2                                Incentive Award Agreement .  Each Option grant will be evidenced by an Incentive Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price of the Option, the maximum duration of the Option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which an Option will become vested and exercisable, and such other provisions as the Committee will determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.  The Incentive Award Agreement also will specify whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option.

 

6.3                                Exercise Price .  The per share price to be paid by a Participant upon exercise of an Option granted pursuant to this Section 6 will be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of the Option grant; provided, however, that such price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant (or 110% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant of an Incentive Stock Option if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Participant owns, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that Options are granted under the Plan as a result of the Company’s assumption or substitution of options issued by any acquired, merged or consolidated entity, the exercise price for such Options will be the price determined by the Committee pursuant to the conversion terms applicable to the transaction.

 

6.4                                Exercisability and Duration .  An Option will become exercisable at such times and in such installments and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of grant, including (a) the achievement of one or more specified performance objectives; and/or that (b) the Participant remain in the continuous employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary for a certain period; provided, however, that no Option may be exercisable after ten (10) years from the Grant Date (five years from the Grant Date in the case of an Incentive Stock Option if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Participant owns, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Option (other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) would expire at a time when trading in the shares of Common Stock is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), then the term of the Option will be automatically extended until the thirtieth (30 th ) day following the expiration of such prohibition or if the exercise of an Option that is exercisable in accordance with its terms is otherwise prevented by the provisions of Section 17 of the Plan, then the Option will remain exercisable until thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions, but in any event no later than the expiration date of such Option.

 

6.5                                Payment of Exercise Price .

 

(a)                                  The total purchase price of the shares of Common Stock to be purchased upon exercise of an Option must be paid entirely in cash (including check, bank draft or money order); provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion and upon terms and conditions established by the Committee, may allow such payments to be made, in whole or in part, by (i) tender of a Broker Exercise Notice; (ii) tender, either by actual delivery or attestation as to ownership, of Previously Acquired Shares that are acceptable to the Committee; (iii) a “net exercise” of the Option (as further described in paragraph (b), below);  (iv) a combination of such methods; or (v) any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

(b)                                  In the case of a “net exercise” of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the exercise price of the Option from the Participant but will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole shares that has a

 

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Fair Market Value on the exercise date that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares exercised under this method. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of such Option to the extent of (i) shares used to pay the exercise price of an Option under the “net exercise,” (ii) shares actually delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise and (iii) any shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding pursuant to Section 14.1 of the Plan.

 

(c)                                   For purposes of such payment, Previously Acquired Shares tendered or covered by an attestation will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date of the Option.

 

6.6                                Manner of Exercise .  An Option may be exercised by a Participant in whole or in part from time to time, subject to the conditions contained in the Plan and in the Incentive Award Agreement evidencing such Option, by delivery in person, by facsimile or electronic transmission or through the mail of written notice of exercise to the Company at its principal executive office in Buffalo Grove, Illinois (or to the Company’s designee as may be established from time to time by the Company and communicated to Participants)  and by paying in full the total exercise price for the shares of Common Stock to be purchased in accordance with Section 6.5 of the Plan.

 

7.                                       Stock Appreciation Rights .

 

7.1                                Grant .  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, and such Stock Appreciation Rights will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  The Committee will have the sole discretion to determine the form in which payment of the economic value of Stock Appreciation Rights will be made to a Participant (i.e., cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof) or to consent to or disapprove the election by a Participant of the form of such payment.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to an Eligible Recipient for services provided to a Subsidiary only if, with respect to such Eligible Recipient, the underlying shares of Common Stock constitute “service recipient stock” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii).

 

7.2                                Incentive Award Agreement .  Each Stock Appreciation Right will be evidenced by an Incentive Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, and such other provisions as the Committee will determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

 

7.3                                Exercise Price .  The exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at the Grant Date; provided, however, that such price may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that Stock Appreciation Rights are granted under the Plan as a result of the Company’s assumption or substitution of stock appreciation rights issued by any acquired, merged or consolidated entity, the exercise price for such Stock Appreciation Rights will be the price determined by the Committee pursuant to the conversion terms applicable to the transaction.

 

7.4                                Exercisability and Duration .  A Stock Appreciation Right will become exercisable at such times and in such installments as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Right may be exercisable after ten (10) years from its Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Stock Appreciation Right would expire at a time when trading in the shares of Common Stock is prohibited by the Company’s insider trading policy (or Company-imposed “blackout period”), then the term of the Stock Appreciation Right will be automatically extended until the thirtieth (30th) day following the expiration of such prohibition or if the exercise of a

 

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Stock Appreciation Right that is exercisable in accordance with its terms is otherwise prevented by the provisions of Section 17 of the Plan, the Stock Appreciation Right will remain exercisable until thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions, but in any event no later than the expiration date of such Stock Appreciation Right.

 

7.5                                Manner of Exercise .  A Stock Appreciation Right will be exercised by giving notice in the same manner as for Options, as set forth in Section 6.6 of the Plan, subject to any other terms and conditions consistent with the other provisions of the Plan as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

7.6                                Settlement .  Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(a)                                  The excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the per share exercise price; by

 

(b)                                  The number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

 

7.7                                Form of Payment .  Payment, if any, with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right settled in accordance with Section 7.6 of the Plan will be made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Incentive Award Agreement, in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, as the Committee determines in its sole discretion.

 

8.                                       Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units.

 

8.1                                Grant .  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Restricted Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, and such awards will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  Restricted Stock Units will be similar to Restricted Stock Awards except that no shares of Common Stock are actually awarded to the Participant on the Grant Date of the Restricted Stock Units.  Restricted Stock Units will be denominated in shares of Common Stock but paid in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock as the Committee, in its sole discretion, will determine, and as provided in the Incentive Award Agreement.

 

8.2                                Incentive Award Agreement . Each Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit will be evidenced by an Incentive Award Agreement that will specify the type of Incentive Award, the period(s) of restriction, the number of shares of restricted Common Stock, or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee will determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

 

8.3                                Vesting Requirements and Restrictions .  The Committee will impose such restrictions or conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, to the vesting of such Restricted Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Units as it deems appropriate, including (a) the achievement of one or more specified performance objectives; or that (b) the Participant remain in the continuous employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary for a certain period.  If any vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit are not satisfied, the Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit will be forfeited and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award will be returned to the Company and no shares of Common Stock or other consideration will be issued with respect to the forfeited Restricted Stock Unit.  If the Participant paid any purchase price with respect to such forfeited

 

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shares, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Incentive Award Agreement evidencing the Restricted Stock Award, the Company will refund to the Participant the lesser of (x) such purchase price and (y) the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of forfeiture.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Restricted Stock Awards may in the sole discretion of the Committee be granted without any restrictions or conditions.

 

8.4                                Rights as a Shareholder .  Except as provided in Sections 8.1, 8.5 and 8.6 of the Plan, upon a Participant becoming the holder of record of shares of Common Stock issued under a Restricted Stock Award pursuant to this Section 8, the Participant will have all voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights with respect to such shares (other than the right to sell or transfer such shares) as if such Participant were a holder of record of shares of unrestricted Common Stock.  A Participant will have no voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock underlying any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder unless and until the shares of Common Stock are issued under the terms thereof and the Participant becomes the holder of record of such shares.

 

8.5                                Dividends and Distributions .

 

(a)                                  Unless the Committee determines otherwise in its sole discretion (either in the Incentive Award Agreement evidencing the Restricted Stock Award at the time of grant or at any time after the grant of the Restricted Stock Award), any dividends or distributions paid with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to the unvested portion of a Restricted Stock Award will be subject to the same restrictions as the shares to which such dividends or distributions relate.  The Committee will determine in its sole discretion whether any interest will be paid on such dividends or distributions.

 

(b)                                  Unless the Committee determines otherwise in its sole discretion (either in the Incentive Award Agreement evidencing the Restricted Stock Unit at the time of grant or at any time after the grant of the Restricted Sock Unit), any Restricted Stock Unit shall carry with it a right to “dividend equivalents” (as defined in Section 12 of the Plan).

 

8.6                                Enforcement of Restrictions .  To enforce the restrictions referred to in this Section 8, the Committee may place a legend on the stock certificates or book-entry notation representing Restricted Stock Awards referring to such restrictions and may require the Participant, until the restrictions have lapsed, to keep any stock certificates, together with duly endorsed stock powers, in the custody of the Company or its transfer agent, or to maintain evidence of stock ownership, together with duly endorsed stock powers, in a certificateless book-entry stock account with the Company’s transfer agent.  Alternatively, Restricted Stock Awards may be held in non-certificated form pursuant to such terms and conditions as the Company may establish with its registrar and transfer agent or any third-party administrator designated by the Company to hold Restricted Stock Awards on behalf of Participants.

 

8.7                                Lapse of Restrictions; Settlement . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, shares of Common Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award will become freely transferable by the Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations).  Upon the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit, the Restricted Stock Unit will be settled, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Incentive Award Agreement, (a) in cash, based upon the Fair Market Value of the vested underlying shares of Common Stock, (b) in shares of Common Stock or (c) a combination thereof, as provided in the Incentive Award Agreement, except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer income that may be attributable to a Restricted Stock Unit under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.

 

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8.8                                Section 83(b) Election for Restricted Stock Award .  If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant must file, within thirty (30) days following the Grant Date of the Restricted Stock Award, a copy of such election with the Company and with the Internal Revenue Service, in accordance with the regulations under Section 83 of the Code.  The Committee may provide in the Incentive Award Agreement that the Restricted Stock Award is conditioned upon the Participant’s making or refraining from making an election with respect to the award under Section 83(b) of the Code.

 

9.                                       Performance Awards .

 

9.1                                Grant .  An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Performance Awards under the Plan, and such awards will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including the achievement of one or more specified performance objectives.

 

9.2                                Incentive Award Agreement . Each Performance Award will be evidenced by an Incentive Award Agreement that will specify the amount of cash, shares of Common Stock or combination of both to be received by the Participant upon payout of the Performance Award, any performance objectives upon which the Performance Award is subject, any performance period during which any such performance objectives must be achieved and such other provisions as the Committee will determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

 

9.3                                Vesting .  The Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, to the vesting of such Performance Awards as it deems appropriate, including the achievement of one or more specified performance objectives.

 

9.4                                Form and Timing of Performance Award Payment .  Subject to the terms of the Plan, after the applicable performance period has ended, the holder of Performance Awards will be entitled to receive payment on the value and number of Performance Awards earned by the Participant over the performance period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives have been achieved. Payment of earned Performance Awards will be as determined by the Committee and as evidenced in the Incentive Award Agreement.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Awards in the form of cash or in shares of Common Stock (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Awards at the close of the applicable performance period. Payment of any Performance Award will be made as soon as practicable after the Committee has determined the extent to which the applicable performance objectives have been achieved and not later than the March 15th immediately following the end of the performance period, or earlier than the January 1st preceding such March 15, except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer payment that may be attributable to a Performance Award under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.  The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payment of Performance Awards will be set forth in the Incentive Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the award.  Any shares of Common Stock issued in payment of earned Performance Awards may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, including that the Participant remain in the continuous employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary for a certain period.

 

10.                                Stock Bonuses .

 

An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Stock Bonuses under the Plan, and such Stock Bonuses will be subject to such terms and conditions, if any, consistent with the other provisions of the

 

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Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including the achievement of one or more specified performance objectives.

 

11.                                Other Stock-Based Awards .

 

11.1                         Other Stock-Based Awards .  Subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards not otherwise described by the terms of the Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted shares of Common Stock) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee will determine.  Such Incentive Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock to Participants or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock, and may include Incentive Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

 

11.2                         Value of Other Stock-Based Awards .  Each Other Stock-Based Award will be expressed in terms of shares of Common Stock or units based on shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Committee.  The Committee may establish performance objectives in its sole discretion for any Other Stock-Based Award.  If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance objectives for any such Incentive Awards, the number or value of Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the specified performance objectives are met.

 

11.3                         Payment of Other Stock-Based Awards .  Payment, if any, with respect to an Other Stock-Based Award will be made in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Award and in cash or shares of Common Stock, as the Committee determines, except to the extent that a Participant has properly elected to defer payment that may be attributable to an Other Stock-Based Award under a Company deferred compensation plan or arrangement.

 

12.                                Dividend Equivalents .

 

Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted dividend equivalents based on the dividends declared on shares of Common Stock that are subject to any Incentive Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the Grant Date of the Incentive Award and the date the Incentive Award is exercised, vests, is settled or expires, as determined by the Committee.  Such dividend equivalents will be converted to cash or additional shares of Common Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not grant dividend equivalents based on the dividends declared on shares of Common Stock that are subject to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right and further, no dividend or dividend equivalents will be paid out with respect to any unvested Incentive Awards, the vesting of which is based on the achievement of performance objectives.

 

13.                                Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Service .

 

13.1                         Termination Due to Death, Disability or Retirement .  Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Incentive Award Agreement, and subject to Sections 13.3, 13.4, 13.5 and 13.6 of the Plan, in the event a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of death, Disability or Retirement:

 

(a)                                  All outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights then held by the Participant will, to the extent exercisable as of such termination, remain exercisable in full for a period of one year after such termination (but in no event after the expiration date of any such

 

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Option or Stock Appreciation Right).  Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not exercisable as of such termination will be forfeited and terminate.

 

(b)                                  All Restricted Stock Awards then held by the Participant that have not vested as of such termination will be terminated and forfeited; and

 

(c)                                   All outstanding but unpaid Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards, Stock Bonuses and Other Stock-Based Awards then held by the Participant will be terminated and forfeited; provided, however, that with respect to any such Incentive Awards the vesting of which is based on the achievement of specified performance objectives, if a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, is terminated by reason of death or Disability prior to the end of the performance period of such Incentive Award, but after the conclusion of a portion of the performance period (but in no event less than one year), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cause shares of Common Stock to be delivered or payment made with respect to the Participant’s Incentive Award, but only if otherwise earned for the entire performance period and only with respect to the portion of the applicable performance period completed at the date of such event, with proration based on full fiscal years only and no shares to be delivered for partial fiscal years.  The Committee will consider the provisions of Sections 13.6 and 13.7 of the Plan and will have the discretion to consider any other fact or circumstance in making its decision as to whether to deliver such shares of Common Stock or other payment, including whether the Participant again becomes employed.

 

13.2                         Termination for Reasons Other than Death, Disability or Retirement .  Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Incentive Award Agreement, and subject to Sections 13.3, 13.4, 13.5 and 13.6 of the Plan, in the event a Participant’s employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated for any reason other than death, Disability or Retirement, or a Participant is in the employment or service with a Subsidiary and the Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company (unless the Participant continues in the employment or service with the Company or another Subsidiary):

 

(a)                                  All outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights then held by the Participant will, to the extent exercisable as of such termination, remain exercisable in full for a period of three months after such termination (but in no event after the expiration date of any such Option or Stock Appreciation Right).  Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not exercisable as of such termination will be forfeited and terminate;

 

(b)                                  All Restricted Stock Awards then held by the Participant that have not vested as of such termination will be terminated and forfeited; and

 

(c)                                   All outstanding but unpaid Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Awards, Stock Bonuses and Other Stock-Based Awards then held by the Participant will be terminated and forfeited.

 

13.3                         Modification of Rights Upon Termination .  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 13, upon a Participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries, the Committee may, in its sole discretion (which may be exercised at any time on or after the Grant Date, including following such termination), except as provided below, cause Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (or any part thereof) then held by such Participant to terminate, become or continue to become exercisable and/or remain exercisable following such termination of employment or service, and Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards, Stock Bonuses or Other Stock-

 

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Based Awards then held by such Participant to terminate, vest, settle or become free of restrictions and conditions to payment, as the case may be, following such termination of employment or service, in each case in the manner determined by the Committee; provided, however, that no Option or Stock Appreciation Right may remain exercisable beyond its expiration date and any such action adversely affecting any outstanding Incentive Award will not be effective without the consent of the affected Participant (subject to the right of the Committee to take whatever action it deems appropriate under Sections 4.3, 13.5, 13.6 and 15 of the Plan).

 

13.4                         Determination of Termination of Employment or Other Service .

 

(a)                                  The change in a Participant’s status from that of an Employee to that of a Consultant will, for purposes of the Plan, be deemed to result in a termination of such Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries, unless the Committee otherwise determines in its sole discretion.

 

(b)                                  The change in a Participant’s status from that of a Consultant to that of an Employee will not, for purposes of the Plan, be deemed to result in a termination of such Participant’s service as a Consultant, and such Participant will thereafter be deemed to be an Employee, in which event such Participant will be governed by the provisions of the Plan relating to termination of employment or service (subject to paragraph (a) above).

 

(c)                                   Unless the Committee otherwise determines in its sole discretion, a Participant’s employment or other service will, for purposes of the Plan, be deemed to have terminated on the date recorded on the personnel or other records of the Company or the Subsidiary for which the Participant provides employment or other service, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion based upon such records.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if payment of an Incentive Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code is triggered by a termination of a Participant’s employment or other service, such termination must also constitute a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and any change in employment status that constitutes a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code will be treated as a termination of employment or service, as the case may be.

 

13.5                         Effect of Actions Constituting Cause or Adverse Action .  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary and in addition to the other rights of the Committee under this Section 13, if a Participant is determined by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, to have taken any action that would constitute Cause or an Adverse Action during or after the termination of employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, irrespective of whether such action or the Committee’s determination occurs before or after termination of such Participant’s employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary and irrespective of whether or not the Participant was terminated as a result of such Cause or Adverse Action, (a) all rights of the Participant under the Plan and any Incentive Award Agreements evidencing an Incentive Award then held by the Participant will terminate and be forfeited without notice of any kind, and (b) the Committee in its sole discretion will have the authority to rescind the exercise, vesting, settlement or issuance of, or payment in respect of, any Incentive Awards of the Participant that were exercised, vested, settled or issued, or as to which such payment was made, and to require the Participant to pay to the Company, within ten (10) days of receipt from the Company of notice of such rescission, any amount received or the amount of any gain realized as a result of such rescinded exercise, vesting, settlement, issuance or payment (including any dividends paid or other distributions made with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to any Incentive Award).  The Company may

 

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defer the exercise of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right for a period of up to six (6) months after receipt of the Participant’s written notice of exercise or the issuance of share certificates upon the vesting of any Incentive Award for a period of up to six (6) months after the date of such vesting in order for the Committee to make any determination as to the existence of Cause or an Adverse Action.  The Company will be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to the Participant from the Company or a Subsidiary) or make other arrangements for the collection of all amounts necessary to satisfy such payment obligations.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an applicable Incentive Award Agreement, this Section 13.5 will not apply to any Participant following a Change in Control.

 

13.6                         Clawback/Forfeiture of Incentive Awards .  If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, then any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will reimburse the Company for the amount of any Incentive Award received by such individual under the Plan during the 12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.  All Incentive Awards under the Plan will be subject to forfeiture or other penalties pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any other clawback, forfeiture or recoupment provision required by applicable law or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which the Common Stock is then listed or traded.  In addition, all Incentive Awards under the Plan will be subject to any compensation “clawback,” forfeiture or recoupment policy that the Committee may adopt from time to time that is applicable by its terms to the Participant and such forfeiture and/or penalty conditions or provisions as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Incentive Award Agreement.

 

14.                                Payment of Withholding Taxes.

 

14.1                         General Rules .  The Company is entitled to (a) withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to the Participant from the Company or a Subsidiary), or make other arrangements for the collection of, an amount the Company reasonably determines to be the minimum statutory amount necessary to satisfy any and all federal, foreign, state and local withholding and employment-related tax requirements attributable to an Incentive Award, including, the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of, or payment of dividends with respect to, an Incentive Award or a disqualifying disposition of stock received upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option; (b) withhold cash paid or payable or shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with an Incentive Award; or (c) require the Participant promptly to remit the amount of such withholding to the Company before taking any action, including issuing any shares of Common Stock or paying any cash amounts, with respect to an Incentive Award.  Shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with an Incentive Award that gives rise to the tax withholding obligation that are withheld for purposes of satisfying the Participant’s withholding or employment-related tax obligation, will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the Tax Date.  When withholding for taxes is effected under the Plan, it will be withheld only up to the minimum required tax withholding rates or such other rate that will not trigger a negative accounting impact on the Company.

 

14.2                         Special Rules .  The Committee may, in its sole discretion and upon terms and conditions established by the Committee, permit or require a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, any withholding or employment-related tax obligation described in Section 14.1 of the Plan by withholding shares of Common Stock underlying an Incentive Award, by electing to tender, or by attestation as to

 

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ownership of, Previously Acquired Shares, by delivery of a Broker Exercise Notice or a combination of such methods.  For purposes of satisfying a Participant’s withholding or employment-related tax obligation, shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company or Previously Acquired Shares tendered or covered by an attestation will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the Tax Date.

 

15.                                Change in Control.

 

15.1                         A “ Change in Control ” will mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) the accumulation (if over time, in any consecutive twelve (12) month period), whether directly, indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of 50.1% or more of the shares of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer of shares of Common Stock (other than a merger or consolidation where the stockholders of the Company prior to the merger or consolidation are the holders of a majority of the voting securities of the entity that survives such merger or consolidation), (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (iii) during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, the individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control for the purposes of this Plan: (A) any acquisitions of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock directly from the Company or (B) any acquisition of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored by or maintained by the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control will only occur if such event constitutes a “Change in Control Event” as defined under Treasury Regulations issued under Code Section 409A.

 

15.2                         Acceleration of Vesting .  Without limiting the authority of the Committee under Sections 3.2 and 4.3 of the Plan, if a Change in Control of the Company occurs, then, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its sole discretion either in the Incentive Award Agreement at the time of grant or at any time after the grant of an Incentive Award:

 

(a)                                  all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will become immediately exercisable in full and will remain exercisable in accordance with their terms;

 

(b)                                  all restrictions and vesting requirements applicable to any Incentive Award based solely on the continued service of the Participant will terminate; and

 

(c)                                   all Incentive Awards the vesting or payment of which are based on specified performance objectives will vest as though such performance objectives were fully achieved at target and will become immediately payable; provided, however, that no Incentive Award that provides for a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code will be cashed out upon the occurrence of a Change in Control unless the event or circumstances constituting the Change in Control also constitute a “change in the ownership” of the Company, a “change in the effective control” of the Company or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company, in each case as determined under Section 409A of the Code.

 

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The treatment of any other Incentive Awards in the event of a Change in Control will be as determined by the Committee in connection with the grant thereof, as reflected in the applicable Incentive Award Agreement.

 

15.3                         Alternative Treatment of Incentive Awards .  In connection with a Change in Control, the Committee in its sole discretion, either in an Incentive Award Agreement at the time of grant of an Incentive Award or at any time after the grant of such an Incentive Award, may determine that any or all outstanding Incentive Awards granted under the Plan, whether or not exercisable or vested, as the case may be, will be canceled and terminated and that in connection with such cancellation and termination the holder of such Incentive Award will receive for each share of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Award a cash payment (or the delivery of shares of stock, other securities or a combination of cash, stock and securities with a fair market value (as determined by the Committee in good faith) equivalent to such cash payment) equal to the difference, if any, between the consideration received by stockholders of the Company in respect of a share of Common Stock in connection with such Change in Control and the purchase price per share, if any, under the Incentive Award, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Award (or in which such Incentive Award is denominated); provided that if such product is zero ($0) or less or to the extent that the Incentive Award is not then exercisable, the Incentive Award may be canceled and terminated without payment therefor; provided, however, that no Incentive Award that provides for a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code will be cashed out upon the occurrence of a Change in Control unless payment was specified in the Incentive Award Agreement at the time of grant and the event or circumstances constituting the Change in Control also constitute a “change in the ownership” of the Company, a “change in the effective control” of the Company or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company, in each case as determined under Section 409A of the Code.  If any portion of the consideration pursuant to a Change in Control may be received by holders of shares of Common Stock on a contingent or delayed basis, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine the fair market value per share of such consideration as of the time of the Change in Control on the basis of the Committee’s good faith estimate of the present value of the probable future payment of such consideration.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to an Incentive Award that immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Change in Control are subject to no further restrictions pursuant to the Plan or an Incentive Award Agreement (other than pursuant to the securities laws) will be deemed to be outstanding shares of Common Stock and receive the same consideration as other outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Change in Control

 

15.4                         Limitation on Change in Control Payments .  Notwithstanding anything in Section 15.2 or 15.3 of the Plan to the contrary, if, with respect to a Participant, the acceleration of the vesting of an Incentive Award as provided in Section 15.2 of the Plan or the payment of cash in exchange for all or part of an Incentive Award as provided in Section 15.3 of the Plan (which acceleration or payment could be deemed a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), together with any other “payments” that such Participant has the right to receive from the Company or any corporation that is a member of an “affiliated group” (as defined in Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to Section 1504(b) of the Code) of which the Company is a member, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the “payments” to such Participant pursuant to Section 15.2 or 15.3 of the Plan will be reduced (or acceleration of vesting eliminated) to the largest amount as will result in no portion of such “payments” being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided, that such reduction will be made only if the aggregate amount of the payments after such reduction exceeds the difference between (a) the amount of such payments absent such reduction minus (b) the aggregate amount of the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code attributable to any such excess parachute payments; and provided further that such payments will be reduced (or acceleration of vesting eliminated) in the following order:  (i) options with an exercise price above fair market value that

 

19



 

have a positive value for purposes of Section 280G of the Code, (ii) pro rata among Incentive Awards that constitute deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, and (iii) finally, among the Incentive Awards that are not subject to Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if a Participant is subject to a separate agreement with the Company or an Affiliate or Subsidiary that expressly addresses the potential application of Section 280G or 4999 of the Code, then this Section 15.4 will not apply and any “payments” to a Participant pursuant to Section 15.2 or 15.3 of the Plan will be treated as “payments” arising under such separate agreement.

 

16.                                Rights of Eligible Recipients and Participants; Transferability.

 

16.1                         Employment or Service .  Nothing in the Plan or an Incentive Award Agreement will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of any Eligible Recipient or Participant at any time, nor confer upon any Eligible Recipient or Participant any right to continue in the employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

16.2                         No Rights to Awards . No Participant or Eligible Individual will have any claim to be granted any Incentive Award under the Plan.

 

16.3                         Rights as a Stockholder .  As a holder of Incentive Awards (other than Restricted Stock Awards), a Participant will have no rights as a stockholder unless and until such Incentive Awards are exercised for, settled or paid in the form of, shares of Common Stock and the Participant becomes the holder of record of such shares.

 

16.4                         Restrictions on Transfer .

 

(a)                                  Except pursuant to testamentary will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise expressly permitted by subsections (b) and (c) below, no right or interest of any Participant in an Incentive Award prior to the exercise (in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) or vesting, settlement or issuance (in the case of other Incentive Awards) of such Incentive Award will be assignable or transferable, or subjected to any lien, during the lifetime of the Participant, either voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise.

 

(b)                                  A Participant will be entitled to designate a beneficiary to receive an Incentive Award upon such Participant’s death, and in the event of such Participant’s death, payment of any amounts due under the Plan will be made to, and exercise of any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan) may be made by, such beneficiary.  If a deceased Participant has failed to designate a beneficiary, or if a beneficiary designated by the Participant fails to survive the Participant, payment of any amounts due under the Plan will be made to, and exercise of any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan) may be made by, the Participant’s legal representatives, heirs and legatees.  If a deceased Participant has designated a beneficiary and such beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before complete payment of all amounts due under the Plan or exercise of all exercisable Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, then such payments will be made to, and the exercise of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be made by, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of the beneficiary.

 

(c)                                   Upon a Participant’s request, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit a transfer of all or a portion of a Non-Statutory Stock Option, other than for value, to such Participant’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse,

 

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sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, any person sharing such Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which any of the foregoing have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interests, a foundation in which any of the foregoing (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than 50% of the voting interests.  Any permitted transferee will remain subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to the Participant prior to the transfer.  A permitted transfer may be conditioned upon such requirements as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine, including, execution and/or delivery of appropriate acknowledgements, opinion of counsel, or other documents by the transferee.

 

16.5                         Non-Exclusivity of the Plan .  Nothing contained in the Plan is intended to modify or rescind any previously approved compensation plans or programs of the Company or create any limitations on the power or authority of the Board to adopt such additional or other compensation arrangements as the Board may deem necessary or desirable.

 

17.                                Securities Law and Other Restrictions.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Incentive Award Agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan, the obligation of the Company to issue any shares of Common Stock under the Plan or settle Incentive Awards in shares of Common Stock or other consideration will be subject to all applicable law, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Incentive Award Agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan, the Company will not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock under the Plan, and a Participant may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Incentive Awards granted under the Plan, unless (a) there is in effect with respect to such shares a registration statement under the Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of a state or foreign jurisdiction or an exemption from such registration under the Securities Act and applicable state or foreign securities laws, and (b) there has been obtained any other consent, approval or permit from any other U.S. or foreign regulatory body which the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable.  The Company will be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. The Company may condition such issuance, sale or transfer upon the receipt of any representations or agreements from the parties involved, and the placement of any legends on certificates representing shares of Common Stock, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the Company in order to comply with such securities law or other restrictions.

 

18.                                Deferred Compensation; Compliance with Section 409A .

 

It is intended that all Incentive Awards issued under the Plan be administered in a manner that will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, or the requirements of an exception to Section 409A of the Code and the Incentive Award Agreements and the Plan will be construed and administered in a manner that is consistent with and give effect to such intent.  The Committee is authorized to adopt rules or regulations deemed necessary or appropriate to qualify for an exception from or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (including any transition or grandfather rules relating thereto).  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 18 or Section 19 to the contrary, with respect to any Incentive Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, no amendment to or payment under such Incentive Award will be made except and only to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code.  If any amount is payable with respect to an Incentive Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code as a result of the Participant’s “separation from service” at such time the Participant is a “specified employee” within the

 

21



 

meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then no payment will be made, except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, prior to the first business day after the earlier of (i) the date that is six months after the Participant’s separation from service or (ii) the Participant’s death.

 

19.                                Amendment, Modification and Termination.

 

19.1                         Generally .  Subject to other subsections of this Section 19 and Section 3.4 of the Plan, the Board at any time may suspend or terminate the Plan (or any portion thereof) or terminate any outstanding Incentive Award and the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may amend the Plan or amend or modify the terms of an outstanding Incentive Award and Incentive Award Agreement.  The Committee’s power and authority to amend or modify the terms of an outstanding Incentive Award and Incentive Award Agreement includes the authority to modify the number of shares of Common Stock or other terms and conditions of an Incentive Award, extend the term of an Incentive Award, accelerate the exercisability or vesting or otherwise terminate any restrictions relating to an Incentive Award, accept the surrender of any outstanding Incentive Award or, to the extent not previously exercised, settled or vested, authorize the grant of new Incentive Awards in substitution for surrendered Incentive Awards; provided, however that the amended or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect and that any Participant adversely affected by such amended or modified terms has consented to such amendment or modification.

 

19.2                         Adjustment of Performance-Based Awards .  The Committee may amend or modify the vesting criteria (including any performance objectives or performance periods) of any outstanding Incentive Awards based in whole or in part on the financial performance of the Company (or any Subsidiary or division, business unit or other sub-unit thereof) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including the events described in Section 4.3(a) of the Plan) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable law, regulations or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.  The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, will be final, conclusive and binding on Participants under the Plan.

 

19.3                         Stockholder Approval .  No amendments to the Plan will be effective without approval of the Company’s stockholders if: (a) stockholder approval of the amendment is then required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code, the rules of the primary stock exchange or stock market on which the Common Stock is then traded, applicable U.S. state corporate laws or regulations, applicable U.S. federal laws or regulations, and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Incentive Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan; or (b) such amendment would: (i) modify Section 3.4 of the Plan; (ii) materially increase benefits accruing to Participants; (iii) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued or issuable under the Plan; (iv) increase any limitation set forth in the Plan on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued or the aggregate value of Incentive Awards which may be made, in respect of any type of Incentive Award; (v) modify the eligibility requirements for Participants in the Plan; or (vi) reduce the minimum exercise price as set forth in Sections 6.3 and 7.3 of the Plan.

 

19.4                         Incentive Awards Previously Granted .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no termination, suspension or amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any outstanding Incentive Award without the consent of the affected Participant; provided, however, that this sentence will not impair the right of the Committee to take whatever action it deems appropriate under Sections 3.2, 4.3, 13, 15, 18 or 19.5 of the Plan.

 

22



 

19.5                         Amendments to Conform to Law .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may amend the Plan or an Incentive Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or an Incentive Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature, and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.  By accepting an Incentive Award under the Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 19.5 to any Incentive Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.

 

20.                                Effective Date and Duration of the Plan.

 

The Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date and will terminate at midnight on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date, and may be terminated prior to such time by Board action.  No Incentive Award will be granted after termination of the Plan but Incentive Awards outstanding upon termination of the Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

21.                                Miscellaneous.

 

21.1                         Usage .  In the Plan, except where otherwise indicated by clear contrary intention, (a) any masculine term used in the Plan also will include the feminine, (b) the plural will include the singular, and the singular will include the plural, (c) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term, and (d) “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or”.

 

21.2                         Unfunded Plan .  Participants will have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company or its Subsidiaries may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under the Plan.  Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other individual.  To the extent that any individual acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Subsidiary under the Plan, such right will be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be.  All payments to be made hereunder will be paid from the general funds of the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, and no special or separate fund will be established and no segregation of assets will be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in the Plan.

 

21.3                         Relationship to Other Benefits . No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary unless provided otherwise in such plan.

 

21.4                         Fractional Shares .  No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued or delivered under the Plan or any Incentive Award. The Committee will determine whether cash, other Incentive Awards or other property will be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether such fractional shares of Common Stock or any rights thereto will be forfeited or otherwise eliminated by rounding up or down.

 

21.5                         No Representations or Warranties Regarding Tax Effect .  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Board and the Committee neither represent nor warrant the tax treatment under any federal, state, provincial, local, foreign or other laws of any Incentive Award granted or amounts paid to any Participant under this Plan, including when and to what extent such Incentive Award or amounts may be subject to tax, penalties and interest.

 

23



 

21.6                         Governing Law; Venue .  Except to the extent expressly provided in the Plan or in connection with other matters of corporate governance and authority (all of which will be governed by the laws of the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation), the validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan and any rules, regulations and actions relating to the Plan will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, notwithstanding the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdictions.  Unless otherwise provided in an Incentive Award Agreement, recipients of an Incentive Award under the Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of the State of Illinois to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or any related Incentive Award Agreement.

 

21.7                         Successors .  All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Incentive Awards granted hereunder will be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

 

21.8                         Construction .  Wherever possible, each provision of the Plan and any Incentive Award Agreement evidencing an Incentive Award granted under the Plan will be interpreted so that it is valid under the applicable law.  If any provision of the Plan or any Incentive Award Agreement evidencing an Incentive Award granted under the Plan is to any extent invalid under the applicable law, that provision will still be effective to the extent it remains valid.  The remainder of the Plan and the Incentive Award Agreement also will continue to be valid, and the entire Plan and Incentive Award Agreement will continue to be valid in other jurisdictions.

 

21.9                         Delivery and Execution of Electronic Documents .  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may:  (a) deliver by email or other electronic means (including posting on a Web site maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company) all documents relating to the Plan or any Incentive Award hereunder (including prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including annual reports and proxy statements), and (b) permit Participants to use electronic, internet or other non-paper means to execute applicable Plan documents (including Incentive Award Agreements) and take other actions under the Plan in a manner prescribed by the Committee.

 

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EXHIBIT 10.3

 

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into and effective as of [                   ] (the “ Grant Date ”) by and between RestorGenex Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [                    ] (“ Optionee ”).

 

A.                                     The Company has adopted the RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (as such plan may be amended from time to time, the “ Plan ”) authorizing the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of the Company, or a committee as provided for in the Plan (the Board or such a committee to be referred to as the “ Committee ”), to grant stock options, among other incentive awards, to certain individuals.

 

B.                                     The Company desires to grant an incentive stock option to purchase shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) to Optionee pursuant to the Plan.

 

C.                                     All of the capitalized terms used in this Agreement not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the same respective meanings as defined in the Plan.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter set forth, the Company and Optionee agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Grant of Option; Exercise Price .  The Company hereby grants to Optionee, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, and effective as of the Grant Date, an option (the “ Option ”) to purchase all or any portion of [              ] shares (the “ Option Shares ”) of the Company’s Common Stock, at an exercise price of $[       ] per share, which represents 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date, as determined in accordance with the Plan (such exercise price, as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement and Section 4.3 of the Plan, the “ Exercise Price ”).  The Option is intended to be an “incentive stock option,” as that term is used in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”).

 

2.                                       Vesting .  The Option shall vest and become exercisable in [12 quarterly/                        ] equal (or as nearly equal as possible) installments on [the last calendar day of each calendar quarter/              ] over a [three-year/        ] period, beginning on [              ].  [Optionee shall receive a full quarter of vesting for the [         ] calendar quarter of [     ].]

 

[OR, IN THE CASE OF PERFORMANCE-BASED VESTING]

 

[The Option shall vest and become exercisable [                      ]].

 

3.                                       Exercise of Option .

 

3.1.                             Notice; Payment .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including vesting of the Option in Section 2 of this Agreement and termination of

 



 

the Option in Section 4 of this Agreement, and the Plan, the Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, by delivery to the Company of written notice of the exercise of the Option, in substantially the form as provided by the Company, stating the number of Option Shares being purchased (the “ Purchased Shares ”), and accompanied by payment in full of the total aggregate Exercise Price of the Purchased Shares.  The Exercise Price shall be payable in full in any one of the following alternative forms:

 

(a)                                  Full payment in cash, personal check or certified bank or cashier’s check;

 

(b)                                  Any broker assisted cashless exercise procedure which is acceptable to the Company; or

 

(c)                                   Cashless net exercise.

 

Upon a cashless net exercise, Optionee shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock equal to a number (as determined below) of shares of Common Stock computed using the following formula:

 

 

X

=

 

 

Y – [

(A)(Y)

]

 

 

B

 

 

 

 

 

Where

X

=

 

the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to Optionee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Y

=

 

the number of Purchased Shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

=

 

the Exercise Price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

B

=

 

the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of exercise.

 

3.2.                             Issuance of Purchased Shares; No Fractional Shares .  Following receipt of the exercise notice and the payment referred to above, the Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, cause certificates (or book-entry notations) representing the Purchased Shares (or such fewer number of Purchased Shares if a cashless net exercise is used) to be delivered to Optionee either at Optionee’s address set forth in the records of the Company or at such other address as Optionee may designate in writing to the Company or issue and deposit the Purchased Shares for Optionee’s benefit with any broker with which Optionee has an account relationship or the Company has engaged to provide such services under the Plan; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to issue a fraction or fractions of a share otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, and may pay to Optionee, in cash or cash equivalent, the Fair Market Value of any such fraction or fractions of a share as of the date of exercise. If requested by the Company in connection with any exercise of the Option, Optionee shall also deliver this Agreement to the Company, which shall endorse hereon a notation of the exercise and, and if the Option is exercised in part, shall return this Agreement to Optionee.  The date of exercise of an Option that is validly exercised shall be deemed to be the date on which there shall have been delivered to the Company the notice referred to in Section 3.1 of this

 

2



 

Agreement and full payment of the Exercise Price of the Purchased Shares.  Optionee shall not be deemed to be a holder of any Purchased Shares pursuant to exercise of the Option until the date of issuance of a stock certificate or book-entry notation to Optionee for such shares following payment in full for the Purchased Shares.

 

3.3.                             Tax Withholding .  The Company is entitled to (a) withhold and deduct from future wages of Optionee (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to Optionee from the Company or a Subsidiary), or make other arrangements for the collection of, all amounts the Company reasonably determines are necessary to satisfy any and all federal, foreign, state and local withholding and employment related tax requirements attributable to the Option, including, without limitation, the grant, exercise or vesting of, the Option; (b) withhold cash paid or payable or shares of Common Stock from the shares issued or otherwise issuable to Optionee in connection with the Option; or (c) require Optionee promptly to remit the amount of such withholding to the Company before taking any action, including issuing any shares of Common Stock, with respect to the Option.  Shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to Optionee in connection with the Option that gives rise to the tax withholding obligation that are withheld for purposes of satisfying Optionee’s withholding or employment-related tax obligation will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the Tax Date.

 

3.4.                             Remaining Option Shares .  Option Shares will no longer be outstanding under the Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of the Option to the extent of (a) shares used to pay the Exercise Price of an Option under the “cashless net exercise” method (b) shares actually delivered to Optionee as a result of such exercise and (c) any shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding.

 

4.                                       Termination of Option .

 

4.1.                             Time of Termination .  Except as provided in this Section 4 and Section 5 of this Agreement, the Option shall terminate, no longer be exercisable and expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on [                  ] (the “ Time of Termination ”).

 

4.2.                             Termination for Cause .  In the event Optionee’s employment with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Option will immediately terminate without notice of any kind, and the Option will no longer be exercisable.

 

4.3.                             Termination Due to Death, Disability or Retirement .  In the event Optionee’s employment with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of Optionee’s death, Disability or Retirement, the Option will remain exercisable, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such termination, for a period of one (1) year after such termination (but in no event after the Time of Termination).

 

4.4.                             Termination for Other Reasons .  In the event Optionee’s employment with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated for any other reason, the Option will, to the extent exercisable as of such termination, remain exercisable for a period of three (3) months after such termination (but in no event after the Time of Termination).

 

4.5.                             Effect of Actions Constituting Cause or Adverse Action .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary and in addition to the rights of the Committee under

 

3



 

Sections 13.5 and 13. 6 of the Plan, if Optionee is determined by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, to have taken any action that would constitute Cause or an Adverse Action during or after the termination of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, irrespective of whether such action or the Committee’s determination occurs before or after termination of Optionee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary and irrespective of whether or not Optionee was terminated as a result of such Cause or Adverse Action, (a) all rights of Optionee under the Option and this Agreement will terminate and be forfeited without notice of any kind, and (b) the Committee in its sole discretion will have the authority to rescind the exercise, vesting, settlement or issuance of, or payment in respect of, the Option that was exercised, vested, settled or issued, or as to which such payment was made, and to require Optionee to pay to the Company, within ten (10) days of receipt from the Company of notice of such rescission, any amount received or the amount of any gain realized as a result of such rescinded exercise, vesting, settlement, issuance or payment (including any dividends paid or other distributions made with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to the Option).  The Company may defer the exercise of the Option for a period of up to six (6) months after receipt of Optionee’s written notice of exercise or the issuance of Purchased Shares upon the vesting of the Option for a period of up to six (6) months after the date of such vesting in order for the Committee to make any determination as to the existence of Cause or an Adverse Action.  The Company will be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of Optionee (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to Optionee from the Company or a Subsidiary) or make other arrangements for the collection of all amounts necessary to satisfy such payment obligations.  This Section 4.5 will not apply to the Option following a Change in Control.

 

4.6.                             Clawback/Forfeiture .  The Option and Option Shares issued or issuable pursuant to the Option are subject to forfeiture or clawback by the Company to the extent required and allowed by law, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and any implementing rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and pursuant to any forfeiture, clawback or similar policy of the Company, as such laws, rules, regulations and policy may be in effect from time to time.

 

5.                                       Adjustments .  In the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, divestiture or extraordinary dividend (including a spin-off), or any other similar change in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation), will make appropriate adjustment (which determination will be conclusive) as to the number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) subject to, and the Exercise Price of, the Option in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Optionee.

 

6.                                       Change in Control .  The Option shall become immediately vested and exercisable upon completion of a Change in Control and remain exercisable through the Time of Termination regardless of whether Optionee remains in the employment of the Company.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion, at any time after the grant of the Option, may take whatever action it deems appropriate pursuant to Section 15.3 of the Plan.

 

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7.                                       Rights as a Stockholder .  Optionee will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until all conditions to the effective exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement) have been satisfied and Optionee has become the holder of record of such shares.  No adjustment will be made for dividends or distributions with respect to the Option as to which there is a record date preceding the date Optionee becomes the holder of record of such shares, except as may otherwise be provided in the Plan or determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

8.                                       Restrictions on Transfer .  Except pursuant to testamentary will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise expressly permitted by the Plan, no right or interest of Optionee in the Option prior to exercise may be assigned or transferred, or subjected to any lien, during the lifetime of Optionee, either voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise.  Optionee, however, will be entitled to designate a beneficiary to receive the Option upon Optionee’s death, and, in the event of Optionee’s death, exercise of the Option (to the extent permitted pursuant to Sections 2 and 4 of this Agreement) may be made by Optionee’s legal representatives, heirs and legatees.

 

9.                                       Market Stand-off .  Optionee, if so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters in connection with a firmly underwritten public offering of securities by the Company pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act following the date of this Agreement, shall not sell or otherwise transfer any Option Shares during the 180-day period following the effective date of such registration statement.  The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of such 180-day period.  This Section 9 will not apply to the sale of any Option Shares to an underwriter pursuant to an underwriting agreement and shall only be applicable to Optionee if all then current executive officers and directors of the Company enter into similar agreements.

 

10.                                Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of Optionee at any time, nor confer upon Optionee any right to continue in the employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

11.                                Option Subject to Plan .  The Option and the Option Shares granted and issued pursuant to this Agreement have been granted and issued under, and are subject to the terms of, the Plan.  The terms of the Plan are incorporated by reference in this Agreement in their entirety, and Optionee, by execution of this Agreement, acknowledges having received a copy of the Plan.  The provisions of this Agreement will be interpreted as to be consistent with the Plan, and any ambiguities in this Agreement will be interpreted by reference to the Plan.  In the event that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan will prevail.  All of the capitalized terms used in this Agreement not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the same respective meanings as defined in the Plan.

 

12.                                Incentive Stock Option Limitations .

 

12.1.                      Limitation on Amount .  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which

 

5



 

incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under the Plan and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company or any subsidiary or parent corporation of the Company (within the meaning of the Code)) exceeds $100,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed by the Code from time to time), such excess incentive stock options will be treated as non-statutory stock options in the manner set forth in the Plan.

 

12.2.                      Limitation on Exercisability; Disposition of Option Shares .  Any incentive stock option that remains unexercised more than one year following termination of employment by reason of death or disability or more than three months following termination for any reason other than death or disability will thereafter be deemed to be a non-statutory stock option.  In addition, in the event that a disposition (as defined in Section 424(c) of the Code) of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option occurs prior to the expiration of two years after its date of grant or the expiration of one year after its date of exercise (a “disqualifying disposition”), such incentive stock option will, to the extent of such disqualifying disposition, be treated in a manner similar to a non-statutory stock option.

 

12.3.                      No Representation or Warranty .  Section 422 of the Code and the rules and regulations thereunder are complex, and neither the Plan nor this Agreement purports to summarize or otherwise set forth all of the conditions that need to be satisfied in order for this Option to qualify as an incentive stock option.  In addition, this Option may contain terms and conditions that allow for exercise of this Option beyond the periods permitted by Section 422 of the Code, including, without limitation, the periods described in Sections 2 and 4 of this Agreement.  Accordingly, the Company makes no representation or warranty regarding whether the exercise of this Option will qualify as the exercise of an incentive stock option, and the Company recommends that the Optionee consult with the Optionee’s own advisors before making any determination regarding the exercise of this Option or the sale of the Option Shares.

 

13.                                General Provisions .

 

13.1.                      Governing Law; Venue .  This Agreement and all rights and obligations under this Agreement will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, notwithstanding the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdictions.  By acceptance of the Option, Optionee is deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of the State of Illinois to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Option or this Agreement.

 

13.2.                      Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the grant and exercise of the Option and the administration of the Plan and supersede all prior agreements, arrangements, plans and understandings relating to the grant and exercise of the Option and the administration of the Plan.

 

13.3.                      Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver .  The failure of the Company or Optionee to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

 

6



 

13.4.                      Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications (collectively, “ Notices ”) given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be delivered by personal service, courier, facsimile transmission, email transmission of a pdf format data file or by United States first class, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the party at the address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement.  Any Notice, other than a Notice sent by registered or certified mail, shall be effective when received; a Notice sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid return receipt requested, shall be effective on the earlier of when received or the third day following deposit in the United States mails.  Any party may from time to time change its address for further Notices hereunder by giving notice to the other party in the manner prescribed in this Section 13.5.

 

13.5.                      Successors and Assigns .  Except to the extent specifically limited by the terms and provision of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives.

 

13.6.                      Execution .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.  In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by email delivery of a “pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

13.7.                      Titles, Captions and Sections .  Titles and captions contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.  References to Sections in this Agreement refer to Sections of this Agreement unless otherwise stated.

 

13.8.                      Nature of the Grant .  In accepting the Option and by execution of this Agreement, Optionee acknowledges that:

 

(a)                                  The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company in its sole discretion at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan.

 

(b)                                  The grant of the Option is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future Option grants, or benefits in lieu of Option grants, even if Option grants have been granted repeatedly in the past.

 

(c)                                   All decisions with respect to future Option grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Optionee is voluntarily participating in the Plan.

 

(e)                                   The Option grant is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation,

 

7



 

termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments and in no event shall be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company.

 

(f)                                    In the event that Optionee is not an employee of the Company, the Option will not be interpreted to form an employment contract or relationship with the Company.

 

(g)                                   The future value of the Common Stock is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty and if the Option vests and Optionee exercises the Option in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and is issued Purchased Shares, the value of those shares may increase or decrease.

 

(h)                                  In consideration of the grant of the Option, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Option or diminution in value of the Option or Purchased Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option resulting from termination of Optionee’s employment or service by the Company (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and Optionee irrevocably releases the Company and its Subsidiaries, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by acceptance of the Option and execution of this Agreement, Optionee shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her entitlement to pursue such claim.

 

(i)                                      The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Optionee’s participation in the Plan, or Optionee’s purchase or sale of the underlying Option Shares.

 

(j)                                     Optionee is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan or the Option.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

 

8



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement effective as of the Grant Date.

 

OPTIONEE:

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

[Signature]

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

Address:

2150 East Lake Cook Road, Suite 750

 

 

Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

 

 

By execution of this Agreement, Optionee acknowledges having received a copy of the Plan.

 

 

9


EXHIBIT 10.4

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into and effective as of [                   ] (the “ Grant Date ”) by and between RestorGenex Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [                    ] (“ Optionee ”).

 

A.                                     The Company has adopted the RestorGenex Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (as such plan may be amended from time to time, the “ Plan ”) authorizing the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of the Company, or a committee as provided for in the Plan (the Board or such a committee to be referred to as the “ Committee ”), to grant stock options, among other incentive awards, to certain individuals.

 

B.                                     The Company desires to grant an option to purchase shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) to Optionee pursuant to the Plan.

 

C.                                     All of the capitalized terms used in this Agreement not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the same respective meanings as defined in the Plan.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter set forth, the Company and Optionee agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Grant of Option; Exercise Price .  The Company hereby grants to Optionee, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, and effective as of the Grant Date, an option (the “ Option ”) to purchase all or any portion of [              ] shares (the “ Option Shares ”) of the Company’s Common Stock, at an exercise price of $[       ] per share, which represents 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date, as determined in accordance with the Plan (such exercise price, as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement and Section 4.3 of the Plan, the “ Exercise Price ”).  The Option is not intended to be an “incentive stock option,” as that term is used in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”).

 

2.                                       Vesting .  The Option shall vest and become exercisable in [12 quarterly/                        ] equal (or as nearly equal as possible) installments on [the last calendar day of each calendar quarter/              ] over a [three-year/        ] period, beginning on [              ].  [Optionee shall receive a full quarter of vesting for the [         ] calendar quarter of [     ].]

 

[OR, IN THE CASE OF PERFORMANCE-BASED VESTING]

 

[The Option shall vest and become exercisable [                      ]].

 

3.                                       Exercise of Option .

 

3.1.                             Notice; Payment .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including vesting of the Option in Section 2 of this Agreement and termination of the Option in Section 4 of this Agreement, and the Plan, the Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, by delivery to the Company of written notice of the

 



 

exercise of the Option, in substantially the form as provided by the Company, stating the number of Option Shares being purchased (the “ Purchased Shares ”), and accompanied by payment in full of the total aggregate Exercise Price of the Purchased Shares.  The Exercise Price shall be payable in full in any one of the following alternative forms:

 

(a)                                  Full payment in cash, personal check or certified bank or cashier’s check;

 

(b)                                  Any broker assisted cashless exercise procedure which is acceptable to the Company; or

 

(c)                                   Cashless net exercise.

 

Upon a cashless net exercise, Optionee shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock equal to a number (as determined below) of shares of Common Stock computed using the following formula:

 

 

X

=

 

 

Y – [

(A)(Y)

]

 

 

B

 

 

 

 

 

Where

X

=

 

the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to Optionee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Y

=

 

the number of Purchased Shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

=

 

the Exercise Price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

B

=

 

the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of exercise.

 

3.2.                             Issuance of Purchased Shares; No Fractional Shares .  Following receipt of the exercise notice and the payment referred to above, the Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, cause certificates (or book-entry notations) representing the Purchased Shares (or such fewer number of Purchased Shares if a cashless net exercise is used) to be delivered to Optionee either at Optionee’s address set forth in the records of the Company or at such other address as Optionee may designate in writing to the Company or issue and deposit the Purchased Shares for Optionee’s benefit with any broker with which Optionee has an account relationship or the Company has engaged to provide such services under the Plan; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to issue a fraction or fractions of a share otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, and may pay to Optionee, in cash or cash equivalent, the Fair Market Value of any such fraction or fractions of a share as of the date of exercise. If requested by the Company in connection with any exercise of the Option, Optionee shall also deliver this Agreement to the Company, which shall endorse hereon a notation of the exercise and, and if the Option is exercised in part, shall return this Agreement to Optionee.  The date of exercise of an Option that is validly exercised shall be deemed to be the date on which there shall have been delivered to the Company the notice referred to in Section 3.1 of this Agreement and full payment of the Exercise Price of the Purchased Shares.  Optionee shall not be deemed to be a holder of any Purchased Shares pursuant to exercise of the Option until the

 

2



 

date of issuance of a stock certificate or book-entry notation to Optionee for such shares following payment in full for the Purchased Shares.

 

3.3.                             Tax Withholding .  The Company is entitled to (a) withhold and deduct from future wages of Optionee (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to Optionee from the Company or a Subsidiary), or make other arrangements for the collection of, all amounts the Company reasonably determines are necessary to satisfy any and all federal, foreign, state and local withholding and employment related tax requirements attributable to the Option, including, without limitation, the grant, exercise or vesting of, the Option; (b) withhold cash paid or payable or shares of Common Stock from the shares issued or otherwise issuable to Optionee in connection with the Option; or (c) require Optionee promptly to remit the amount of such withholding to the Company before taking any action, including issuing any shares of Common Stock, with respect to the Option.  Shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to Optionee in connection with the Option that gives rise to the tax withholding obligation that are withheld for purposes of satisfying Optionee’s withholding or employment-related tax obligation will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the Tax Date.

 

3.4.                             Remaining Option Shares .  Option Shares will no longer be outstanding under the Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of the Option to the extent of (a) shares used to pay the Exercise Price of an Option under the “cashless net exercise” method (b) shares actually delivered to Optionee as a result of such exercise and (c) any shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding.

 

4.                                       Termination of Option .

 

4.1.                             Time of Termination .  Except as provided in this Section 4 and Section 5 of this Agreement, the Option shall terminate, no longer be exercisable and expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on [                  ] (the “ Time of Termination ”).

 

4.2.                             Termination for Cause .  In the event Optionee’s employment (in the event that Optionee is an Employee) or other service (in the event that Optionee is a Consultant) with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Option will immediately terminate without notice of any kind, and the Option will no longer be exercisable.

 

4.3.                             Termination Due to Death, Disability or Retirement .  In the event Optionee’s employment (in the event that Optionee is an Employee) or other service (in the event that Optionee is a Consultant) with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of Optionee’s death, Disability or Retirement, the Option will remain exercisable, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such termination, for a period of one (1) year after such termination (but in no event after the Time of Termination).

 

4.4.                             Termination for Other Reasons .  In the event Optionee’s employment (in the event that Optionee is an Employee) or other service (in the event that Optionee is a Consultant)  with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated for any other reason, the Option will, to the extent exercisable as of such termination, remain exercisable for a period of three (3) months after such termination (but in no event after the Time of Termination).

 

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4.5.                             Effect of Actions Constituting Cause or Adverse Action .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary and in addition to the rights of the Committee under Sections 13.5 and 13.6 of the Plan, if Optionee is determined by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, to have taken any action that would constitute Cause or an Adverse Action during or after the termination of employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, irrespective of whether such action or the Committee’s determination occurs before or after termination of Optionee’s employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary and irrespective of whether or not Optionee was terminated as a result of such Cause or Adverse Action, (a) all rights of Optionee under the Option and this Agreement will terminate and be forfeited without notice of any kind, and (b) the Committee in its sole discretion will have the authority to rescind the exercise, vesting, settlement or issuance of, or payment in respect of, the Option that was exercised, vested, settled or issued, or as to which such payment was made, and to require Optionee to pay to the Company, within ten (10) days of receipt from the Company of notice of such rescission, any amount received or the amount of any gain realized as a result of such rescinded exercise, vesting, settlement, issuance or payment (including any dividends paid or other distributions made with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to the Option).  The Company may defer the exercise of the Option for a period of up to six (6) months after receipt of Optionee’s written notice of exercise or the issuance of Purchased Shares upon the vesting of the Option for a period of up to six (6) months after the date of such vesting in order for the Committee to make any determination as to the existence of Cause or an Adverse Action.  The Company will be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of Optionee (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to Optionee from the Company or a Subsidiary) or make other arrangements for the collection of all amounts necessary to satisfy such payment obligations.  This Section 4.5 will not apply to the Option following a Change in Control.

 

4.6.                             Clawback/Forfeiture .  The Option and Option Shares issued or issuable pursuant to the Option are subject to forfeiture or clawback by the Company to the extent required and allowed by law, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and any implementing rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and pursuant to any forfeiture, clawback or similar policy of the Company, as such laws, rules, regulations and policy may be in effect from time to time.

 

5.                                       Adjustments .  In the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, divestiture or extraordinary dividend (including a spin-off), or any other similar change in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation), will make appropriate adjustment (which determination will be conclusive) as to the number and kind of securities or other property (including cash) subject to, and the Exercise Price of, the Option in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Optionee.

 

6.                                       Change in Control .  The Option shall become immediately vested and exercisable upon completion of a Change in Control and remain exercisable through the Time of Termination regardless of whether Optionee remains in the employment or service of the Company.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion, at any time after the grant of the Option, may take whatever action it deems appropriate pursuant to Section 15.3 of the Plan.

 

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7.                                       Rights as a Stockholder .  Optionee will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until all conditions to the effective exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement) have been satisfied and Optionee has become the holder of record of such shares.  No adjustment will be made for dividends or distributions with respect to the Option as to which there is a record date preceding the date Optionee becomes the holder of record of such shares, except as may otherwise be provided in the Plan or determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

8.                                       Restrictions on Transfer .  Except pursuant to testamentary will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise expressly permitted by the Plan, no right or interest of Optionee in the Option prior to exercise may be assigned or transferred, or subjected to any lien, during the lifetime of Optionee, either voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise.  Optionee, however, will be entitled to designate a beneficiary to receive the Option upon Optionee’s death, and, in the event of Optionee’s death, exercise of the Option (to the extent permitted pursuant to Sections 2 and 4 of this Agreement) may be made by Optionee’s legal representatives, heirs and legatees.

 

9.                                       Market Stand-off .  Optionee, if so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters in connection with a firmly underwritten public offering of securities by the Company pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act following the date of this Agreement, shall not sell or otherwise transfer any Option Shares during the 180-day period following the effective date of such registration statement.  The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of such 180-day period.  This Section 9 will not apply to the sale of any Option Shares to an underwriter pursuant to an underwriting agreement and shall only be applicable to Optionee if all then current executive officers and directors of the Company enter into similar agreements.

 

10.                                Employment or Service .  Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of Optionee at any time, nor confer upon Optionee any right to continue in the employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

11.                                Option Subject to Plan .  The Option and the Option Shares granted and issued pursuant to this Agreement have been granted and issued under, and are subject to the terms of, the Plan.  The terms of the Plan are incorporated by reference in this Agreement in their entirety, and Optionee, by execution of this Agreement, acknowledges having received a copy of the Plan.  The provisions of this Agreement will be interpreted as to be consistent with the Plan, and any ambiguities in this Agreement will be interpreted by reference to the Plan.  In the event that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan will prevail.  All of the capitalized terms used in this Agreement not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the same respective meanings as defined in the Plan.

 

12.                                General Provisions .

 

12.1.                      Governing Law; Venue .  This Agreement and all rights and obligations under this Agreement will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws

 

5



 

of the State of Delaware, notwithstanding the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdictions.  By acceptance of the Option, Optionee is deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of the State of Illinois to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Option or this Agreement.

 

12.2.                      Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the grant and exercise of the Option and the administration of the Plan and supersede all prior agreements, arrangements, plans and understandings relating to the grant and exercise of the Option and the administration of the Plan.

 

12.3.                      Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver .  The failure of the Company or Optionee to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

 

12.4.                      Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications (collectively, “ Notices ”) given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be delivered by personal service, courier, facsimile transmission, email transmission of a pdf format data file or by United States first class, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the party at the address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement.  Any Notice, other than a Notice sent by registered or certified mail, shall be effective when received; a Notice sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid return receipt requested, shall be effective on the earlier of when received or the third day following deposit in the United States mails.  Any party may from time to time change its address for further Notices hereunder by giving notice to the other party in the manner prescribed in this Section 12.5.

 

12.5.                      Successors and Assigns .  Except to the extent specifically limited by the terms and provision of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives.

 

12.6.                      Execution .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.  In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by email delivery of a “pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

12.7.                      Titles, Captions and Sections .  Titles and captions contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.  References to Sections in this Agreement refer to Sections of this Agreement unless otherwise stated.

 

12.8.                      Nature of the Grant .  In accepting the Option and by execution of this Agreement, Optionee acknowledges that:

 

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(a)                                  The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company in its sole discretion at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan.

 

(b)                                  The grant of the Option is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future Option grants, or benefits in lieu of Option grants, even if Option grants have been granted repeatedly in the past.

 

(c)                                   All decisions with respect to future Option grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Optionee is voluntarily participating in the Plan.

 

(e)                                   The Option grant is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments and in no event shall be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company.

 

(f)                                    In the event that Optionee is not an employee of the Company, the Option will not be interpreted to form an employment contract or relationship with the Company.

 

(g)                                   The future value of the Common Stock is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty and if the Option vests and Optionee exercises the Option in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and is issued Purchased Shares, the value of those shares may increase or decrease.

 

(h)                                  In consideration of the grant of the Option, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Option or diminution in value of the Option or Purchased Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option resulting from termination of Optionee’s employment or service by the Company (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and Optionee irrevocably releases the Company and its Subsidiaries, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by acceptance of the Option and execution of this Agreement, Optionee shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her entitlement to pursue such claim.

 

(i)                                      The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Optionee’s participation in the Plan, or Optionee’s purchase or sale of the underlying Option Shares.

 

(j)                                     Optionee is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan or the Option.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement effective as of the Grant Date.

 

OPTIONEE:

RESTORGENEX CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

[Signature]

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

Address:

2150 East Lake Cook Road, Suite 750

 

 

Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

 

 

By execution of this Agreement, Optionee acknowledges having received a copy of the Plan.

 

 

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