As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 2024

Registration No. 333-  

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Oklo Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware   86-2292473
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

3190 Coronado Dr.

Santa Clara, CA 95054

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Oklo Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan

Oklo Inc. 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Oklo Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

 

R. Craig Bealmear

Chief Financial Officer

3190 Coronado Dr.

Santa Clara, CA 95054

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(650) 550-0127

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Ryan J. Maierson

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, TX 77002

(713) 546-5400

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
       
Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company x
       
    Emerging growth company x

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

 

The information called for by Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) in accordance with Rule 428 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the instructions to Form S-8. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of the Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants in the incentive award plan and employee stock purchase plan, in each case, covered by the Registration Statement as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

 

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

References in the Registration Statement to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and the “Registrant,” or similar references, refer to Oklo Inc. (formerly known as AltC Acquisition Corp.), unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents, which have been filed by the Company (including under the name AltC Acquisition Corp.), with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated by reference in, and shall be deemed to be a part of, the Registration Statement:

 

(a) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2024 (File No. 001-40583);

 

(b) the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 filed with the Commission on May 8, 2024 (File No. 001-40583);
   
(c) the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 8, 2024, May 9, 2024, May 13, 2024 (which contains the audited financial statements for Oklo Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for the latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed) and May 16, 2024 (in each case excluding information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01) (File No. 001-40583); and

 

(d)

the description of the Company’s securities contained in the section titled “Description of Securities” beginning on page 309 of the Company’s definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation filed by the Company with the Commission on April 26, 2024, as well as any additional amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment, which indicates that all securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents or reports.

 

For purposes of the Registration Statement, any document or any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a subsequently filed document or a statement contained therein, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such document or such statement in such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement.

 

Under no circumstances shall any information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K be deemed incorporated herein by reference unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable. 

 

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

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

 

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom. We will also, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or any other applicable law, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any Indemnitee in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding will be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay all amounts advanced if it is determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under the bylaws or otherwise. Our obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

 

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers. These indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and officers for some expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or officer in any action or proceeding arising out of his or her service as one of our directors or officers, or any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.

 

 

 

 

We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

The following documents are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement:

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Exhibit
     
4.1   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Oklo Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 13, 2024).
     
4.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Oklo Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 13, 2024).
     
5.1*   Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
     
23.1*   Consent of Marcum LLP.
     
23.2*   Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
     
24.1*   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration Statement).
     
99.1*   Oklo Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.
     
99.2*   Oklo Inc. 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
     
99.3*   Oklo Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan and forms of equity agreements thereunder.
     
99.4*   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under Oklo Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.
     
107*   Filing Fee Table.

 

* Filed herewith.

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:

 

    (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement:

 

      (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

 

 

 

      (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

      (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
     
    provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

 

    (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

    (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b) The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Santa Clara, California, on July 9, 2024.

 

OKLO INC.  
     
By: /s/ R. Craig Bealmear  
  Name: R. Craig Bealmear  
  Title: Chief Financial Officer  

 

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Jacob DeWitte, R. Craig Bealmear and Caroline Cochran acting alone or together with another attorney-in-fact, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities held on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Jacob DeWitte   Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Director   July 9, 2024
Jacob DeWitte   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ R. Craig Bealmear   Chief Financial Officer   July 9, 2024
R. Craig Bealmear   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Caroline Cochran   Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer and Director   July 9, 2024
Caroline Cochran        
         
/s/ Samuel Altman   Director and Chairman   July 9, 2024
Sam Altman        
         
/s/ Lieutenant General (Ret.) John M. Jansen   Director   July 9, 2024
Lieutenant General (Ret.) John M. Jansen        
         
/s/ Richard W. Kinzley   Director   July 9, 2024
Richard W. Kinzley        
         
/s/ Michael Klein     Director   July 9, 2024
Michael Klein        
         
/s/ Chris Wright     Director   July 9, 2024
Chris Wright        

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 9, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, TX 77002

Tel: +1.713.546.5400 Fax: +1.713.546.5401

www.lw.com

 

FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES

Austin              Milan

Beijing              Munich

Boston              New York

Brussels            Orange County

Century City    Paris

Chicago            Riyadh

Dubai                San Diego

Düsseldorf       San Francisco

Frankfurt          Seoul

Hamburg           Silicon Valley

Hong Kong      Singapore

Houston           Tel Aviv

London             Tokyo

Los Angeles    Washington, D.C.

Madrid

 

Oklo Inc.

3190 Coronado Dr.

Santa Clara, CA 95054

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

To the addressee set forth above:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Oklo Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed issuance by the Company of (i) up to 10,432,749 shares (the “2016 Plan Shares”) of Class A common stock of the Company, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), issuable under the Oklo Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), (ii) up to 27,305,265 shares (the “2024 Plan Shares”) of Common Stock, issuable under the Oklo Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Plan”) and (iii) up to 2,441,926 shares of Common Stock (together with the 2016 Plan Shares and the 2024 Plan Shares, the “Shares”) issuable under the Oklo Inc. 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (together with the 2016 Plan and the 2024 Plan, the “Plans”). The Shares are included in a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on July 9, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.

 

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

 

 

 

 

July 9, 2024

Page 2

 

 

 

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, and have been issued by the Company for legal consideration not less than par value in the circumstances contemplated by the Plans, assuming in each case that the individual grants or awards under the Plans are duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and duly granted or awarded and exercised in accordance with the requirements of law and the Plans (and the agreements and awards duly adopted thereunder and in accordance therewith), the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the DGCL.

 

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

  Sincerely,
 
  /s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Oklo Inc. (F/k/a/ “AltC Acquisition Corp.") on Form S-8 of our report dated April 2, 2024, except for Note 14, as to which the date is April 15, 2024, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Oklo Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Oklo Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

/s/ Marcum llp

 

Marcum llp

Los Angeles, CA

July 9, 2024

  

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

Oklo Inc.

2024 Equity Incentive Plan

(Adopted by the Board of Directors on July 11, 2023)

 

(Approved by the Stockholders on May 7, 2024)

 

(Effective on May 9, 2024)

 

 

 

 

Oklo Inc.
2024 Equity Incentive Plan
 

 

ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION. 

 

The Board adopted the Plan to become effective immediately prior to the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (a) encouraging Service Providers to focus on critical long-range corporate objectives, (b) encouraging the attraction and retention of Service Providers with exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Service Providers directly to stockholder interests through increased stock ownership. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options (which may be ISOs or NSOs), SARs, Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units. Capitalized terms used in this Plan are defined in Article 14.

 

ARTICLE 2. ADMINISTRATION. 

 

2.1 General. The Plan may be administered by the Board or one or more Committees to which the Board (or an authorized Board committee) has delegated authority. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to either the Board or the Administrator shall hereafter also encompass the Committee or subcommittee, as applicable). The Board may abolish the Committee’s delegation at any time and the Board shall at all times also retain the authority it has delegated to the Committee. The Administrator shall comply with rules and regulations applicable to it, including under the rules of any exchange on which the Common Shares are traded, and shall have the authority and be responsible for such functions as have been assigned to it.

 

2.2 Section 16. With respect to any Service Providers who are considered officers or directors of the Company under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be approved by the entire Board or a Committee of two or more “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 16b-3.

 

2.3 Powers of Administrator. Subject to the terms of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated to the Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority to (a) select the Service Providers who are to receive Awards under the Plan, (b) determine the type, number, vesting requirements and other features and conditions of such Awards, (c) interpret the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, (d) determine whether, when and to what extent an Award has become vested and/or exercisable and whether any performance-based vesting conditions have been satisfied, (e) make, amend and rescind rules relating to the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, including rules relating to sub-plans established for the purposes of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws, (f) impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant of any Common Shares issued pursuant to an Award, including restrictions under an insider trading policy and restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales, (g) correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile and inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and (h) make all other decisions relating to the operation of the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan. In addition, with regard to the terms and conditions of Awards granted to Service Providers outside of the United States, the Administrator may vary from the provisions of the Plan (other than any requiring stockholder approval pursuant to Section 13.3) to the extent it determines it necessary and appropriate to do so.

 

2.4 Effect of Administrator’s Decisions. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all interested parties.

 

2.5 Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (except its choice-of-law provisions).

 

 2 

 

 

ARTICLE 3. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS. 

 

3.1 Basic Limitation. Common Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. The aggregate number of Common Shares issued under the Plan shall not exceed the sum of (a) the Initial Pool, (b) any Common Shares subject to awards granted under the Predecessor Plan (and assumed by the Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement) that are outstanding on the Business Combination Date and that subsequently are forfeited, expire or lapse unexercised or unsettled and Common Shares issued pursuant to awards assumed in connection with the Business Combination Date and that are subsequently forfeited to or reacquired by the Company and (c) the additional Common Shares described in Articles 3.2 and 3.3. The Company shall reserve and keep available such number of Common Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. The numerical limitations in this Article 3.1 shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9.

 

3.2 Annual Increase in Shares. On the first day of each January during the term of the Plan, commencing on January 1, 2025 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2034, the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall automatically increase by a number equal to the lesser of (a) 5% of the total number of Common Shares actually issued and outstanding on the last day of the preceding fiscal year or (b) a number of Common Shares determined by the Board.

 

3.3 Shares Returned to Reserve. To the extent that Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards are forfeited, cancelled or expire for any reason before being exercised or settled in full, the Common Shares subject to such Awards shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. If SARs are exercised or Restricted Stock Units are settled, then only the number of Common Shares (if any) actually issued to the Participant upon exercise of such SARs or settlement of such Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, shall reduce the number of Common Shares available under Article 3.1 and the balance shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. If Restricted Shares or Common Shares issued upon the exercise of Options are reacquired by the Company pursuant to a forfeiture provision, repurchase right or for any other reason, then such Common Shares shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Common Shares applied to pay the Exercise Price of Options or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to any Award shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. To the extent that an Award is settled in cash rather than Common Shares, the cash settlement shall not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

 

3.4 Awards Not Reducing Share Reserve. To the extent permitted under applicable exchange listing requirements, any dividend equivalents paid or credited under the Plan with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall not be applied against the number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan, whether or not such dividend equivalents are converted into Restricted Stock Units. In addition, Common Shares subject to Substitute Awards granted by the Company shall not reduce the number of Common Shares that may be issued under Article 3.1, nor shall shares subject to Substitute Awards again be available for Awards under the Plan in the event of any forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement of such Substitute Awards.

 

3.5 Code Section 422 and Other Limits. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Article 9:

 

(a) No more than 47,617,548 Common Shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9) may be issued under the Plan upon the exercise of ISOs.

 

(b) The aggregate grant date fair value of Awards granted to an Outside Director during any one fiscal year of the Company, together with the value of any cash compensation paid to the Outside Director during such fiscal year, may not exceed $750,000 (on a per-Director basis); provided however that the limitation that will apply in the fiscal year in which the Outside Director is initially appointed or elected to the Board shall be $1,500,000. For purposes of this limitation, the grant date fair value of an Award shall be determined in accordance with the assumptions that the Company uses to estimate the value of share-based payments for financial reporting purposes. For the sake of clarity, neither Awards granted, nor cash compensation paid, to an individual for his or her service as an Employee or Consultant, but not as an Outside Director, shall count towards this limitation.

 

 3 

 

 

ARTICLE 4. ELIGIBILITY.

 

4.1 Incentive Stock Options. Only Employees who are common-law employees of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition, an Employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company or any of its Parents or Subsidiaries shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the additional requirements set forth in Code Section 422(c)(5) are satisfied.

 

4.2 Other Awards. Awards other than ISOs may be granted to both Employees and other Service Providers.

 

ARTICLE 5. OPTIONS.

 

5.1 Stock Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The Stock Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or an NSO. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

5.2 Number of Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Common Shares subject to the Option, which number shall adjust in accordance with Article 9.

 

5.3 Exercise Price. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant. The preceding sentence shall not apply to an Option that is a Substitute Award granted in a manner that would satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A and, if applicable, Code Section 424(a).

 

5.4 Exercisability and Term. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date or event when all or any installment of the Option is to become vested and/or exercisable. The vesting and exercisability conditions applicable to the Option may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination of such conditions. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the term of the Option; provided that, except to the extent necessary to comply with applicable foreign law, the term of an Option shall in no event exceed 10 years from the date of grant. A Stock Option Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting and/or exercisability upon certain specified events and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee’s service.

 

5.5 Death of Optionee. After an Optionee’s death, any vested and exercisable Options held by such Optionee may be exercised by his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each Optionee may designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Optionee’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Optionee, then any vested and exercisable Options held by the Optionee may be exercised by his or her estate.

 

5.6 Modification or Assumption of Options. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify, reprice, extend or assume outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options (to the extent not previously exercised), whether granted by the Company or by another issuer, in return for the grant of new Options for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different exercise price or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Option; provided, however, that an amendment or modification that may cause an ISO to become a NSO, and any amendment or modification that is required to comply with the rules applicable to ISOs, shall not be treated as materially impairing the rights or obligations of the Optionee.

 

5.7 Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time (a) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash equivalents an Option previously granted or (b) authorize an Optionee to elect to cash out an Option previously granted, in either case at such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish.

 

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5.8 Payment for Option Shares. The entire Exercise Price of Common Shares issued upon exercise of Options shall be payable in cash or cash equivalents at the time when such Common Shares are purchased. In addition, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion and to the extent permitted by applicable law, accept payment of all or a portion of the Exercise Price through any one or a combination of the following forms or methods:

 

(a) Subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Administrator, by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Common Shares that are already owned by the Optionee with a value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Common Shares as to which such Option will be exercised;

 

(b) By delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or part of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company;

 

(c) Subject to such conditions and requirements as the Administrator may impose from time to time, through a net exercise procedure; or

 

(d) Through any other form or method consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.

 

ARTICLE 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

 

6.1 SAR Agreement. Each grant of a SAR under the Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

6.2 Number of Shares. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the number of Common Shares to which the SAR pertains, which number shall adjust in accordance with Article 9.

 

6.3 Exercise Price. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price, which shall in no event be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant. The preceding sentence shall not apply to a SAR that is a Substitute Award granted in a manner that would satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

6.4 Exercisability and Term. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the date or event when all or any installment of the SAR is to become vested and exercisable. The vesting and exercisability conditions applicable to the SAR may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination thereof. The SAR Agreement shall also specify the term of the SAR; provided that except to the extent necessary to comply with applicable foreign law, the term of a SAR shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant. A SAR Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting and exercisability upon certain specified events and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee’s service.

 

6.5 Exercise of SARs. Upon exercise of a SAR, the Optionee (or any person having the right to exercise the SAR after his or her death) shall receive from the Company (a) Common Shares, (b) cash or (c) a combination of Common Shares and cash, as the Administrator shall determine. The amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of Common Shares received upon exercise of SARs shall, in the aggregate, not exceed the amount by which the Fair Market Value (on the date of surrender) of the Common Shares subject to the SARs exceeds the Exercise Price. If, on the date when a SAR expires, the Exercise Price is less than the Fair Market Value on such date but any portion of such SAR has not been exercised or surrendered, then such SAR shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion. A SAR Agreement may also provide for an automatic exercise of the SAR on an earlier date.

 

6.6 Death of Optionee. After an Optionee’s death, any vested and exercisable SARs held by such Optionee may be exercised by his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each Optionee may designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Optionee’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Optionee, then any vested and exercisable SARs held by the Optionee at the time of his or her death may be exercised by his or her estate.

 

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6.7 Modification or Assumption of SARs. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify, reprice, extend or assume outstanding stock appreciation rights or may accept the cancellation of outstanding stock appreciation rights (to the extent not previously exercised), whether granted by the Company or by another issuer, in return for the grant of new SARs for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different exercise price or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of a SAR shall, without the consent of the Optionee, materially impair such Optionee’s rights or obligations under such SAR.

 

ARTICLE 7. RESTRICTED SHARES.

 

7.1 Restricted Stock Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Shares under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Shares shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

7.2 Payment for Awards. Restricted Shares may be sold or awarded under the Plan for such consideration as the Administrator may determine, including (without limitation) cash, cash equivalents, property, cancellation of other equity awards, promissory notes, past services and future services, and such other methods of payment as are permitted by applicable law.

 

7.3 Vesting Conditions. Each Award of Restricted Shares may or may not be subject to vesting and/or other conditions as the Administrator may determine. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement. Vesting conditions may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination thereof. A Restricted Stock Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting upon certain specified events.

 

7.4 Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company’s other stockholders, unless the Administrator otherwise provides. A Restricted Stock Agreement, however, may require that any cash dividends paid on Restricted Shares (a) be accumulated and paid when such Restricted Shares vest, or (b) be invested in additional Restricted Shares. Such additional Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the shares subject to the Award with respect to which the dividends were paid. In addition, unless the Administrator provides otherwise, if any dividends or other distributions are paid in Common Shares, such Common Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they were paid.

 

7.5 Modification or Assumption of Restricted Shares. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify or assume outstanding Restricted Shares or may accept the cancellation of outstanding restricted shares (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Restricted Shares for the same or a different number of shares or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of Restricted Shares shall, without the consent of the Participant, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Restricted Shares.

 

ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.

 

8.1 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Unit Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

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8.2 Payment for Awards. To the extent that an Award is granted in the form of Restricted Stock Units, no cash consideration shall be required of the Award recipients.

 

8.3 Vesting Conditions. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units may or may not be subject to vesting, as determined by the Administrator. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Vesting conditions may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination thereof. A Restricted Stock Unit Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting upon certain specified events.

 

8.4 Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Stock Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or forfeiture, Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan may, at the Administrator’s discretion, provide for a right to dividend equivalents. Such right entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one Common Share while the Restricted Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted into additional Restricted Stock Units. Settlement of dividend equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of Common Shares, or in a combination of both. Prior to distribution, any dividend equivalents shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Restricted Stock Units to which they attach.

 

8.5 Form and Time of Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units may be made in the form of (a) cash, (b) Common Shares or (c) any combination of both, as determined by the Administrator. The actual number of Restricted Stock Units eligible for settlement may be larger or smaller than the number included in the original Award, based on predetermined performance factors. Methods of converting Restricted Stock Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method based on the average value of Common Shares over a series of trading days. Vested Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in such manner and at such time(s) as specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Until an Award of Restricted Stock Units is settled, the number of such Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9.

 

8.6 Death of Recipient. Any Restricted Stock Units that become payable after the recipient’s death shall be distributed to the recipient’s beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each recipient of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan may designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Award recipient’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Award recipient, then any Restricted Stock Units that become payable after the recipient’s death shall be distributed to the recipient’s estate.

 

8.7 Modification or Assumption of Restricted Stock Units. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify or assume outstanding restricted stock units or may accept the cancellation of outstanding restricted stock units (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Restricted Stock Units for the same or a different number of shares or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of a Restricted Stock Unit shall, without the consent of the Participant, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Restricted Stock Unit.

 

8.8 Creditors’ Rights. A holder of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE 9. ADJUSTMENTS; DISSOLUTIONS AND LIQUIDATIONS; CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

 

9.1 Adjustments. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in Common Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Common Shares or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Common Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, proportionate adjustments shall be made to the following:

 

(a) The number and kind of shares available for issuance under Article 3, including the numerical share limits in Articles 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5;

 

(b) The number and kind of shares covered by each outstanding Option, SAR, and Restricted Stock Unit; and/or

 

(c) The Exercise Price applicable to each outstanding Option and SAR, and the repurchase price, if any, applicable to Restricted Shares.

 

In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than Common Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Common Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence, the Administrator may make such adjustments as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate to the foregoing. Any adjustment in the number of shares subject to an Award under this Article 9.1 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share, although the Administrator in its sole discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of a fractional share. Except as provided in this Article 9, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any issuance by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class.

 

9.2 Dissolution or Liquidation. To the extent not previously exercised or settled, Options, SARs and Restricted Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

 

9.3 Corporate Transactions. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, or a Change in Control (other than one described in Article 14.7(d)), all Common Shares acquired under the Plan and all Awards outstanding on the effective date of the transaction shall be treated in the manner described in the definitive transaction agreement (or, in the event the transaction does not entail a definitive agreement to which the Company is party, in the manner determined by the Administrator, with such determination having final and binding effect on all parties), which agreement or determination need not treat all Awards (or portions thereof) in an identical manner. Unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise, the treatment specified in the transaction agreement or by the Administrator may include (without limitation) one or more of the following with respect to each outstanding Award:

 

(a) The continuation of such outstanding Award by the Company (if the Company is the surviving entity);

 

(b) The assumption of such outstanding Award by the surviving entity or its parent, provided that the assumption of an Option or a SAR shall comply with applicable tax requirements;

 

(c) The substitution by the surviving entity or its parent of an equivalent award for such outstanding Award (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the holders of Common Shares in the transaction), provided that the substitution of an Option or a SAR shall comply with applicable tax requirements;

 

(d) In the case of an Option or SAR, the cancellation of such Award without payment of any consideration. An Optionee shall be able to exercise his or her outstanding Option or SAR, to the extent such Option or SAR is then vested or becomes vested as of the effective time of the transaction, during a period of not less than five full business days preceding the closing date of the transaction, unless (i) a shorter period is required to permit a timely closing of the transaction and (ii) such shorter period still offers the Optionee a reasonable opportunity to exercise such Option or SAR. Any exercise of such Option or SAR during such period may be contingent on the closing of the transaction;

 

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(e) The cancellation of such Award and a payment to the Participant with respect to each share subject to the portion of the Award that is vested or becomes vested as of the effective time of the transaction equal to the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Administrator in its absolute discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a Common Share as a result of the transaction, over (if applicable) (B) the per-share Exercise Price of such Award (such excess, if any, the “Spread”). Such payment shall be made in the form of cash, cash equivalents, or securities of the surviving entity or its parent having a value equal to the Spread. In addition, any escrow, holdback, earn-out or similar provisions in the transaction agreement may apply to such payment to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the holders of Common Shares. If the Spread applicable to an Award (whether or not vested) is zero or a negative number, then the Award may be cancelled without making a payment to the Participant. In the event that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, the payment described in this clause (e) shall be made on the settlement date specified in the applicable Award Agreement, provided that settlement may be accelerated in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4); or

 

(f) The assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of an Award of Restricted Shares to the surviving entity or its parent, with corresponding proportionate adjustments made to the price per share to be paid upon exercise of any such reacquisition or repurchase rights.

 

Unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise, each outstanding Award held by a Participant who remains a Service Provider as of the effective time of a merger, consolidation or Change in Control (other than one described in Article 14.7(d)) (a “Current Participant”) shall become fully vested and, if applicable, exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction and, in the case of an Award subject to performance-based vesting conditions, such performance-based vesting conditions shall be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels. However, the prior sentence shall not apply, and an outstanding Award shall not become vested and, if applicable, exercisable, if and to the extent the Award is continued, assumed or substituted as provided for in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above. In addition, the prior two sentences shall not apply to an Award held by a Participant who is not a Current Participant unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise or unless the Company and the acquirer agree otherwise.

 

For avoidance of doubt, the Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable either at the time an Award is granted or at any time while the Award remains outstanding, to provide for the acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, whether or not the Award is to be assumed or replaced in the transaction, or in connection with a termination of the Participant’s service following a transaction.

 

Any action taken under this Article 9.3 shall either preserve an Award’s status as exempt from Code Section 409A or comply with Code Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE 10. OTHER AWARDS.

 

Subject in all events to the limitations under Article 3 above as to the number of Common Shares available for issuance under this Plan, the Company may grant other forms of Awards not specifically described herein and may grant awards under other plans or programs, where such awards are settled in the form of Common Shares issued under this Plan. Such Common Shares shall be treated for all purposes under the Plan like Common Shares issued in settlement of Restricted Stock Units and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Common Shares available under Article 3.

 

ARTICLE 11. LIMITATION ON RIGHTS.

 

11.1 Retention Rights. Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to give any individual a right to remain a Service Provider. The Company and its Parents, Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the service of any Service Provider at any time, with or without cause, subject to applicable laws, the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and a written employment agreement (if any).

 

11.2 Stockholders’ Rights. Except as set forth in Article 7.4 or 8.4 above, a Participant shall have no dividend rights, voting rights or other rights as a stockholder with respect to any Common Shares covered by his or her Award prior to the time when a stock certificate for such Common Shares is issued or, if applicable, the time when he or she becomes entitled to receive such Common Shares by filing any required notice of exercise and paying any required Exercise Price. No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such time, except as expressly provided in the Plan.

 

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11.3 Regulatory Requirements. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the obligation of the Company to issue Common Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Common Shares pursuant to any Award prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such Common Shares, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed necessary by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Common Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.

 

11.4 Transferability of Awards. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit transfer of an Award in a manner consistent with applicable law. Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, no Award, nor any interest in such Award, may be sold, assigned, conveyed, gifted, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred in any manner, other than by (a) beneficiary designation, (b) a will or (c) the laws of descent and distribution; provided that, in any event, an ISO may only be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or by the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative. Any transferee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreement relating to the transferred Award and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations.

 

11.5 Recoupment Policy. All Awards granted under the Plan, all amounts paid under the Plan and all Common Shares issued under the Plan shall be subject to recoupment, clawback or recovery by the Company in accordance with applicable law and with Company policy (whenever adopted) regarding same, whether or not such policy is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or other applicable law, as well as any implementing regulations and/or listing standards thereunder.

 

11.6 Other Conditions and Restrictions on Common Shares. Any Common Shares issued under the Plan shall be subject to such forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal, other transfer restrictions and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine. Such conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Common Shares generally. In addition, Common Shares issued under the Plan shall be subject to such conditions and restrictions imposed either by applicable law or by Company policy, as adopted from time to time, designed to ensure compliance with applicable law or laws with which the Company determines in its sole discretion to comply including in order to maintain any statutory, regulatory or tax advantage.

 

11.7 Non-Uniform Determinations. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan and Award Agreements need not be uniform and any such determinations may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee will be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations under Award Agreements, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements, as to (a) the persons to receive Awards, (b) the terms and provisions of Awards and (c) whether a Participant remains a Service Provider for purposes of the Plan.

 

ARTICLE 12. TAXES.

 

12.1 General. It is a condition to each Award under the Plan that a Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with any Award granted under the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Common Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan unless such obligations are satisfied.

 

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12.2 Share Withholding. To the extent that applicable law subjects a Participant to tax withholding obligations, the Administrator may permit such Participant to satisfy all or part of such obligations by having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Common Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Common Shares that he or she previously acquired. Such Common Shares shall be valued on the date when they are withheld or surrendered. Any payment of taxes by assigning Common Shares to the Company may be subject to restrictions including any restrictions required by the SEC, accounting or other rules.

 

12.3 Section 409A Matters. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in an Award Agreement, it is intended that Awards granted under the Plan either be exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A. To the extent an Award is subject to Code Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the terms of the Plan, the Award and any written agreement governing the Award shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A so that the Award is not subject to additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A, unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise. A 409A Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order for it to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” to an individual who is considered a “specified employee” (as each term is defined under Code Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Participant’s separation from service or (ii) the Participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to Code Section 409A(a)(1).

 

12.4 Limitation on Liability. Neither the Company nor any person serving as Administrator shall have any liability to a Participant in the event an Award held by the Participant fails to achieve its intended characterization under applicable tax law.

 

ARTICLE 13. FUTURE OF THE PLAN.

 

13.1 Term of the Plan. The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders under Article 13.3 below. The Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the date when the Board adopted the Plan.

 

13.2 Amendment or Termination. The Board may, at any time and for any reason, amend or terminate the Plan. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination thereof. The termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Award previously granted under the Plan.

 

13.3 Stockholder Approval. To the extent required by applicable law, the Plan will be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders within 12 months of its adoption date. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.

 

ARTICLE 14. DEFINITIONS.

 

14.1 “Administrator” means the Board or the Committee administering the Plan in accordance with Article 2.

 

14.2 “Affiliate” means any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.

 

14.3 “Award” means any award granted under the Plan, including as an Option, a SAR, a Restricted Share award, a Restricted Stock Unit award or another form of equity-based compensation award.

 

14.4 “Award Agreement” means a Stock Option Agreement, a SAR Agreement, a Restricted Stock Agreement, a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement or such other agreement evidencing an Award granted under the Plan.

 

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14.5 “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors, as constituted from time to time and, where the context so requires, reference to the “Board” may refer to the Committee to whom the Board has delegated authority to administer any aspect of this Plan.

 

14.6 “Business Combination Date” means the date of the closing of the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

14.7 “Change in Control” means:

 

(a) Any “person” becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities;

 

(b) The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;

 

(c) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or

 

(d) Individuals who are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board over a period of 12 months; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided, further, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or publicly threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or publicly threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall, for purposes of this Plan, be deemed to be a member of the Incumbent Board.

 

For purposes of Section 14.7(a), the term “person” shall have the same meaning as when used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but shall exclude (1) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary and (2) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Common Shares.

 

A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction. In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for a deferral of compensation and is subject to Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or applicable Award Agreement the transaction with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

 

14.8 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

14.9 “Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board, or of other individuals satisfying applicable laws, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

14.10 “Common Share” means one share of the Company’s Class A common stock.

 

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14.11 “Company” means Oklo Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

14.12 “Consultant” means a consultant or adviser who provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an independent contractor and who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under Instruction A.1.(a)(1) of Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

 

14.13 “Employee” means a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.

 

14.14 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

14.15 “Exercise Price,” in the case of an Option, means the amount for which one Common Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, means an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value of one Common Share in determining the amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.

 

14.16 “Fair Market Value” means the closing price of a Common Share on any established stock exchange or a national market system on the applicable date or, if the applicable date is not a trading day, on the last trading day prior to the applicable date, as reported in a source that the Administrator deems reliable. If Common Shares are not traded on an established stock exchange or a national market system, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate. The Administrator’s determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the determination of the Fair Market Value in all cases shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth under Code Section 409A to the extent necessary for an Award to comply with, or be exempt from, Code Section 409A.

 

14.17 “Initial Pool” means 15,872,516 Common Shares.

 

14.18 “ISO” means an incentive stock option described in Code Section 422(b).

 

14.19 “Merger Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of July 11, 2023, by and among the Company, AltC Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“SPAC”), and AltC Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of SPAC.

 

14.20 “NSO” means a stock option not described in Code Sections 422 or 423.

 

14.21 “Option” means an ISO or NSO granted under the Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Common Shares.

 

14.22 “Optionee” means an individual or estate holding an Option or SAR.

 

14.23 “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

14.24 “Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

 

14.25 “Participant” means an individual or estate holding an Award.

 

14.26 “Plan” means this Oklo Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

14.27 “Predecessor Plan” means the Company’s 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

14.28 “Restricted Share” means a Common Share awarded under the Plan.

 

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14.29 “Restricted Stock Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Share that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Share.

 

14.30 “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Common Share, as awarded under the Plan.

 

14.31 “Restricted Stock Unit Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Stock Unit that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Stock Unit.

 

14.32 “SAR” means a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan.

 

14.33 “SAR Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or her SAR.

 

14.34 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

14.35 “Service Provider” means any individual who is an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant, including any prospective Employee, Outside Director or Consultant who has accepted an offer of employment or service and will be an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant after the commencement of their service.

 

14.36 “Stock Option Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or her Option.

 

14.37 “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date

 

14.38 “Substitute Awards” means Awards or Common Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a corporation or other entity acquired by the Company or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines to the extent permitted by the applicable exchange listing requirements.

 

 

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Exhibit 99.2

 

Oklo Inc.

 

2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

(Adopted by the Board of Directors on July 11, 2023)

 

(Approved by the Stockholders on May 7, 2024)

 

(Effective on May 9, 2024)

 

 

 

 

 

Oklo Inc. 

2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 

 

SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN. 

 

The Board adopted the Plan to become effective immediately prior to the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement). The purpose of the Plan is to provide Eligible Employees with an opportunity to increase their proprietary interest in the success of the Company by purchasing Stock from the Company on favorable terms and to pay for such purchases through payroll deductions or other approved contributions.

 

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. 

 

(a) General. The Plan may be administered by the Board or one or more Committees to which the Board (or an authorized Committee) has delegated authority. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the power to delegate to a sub-committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to either the Board or the Administrator shall hereafter also encompass the Committee or subcommittee, as applicable). The Board may abolish the Committee’s delegation at any time and the Board shall at all times also retain the authority it has delegated to the Committee. The Administrator shall comply with rules and regulations applicable to it, including under the rules of any exchange on which the Stock is traded, and shall have the authority and be responsible for such functions as have been assigned to it.

 

(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the terms of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated to the Committee, the Administrator shall have the power to establish the terms and conditions of Offering Periods (which need not be identical) under the Plan, to interpret the Plan and make all other policy decisions relating to the operation of the Plan. The Administrator may adopt such rules, guidelines and forms as it deems appropriate to implement the Plan.

 

(c) Effects of Administrator’s Decisions. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all interested parties.

 

(d) Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (except its choice of law provisions).

 

SECTION 3. STOCK OFFERED UNDER THE PLAN. 

 

(a) Authorized Shares. The number of shares of Stock available for purchase under the Plan shall be equal to the Initial Pool (subject to adjustment pursuant to Subsection (c) below), plus the additional shares described in Subsection (b) below. Shares of Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

 

(b) Annual Increase in Shares. On the first day of each fiscal year of the Company during the term of the Plan, commencing on January 1, 2025 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2034, the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall automatically increase by a number equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of Stock actually issued and outstanding on the last day of the preceding fiscal year or (ii) a number of shares of Stock determined by the Board.

 

(c) Anti-Dilution Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, stock or other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, reclassification, repurchase, or exchange of Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Stock and effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company occurs, then in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, there will be a proportionate adjustment of the number and class of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares and class of Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised, and the numerical limits of Sections 3(a), 3(b)(ii) and 9(c).

 

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(d) Reorganizations. In the event of a Corporate Reorganization, the outstanding rights to purchase Stock under any Offering Period then in progress may be continued, assumed or substituted by the surviving entity or its parent. If such acquirer refuses to continue, assume or substitute for any such rights, then a new Purchase Date for such Offering Period(s) will be set prior to the effective time of the Corporate Reorganization, the Participants’ accumulated contributions will be applied to purchase Stock on such date, and any such Offering Periods shall terminate immediately after such purchase. In the event a new Purchase Date is set under this Section 3(d), Participants will be given notice of the new Purchase Date. The Plan shall in no event be construed to restrict in any way the Company’s right to undertake a dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.

 

SECTION 4. ENROLLMENT AND PARTICIPATION. 

 

(a) Offering Periods and Purchase Periods. 

 

(i) Base Offering Periods. The Administrator may from time to time establish Offering Periods (consisting of one or more Purchase Periods) of such frequency and duration as it may deem appropriate (the “Base Offering Periods”); provided that a Base Offering Period shall in no event be longer than 27 months (or such other period as may be imposed under applicable tax law). Each Base Offering Period shall contain such terms and conditions (consistent with the Plan) as the Administrator deems appropriate. Within the limits of the Plan, the Administrator may change the frequency,duration and other terms and conditions of the Base Offering Periods as it deems appropriate from time to time. The Base Offering Periods are intended to qualify under Code Section 423.

 

(ii) Additional Offering Periods. At the discretion of the Administrator, additional Offering Periods (the “Additional Offering Periods”) may be conducted under the Plan including, if necessary or advisable in the sole discretion of the Administrator, under a separate sub-plan or sub-plans, permitting grants to Eligible Employees of certain Participating Companies (each, a “Sub-Plan”). Such Additional Offering Periods will be designed to achieve desired tax objectives in particular locations outside the United States or to comply with local laws applicable to offerings in such foreign jurisdictions and may, but need not, qualify under Code Section 423. The Administrator shall determine the commencement and duration of each Additional Offering Period, and Additional Offering Periods may be consecutive or overlapping. The other terms and conditions of each Additional Offering Period shall be those set forth in this Plan document or in terms and conditions approved by the Administrator with respect to such Additional Offering Period (whether or not set forth in a written Sub-Plan), with such changes or additional features as the Administrator determines necessary to comply with local law. Each Additional Offering Period (whether or not set forth in a written Sub-Plan) shall be considered a separate plan from the Plan (the “Statutory Plan”). The total number of shares of Stock authorized to be issued under the Plan as provided in Section 3 above applies in the aggregate to both the Statutory Plan and any Additional Offering Period. Unless otherwise superseded by the terms and conditions approved by the Administrator with respect to an Additional Offering Period, the provisions of this Plan document shall govern the operation of any offering conducted hereunder.

 

(iii) Separate Offerings. Each Base Offering Period and each Additional Offering Period conducted under the Plan is intended to constitute a separate “offering” for purposes of Code Section 423.

 

(iv) Equal Rights and Privileges. To the extent an Offering Period is intended to qualify under Code Section 423, all Participants in such Offering Period shall have the same rights and privileges with respect to their participation in such Offering Period in accordance with Code Section 423 and the regulations thereunder except for differences that may be mandated by local law and are consistent with the requirements of Code Section 423(b)(5).

 

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(b) Enrollment. In the case of any individual who qualifies as an Eligible Employee on the first day of any Offering Period, he or she may elect to become a Participant on such day by filing the prescribed enrollment form with the Company. The enrollment form shall be filed in the prescribed manner during the applicable Enrollment Period for such Offering Period. The Administrator may establish other procedures for enrollment by Eligible Employees.

   

(c) Duration of Participation. Once enrolled in the Plan, a Participant shall continue to participate in the Plan until he or she:

 

(i) Reaches the end of the Offering Period or Purchase Period, as applicable, in which his or her employee contributions were discontinued under Section 5(c) or 9(b);

 

(ii) Withdraws from the Plan under Section 6(a); or

 

(iii) Ceases to be an Eligible Employee.

 

A Participant whose employee contributions were discontinued automatically under Section 9(b) shall automatically resume participation as described therein. In all other cases, a former Participant may again become a Participant, if he or she then is an Eligible Employee, by following the procedure described in Subsection (b) above.

 

(d) Applicable Offering Period. For purposes of calculating the Purchase Price under Section 8(b), the applicable Offering Period shall be determined as follows:

 

(i) Once a Participant is enrolled in the Plan for an Offering Period, such Offering Period shall continue to apply to him or her until the earliest of (A) the end of such Offering Period, (B) the end of his or her participation under Subsection (c) above, or (C) re-enrollment for a subsequent Offering Period under Paragraph (ii) or (iii) below.

 

(ii) Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the Administrator (at its sole discretion) may determine prior to the commencement of any new Offering Period that all Participants shall be re-enrolled for such new Offering Period. In addition, the Administrator may structure an Offering Period so that in the event that the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the first day of the Offering Period for which the Participant is enrolled is higher than on the first day of any subsequent Offering Period, the Participant shall automatically be re-enrolled for such subsequent Offering Period.

 

(iii) When a Participant reaches the end of an Offering Period but his or her participation is to continue, then such Participant shall automatically be re-enrolled for the Offering Period that commences immediately after the end of the prior Offering Period.

 

SECTION 5. EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS. 

 

(a) Commencement of Payroll Deductions. A Participant may purchase shares of Stock under the Plan by means of payroll deductions or (if so approved by the Administrator with respect to all Participants in a Base Offering Period) other approved contributions in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrator. Payroll deductions or other approved contributions shall commence as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received the prescribed enrollment form. In jurisdictions where payroll deductions are not permitted under local law, Participants may purchase shares of Stock by making contributions in the form that is acceptable and approved by the Administrator.

 

(b) Amount of Payroll Deductions. An Eligible Employee shall designate on the prescribed enrollment form the portion of his or her Compensation that he or she elects to have withheld for the purchase of Stock. Such portion shall be a whole percentage of the Eligible Employee’s Compensation, but not less than 1% nor more than 15% (or such lesser percentage established by the Administrator for an Offering Period).

 

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(c) Reducing Withholding Rate or Discontinuing Payroll Deductions. If a Participant wishes to reduce his or her rate of payroll withholding, such Participant may do so by filing a new enrollment form with the Company in the manner prescribed by the Administrator. The new withholding rate shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such form. The new withholding rate may be 0% or any whole percentage of the Participant’s Compensation, but not more than his or her old withholding rate. The Administrator may limit the number of times a Participant may elect to reduce his or her rate of withholding during any Offering Period and/or Purchase Period. Unless a different rule is established for an Offering Period, no Participant shall make more than one election under this Subsection (c) during any Purchase Period. (In addition, employee contributions may be discontinued automatically pursuant to Section 9(b).)

   

(d) Increasing Withholding Rate. Unless the Administrator establishes a different rule for an Offering Period, a Participant may not increase his or her rate of payroll withholding during a Purchase Period. If a Participant wishes to increase his or her rate of payroll withholding, such Participant may do so by filing a new enrollment form with the Company at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to commencement of a Purchase Period (or such other period as is specified by the Administrator). The new withholding rate shall be effective on the first day of the next-upcoming Purchase Period in which the Participant participates. The new withholding rate may be any whole percentage of the Participant’s Compensation, but not less than 1% nor more than the maximum amount established for the Offering Period.

 

SECTION 6. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN.

 

(a) Withdrawal. A Participant may elect to withdraw from the Plan (and the Offering Period in which he or she is participating) by filing the prescribed form with the Company in the prescribed manner at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to a Purchase Date (or such other period as is specified by the Administrator). As soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, payroll deductions or other approved contributions shall cease and the entire amount credited to the Participant’s Plan Account with respect to such Offering Period shall be refunded to him or her in cash, without interest (except as otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction). No partial withdrawals from an Offering Period shall be permitted.

 

(b) Re-Enrollment After Withdrawal. A former Participant who has withdrawn from the Plan shall not be a Participant until he or she re-enrolls in the Plan under Section 4(b) during an Enrollment Period. Re-enrollment may be effective only at the commencement of an Offering Period.

 

SECTION 7. CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT STATUS.

 

(a) Termination of Employment. Termination of employment as an Eligible Employee for any reason, including death, shall be treated as an automatic withdrawal from the Plan under Section 6(a).

 

(b) Transfers of Employment. If a Participant transfers employment from a Participating Company that is participating in a Base Offering Period to a Participating Company that is participating in an Additional Offering Period, he or she will immediately cease to participate in the Base Offering Period, as applicable; however, such Participant’s Plan Account will be transferred to the Additional Offering Period, and such Participant will immediately join such Additional Offering Period on the terms and conditions applicable to such Additional Offering Period, except for any modifications required by applicable law. If a Participant transfers employment from a Participating Company that is participating in an Additional Offering Period to a Participating Company that is participating in the Base Offering Period, he or she will continue to participate in the Additional Offering Period until the earlier of (i) the end of such Additional Offering Period, or (ii) the commencement of the first Base Offering Period in which he or she is eligible. If a Participant transfers employment from a Participating Company to a Related Corporation that is not a Participating Company, he or she shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Plan pursuant to Section 6(a).

 

(c) Leave of Absence. For purposes of the Plan, employment shall not be deemed to terminate when the Participant goes on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company in writing. Employment, however, shall be deemed to terminate on the first day following three months after the Participant goes on a leave, unless a contract or statute guarantees his or her right to return to work. Employment shall be deemed to terminate in any event when the approved leave ends, unless the Participant immediately returns to work.

 

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(d) Death. In the event of the Participant’s death, the amount credited to his or her Plan Account shall be paid in cash, without interest (unless otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction), to a beneficiary designated by him or her for this purpose on the prescribed form or, if none, to the Participant’s estate. Such form shall be valid only if it was filed with the Company in the prescribed manner before the Participant’s death.

 

SECTION 8. PLAN ACCOUNTS AND PURCHASE OF SHARES.

 

(a) Plan Accounts. The Company shall maintain a Plan Account on its books in the name of each Participant. Whenever an amount is deducted from the Participant’s Compensation under the Plan, such amount shall be credited to the Participant’s Plan Account. Unless otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction, (i) amounts credited to Plan Accounts shall not be trust funds and may be commingled with the Company’s general assets and applied to general corporate purposes, and (ii) no interest shall be credited to Plan Accounts.

 

(b) Purchase Price. The Administrator shall establish the Purchase Price for each Offering Period; provided, however, that the Purchase Price for each share of Stock purchased on a Purchase Date shall not be less than the lower of:

 

(i) 85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the first trading day of such Offering Period; or

 

(ii) 85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the Purchase Date.

 

(c) Number of Shares Purchased. On each Purchase Date, each Participant shall be deemed to have elected to purchase the number of shares of Stock calculated in accordance with this Subsection (c), unless the Participant has previously elected to withdraw from the Offering Period in accordance with Section 6(a). The amount then in the Participant’s Plan Account shall be divided by the Purchase Price, and the number of shares that results shall be purchased from the Company with the funds in the Participant’s Plan Account. The foregoing number of shares of Stock that may be purchased by a Participant are subject to the limitations set forth in Subsection (d) below and in Section 9. The Administrator may determine with respect to all Participants in an Offering Period that any fractional share, as calculated under this Subsection (c), shall be (i) rounded down to the next lower whole share or (ii) credited as a fractional share.

 

(d) Available Shares Insufficient. In the event that the aggregate number of shares that all Participants elect to purchase with respect to a particular Purchase Period exceeds (i) the number of shares of Stock that were available under Section 3 above for sale under the Plan on the first day of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares that were available under Section 3 above for sale under the Plan on the applicable Purchase Date, then the number of shares to which each Participant is entitled shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares available for issuance by a fraction. The numerator of such fraction is the number of shares that such Participant has elected to purchase, and the denominator of such fraction is the number of shares that all Participants have elected to purchase. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the shares available on the first day of an applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such date. In the event of a pro-rata allocation under this Section (d), the Administrator may determine in its discretion to continue all Offering Periods then in effect or terminate all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 14.

 

(e) Issuance of Stock. The shares of Stock purchased by a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of such Participant. The Company may permit or require that shares be deposited directly with a broker designated by the Company or to a designated agent of the Company, and the Company may utilize electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require that shares be retained with such broker or agent for a designated period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions of such shares. (The two preceding sentences shall apply whether or not the Participant is required to pay income tax in the United States.)

 

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(f) Tax Withholding. To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a Participant shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any shares of Stock under the Plan until such obligations, if any, are satisfied.

 

(g) Unused Cash Balances. Subject to the final sentence of Section 8(c), any amount remaining in a Participant’s Plan Account at the end of a Purchase Period solely by reason of the inability to purchase a fractional share will be carried over in the Participant’s Plan Account to the next Offering Period or Purchase Period, as applicable. Any amount remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account that represents the Purchase Price for whole shares that could not be purchased by reason of Subsections (c) or (d) above or Section 9(b) or 9(c) shall be refunded to the Participant in cash, without interest (except as otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction).

 

(h) Stockholder Approval. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no shares of Stock shall be purchased under the Plan unless and until the Company’s stockholders have approved the adoption of the Plan.

 

SECTION 9. PLAN LIMITATIONS.

 

(a) Five Percent Limit. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no Participant shall be granted a right to purchase Stock under the Plan if, immediately after such right is granted, such Participant would own stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation, applying the stock attribution rules of Code Section 424(d), and including any stock in which the Participant may purchase under outstanding options as stock owned by such Participant.

 

(b) Dollar Limit. As specified by Code Section 423(b)(8), no Participant shall be entitled to accrue rights to purchase Stock pursuant to any such rights outstanding under the Plan if and to the extent such accrual, when aggregated with (i) rights to purchase Stock accrued under any other right to purchase Stock under the Plan, and (ii) similar rights accrued under other employee stock purchase plans (within the meaning of Code Section 423) of the Company or any Related Corporation, would otherwise permit such Participant to purchase more than $25,000 worth of Stock of the Company or any Related Corporation (determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value per share on the date such rights are granted, and which, with respect to the Plan, will be determined as of the beginning of the respective Offering Period) for each calendar year such rights are at any time outstanding.

 

If a Participant is precluded by this Subsection (b) from purchasing additional Stock under the Plan, then his or her employee contributions shall automatically be discontinued and shall automatically resume at the beginning of the next Purchase Period with a scheduled Purchase Date in the next calendar year, provided that he or she is an Eligible Employee at the beginning of such Purchase Period.

 

(c) Purchase Period Share Purchase Limit. The Administrator may establish one or more limits on the number of shares of Stock that may be purchased during any Offering Period and/or Purchase Period, including individual limits and/or aggregate limits. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise with respect to an Offering Period, any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no Participant shall purchase more than 3,000 shares of Stock with respect to any Purchase Period.

 

SECTION 10. RIGHTS NOT TRANSFERABLE.

 

The rights of any Participant under the Plan, or any Participant’s interest in any Stock or moneys to which he or she may be entitled under the Plan, shall not be transferable by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of law, or in any other manner other than by beneficiary designation or the laws of descent and distribution. If a Participant in any manner attempts to transfer, assign or otherwise encumber his or her rights or interest under the Plan, other than by beneficiary designation or the laws of descent and distribution, then such act shall be treated as an election by the Participant to withdraw from the Plan under Section 6(a).

 

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SECTION 11. NO RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE.

 

Nothing in the Plan or in any right granted under the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of a Participating Company for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Participating Companies or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

 

SECTION 12. NO RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

 

A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock that he or she may have a right to purchase under the Plan until such shares have been purchased on the applicable Purchase Date.

   

SECTION 13. SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS.

 

Shares of Stock shall not be issued, and the Company shall have no liability for failure to issue shares of Stock, under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such shares comply with (or are exempt from) all applicable requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange or other securities market on which the Company’s securities may then be traded.

 

SECTION 14. AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE.

 

(a) General Rule. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. If the Plan is terminated, the Administrator, in its discretion, may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of shares of Stock on the next Purchase Date, or may elect to permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 3(c) or (d)). If the Offering Periods are terminated prior to expiration, all amounts then credited to Participants’ accounts which have not been used to purchase shares of Stock will be returned to the Participants (without interest thereon, except as otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction) as soon as administratively practicable.

 

(b) Administrator’s Discretion. Without stockholder consent and without limiting Subsection (a) above, the Administrator will be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Compensation, amend any outstanding purchase rights or clarify any ambiguities regarding the terms of any Offering Period, in each case to enable the purchase rights to qualify under and/or comply with Section 423 of the Code, and establish such other limitations or procedures as it determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan. The actions of the Administrator pursuant to this paragraph will not be considered to alter or impair the purchase rights granted under an Offering Period as they are to be deemed part of the initial terms of such Offering Period and purchase rights.

 

(c) Accounting Considerations. In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify, amend or terminate the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

 

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(i) Amending the Plan to conform with the safe harbor definition under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or successor provision), including with respect to an Offering Period underway at the time;

 

(ii) Altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;

 

(iii) Shortening any Offering Period (and any Purchase Periods encompassed by such Offering Period) by setting a new Purchase Date, including with respect to an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator’s action;

 

(iv) Reducing the maximum percentage of Compensation a Participant may elect to set aside as payroll deductions; and

 

(v) Reducing the maximum number of shares of Stock a Participant may purchase during any Purchase Period.

 

Such modifications or amendments will not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Plan Participants. The actions of the Administrator pursuant to this paragraph will not be considered to alter or impair the purchase rights granted under an Offering Period as they are to be deemed part of the initial terms of such Offering Period and purchase rights.

 

(d) Stockholder Approval. Except as provided in Section 3, any increase in the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, any other amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent required under Section 14(e) or by any applicable law or regulation.

 

(e) Plan Termination. The Plan shall terminate automatically 20 years after its adoption by the Board, unless (i) the Plan is extended by the Board and (ii) the extension is approved within 12 months by a vote of the stockholders of the Company.

 

SECTION 15. DEFINITIONS.

 

(a) “Administrator” means the Board or any Committee administering the Plan in accordance with Section 2.

 

(b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

 

(c) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(d) “Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board, or of other individuals satisfying applicable laws, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

(e) “Company” means Oklo Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(f) “Compensation” means, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator with respect to an Offering Period, those components of a Participant’s cash compensation (prior to reductions pursuant to Code Sections 125, 132(f) or 401(k)) that are regular and recurring, including cash base salary or base hourly pay but excluding any overtime pay or shift differentials, commissions, annual cash incentive compensation, and annual cash bonuses, and further excluding extraordinary cash items (such as one-time bonuses), as well as all non-cash items, moving or relocation allowances, cost-of-living or tax equalization payments, car allowances, tuition reimbursements, imputed income attributable to cars or life insurance, severance pay, fringe benefits, contributions or benefits received under employee benefit plans, payments for or related to equity compensation, and any similar items. The Administrator shall determine whether a particular item is included in Compensation.

 

 9 

 

 

(g) “Corporate Reorganization” means:

 

(i) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization; or

 

(ii) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(h) “Eligible Employee” means a common law employee of a Participating Company, provided, however, that the Administrator may exclude one or more of the following categories of employees (where exclusion of such employees is permitted by applicable law) from any Offering Period: (i) employees who have been employed less than two years (or any shorter period of time established for an Offering Period), (ii) employees who are customarily employed twenty (20) or less hours per week (or any lesser number of hours per week established for an Offering Period), (iii) employees who are customarily employed for five (5) months or less in a calendar year (or any lesser number of months in a calendar year established for an Offering Period), (iv) “highly compensated employees” (within the meaning of Code Section 414(q)) or (v) “highly compensated employees” (within the meaning of Code Section 414(q)) with Compensation above a certain level and/or who are subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. In addition, an individual shall not be considered an Eligible Employee if his or her participation in the Plan is prohibited by the law of any country that has jurisdiction over him or her or if complying with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan or an Offering Period to violate the requirements of Code Section 423. With respect to a Base Offering Period, any criteria used to determine Eligible Employees shall be determined in a manner consistent with Code Section 423. In the case of an Offering Period that is not intended to qualify under Code Section 423, the Administrator may exclude any individual(s) from participation if the Administrator determines the participation of such individual(s) is not advisable or practicable.

 

(i) “Enrollment Period” means a period prior to the start of an Offering Period during which Eligible Employees must submit the required enrollment forms to participate in such Offering Period, which period shall end at least five (5) business days (or such other date as may be specified in advance by the Administrator) prior to the start of the Offering Period.

 

(j) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(k) “Fair Market Value” means the price at which Stock was last sold in the principal U.S. market for the Stock on the applicable date or, if the applicable date was not a trading day, on the last trading day prior to the applicable date. If Stock is no longer traded on a public U.S. securities market, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate. The Administrator’s determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

(l) “Initial Pool” means 2,441,926 shares of Stock.

 

(m) “Merger Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of July 11, 2023, by and among the Company, AltC Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“SPAC”), and AltC Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of SPAC.

 

(n) “Offering Period” means any period, including as the context requires the Base Offering Periods and Additional Offering Periods, with respect to which the right to purchase Stock may be granted under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 4(a).

 

 10 

 

 

(o) “Participant” means an Eligible Employee who participates in the Plan or any Sub-Plan, as provided in Section 4.

 

(p) “Participating Company” means (i) the Company and (ii) each present or future Subsidiary designated by the Administrator as a Participating Company.

 

(q) “Plan” means this Oklo Inc. 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(r) “Plan Account” means the account established for each Participant pursuant to Section 8(a).

 

(s) “Purchase Date” means the last trading day of a Purchase Period.

 

(t) “Purchase Period” means a period within an Offering Period (which for an Offering Period with only a single Purchase Period would be coterminous with the Offering Period) during which contributions may be made toward the purchase of Stock under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 4(a).

 

(u) “Purchase Price” means the price at which Participants may purchase Stock under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 8(b).

 

(v) “Related Corporation” means any “parent corporation” of the Company as defined in Code Section 424(e) or any Subsidiary.

 

(w) “Stock” means the Class A common stock of the Company.

 

(x) “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

 

 11 

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

 

 

2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

of

 

Oklo Inc.

 

i

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

Page

 

1.   Purpose 1
2.   Eligibility 1
3.   Administration and Delegation 1
(a)   Administration by the Board 1
(b)   Appointment of Committees 1
4.   Stock Available for Awards 2
(a)   Number of Shares 2
(b)   Substitute Awards 2
5.   Stock Options 2
(a)   General 2
(b)   Incentive Stock Options 2
(c)   Exercise Price 3
(d)   Duration of Options 3
(e)   Exercise of Options 3
(f)   Payment Upon Exercise 4
6.   Stock Appreciation Rights 5
(a)   General 5
(b)   Measurement Price 5
(c)   Duration of SARs 5
(d)   Exercise of SARs 5
7.   Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units 5
(a)   General 5
(b)   Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards 5
(c)   Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock 5
(d)   Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units 6
8.   Other Stock-Based Awards 6
(a)   General 6
(b)   Terms and Conditions 6
(c)   Additional Limitations for Other Stock-Based Awards 7
9.   Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events 7
(a)   Changes in Capitalization 7
(b)   Reorganization Events 7
(c)   Additional Restriction Regarding Recapitalizations, Stock Splits, Etc 9
10.   General Provisions Applicable to Awards 9
(a)   Transferability of Awards 9
(b)   Documentation 10
(c)   Board Discretion 10
(d)   Termination of Status 10
(e)   Withholding 10
(f)   Amendment of Award 10
(g)   Conditions on Delivery of Stock 11
(h)   Acceleration 11
(i)   Additional Limitations on Timing of Awards 11

 

ii

 

 

11.   Miscellaneous 11
(a)   No Right To Employment or Other Status 11
(b)   No Rights As Stockholder 11
(c)   Effective Date and Term of Plan 11
(d)   Amendment of Plan 11
(e)   Authorization of Sub-Plans (including Grants to non-U.S. Employees) 12
(f)   Compliance with Section 409A of the Code 12
(g)   Limitations on Liability 12
(h)   Governing Law 12

 

iii

 

 

 

2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

of

 

Oklo Inc.

 

1.     Purpose

 

The purpose of this 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Oklo Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”); provided, however, that such other business ventures shall be limited to entities that, where required by Section 409A of the Code, are eligible issuers of service recipient stock (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E), or applicable successor regulation).

 

2.     Eligibility

 

All of the Company’s employees, officers and directors, as well as consultants and advisors to the Company (as such terms consultants and advisors are defined and interpreted for purposes of Rule 701 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (or any successor rule)) are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan. Each person who is granted an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant.” “Award” means Options (as defined in Section 5), SARs (as defined in Section 6), Restricted Stock (as defined in Section 7), Restricted Stock Units (as defined in Section 7) and Other Stock-Based Awards (as defined in Section 8).

 

3.     Administration and Delegation

 

(a)     Administration by the Board. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award.

 

(b)     Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (each, a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee.

 

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4.     Stock Available for Awards

 

(a)     Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to 1,411,794 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), any or all of which Awards may be in the form of Incentive Stock Options (as defined in Section 5(b)). If any Award expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised, is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right), or results in any Common Stock not being issued, the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Further, shares of Common Stock tendered to the Company by a Participant to exercise an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising with respect to an Award shall be added to the number of shares of Common Stock available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. However, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, the two immediately preceding sentences shall be subject to any limitations under the Code. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

 

(b)     Substitute Awards. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a), except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.

 

5.     Stock Options

 

(a)     General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable.

 

(b)     Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. An Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option.” The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option or if the Company converts an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

 2 

 

(c)     Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify the exercise price in the applicable Option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value per share of Common Stock, as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (“Fair Market Value”), on the date the Option is granted. “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock for purposes of the Plan will be determined as follows:

 

(1)     if the Common Stock is not publicly traded, the Board will determine the Fair Market Value for purposes of the Plan using any measure of value it determines to be appropriate (including, as it considers appropriate, relying on appraisals) in a manner consistent with the valuation principles under Code Section 409A, except as the Board may expressly determine otherwise;

 

(2)     if the Common Stock trades on a national securities exchange, the closing sale price (for the primary trading session) on the date of grant; or

 

(3)     if the Common Stock does not trade on any such exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as reported by an authorized OTCBB market data vendor as listed on the OTCBB website (otcbb.com) on the date of grant.

 

For any date that is not a trading day, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock for such date will be determined by using the closing sale price or average of the bid and asked prices, as appropriate, for the immediately preceding trading day and with the timing in the formulas above adjusted accordingly. The Board can substitute a particular time of day or other measure of “closing sale price” or “bid and asked prices” if appropriate because of exchange or market procedures or can, in its sole discretion, use weighted averages either on a daily basis or such longer period as complies with Code Section 409A.

 

The Board has sole discretion to determine the Fair Market Value for purposes of the Plan, and all Awards are conditioned on the participants’ agreement that the Board’s determination is conclusive and binding even though others might make a different determination.

 

(d)     Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that no Option will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.

 

(e)     Exercise of Options.

 

(1)       Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a notice of exercise in a form of notice (which may be electronic) approved by the Company, together with payment in full (in a manner specified in Section 5(f)) of the exercise price for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following exercise.

 

 3 

 

 

(2)       Unless a Participant’s employment is terminated for cause (as defined by applicable law, the terms of the Plan or option grant or a contract of employment), in the event of termination of employment of such Participant, such Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option, to the extent that such Participant is entitled to exercise such Option on the date employment terminated, until the earlier of: (i) at least six (6) months from the date of termination, if termination was caused by such Participant’s death or disability, (ii) at least thirty (30) days from the date of termination, if termination was caused other than by such Participant’s death or disability and (iii) the Option expiration date.

 

(f)      Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

 

(1)     in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

 

(2)     when the Common Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;

 

(3)     when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act and to the extent provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value, provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law, (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant for such minimum period of time, if any, as may be established by the Board in its discretion and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;

 

(4)     to the extent provided for in the applicable Nonstatutory Stock Option agreement or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, as a result of which the Participant would pay the exercise price for the portion of the Option being exercised by cancelling a portion of the Option for such number of shares as is equal to the exercise price divided by the excess of the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Option exercise price per share.

 

(5)     to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion, by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or

 

(6)     by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.

 

 4 

 

 

6.     Stock Appreciation Rights

 

(a)     General. The Board may grant Awards consisting of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount of Common Stock or cash or a combination thereof (such form to be determined by the Board) determined by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock over the measurement price established pursuant to Section 6(b). The date as of which such appreciation is determined shall be the exercise date.

 

(b)     Measurement Price. The Board shall establish the measurement price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR agreement. The measurement price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted.

 

(c)     Duration of SARs. Each SAR shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable SAR agreement; provided, however, that no SAR will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.

 

(d)     Exercise of SARs. SARs may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a notice of exercise in a form (which may be electronic) approved by the Company, together with any other documents required by the Board.

 

7.     Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units

 

(a)     General. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”), subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award. The Board may also grant Awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock or cash to be delivered at the time such Award vests (“Restricted Stock Units”) (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “Restricted Stock Award”).

 

(b)     Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any.

 

(c)     Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock.

 

(1)     Dividends. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement, any dividends (whether paid in cash, stock or property) declared and paid by the Company with respect to shares of Restricted Stock (“Accrued Dividends”) shall be paid to the Participant only if and when such shares become free from the restrictions on transferability and forfeitability that apply to such shares. Each payment of Accrued Dividends will be made no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to stockholders of that class of stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the lapsing of the restrictions on transferability and the forfeitability provisions applicable to the underlying shares of Restricted Stock.

 

 5 

 

 

(2)     Stock Certificates. The Company may require that any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, as well as dividends or distributions paid on such Restricted Stock, shall be deposited in escrow by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to Participant’s Designated Beneficiary. “Designated Beneficiary” means (i) the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death or (ii) in the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” means the Participant’s estate.

 

(d)     Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units.

 

(1)     Settlement. Upon the vesting of and/or lapsing of any other restrictions (i.e., settlement) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share of Common Stock or (if so provided in the applicable Award agreement) an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock. The Board may, in its discretion, provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(2)     Voting Rights. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units.

 

(3)     Dividend Equivalents. The Award agreement for Restricted Stock Units may provide Participants with the right to receive an amount equal to any dividends or other distributions declared and paid on an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participants, may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock and may be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which paid, in each case to the extent provided in the applicable Award agreement.

 

8.     Other Stock-Based Awards

 

(a)     General. Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine.

 

(b)     Terms and Conditions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock-Based Award, including any purchase price applicable thereto.

 

 6 

 

 

(c)     Additional Limitations for Other Stock-Based Awards. The terms of all Awards granted to a Participant under this Section 8 shall comply, to the extent applicable, with Sections 260.140.42, 260.140.45 and 260.140.46 of the California Code of Regulations.

 

9.     Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events

 

(a)     Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under the Plan, (ii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iii) the share and per-share provisions and the measurement price of each outstanding SAR, (iv) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (v) the share and per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Other Stock-Based Award, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) in the manner determined by the Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

 

(b)     Reorganization Events.

 

(1)     Definition. A “Reorganization Event” shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (b) any transfer or disposition of all of the Common Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange or other transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(2)     Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards Other than Restricted Stock.

 

(i)      In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards other than Restricted Stock on such terms as the Board determines (except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in an applicable Award agreement or another agreement between the Company and the Participant): (i) provide that such Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that all of the Participant’s unexercised Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant (to the extent then exercisable) within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that outstanding Awards shall become exercisable, realizable, or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to Participants with respect to each Award held by a Participant equal to (A) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the vested portion of the Award (after giving effect to any acceleration of vesting that occurs upon or immediately prior to such Reorganization Event) multiplied by (B) the excess, if any, of (I) the Acquisition Price over (II) the exercise, measurement or purchase price of such Award and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such Award, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise, measurement or purchase price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 9(b)(2), the Board shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically.

 

 7 

 

 

(ii)     Notwithstanding the terms of Section 9(b)(2)(i), in the case of outstanding Restricted Stock Units that are subject to Section 409A of the Code: (i) if the applicable Restricted Stock Unit agreement provides that the Restricted Stock Units shall be settled upon a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i), and the Reorganization Event constitutes such a “change in control event”, then no assumption or substitution shall be permitted pursuant to Section 9(b)(2)(i)(i) and the Restricted Stock Units shall instead be settled in accordance with the terms of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit agreement; and (ii) the Board may only undertake the actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 9(b)(2)(i) if the Reorganization Event constitutes a “change in control event” as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i) and such action is permitted or required by Section 409A of the Code; if the Reorganization Event is not a “change in control event” as so defined or such action is not permitted or required by Section 409A of the Code, and the acquiring or succeeding corporation does not assume or substitute the Restricted Stock Units pursuant to clause (i) of Section 9(b)(2)(i), then the unvested Restricted Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event without any payment in exchange therefor.

 

(iii)          For purposes of Section 9(b)(2)(i)(i), an Award (other than Restricted Stock) shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, such Award confers the right to purchase or receive pursuant to the terms of such Award, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award to consist solely of such number of shares of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) that the Board determined to be equivalent in value (as of the date of such determination or another date specified by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.

 

 8 

 

 

(3)     Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Restricted Stock. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the repurchase and other rights of the Company with respect to outstanding Restricted Stock shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall, unless the Board determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to such Restricted Stock; provided, however, that the Board may provide for termination or deemed satisfaction of such repurchase or other rights under the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, either initially or by amendment. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all Restricted Stock then outstanding shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.

 

(c)     Additional Restriction Regarding Recapitalizations, Stock Splits, Etc. For purposes of this Section 9, in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or other distribution of the Company’s securities underlying the Award without the receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of securities purchasable, and in the case of Options, the exercise price of such Options, must be proportionately adjusted.

 

10.     General Provisions Applicable to Awards.

 

(a)     Transferability of Awards. Awards (or any interest in an Award, including, prior to exercise, any interest in shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of an Option or SAR) shall not be sold, assigned, transferred (including by establishing any short position, put equivalent position (as defined in Rule 16a-1 issued under the Exchange Act) or call equivalent position (as defined in Rule 16a-1 issued under the Exchange Act)), pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; except that Awards, other than Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, may be transferred to family members (as defined in Rule 701(c)(3) under the Securities Act) through gifts or (other than Incentive Stock Options) domestic relations orders or to an executor or guardian upon the disability or death of the Participant. The Company shall not be required to recognize any such permitted transfer until such time as such permitted transferee shall deliver to the Company a written instrument, as a condition to such transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 10(a) shall be deemed to restrict a transfer to the Company.

 

 9 

 

 

(b)     Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

 

(c)     Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.

 

(d)     Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, termination or other cessation of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.

 

(e)     Withholding. The Participant must satisfy all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax withholding obligations before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership of Common Stock under an Award. The Company may decide to satisfy the withholding obligations through additional withholding on salary or wages. If the Company elects not to or cannot withhold from other compensation, the Participant must pay the Company the full amount, if any, required for withholding or have a broker tender to the Company cash equal to the withholding obligations. Payment of withholding obligations is due before the Company will issue any shares on exercise, vesting or release from forfeiture of an Award or at the same time as payment of the exercise or purchase price unless the Company determines otherwise. If provided for in an Award or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, a Participant may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, except as otherwise provided by the Board, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income). Shares used to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.

 

(f)      Amendment of Award.

 

(1)     The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 9.

 

(2)     The Board may, without stockholder approval, amend any outstanding Award granted under the Plan to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Award. The Board may also, without stockholder approval, cancel any outstanding award (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled award.

 

 10 

 

 

(g)     Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously issued or delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and regulations and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

 

(h)     Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in whole or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in whole or in part, as the case may be.

 

(i)      Additional Limitations on Timing of Awards. No Award granted to a Participant shall become exercisable, vested or realizable, as applicable to such Award, unless the Plan has been approved by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting securities by the later of (i) within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan was adopted by the Board, or (ii) prior to or within twelve (12) months of the granting of any Award to a Participant.

 

11.     Miscellaneous.

 

(a)     No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award by virtue of the adoption of the Plan, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.

 

(b)     No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.

 

(c)     Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years from the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

 

(d)     Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that if at any time the approval of the Company’s stockholders is required as to any modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Board may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 11(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the Plan.

 

 11 

 

 

(e)     Authorization of Sub-Plans (including Grants to non-U.S. Employees). The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to the Plan containing (i) such limitations on the Board’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of such supplement.

 

(f)      Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Except as provided in individual Award agreements initially or by amendment, if and to the extent (i) any portion of any payment, compensation or other benefit provided to a Participant pursuant to the Plan in connection with Participant’s employment termination constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and (ii) the Participant is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, in each case as determined by the Company in accordance with its procedures, by which determinations the Participant (through accepting the Award) agrees that the Participant is bound, such portion of the payment, compensation or other benefit shall not be paid before the day that is six months plus one day after the date of “separation from service” (as determined under Section 409A of the Code) (the “New Payment Date”), except as Section 409A of the Code may then permit. The aggregate of any payments that otherwise would have been paid to the Participant during the period between the date of separation from service and the New Payment Date shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on such New Payment Date, and any remaining payments will be paid on their original schedule.

 

The Company makes no representations or warranty and shall have no liability to the Participant or any other person if any provisions of or payments, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not to satisfy the conditions of that section.

 

(g)     Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan, nor will such individual be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument such individual executes in such individual’s capacity as a director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer, other employee, or agent of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been or will be delegated, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Board’s approval) arising out of any act or omission to act concerning the Plan unless arising out of such person’s own fraud or bad faith.

 

(h)     Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such state that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

 

* * * *

 

 

 12 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.4

 

Oklo Inc.
2024 Equity Incentive Plan
Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award

 

You have been granted Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), each representing the right to receive one share of the Class A common stock of Oklo Inc. (the “Company” and each share, a “Common Share”) on the following terms:

 

Name of Recipient: «Name»
   
Total Number of RSUs Granted: «TotalRSUs»
   
Date of Grant: «DateGrant»
   
Vesting Schedule: [__________________], provided that you remain in continuous service as an Employee or Consultant (“Service”) through each such date.

 

You and the Company agree that these RSUs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, both of which are attached to, and made a part of, this document. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.

 

You further agree to comply with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy when selling shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

 

 

 

Oklo Inc.
2024 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

 

Grant of RSUs

Subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Grant Notice”), this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) and the Plan, the Company has granted to you the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

All capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan.

 

Nature of RSUs Your RSUs are bookkeeping entries.  They represent only the Company’s unfunded and unsecured promise to issue Common Shares on a future date.  As a holder of RSUs, you have no rights other than the rights of a general creditor of the Company.
   
Payment for RSUs No payment is required for the RSUs that you are receiving.
   
Vesting

The RSUs vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, in no event will any additional RSUs vest after your Service has terminated for any reason unless expressly provided in a written agreement between you and the Company.

 

Termination of Service/Forfeiture Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, if your Service terminates for any reason, then your RSUs will automatically be forfeited to the extent that they have not vested before the termination date and do not vest in connection with the termination of your Service.  
   
Leaves of Absence and Part-Time Work

For purposes of this award, your Service does not terminate when you go on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company in writing and if continued crediting of Service is required by applicable law, the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of your leave. However, your Service terminates when the approved leave ends, unless you immediately return to active work.

 

If you go on a leave of absence, or if you commence working on a part-time basis, the Company may adjust the vesting schedule in accordance with applicable law and the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of your leave or so that the rate of vesting is commensurate with your reduced work schedule, as applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

Settlement of RSUs

Each RSU must be settled on or following the applicable vesting date, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the RSU vests.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay any payment under this Agreement that the Company reasonably determines would violate applicable law until the earliest date the Company reasonably determines the making of the payment will not cause such a violation (in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii)); provided the Company reasonably believes the delay will not result in the imposition of excise taxes under Section 409A.

 

At the time of settlement, you will receive one Common Share for each vested RSU.

 

Section 409A

Unless you and the Company have agreed to a deferred settlement date (pursuant to procedures that the Company may prescribe at its discretion), settlement of these restricted stock units is intended to be exempt from the application of Code Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(4) and shall be administered and interpreted in a manner that complies with such exception.

 

Each installment of RSUs that vests is hereby designated as a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.

 

Section 12.3 of the Plan is hereby incorporated in this Agreement by reference.

 

No Voting Rights or Dividends Your RSUs carry neither voting rights nor rights to cash dividends.  You have no rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until your RSUs are settled by issuing Common Shares.
   
RSUs Nontransferable Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, you may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of any RSUs other than by (a) beneficiary designation, (b) a will or (c) the laws of descent and distribution.  
   
Beneficiary Designation You may dispose of your RSUs in a written beneficiary designation if, and on the form, authorized by the Company and to the extent such beneficiary designation is valid under applicable law.  If you file no beneficiary designation or if none of your designated beneficiaries survives you, then your estate will receive any vested RSUs that you hold at the time of your death.

 

 

 

 

Withholding Taxes

You represent to the Company that you have been advised to review with your own tax advisors the tax consequences of this award of RSUs and the transactions contemplated by the Grant Notice and this Agreement. You represent that you are relying solely on such advisors or acting on your own accord and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents.

 

Regardless of any action the Company or, if applicable, the Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate employing or retaining you (in any case, the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, employment tax, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to the participation in the Plan and legally applicable to you (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains your responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company and/or the Employer. You further acknowledge that the Company and the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant or vesting of the RSUs, the issuance of Common Shares upon vesting of the RSUs, the subsequent sale of Common Shares acquired pursuant to such vesting and the receipt of any dividends and/or any dividend equivalents; and (2) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the RSUs or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if you are subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, you acknowledge that the Company and/or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.

 

No Common Shares will be distributed to you unless you have made arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer for the payment of any Tax-Related Items that the Company and/or the Employer determine must be withheld. In this regard, you authorize the Company, at its sole discretion, to satisfy your Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following:

 

·       Withholding the amount of any Tax-Related Items from your wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer.

 

·      Delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to satisfy the Tax-Related Items.

 

 

 

 

 

·      Withholding Common Shares that would otherwise be issued to you when the RSUs are settled equal in value to the Tax-Related Items.

 

·      Any other means approved by the Company.

 

You agree to pay to the Company in cash any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company does not elect to satisfy by the means described above. To the extent you fail to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any required withholding taxes, you will permanently forfeit the applicable RSUs.

 

Restrictions on Issuance The Company will not issue any Common Shares to you if the issuance of Common Shares at that time would violate any law or regulation.
   
Restrictions on Resale You agree not to sell any Common Shares at a time when applicable laws, Company policies or an agreement between the Company and its underwriters prohibit a sale.  This restriction will apply as long as your Service continues and for such period of time after the termination of your Service as the Company may specify.
   
No Retention Rights You understand that neither this award nor this Agreement alters the at-will nature of your relationship with the Company.  Your award or this Agreement does not give you the right to be retained by the Company, a Parent, Subsidiary, or an Affiliate in any capacity.  The Company and its Parents, Subsidiaries, and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate your Service at any time, with or without cause.
   
Adjustments In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of your RSUs will be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
   
Recoupment Policy This award, and the Common Shares acquired upon settlement of this award, shall be subject to any Company recoupment or clawback policy in effect from time to time.
   
Titles Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if you are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the RSUs will be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent applicable laws permit, this Agreement will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
   
Successors and Assigns The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement or the Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
   
Conformity to Securities Laws You acknowledge that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all applicable laws and, to the extent applicable laws permit, will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to applicable laws.
   
Severability In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held illegal or invalid, the provision will be severable from, and the illegality or invalidity of the provision will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.
   
Applicable Law This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to its choice-of-law provisions).
   
The Plan and Other Agreements

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference.

 

The Plan, this Agreement and the Grant Notice constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding this award. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning this award are superseded. This Agreement may be amended only by another written agreement between the parties.

 

 

BY ACCEPTING THIS RSU AWARD, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLE

 

Form S-8

(Form Type)

 

Oklo Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

                                               
Security Type Security Class Title Fee Calculation Rate

Amount Registered(1)

Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share   Maximum Aggregate Offering Price Fee Rate Amount of Registration Fee
Equity

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share

Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) 27,305,265(2) $7.44(5) $203,151,171.60 0.00014760 $29,985.11
Equity

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share

Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) 2,441,926(3) $7.44(5) $18,167,929.44 0.00014760 $2,681.59
Equity

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share

Rule 457(h) 10,432,749(4) $1.84(6) $19,196,258.20   0.00014760 $2,833.37
Total Offering Amounts   $240,515,359.24   $35,500.07
Total Fee Offsets (7)      
Net Fee Due       $35,500.07

  

(1)Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement on Form S-8 (“Registration Statement”) also covers any additional number of shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of Oklo Inc. (the “Company”) that become issuable under the Oklo Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), the Oklo Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Plan”) and the Oklo Inc. 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2024 ESPP”) by reason of any stock splits, stock dividends or other distribution, recapitalization or similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(2)Represents shares of Common Stock authorized for future issuance under the 2024 Plan as of the date of this Registration Statement, which includes (i) 15,872,516 shares of Common Stock initially reserved for issuance under the 2024 Plan, plus (ii) 10,432,749 shares of Common Stock that may become available under the 2024 Plan upon the expiration, lapse, or forfeiture of awards outstanding under the 2016 Plan, plus (iii) an additional 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock that may become issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock unit awards granted under the 2024 Plan, but that are canceled or forfeited, and returned to the 2024 Plan in the future. To the extent outstanding options under the 2016 Plan are forfeited, expire or lapse unexercised or unsettled, such shares of Common Stock subject to such awards will be available for future issuance under the 2024 Plan. See footnote 4 below.
(3)Represents shares of Common Stock authorized for future issuance under the 2024 ESPP as of the date of this Registration Statement, which includes 2,441,926 shares of Common Stock initially reserved for issuance under the 2024 ESPP.

(4) Represents shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options under the 2016 Plan as of the date of this Registration Statement. To the extent outstanding options under the 2016 Plan are forfeited, expire or lapse unexercised or unsettled, such shares of Common Stock subject to such options will be available for future issuance under the 2024 Plan. See footnote 2 above.

(5)Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act. The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share is based on the average of the high and low sales price per share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on July 8, 2024.
(6)The proposed maximum offer price per share has been determined pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. The proposed maximum offering price per share is $1.84 per share, which is the weighted-average exercise price of stock option awards outstanding under the 2016 Plan as of the date of the Registration Statement.
(7)The Registrant does not have any fee offsets.