As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2018

Registration No. 333-219839

Registration No. 333-197463

Registration No. 333-214926

Registration No. 333-214927

Registration No. 333-127743

Registration No. 333-227540

Registration No. 333-91395

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Post-Effective Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

 

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

DELAWARE   83-1269307

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

225 Bush Street, Seventeenth Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

(866) 352-3267

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2005 EQUITY COMPSENATION PLAN OF LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

LIVERAMP, INC. 2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

PIPPIO, INC. 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

ARBOR EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

SOLVE MEDIA, INC. 2009 STOCK PLAN

CIRCULATE EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

AMENDED AND RESTATED KEY ASSOCIATE STOCK OPTION PLAN OF LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

2011 NONQUALIFIED EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

2005 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN OF LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

2018 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN OF PACIFIC DATA PARTNERS LLC

(Full title of the plans)

 

 

Jerry C. Jones

Chief Ethics and Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary

LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.

225 Bush Street, Seventeenth Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

(866) 352-3267

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Michael C. Labriola, Esq.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Professional Corporation

1700 K Street, NW, Fifth Floor

Washington, DC 20006

(202) 973-8800

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐      Smaller Reporting Company  
Emerging growth company       

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

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

On September 20, 2018, Acxiom Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Acxiom ”), adopted a holding company form of organizational structure whereby Acxiom became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Acxiom Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Registrant ”). The holding company organizational structure was implemented by the merger (the “ Merger ”) of High Garden Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant, with and into Acxiom with Acxiom surviving. By virtue of the Merger, which was completed on September 20, 2018, each share of Acxiom’s outstanding common stock was converted, on a share-for-share basis, into a share of common stock of the Registrant, having the same rights, powers, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as the common stock of Acxiom.

On October 1, 2018, the Registrant closed the sale of Acxiom Marketing Solutions business (the “ AMS Sale ”) to The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Upon closing of the AMS Sale, the Registrant changed its name to “LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.” to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RAMP” (the foregoing transactions, the “ Name Change ”).

The purpose of this Amendment is solely to make certain updates to reflect the Name Change. This Amendment pertains to the adoption by the Registrant of the below-listed registration statements on Form S-8 (each, a “ Registration Statement ,” together, the “ Registration Statements ”):

 

   

Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation, Registration No. 333-219839, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 9, 2017;

 

   

LiveRamp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, Registration No. 333-197463, filed with the SEC on July 16, 2014;

 

   

Pippio, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, Registration No. 333-214926, filed with the SEC on December 6, 2016;

 

   

Arbor Equity Compensation Plan, Registration No. 333-214926, filed with the SEC on December 6, 2016;

 

   

Solve Media, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan, Registration No. 333-214926, filed with the SEC on December 6, 2016;

 

   

Circulate Equity Compensation Plan, Registration No. 333-214926, filed with the SEC on December 6, 2016;

 

   

Amended and Restated Key Associate Stock Option Plan of Acxiom Corporation, Registration No. 333-91395, filed with the SEC on November 22, 1999;

 

   

2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan, Registration No. 333-214927, filed with the SEC on December 6, 2016;

 

   

2005 Stock Purchase Plan of Acxiom Corporation, Registration No. 333-127743, filed with the SEC on August 22, 2005;

 

   

2018 Equity Compensation Plan of Pacific Data Partners LLC, Registration No. 333-227540, filed with the SEC on September 26, 2018.

In connection with the Merger, the Registrant assumed the plans of Acxiom and all of the outstanding equity awards under the plans. Each outstanding equity award assumed by the Registrant under the plans is issuable upon the same terms and conditions as were in effect immediately prior to the completion of the Merger, except that all such equity awards now entitle the holder thereof to acquire the equity interests of the Registrant. The Registrant is the successor issuer of Acxiom under Rule 12g-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”). In accordance with Rule 414 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant, as the successor registrant to Acxiom, hereby expressly adopts the Registration Statements as their own for all purposes of the Exchange Act. Registration fees were paid at the time of the original filings of the Registration Statements.


PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents and information, which have been filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are hereby incorporated by reference in this registration statement. However, we do not incorporate by reference those items which were not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

 

 

Acxiom Corporation’s (“Acxiom”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended March 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on May 25, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 1, filed with the SEC on July 30, 2018;

 

 

Acxiom’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018, filed with the Commission on August 9, 2018;

 

 

Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 21, 2018;

 

 

Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 1, 2018;

 

 

all other reports filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, since March 31, 2018 (except to the extent information contained in Current Reports on Form 8-K therein is furnished and not filed); and

 

 

the description of our Common Stock to be offered hereby is contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on October 1, 2018, including any further amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein, modified or supersedes such statement. Except as so modified or superseded, such statement shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this registration statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.


Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Company is a Delaware corporation. Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) enables a corporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty, except:

 

   

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions); or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision eliminating, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the liability of the Company’s directors to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or any individual serving at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another organization, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding provided that such director, officer, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, provided further that such director, officer, employee or agent had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The DGCL provides that the indemnification described above shall not be deemed exclusive of any other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation pursuant to its by-laws, disinterested directors’ vote, stockholders’ vote, agreement or otherwise.

The DGCL also provides corporations with the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in a similar capacity for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability as described above.

In accordance with Section 145(a) of the DGCL, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for indemnification of directors and officers of the Company against liability they may incur in their capacities as such and to the extent authorized by Delaware corporate law.

Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Company may maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance on behalf of the directors and officers of the Company and those serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise, against liability asserted against such persons in such capacity whether or not such directors or officers have the right to indemnification pursuant to Delaware law. The Company currently has in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance.

In addition, the Company has entered into separate indemnification agreements with certain of its current and former directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements provide generally that the Company will indemnify and advance expenses to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Each director and executive officer party to an indemnification agreement is entitled to be indemnified against all expenses, judgments, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.


Item 8. Exhibits.

 

         Incorporated by Reference        

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

  Form     Filing Date/
Period
End Date
    Filed
Herewith
 
4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)     8-K       10/1/2018    
4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)     8-K       10/1/2018    
4.3    Specimen Common Stock Certificate (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)     8-K       10/1/2018    
5.1    Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation         X  
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.         X  
23.2    Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation (contained in Exhibit 5.1).         X  
24.1    Power of attorney (contained on signature pages of this registration statement)         X  
99.1    Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Compensation Plan of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.         X  
99.2    LiveRamp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan         X  
99.3    Pippio, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan         X  
99.4    Arbor Equity Compensation Plan         X  
99.5    Solve Media, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan         X  
99.6    Circulate Equity Compensation Plan         X  
99.7    Amended and Restated Key Associate Stock Plan of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.         X  
99.8    2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan         X  
99.9    2005 Stock Purchase Plan of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.         X  
99.10    2018 Equity Compensation Plan of Pacific Data Partners LLC         X  

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

  (a)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(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% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(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) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

  (2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement 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.

 

  (c)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant 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 registrant 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 of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Francisco, State of California, on the 2nd day of October, 2018.

 

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jerry C. Jones

Name:   Jerry C. Jones
Title:   Chief Ethics and Legal Officer,
  Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned, a director or officer, or both, of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (“LiveRamp”), acting pursuant to authorization of the Board of Directors of LiveRamp, hereby appoints Catherine L. Hughes and Jerry C. Jones, or any one of them, attorneys-in-fact and agents for me and in my name and on my behalf, individually and as a director or officer, or both, of LiveRamp, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-8, together with all necessary exhibits, and any amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements thereto, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the issuance and sale of shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value per share, of LiveRamp to be issued and delivered in accordance with the the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the LiveRamp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, the Pippio, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the Arbor Equity Compensation Plan, the Solve Media, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan, the Circulate Equity Compensation Plan, the Amended and Restated Key Associate Stock Option Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the 2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan, the 2005 Stock Purchase Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the Pacific Data Partners LLC 2018 Equity Compensation Plan, and generally to do and perform all things necessary to be done in connection with the foregoing as fully in all respects as I could do personally.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand as of the 1st day of October, 2018.

 

Signed:  

/s/ John L. Battelle

Name:   JOHN L. BATTELLE, Director
Signed:  

/s/ Timothy R. Cadogan

Name:   TIMOTHY R. CADOGAN, Director
Signed:  

/s/ William T. Dillard II

Name:   WILLIAM T. DILLARD II, Director
Signed:  

/s/ Richard P. Fox

Name:   RICHARD P. FOX, Director
Signed:  

/s/ Jerry D. Gramaglia

Name:   JERRY D. GRAMAGLIA, Director
  (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board)
Signed:  

/s/ William J. Henderson

Name:   WILLIAM J. HENDERSON, Director
Signed:  

/s/ Scott E. Howe

Name:   SCOTT E. HOWE, Director and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
Signed:  

/s/ Clark M. Kokich

Name:   CLARK M. KOKICH, Director
Signed:  

/s/ Debora B. Tomlin

Name:   DEBORA B. TOMLIN, Director
Signed:  

/s/ Warren C. Jenson

Name:   WARREN C. JENSON, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President & President-International Division (principal financial and accounting officer)

 

Exhibit 5.1

October 2, 2018

LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.

225 Bush Street, Seventeenth Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about October 1, 2018 (the “Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of shares of common stock, par value $0.10, of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (“Common Stock”), reserved for issuance pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the LiveRamp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, the Pippio, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the Arbor Equity Compensation Plan, the Solve Media, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan, the Circulate Equity Compensation Plan, the Amended and Restated Key Associate Stock Option Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the 2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan, the 2005 Stock Purchase Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the Pacific Data Partners LLC 2018 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plans”). As your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the actions proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale and issuance of the shares of Common Stock under the Plans (collectively, the “Shares”).

It is our opinion that the Shares will be, when issued and sold in the manner referred to in the Plan, legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the Registration Statement and any subsequent amendment thereto. In giving such consent, we do not consider that we are “experts” within the meaning of such term as used in the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this opinion as an exhibit or otherwise.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,

Professional Corporation

WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI

Professional Corporation

 

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors

LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our report with respect to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference herein.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Dallas, Texas

October 2, 2018

Exhibit 99.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

2005 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

OF

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

1. Establishment and Purpose. This Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Compensation Plan of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Plan”) was originally established under the name of the 2000 Associate Stock Option Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the predecessor of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (“Company”). The Plan has been amended from time to time and was amended and restated as set forth herein, effective February 13, 2018, for awards issued on or after that date. The purpose of the Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company and any of its present or future Subsidiaries and Affiliated Companies (as defined below) by allowing certain Associates (as defined below) to acquire or increase equity ownership in the Company, thereby offering such Associates a proprietary interest in the Company’s business and a more direct stake in its continuing welfare, and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is also intended to assist the Company in attracting and retaining talented Associates, who are vital to the continued development and success of the Company.

2. Definitions . The following capitalized terms, when used in the Plan, have the following meanings:

(a) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(b) “Affiliated Company” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest.

(c) “Associate” means any employee, officer (whether or not also a director), director, affiliate, independent contractor or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company who renders those types of services which tend to contribute to the success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies, or which may reasonably be anticipated to contribute to the future success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies.

(d) “Award” means the grant, pursuant to the Plan, of any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Awards, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Qualified Performance-Based Award, or Other Stock Unit Award. The terms and conditions applicable to an Award shall be set forth in applicable Grant Documents.

(e) “Award Agreement” means any written or electronic agreement, contract, or other document or instrument evidencing any Award granted by the Committee or the Board hereunder, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(h) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 16 of the Plan.

 

1


(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (as well as any successor to the Compensation Committee and any Company officers to whom authority has been lawfully delegated by the Compensation Committee). All of the members of the Committee, which may not be less than two, are intended at all times to qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and each of whom is “independent” as set forth in the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or Nasdaq or any stock exchange upon which the Shares may be listed in the future; provided, however, that the failure of a member of such Committee to so qualify shall not be deemed to invalidate any Award granted by such Committee.

(j) “Covered Associate” shall mean a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.

(k) “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, on which a grant of an Award will become effective.

(l) “Exercise Period” means the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representatives or transferees) as specified in Section 6(c) below.

(m) “Exercise Price” means the purchase price per share payable upon exercise of an Option.

(n) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any applicable determination date or for any applicable determination period, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading).

(o) “Grant Documents” means any written or electronic Award Agreement, memorandum, notice, and/or other document or instrument evidencing the terms and conditions of the grant of an Award by the Committee or the Board under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(p) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(q) “Legal Requirements” means any laws, or any rules or regulations issued or promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service (including Section 422 of the Code), the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading), or any other governmental or quasi-governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company, the Common Stock or the Plan.

(r) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2


(s) “Option” means an option granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan to acquire a certain number of Shares at such price(s) and during such period(s) and under such other terms and conditions as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time.

(t) “Other Stock Unit Award” means any right granted to a Participant by the Committee or Board pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

(u) “Participant” means an Associate who is selected by the Committee or the Board to receive an Award under the Plan.

(v) “Performance Award” means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

(w) “Performance Goals” means the pre-established objective performance goals established by the Committee for each Performance Period. The Performance Goals may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant, using one or more of the Performance Measures selected by the Committee in its discretion. Performance Goals may be set at a specific level, or may be expressed as a relative percentage to the comparable measure at comparison companies or a defined index. Performance Goals shall, to the extent applicable, be based upon generally accepted accounting principles, but shall be adjusted by the Committee to take into account the effect of the following: changes in accounting standards that may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board after the Performance Goal is established; realized investment gains and losses; extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring, or infrequent items; “non-GAAP financial measures” that have been included in the Company’s quarterly earnings releases and disclosed to investors in accordance with SEC regulations; and other items as the Committee determines to be required so that the operating results of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company shall be computed on a comparative basis from Performance Period to Performance Period. Determinations made by the Committee shall be based on relevant objective information and/or financial data, and shall be final and conclusive with respect to all affected parties.

(x) “Performance Measures” means one or more of the following criteria, on which Performance Goals may be based: (a) earnings (either in the aggregate or on a per-Share basis, reflecting dilution of Shares as the Committee deems appropriate and, if the Committee so determines, net of or including dividends) before or after interest and taxes (“EBIT”) or before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”); (b) gross or net revenue or changes in annual revenues; (c) cash flow(s) (including operating, free or net cash flows); (d) financial return ratios; (e) total stockholder return, stockholder return based on growth measures or the attainment by the Shares of a specified value for a specified period of time, (f) Share price, or Share price appreciation; (g) earnings growth or growth in earnings per Share; (h) return measures, including return or net return on assets, net assets, equity, capital, investment, or gross sales; (i) adjusted pre-tax margin; (j) pre-tax profits; (k) operating margins; (l) operating profits; (m) operating expenses; (n) dividends; (o) net income or net operating income; (p) growth in operating earnings or growth in earnings per Share; (q) value of assets; (r) market share or market penetration with respect to specific designated products or product groups and/or specific geographic areas; (s) aggregate product price and other product measures; (t) expense or cost

 

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levels, in each case, where applicable, determined either on a company-wide basis or in respect of any one or more specified divisions; (u) reduction of losses, loss ratios or expense ratios; (v) reduction in fixed costs; (w) operating cost management; (x) cost of capital; (y) debt reduction; (z) productivity improvements; (aa) satisfaction of specified business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; (bb) customer satisfaction based on specified objective goals or a Company-sponsored customer survey; or (cc) Associate diversity goals.

Performance Measures may be applied on a pre-tax or post-tax basis, and may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant. The Committee may, at time of grant, in the case of an Award intended to be a Qualified Performance-Based Award, and in the case of other grants, at any time, provide that the Performance Goals for such Award may include or exclude items to measure specific objectives, such as losses from discontinued operations, extraordinary gains or losses, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, acquisitions or divestitures, foreign exchange impacts, and any unusual nonrecurring gain or loss.

(y) “Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee or the Board at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee or the Board with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(z) “Performance Share” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(aa) “Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of property other than a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(bb) “Qualified Performance-Based Award” means an Award to a Covered Associate who is a salaried employee of the Company or to an Associate that the Committee determines may be a Covered Associate at the time the Company would be entitled to a deduction for such Award, which Award is intended to provide “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m).

(cc) “Restricted Stock” means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, or assign such Share and with such other restrictions as the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, may impose (including, without limitation, any forfeiture condition or any restriction on the right to vote such Share, and the right to receive any cash dividends on unvested shares), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee or the Board may deem appropriate.

 

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(dd) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under Section 8 hereof.

(ee) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right awarded to a Participant that, subject to Section 8(c), may result in the Participant’s ownership of Shares upon, but not before, the lapse of restrictions related thereto.

(ff) “Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee or Board pursuant to Sections 8 and 10 below.

(gg) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Act, as such Rule may be in effect from time to time.

(hh) “Shares” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $.10 par value, as may be adjusted in accordance with Section 16 of the Plan.

(ii) “Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan, to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of such right and, if applicable, a related Option, and receive cash or shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.

(jj) “Strike Price” shall have the meaning set forth for such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

(kk) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power or equity interests represented by all classes of stock, membership or other interests issued by such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity.

(ll) “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.

(mm) “UK Addendum” means the addendum set forth on Schedule A.

3. Administration . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Board. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Committee or the Board has the full authority and discretion to administer the Plan, and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the authority and discretion to:

(a) select the Associates eligible to become Participants under the Plan;

(b) determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted;

(c) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each grant;

(d) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any grant hereunder (including, but not limited to, the term of the Award, the Exercise Price or Strike Price and any restriction, limitation, procedure, or deferral related thereto, provisions relating to the effect upon the Award of a Participant’s cessation of employment, acceleration of vesting, forfeiture provisions regarding an Award and/or the profits received by any

 

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Participant from receiving an Award of exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and any other terms and conditions regarding any Award, based in each case upon such guidelines and factors as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time in their sole discretion);

(e) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants under the Plan are to be made and operate, whether on a tandem basis or otherwise, with other grants or awards (whether equity or cash based) made by the Company under or outside of the Plan; and

(f) delegate to one or more officers of the Company the right to grant Awards under the Plan, provided that such delegation is made in accordance with the provisions of applicable state and federal laws.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award granted under thereunder (and any Grant Documents relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall also have the authority to provide, in their discretion, for the rescission, forfeiture, cancellation or other restriction of any Award granted under the Plan, or for the forfeiture, rescission or repayment to the Company by a Participant or former Participant of any profits or gains related to any Award granted hereunder, or other limitations, upon the occurrence of such prescribed events and under such circumstances as the Committee or the Board shall deem necessary and reasonable for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that this provision shall have no application after a Change in Control Event (as defined below in Section 11) has occurred.

All decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s or Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons including the Company and any Participant. No member of the Committee or Board will be liable for any such action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made in good faith.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the exclusive authority and discretion to award, administer or otherwise take any action required or permitted to be taken with respect to Qualified Performance-Based Awards or under any provisions of the Plan with respect to Awards that are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

4. Shares Subject to the Plan .

(a) The total number of Shares (“Total Shares”) which may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed 28,425,000 Shares; provided, that the Total Shares shall be increased to 32,875,000 Shares, subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders within one year of June 21, 2017. Such Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, as determined in the discretion of the Committee or the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4, in no event will more than the Total Shares be cumulatively available for Awards of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.

(b) If any Award made under the Plan is forfeited, any Option (and the related Stock Appreciation Right, if any), or any Stock Appreciation Right not related to an Option terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, or any Stock Appreciation Right is exercised for cash, the Shares subject to such Awards that are, as a result, not delivered to the Participant shall again be available for delivery in connection with Awards. If a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, the total number of Shares against which the Stock Appreciation Right was measured, not merely the number of Shares issued, will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available

 

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for delivery under the Plan. If the Exercise Price of any Option is satisfied by delivering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), the total number of Shares exercised, not merely the number of Shares delivered or attested to, shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery pursuant to Awards under the Plan. To the extent any Shares subject to an Award are not delivered to a Participant because such Shares are used to satisfy an applicable tax withholding obligation, such Shares that are not delivered shall be deemed delivered and shall not thereafter be available for delivery in connection with Awards.

(c) Shares available for issuance or reissuance under the Plan will be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 below.

5. Eligible Participants . All Associates shall be eligible to receive Awards and thereby become Participants in the Plan, regardless of such Associate’s prior participation in the Plan or any other benefit plan of the Company, provided that (1) only Associates who are employees of the Company or a Subsidiary may receive Incentive Stock Options; and (2) for any Performance Period for which Awards are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Awards to eligible classes of Associates as set forth in Section 14, the Committee shall designate the Associates eligible to be granted Awards no later than the 90 th day after the start of the fiscal year (or in the case of a Performance Period based upon a time period other than a fiscal year, no later than the date on which 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed). No executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s then current Proxy Statement shall be eligible to receive in excess of 400,000 Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in any one-year period.

6. Options .

(a) Grant of Options . The Committee, the Board or their authorized designees may from time to time authorize grants of Options to any Participant upon such terms and conditions as the Committee or Board may determine in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Plan. Each grant will specify, among other things, the number of Shares to which it pertains; the Exercise Price; the form of payment to be made by the Participant for the Shares purchased upon exercise of any Option; the required period or periods (if any) of continuous service by the Participant with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company and/or any other conditions to be satisfied before the Options or installments thereof will vest and become exercisable. Options granted under the Plan may be either Non-Qualified Options or Incentive Stock Options.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined on the Date of Grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed the maximum amount specified by Section 422 of the Code, as amended from time to time (currently $100,000).

Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by Grant Documents delivered to the Participant containing such further terms and provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee or Board may approve in their discretion.

(b) Exercise Price .

(i) The Exercise Price for each share of Common Stock purchasable under any Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. All such Exercise Prices shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 16 hereof.

 

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(ii) If any Participant to whom an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted under the Plan is on the Date of Grant the owner of stock (as determined under Section 425(d) of the Code) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliated Companies, then the Exercise Price per share of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the Date of Grant.

 

  (c)

Exercise Period . Subject to Section 11 hereof, the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representative(s) or transferee(s)) whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability (the “Exercise Period”) shall be such period of time as may be designated by the Committee or the Board as set forth in the Committee’s or Board’s applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or in the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Option. If the Committee or Board provides, in their sole discretion, that any Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee or Board may waive or accelerate such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant in whole or in part, based upon such factors as the Committee or Board shall determine, in their sole discretion.

The maximum duration of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant (and no such Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of such (10) year period), unless the Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Participant who, at the time of the grant, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, in which case the term may not exceed five (5) years from the Date of Grant. The duration of Non-Qualified Stock Options shall be for such period as determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, not to exceed ten years.

(d) Exercise of Option . Subject to Section 11 hereof, an Option may be exercised by a Participant at any time and from time to time during the Exercise Period by giving written notice of such exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Participant. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with subsection (e) below.

(e) Payment for Shares . Full payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option, together with the amount of any tax or excise due in respect of the sale and issue thereof, may be made in one of the following forms of payment:

(i) Cash, by check or electronic funds transfer;

(ii) Pursuant to procedures approved by the Company, through the sale (or margin) of Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Participant has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale (or if applicable margin loan) proceeds sufficient to pay for the Exercise Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by reason of such exercise;

 

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(iii) By delivering previously-owned shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for a period of at least six months having a Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the Exercise Price, or by delivering a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate Exercise Price;

(iv) By authorizing the Company to withhold a number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the aggregate Exercise Price; or

(v) By any combination of the foregoing.

Provided, however, that the payment methods described in clause (iv) immediately above shall not be available to a Participant without the prior consent of either the Committee or its authorized designee(s), or if at any time the Company is prohibited from purchasing or acquiring Shares under applicable Legal Requirements. The Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to exercise an Option and defer the issuance of any Shares, subject to such rules and procedures as the Committee or Board may establish.

The Company will issue no certificates for Shares until full payment of the Exercise Price has been made, and a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until certificates for the Shares purchased are issued; provided however, that for purposes of this Section 6, full payment shall be deemed to have been received by the Company upon evidence of delivery to a broker-dealer of the irrevocable instructions contemplated by clause (ii) immediately above.

No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an unvested Option.

(f) Withholding Taxes . The Company may require a Participant exercising a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder to reimburse the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) for taxes required by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such corporation in respect of the issuance of the Shares. Such withholding requirements may be satisfied by any one of the following methods:

(i) A Participant may deliver cash in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement;

(ii) A Participant may deliver previously-owned Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement; or

(iii) With the prior consent of either the Committee or the Board, or its authorized designees, a Participant may request that the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option such number of Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) as is necessary to satisfy the withholding requirement.

 

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(g) Conditions to Exercise of Options . The Committee or the Board may, in their discretion, require as conditions to the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the issuance of shares thereunder either (a) that a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the shares to be issued upon the exercise thereof, containing such current information as is required by the Rules and Regulations under said Act, shall have become, and continue to be, effective; or (b) that the Participant or his or her transferee(s) (i) shall have represented, warranted and agreed, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, both that he or she is acquiring the Option or Stock Appreciation Right and, at the time of exercising the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, that he or she is acquiring the shares for his/her own account, for investment and not with a view to or in connection with any distribution; (ii) shall have agreed to restrictions on transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company; and (iii) shall have agreed to an endorsement which makes appropriate reference to such representations, warranties, agreements and restrictions both on the option and on the certificate representing the shares.

(h) Use of Proceeds . Proceeds realized from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Options granted hereunder shall constitute general funds of the Company.

(i) Minimum Vesting Period . The minimum vesting period applicable to any Option shall be one (1) year from the date of grant.

7. Stock Appreciation Rights .

(a) When granted, Stock Appreciation Rights may, but need not be, identified with a specific Option (including any Option granted on or before the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights) in a number equal to or different from the number of Stock Appreciation Rights so granted. If Stock Appreciation Rights are identified with Shares subject to an Option, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the Participant’s associated Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the expiration, termination, forfeiture or cancellation of such Option or the exercise of such Option.

(b) The Strike Price of any Stock Appreciation Right shall (i) for any Stock Appreciation Right that is identified with an Option, equal the Exercise Price of such Option, or (ii) for any other Stock Appreciation Right, be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. The duration of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be for such period as determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, not to exceed ten years.

(c) Subject to Section 11 hereof, (i) each Stock Appreciation Right which is identified with any Option grant shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant as and to the extent, including the minimum vesting period provided in Section 6(i), that the related Option with respect to which such Stock Appreciation Right is identified may be exercised; and (ii) each other Stock Appreciation Right shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant, whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability, at such time or times as may be designated by the Committee or Board as set forth in

 

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the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Stock Appreciation Right; provided, however, that the minimum vesting period applicable to any such other Stock Appreciation Right shall be one (1) year from the date of grant.

(d) Subject to Section 11 hereof, Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by a Participant by delivery to the Company of written notice of intent to exercise a specific number of Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights which are identified with Shares of Common Stock subject to an Option shall result in the cancellation or forfeiture of such Option to the extent of the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right.

(e) The benefit to the Participant for each Stock Appreciation Right exercised shall be equal to (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of exercise, minus (ii) the Strike Price of such Stock Appreciation Right. Such benefit shall be payable in cash, except that the Committee or Board may provide in the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents that benefits may be paid wholly or partly in Shares of Common Stock. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an unvested Stock Appreciation Right.

8. Restricted Stock Awards .

(a) Issuance . A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee or the Board during a period of time specified by the Committee or Board (the “Restriction Period”). Restricted Stock Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

(b) Restricted Stock .

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock to those Associates the Committee or the Board may select in their sole discretion. Each Award of Restricted Stock shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in or are required by the Plan and the Grant Documents as the Committee or the Board may determine in their discretion.

(ii) While any restriction applies to any Participant’s Restricted Stock, (a) the Participant shall receive the proceeds of the Restricted Stock in any stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, or other change in the capital structure of the Company, which proceeds shall automatically and without need for any other action become Restricted Stock and be subject to all restrictions then existing as to the Participant’s Restricted Stock; (b) the Participant shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period; and (c) no dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of such Restricted Stock.

 

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(iii) The Restricted Stock will be delivered to the Participant subject to the understanding that while any restriction applies to the Restricted Stock, the Participant shall not have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of Restricted Stock or any interest therein. As a result of the retention of rights in the Restricted Stock by the Company, except as required by any applicable law, neither any shares of the Restricted Stock nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iv) Unless other provisions are specified in the Grant Documents or Plan guidelines which may be adopted by the Committee or the Board from time to time, any Restricted Stock held by the Participant at the time the Participant ceases to be an Associate for any reason shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company and automatically re-conveyed to the Company.

(v) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 17(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Restricted Stock.

(vi) The making of an Award of Restricted Stock and delivery of any Restricted Stock is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable Legal Requirements. The Company need not issue or transfer Restricted Stock pursuant to the Plan unless the Company’s legal counsel has approved all legal matters in connection with the delivery of the Restricted Stock.

(vii) The Restricted Stock will be book-entry Shares only unless the Committee or the Board decides to issue certificates to evidence any shares of Restricted Stock. The Company may place stop-transfer instructions with respect to all Restricted Stock on its stock transfer records.

(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Stock (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant of an Award of Restricted Stock to defer receipt of his or her Restricted Stock in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee or the Board. Alternatively, the Committee or the Board may, in their discretion and at the times provided above, permit an individual who would have been a Participant with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock, to elect instead to receive an equivalent Award of Restricted Stock Units, and the Committee or the Board may permit the Participant to elect to defer receipt of Shares under the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with Section 8(c)(viii).

(ix) The minimum Restriction Period applicable to any Award of Restricted Stock that is not subject to performance conditions restricting the grant size, the transfer of the shares, or the vesting of the award shall be two (2) years from the date of grant; provided, however, that a Restriction Period of less than two (2) years may be approved under the Plan for such Awards with respect to up to a total of 100,000 Shares.

 

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(c) Restricted Stock Units .

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock Units to those Associates as the Committee or the Board may select in its sole discretion. Restricted Stock Units represent the right to receive Shares in the future, at such times, and subject to such conditions as the Committee or the Board shall determine. The restrictions imposed shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A.

(ii) Until the Restricted Stock Unit is released from restrictions and any Shares subject thereto are delivered to the Participant, the Participant shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Restricted Stock Unit or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, no Restricted Stock Unit nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iii) Upon the lapse of the restrictions, the Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units shall, except as noted below, be entitled to receive, as soon as administratively practical, (a) that number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board shall determine in their sole discretion, or shall have specified at the time the Award was granted.

(iv) Restricted Stock Units and the entitlement to Shares, cash, or any combination thereunder will be forfeited and all rights of a Participant to such Restricted Stock Units and the Shares thereunder will terminate if the applicable restrictions are not satisfied.

(v) A Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g., voting rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an outstanding Restricted Stock Unit.

(vi) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 17(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to any Restricted Stock Units.

(vii) The granting of Restricted Stock Units and the delivery of any Shares is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable Legal Requirements.

 

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(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Stock Units (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to elect to defer receipt of the Shares or cash to be delivered upon lapse of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with rules and procedures that may be established from time to time by the Committee or the Board. Such rules and procedures shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A, and may provide for payment in Shares or cash.

(ix) The minimum Restriction Period applicable to any Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be one (1) year from the date of grant, provided, however, that a Restriction Period of less than one (1) year may be approved under the Plan for such Awards with respect to up to a total of 100,000 Shares.

9. Performance Awards .

(a) Grant . The Company may grant Performance Awards to Associates on any terms and conditions the Committee or the Board deem desirable. Each Award of Performance Awards shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in, or are required by, the Plan and the Grant Documents.

(b) Performance Goals . The Committee or the Board may set Performance Goals which, depending on the extent to which they are met during a Performance Period, will determine the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units that will be delivered to a Participant at the end of the Performance Period. The Performance Goals may be set at threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, and the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units to be delivered may be tied to the degree of attainment of the various performance levels specified under the various Performance Goals during the Performance Period, which may not be less than one year. No payment shall be made with respect to a Performance Award if any specified threshold performance level is not attained.

(c) Beneficial Ownership . A Participant receiving a Performance Award shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Shares subject to such Award until Shares are delivered in satisfaction of the Award, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Performance Award or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, neither the Performance Award nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(d) Determination of Achievement of Performance Awards . The Committee or the Board shall, promptly after the date on which the necessary financial, individual or other information for a particular Performance Period becomes available, determine and certify the degree to which each of the Performance Goals have been attained.

 

14


(e) Payment of Performance Awards . After the applicable Performance Period has ended, a recipient of a Performance Award shall be entitled to payment based on the performance level attained with respect to the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Performance Awards shall be settled as soon as practicable after the Committee or Board determines and certifies the degree of attainment of Performance Goals for the Performance Period. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Documents, payment to a Participant with respect to a Performance Award may be made (a) in Shares, (b) in cash, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board may determine at any time in their sole discretion.

(f) Limitation on Rights/Withholding . A recipient of a Performance Award is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g. voting rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an outstanding Performance Award. The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 17(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Performance Awards.

10. Other Stock Unit Awards . Other Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property (“Other Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or any other form of property as the Committee or the Board may determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee or the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Associates to whom such Awards shall be made, the times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards. The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant. For any Award or Shares subject to any Award made under this Section 10, the vesting of which is conditioned only on the passage of time, such Restriction Period shall be a minimum of two (2) years for full vesting. Shares (including securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards granted under this Section 10 may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an outstanding Other Stock Unit Award.

11. Change in Control . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (other than a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to such transaction own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of the surviving corporation), a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the acquisition of a significant percentage, which shall be no less than beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of 20%, of the voting power of the Company, (each a “Change in Control Event”), which shall not include preliminary transaction activities such as receipt of a letter of interest, receipt of a letter of intent or an agreement in principle, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Committee or Board may determine (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph), without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (A) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or affiliate thereof), with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (B) upon written or electronic notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control Event; (C) that, to the extent the Committee or Board may determine, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such Change in Control Event, (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award may become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; (iii) all Performance Awards may be considered to be prorated, and any deferral or other restriction may lapse and such Performance Awards may be

 

15


immediately settled or distributed (provided, for purposes of clarification, that any Performance Award converted into an Award that provides for service-based vesting will be treated in accordance with clause (ii) of this subsection 11(C)); and (iv) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan may lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards may become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested; (D) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares subject to the Award immediately prior to the occurrence of such transaction (which shall be no less than the value being paid for such Shares pursuant to such transaction as determined by the Committee or Board) over the Exercise Price or Strike Price, if applicable, of such Award, with such amount payable in cash, in one or more of the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee or Board in their discretion shall determine, or (E) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted by this Section 11, the Committee or Board will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly. Notwithstanding the definition of Change in Control Event above in this Section 11, to the extent required to avoid the adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control Event shall be deemed to occur only to the extent it also meets the requirements for a change in control event for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will vest and become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award will become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; (iii) all Performance Awards will be considered to be prorated, and any deferral or other restriction will lapse and such Performance Awards will be immediately settled or distributed; and (iv) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan will lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards will become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control Event, the Committee or Board will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this Section 11, an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control Event, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control Event is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity, the Committee or Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of any other Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control Event.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11 to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more Performance Goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such Performance Goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such Performance Goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control Event corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

 

16


12. Clawback . All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

13. Transferability of Awards .

(a) Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall not be transferred by a Participant, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Other Awards (subject to the limitations in paragraph (c) below) granted under the Plan may be transferred by a Participant to: (i) the Participant’s family members (whether related by blood, marriage, or adoption and including a former spouse); (ii) trust(s) in which the Participant’s family members have a greater than 50% beneficial interest; (iii) trusts, including but not limited to charitable remainder trusts, or similar vehicles established for estate planning and/or charitable giving purposes; and (iv) family partnerships and/or family limited liability companies which are controlled by the Participant or the Participant’s family members, such transfers being permitted to occur by gift or pursuant to a domestic relation order, or, only in the case of transfers to the entities described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) immediately above, for value. The Committee or Board, or their authorized designees may, in their sole discretion, permit transfers of Awards to other persons or entities upon the request of a Participant; provided, however, that such Awards may not be transferred to a third party financial institution for value, including as collateral. Subsequent transfers of previously transferred Awards may only be made to one of the permitted transferees named above, unless the subsequent transfer has been approved by the Committee or the Board, or their authorized designee(s). Otherwise, such transferred Awards may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time any Option is transferred as permitted under this Section 13, a corresponding Stock Appreciation Right has been identified as being granted in tandem with such Option, then the transfer of such Option shall also constitute a transfer of the corresponding Stock Appreciation Right, and such Stock Appreciation Right shall not be transferable other than as part of the transfer of the Option to which it relates.

(d) Concurrently with any transfer, the transferor shall give written notice to the Plan’s then-current Plan administrator of the name and address of the transferee, the number of Shares being transferred, the Date of Grant of the Awards being transferred, and such other information as may reasonably be required by the administrator. Following a transfer, any such Awards shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. The provisions of the Plan and applicable Grant Documents shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, and such Awards shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent that they could have been exercised by the Participant under the terms of the original Grant Documents. The Company disclaims any obligation to provide notice to a transferee of any termination or expiration of a transferred Award.

14. Code Section  162(m) Provisions and Award Limitations .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, (i) to the extent Awards to salaried employees (each an “eligible employee” for purposes of Code Section 162(m) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder with regard to stockholder approval of the material terms of the Performance Goals) are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Awards; or (ii) if the Committee

 

17


determines at the time any Award is granted to a salaried employee who is, or who may be as of the end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax deduction in connection with such Award, a Covered Associate, then the Committee may provide that this Section 14 is applicable to such Award.

(b) If an Award is subject to this Section 14, then the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, Shares or other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement or attainment of one or more objective Performance Goals as determined by the Committee, using one or more Performance Measures also as determined by the Committee. Such Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee no later than 90 days after the beginning of the Performance Period to which the Performance Goals pertain and while the attainment of the Performance Goals is substantially uncertain, and in any event no later than the date on which 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan (other than Section 11 or 15), with respect to any Award that is subject to this Section 14, the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the amount payable pursuant to such Award, and the Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable Performance Goals except in the case of the death or disability of the Participant.

(d) The Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards subject to this Section 14 as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements for “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto. Whenever the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant or pay Awards that do not qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Awards, the Committee may make grants or payments without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m).

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan other than Section 16, commencing with calendar year 2005, (i) no Participant may be granted in any twelve (12) month period an aggregate amount of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 400,000 Shares, and (ii) no Participant may be granted in any twelve (12) month period an aggregate amount of Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards, Performance Awards or Other Stock Unit Awards, with respect to more than 400,000 Shares (or cash amounts based on the value of more than 400,000 Shares).

(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan other than Section 16, commencing with calendar year 2015, no director of the Company may be granted in any twelve (12) month period an aggregate amount of equity having a value of more than $400,000 on the date of grant, under this Plan or any other equity compensation plan sponsored by the Company.

15. Alteration, Termination, Discontinuance, Suspension, and Amendment .

(a) The Committee or the Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to qualify for or comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Committee or Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply; or (ii) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would impair the rights

 

18


of such Participant under any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee or the Board may make technical amendments to the Plan as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to any Legal Requirements in any jurisdiction within or outside the United States, so long as stockholder approval of such technical amendments is not required.

(b) The Committee or Board may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, except to the extent that such action would cause an Award subject to Section 14 not to qualify for the exemption from the limitation on deductibility imposed by Section 162(m)(4)(c) of the Code, and except that no such amendment shall impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, the Committee or Board may, without the consent of the Participant, amend any Grant Documents evidencing an Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, or otherwise take action, to accelerate the time or times at which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised; to waive any other condition or restriction applicable to an Award or to the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; to amend the definition of a change in control of the Company (if such a definition is contained in such Grant Documents) to expand the events that would result in a change in control and to add a change in control provision to such Grant Documents (if such provision is not contained in such Grant Documents); and may amend any such Grant Documents in any other respect with the consent of the Participant.

(c) If an amendment would (i) materially increase the benefits to participants under the Plan, (ii) increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, or (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan by materially increasing the class or number of persons eligible to participate in the Plan, then such amendment shall be subject to stockholder approval.

(d) If required by any Legal Requirement, any amendment to the Plan or any Award will also be submitted to and approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company. If any Legal Requirement requires the Plan to be amended, or in the event any Legal Requirement is amended or supplemented (e.g., by addition of alternative rules) to permit the Company to remove or lessen any restrictions on or with respect to an Award, the Board and the Committee each reserve the right to amend the Plan or any Grant Documents evidencing an Award to the extent of any such requirement, amendment or supplement, and all Awards then outstanding will be subject to such amendment.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee or the Board may not, without prior approval of the stockholders of the Company, reprice any outstanding Option and/or Stock Appreciation Rights by either lowering the Exercise Price thereof or canceling such outstanding Option and/or Stock Appreciation Rights in consideration of a grant having a lower Exercise Price or in exchange for awards or cash considerations. This paragraph 15(e) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Options without prior stockholder approval and shall not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 16 hereof.

(f) The Plan may be terminated at any time by action of the Board. The termination of the Plan will not adversely affect the terms of any outstanding Award.

 

19


16. Adjustment of Shares; Effect of Certain Transactions . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of any change affecting the Shares subject to the Plan or any Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, issuance of rights to subscribe, or other change in capital structure of the Company), appropriate adjustments or substitutions shall be made by the Committee or the Board as to the (i) Total Shares subject to the Plan, (ii) maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted to any one Associate, (iii) number of Shares and price per Share subject to outstanding Awards, and (iv) class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or each outstanding Award, as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards. The determination of the Committee or Board as to these matters shall be conclusive; provided, however, that (i) any such adjustment with respect to an Incentive Stock Option and any related Stock Appreciation Right shall comply with the rules of Section 424(a) of the Code; and (ii) in no event shall any adjustment be made which would disqualify any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder as an Incentive Stock Option for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

17. General Provisions .

(a)No Associate or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Associates or Participants under the Plan.

(b) Except to the extent that such action would cause an Award subject to Section 14 not to qualify for the exemption from the limitation on deductibility imposed by Section 162(m)(4)(c) of the Code, the Committee or Board shall be authorized to make adjustments in performance award criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. The Committee or 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 desirable to carry it into effect. In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of or combination with another corporation or business entity, the Committee or Board may, in their discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(c)All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee or Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable state or Federal securities law, and the Committee or Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d)No Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee or the Board in their sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal securities laws and any other Legal Requirements to which such offer, if made, would be subject.

(e)The Committee or the Board shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred.

 

20


(f)The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award or payment hereunder and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Plan administrator to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, not to exceed the statutory minimum withholding obligation. The Committee or Board shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligations for the payment of such taxes (i) by delivery of or transfer of Shares to the Company, (ii) with the consent of the Committee or the Board, by directing the Company to retain Shares otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award, (iii) by payment in cash of the amount to be withheld, or (iv) by withholding from any cash compensation otherwise due to the Participant.

(g)Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(h)The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and applicable Federal law.

(i)If any provision of this Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee or the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee or the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken, and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

(j)Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee or the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee or Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Associates on assignments outside their home country.

(k)No Award shall be granted or exercised if the grant of the Award or the exercise and the issuance of shares or other consideration pursuant thereto would be contrary to the Legal Requirements of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction.

(l)The Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company would otherwise have to terminate a Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

(m) Employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are based in the United Kingdom may be granted Awards pursuant to the terms of the UK Addendum. Grants made pursuant to the UK Addendum shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, unless otherwise provided in the UK Addendum.

 

21


Schedule A

UK Addendum

 

1.

Purpose and eligibility

The purpose of this addendum to the Plan (the “UK Addendum” ) is to enable the Board to grant Awards to certain employees and directors of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” ) and its Subsidiaries who are based in the United Kingdom. Awards (which will be unapproved for UK tax purposes) may only be granted under the UK Addendum to employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Awards granted pursuant to the UK Addendum are granted pursuant to an “employees’ share scheme” for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

 

2.

Definitions

Definitions are as contained in Section 2 of the Plan, with the following additions, amendments or substitutions:

 

  (a)

The definition of “Associate” shall be deleted and the word “ Employee ” shall be substituted therefor throughout the Plan.

 

  (b)

“Control” (for the purposes of the definition of “Subsidiary” , below) has the meaning contained in section 995 Income Tax Act 2007.

 

  (c)

“Employee” shall mean any employee or director of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

  (d)

“HMRC” means the UK HM Revenue & Customs.

 

  (e)

“ITEPA” means the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

 

  (f)

“PAYE” means the UK Pay-As-You-Earn income tax withholding system governed by the Income Tax (PAYE) Regulations 2003.

 

  (g)

“Service” means service as an Employee, subject to such further limitations as may be set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Share Agreement. Service shall be deemed to continue during a bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company in writing if and to the extent that continued crediting of Service for purposes of the Plan is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law, as determined by the Company. The Company determines which leaves count toward Service, and when Service terminates for all purposes under the Plan.

 

  (h)

The definition of “Subsidiary” shall be restated in its entirety as follows: “Subsidiary” shall mean a company (wherever incorporated) which for the time being is under the Control of the Company.

 

3.

Terms

Awards granted pursuant to the UK Addendum shall be governed by the terms of the Plan, subject to any such amendments set out below and as are necessary to give effect to Section 1 of the UK Addendum, and by the terms of the individual Award Agreement entered into between the Company and the Participant.

 

4.

Participation

For the purpose of granting awards pursuant to the Plan to UK Employees only, the Plan shall be amended by the substitution of the word “Employee” for the word “Associate” throughout.

 

1


5.

Non-transferability of Awards

An Award granted pursuant to the UK Addendum may not be transferred other than by the laws of intestacy on death of the Participant.

 

6.

Withholding obligations

 

6.1

The Participant shall be accountable for any income tax and, subject to the following provisions, national insurance liability which is chargeable on any assessable income deriving from the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award. In respect of such assessable income the Participant shall indemnify the Company and (at the direction of the Company) any Subsidiary which is or may be treated as the employer of the Participant in respect of the following (together, the “Tax Liabilities” ):

 

  (a)

any income tax liability which falls to be paid to HMRC by the Company (or the relevant employing Subsidiary) under the PAYE system as it applies to income tax under ITEPA and the PAYE regulations referred to in it; and

 

  (b)

any national insurance liability which falls to be paid to HMRC by the Company (or the relevant employing Subsidiary) under the PAYE system as it applies for national insurance purposes under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and regulations referred to in it, such national insurance liability being the aggregate of:

 

  (i)

all the Employee’s primary Class 1 national insurance contributions; and

 

  (ii)

all the employer’s secondary Class 1 national insurance contributions.

 

6.2

Pursuant to the indemnity referred to in clause 6.1, the Participant shall make such arrangements as the Company requires to meet the cost of the Tax Liabilities, including at the direction of the Company any of the following:

 

  (a)

making a cash payment of an appropriate amount to the relevant company whether by cheque, banker’s draft or deduction from salary in time to enable the company to remit such amount to HMRC before the 14th day following the end of the month in which the event giving rise to the Tax Liabilities occurred; or

 

  (b)

appointing the Company as agent and/or attorney for the sale of sufficient Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award to cover the Tax Liabilities and authorising the payment to the relevant company of the appropriate amount (including all reasonable fees, commissions and expenses incurred by the relevant company in relation to such sale) out of the net proceeds of sale of the Shares;

 

  (c)

entering into an election whereby the employer’s liability for secondary Class 1 national insurance contributions is transferred to the Participant on terms set out in the election and approved by HMRC.

 

7.

Section  431 Election

Where the Shares to be acquired on the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award are considered to be “restricted securities” for the purposes of the UK tax legislation (such determination to be at the sole discretion of the Company), it is a condition of exercise or acquisition of the Shares that the Participant if so directed by the Company enter into a joint election with the Company or, if different, the relevant Subsidiary employing the Participant pursuant to section 431 ITEPA electing that the market value of the Shares to be acquired on the exercise of, or other dealing in, the Award be calculated as if the Shares were not “restricted securities” .

 

   Adopted by the Compensation Committee on
   February 14, 2012                                            

 

2

Exhibit 99.2

AMENDMENT TO THE

LIVERAMP, INC.

2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

WHEREAS, LiveRamp, Inc. (the “ Company ”) established and maintains the LiveRamp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”);

WHEREAS , on July 1, 2014 the Company was acquired by Acxiom Corporation (“ Acxiom ”) in accordance with the terms of that certain Merger Agreement dated May 12, 2014 (the “ Merger Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS , the Company desires to amend the Plan, consistent with Section 14.3.1 of the Plan, to reflect the terms of the Merger Agreement by converting all outstanding awards issued under the Plan to awards of Acxiom stock and by revising the Plan to state that all future awards will be issued in Acxiom stock.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY:

RESOLVED , that the definition of “Common Stock” in Appendix A of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.10 per share, of Acxiom Corporation or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 14 of the Plan.

RESOLVED , all references to Awards, Common Stock, stock, and similar terms will be understood to refer to LiveRamp stock, including outstanding awards. Outstanding Awards and the number of authorized shares under the Plan will be adjusted to be stated in terms of Acxiom stock in accordance with the exchange ratio set forth in the Merger Agreement and consistent with Section 14.3.1 of the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the party hereto has executed this amendment as of the date first above written.

 

LIVERAMP, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry C. Jones
Name: Jerry C. Jones
Title: Chief Ethics and Legal Officer & Executive Vice President
ACXIOM CORPORATION, being the sole
shareholder of LiveRamp, Inc.
By: /s/ Jerry C. Jones
Name: Jerry C. Jones
Title: Chief Ethics and Legal Officer & Executive Vice President


LIVERAMP, INC.

2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

The purpose of the LiveRamp, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Company and its Related Companies by providing them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and to link their interests and efforts to the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS

Certain terms used in the Plan have the meanings set forth in Appendix A.

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION

3.1 Administration of the Plan

The Plan shall be administered by the Board. All references in the Plan to the “ Plan Administrator ” shall be applicable to the Board.

3.2 Administration and Interpretation by Plan Administrator

(a) Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have full power and exclusive authority, to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board to (i) select the Eligible Persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted under the Plan; (ii) determine the type or types of Award to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted under the Plan; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan; (v) approve the forms of agreements for use under the Plan; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or canceled or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, shares of Common Stock, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument evidencing an Award; (ix) establish such rules and regulations as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (x) delegate administrative duties to such of the Company’s employees as it so determines; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Plan Administrator deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan.

(b) Decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, any Participant, any stockholder and any Eligible Person. A majority of the members of the Plan Administrator may determine its actions.

(c) The effect on the vesting of an Award of a Company-approved leave of absence or a Participant’s working less than full-time shall be determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors or executive officers, by the Board, and its determination shall be final.


SECTION 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1 Authorized Number of Shares

Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 14.1, a maximum of Five Million Seven Hundred Fifty-Two Thousand Four Hundred Eighty (5,752,480) shares of Common Stock shall be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares issued under the Plan shall be drawn from authorized and unissued shares or shares now held or subsequently acquired by the Company as treasury shares.

4.2 Share Usage

(a) Shares of Common Stock covered by an Award shall not be counted as used unless and until they are actually issued and delivered to a Participant. If any Award lapses, expires, terminates or is canceled prior to the issuance of shares thereunder or if shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan to a Participant and thereafter are forfeited to or otherwise reacquired by the Company, the shares subject to such Awards and the forfeited or reacquired shares shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock (i) tendered by a Participant or retained by the Company as full or partial payment to the Company for the purchase price of an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with an Award or (ii) covered by an Award that is settled in cash or in a manner such that some or all of the shares covered by the Award are not issued shall be available for Awards under the Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends or dividend equivalents that are reinvested into additional shares of Common Stock or credited as additional shares of Common Stock subject or paid with respect to an Award.

(b) The Plan Administrator shall also, without limitation, have the authority to grant Awards as an alternative to or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan. In the event that a written agreement between the Company and an Acquired Entity pursuant to which a merger or consolidation is completed is approved by the Board and that agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the substitution for or conversion or assumption of outstanding awards of the Acquired Entity, those terms and conditions shall be deemed to be the action of the Plan Administrator without any further action by the Plan Administrator, except as may be required for compliance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and the persons holding such awards shall be deemed to be Participants.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall equal the aggregate share number stated in Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14.1.

SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY

An Award may be granted to any employee, officer or director of the Company or a Related Company whom the Plan Administrator from time to time selects. An Award may also be granted to any consultant, agent, advisor or independent contractor for bona fide services rendered to the Company or any Related Company that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

SECTION 6. AWARDS

6.1 Form, Grant and Settlement of Awards

The Plan Administrator shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted under the Plan. Such Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to or in tandem with any other type of Award. Any Award settlement may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Plan Administrator shall determine.

 

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6.2 Evidence of Awards

Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written, including an electronic, agreement that shall contain such terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Plan Administrator shall deem advisable and that are not inconsistent with the Plan.

6.3 Deferrals

The Plan Administrator may permit or require a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of any Award. If any such deferral election is permitted or required, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals, which may include the grant of additional Awards or provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents, including converting such credits to deferred stock unit equivalents.

6.4 Dividends and Distributions

Participants may, if the Plan Administrator so determines, be credited with dividends paid with respect to shares underlying an Award in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. The Plan Administrator may apply any restrictions to the dividends or dividend equivalents that the Plan Administrator deems appropriate. The Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine the form of payment of dividends or dividend equivalents, including cash, shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Stock Units.

SECTION 7. OPTIONS

7.1 Grant of Options

The Plan Administrator may grant Options designated as Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options.

7.2 Option Exercise Price

The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be as established by the Plan Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent required under applicable law, the exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall not be less than (a) 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date with respect to Nonqualified Stock Options, (b) the minimum exercise price required by Section 8.3 with respect to Incentive Stock Options, except in the case of Substitute Awards, and (c) in the case of an Option granted to a Participant who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiary companies, 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date.

7.3 Term of Options

Subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Option, the maximum term of an Option (the “ Option Term ”) shall be as established for that Option by the Plan Administrator or, if not so established, shall be ten years from the Grant Date. For Incentive Stock Options, the Option Term shall be as specified in Section 8.4.

7.4 Exercise of Options

The Plan Administrator shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option the time at which, or the installments in which, the Option shall vest and become exercisable, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time. If not so established in the instrument evidencing the Option, the Option shall vest and become exercisable according to the following schedule, which may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time:

 

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Period of Participant’s Continuous Employment or Service With the Company
or Its Related Companies From the Vesting Commencement Date

  

Portion of Total Option That Is Vested and Exercisable

After 1 year     1 4
After each additional one-month period of continuous service completed thereafter    An additional 1/48
After 4 years    100%

To the extent an Option has vested and become exercisable, the Option may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by delivery to the Company of a properly executed stock option exercise agreement or notice, in a form and in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator, setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, the restrictions imposed on the shares purchased under such exercise agreement or notice, if any, and such representations and agreements as may be required by the Plan Administrator, accompanied by payment in full as described in Sections 7.5 and 12. An Option may be exercised only for whole shares and may not be exercised for less than a reasonable number of shares at any one time, as determined by the Plan Administrator.

7.5 Payment of Exercise Price

The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be paid in full to the Company by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option exercise price and the number of shares purchased. Such consideration must be paid before the Company will issue the shares being purchased and must be in a form or a combination of forms acceptable to the Plan Administrator for that purchase, which forms may include:

(a) cash;

(b) check or wire transfer;

(c) tendering (either actually or, if and so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, by attestation) shares of Common Stock that on the day prior to the exercise date have a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased under the Option (such shares must have been owned by the Participant for at least six months or any shorter period necessary to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company);

(d) if and so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and to the extent permitted by law, delivery of a properly executed exercise agreement or notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a brokerage firm designated or approved by the Company to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount proceeds to pay the Option exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, all in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board; or

(e) such other consideration as the Plan Administrator may permit.

In addition, to the extent permitted by law, to assist a Participant (including directors and executive officers) in acquiring shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may authorize, either at the Grant Date or at any time before the acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the Award, (i) the payment by a Participant of the purchase price of the Common Stock by a promissory note or (ii) the guarantee by the Company of a loan obtained by the Participant from a third party. Such notes or loans must be full recourse to the extent necessary to avoid charges to the Company’s earnings for financial reporting purposes. Subject to the foregoing, the Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion specify the terms of any loans or loan guarantees, including the interest rate and terms of and security for repayment.

 

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7.6 Effect of Termination of Service

The Plan Administrator shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option whether the Option shall continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, after a Termination of Service, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time. If not so established in the instrument evidencing the Option, the Option shall be exercisable according to the following terms and conditions, which may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time:

(a) Any portion of an Option that is not vested and exercisable on the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service shall expire on such date.

(b) Any portion of an Option that is vested and exercisable on the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service shall expire on the earliest to occur of:

(i) if the Participant’s Termination of Service occurs for reasons other than Cause, Retirement, Disability or death, the date that is three months after such Termination of Service;

(ii) if the Participant’s Termination of Service occurs by reason of Retirement, Disability or death, the one-year anniversary of such Termination of Service; and

(iii) the last day of the Option Term (the “ Option Expiration Date ”).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant dies after the Participant’s Termination of Service but while an Option is otherwise exercisable, the portion of the Option that is vested and exercisable on the date of such Termination of Service shall expire upon the earlier to occur of (y) the Option Expiration Date and (z) the one-year anniversary of the date of death, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise.

Also notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Participant’s Termination of Service occurs for Cause, all Options granted to the Participant shall automatically expire upon first notification to the Participant of such termination, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise. If a Participant’s employment or service relationship with the Company is suspended pending an investigation of whether the Participant shall be terminated for Cause, all the Participant’s rights under any Option shall likewise be suspended during the period of investigation. If any facts that would constitute termination for Cause are discovered after a Participant’s Termination of Service, any Option then held by the Participant may be immediately terminated by the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion.

(c) A Participant’s change in status from an employee of the Company or a Related Company to a nonemployee director, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company or a change in status from a nonemployee director, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company to an employee of the Company or a Related Company shall not be considered a Termination of Service for purposes of this Section 7.6.

SECTION 8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONS

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the terms and conditions of any Incentive Stock Options shall in addition comply in all respects with Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision and any applicable regulations thereunder, including, to the extent required thereunder, the following:

8.1 Dollar Limitation

To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of Common Stock with respect to which a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other stock option plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations) exceeds $100,000, such portion in excess of $100,000 shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. In the event the Participant holds two or more such Options that become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, such limitation shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such Options are granted.

 

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8.2 Eligible Employees

Individuals who are not employees of the Company or one of its parent or subsidiary corporations may not be granted Incentive Stock Options.

8.3 Exercise Price

The exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option shall be at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations (a “ Ten Percent Stockholder ”), shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date. The determination of more than 10% ownership shall be made in accordance with Section 422 of the Code.

8.4 Option Term

Subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Option, the Option Term of an Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed ten years, and in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, shall not exceed five years.

8.5 Exercisability

An Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option shall cease to qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent it is exercised (if permitted by the terms of the Option) (a) more than three months after the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service if termination was for reasons other than death or Disability, (b) more than one year after the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service if termination was by reason of Disability, or (c) after the Participant has been on leave of absence for more than 90 days, unless the Participant’s reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or contract.

8.6 Taxation of Incentive Stock Options

In order to obtain certain tax benefits afforded to Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the Code, the Participant must hold the shares acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option for two years after the Grant Date and one year after the date of exercise. A Participant may be subject to the alternative minimum tax at the time of exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares acquired on the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to the expiration of such holding periods.

8.7 Code Definitions

For the purposes of this Section 8, “disability,” “parent corporation” and “subsidiary corporation” shall have the meanings attributed to those terms for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

8.8 Promissory Notes

The amount of any promissory note delivered pursuant to Section 7.5 in connection with an Incentive Stock Option shall bear interest at a rate specified by the Plan Administrator, but in no case less than the rate required to avoid imputation of interest (taking into account any exceptions to the imputed interest rules) for federal income tax purposes.

 

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SECTION 9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

9.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights

The Plan Administrator may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants at any time on such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. An SAR may be granted in tandem with an Option or alone (“ freestanding ”). The grant price of a tandem SAR shall be equal to the exercise price of the related Option. The grant price of a freestanding SAR shall be determined in accordance with the procedure for Options set forth in Section 7.2. An SAR may be exercised upon such terms and conditions and for the term as the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion; provided, however, that, subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the SAR, the term of a freestanding SAR shall be as established for that SAR by the Plan Administrator or, if not so established, shall be ten years, and in the case of a tandem SAR, (a) the term shall not exceed the term of the related Option and (b) the tandem SAR may be exercised for all or part of the shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option, except that the tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.

9.2 Payment of SAR Amount

Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying: (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock for the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR by (b) the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Plan Administrator as set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, the payment upon exercise of an SAR may be in cash, in shares, in some combination thereof or in any other manner approved by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.

SECTION 10. STOCK AWARDS, RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS

10.1 Grant of Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units

The Plan Administrator may grant Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units on such terms and conditions and subject to such repurchase or forfeiture restrictions, if any, which may be based on continuous service with the Company or a Related Company or the achievement of any performance goals, as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion, which terms, conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award.

10.2 Vesting of Restricted Stock and Stock Units

Upon the satisfaction of any terms, conditions and restrictions prescribed with respect to Restricted Stock or Stock Units, or upon a Participant’s release from any terms, conditions and restrictions of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, as determined by the Plan Administrator, and subject to the provisions of Section 12, (a) the shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Award of Restricted Stock shall become freely transferable by the Participant, and (b) Stock Units shall be paid in shares of Common Stock or, if set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, in cash, or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock. Any fractional shares subject to such Awards shall be paid to the Participant in cash.

10.3 Waiver of Restrictions

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may waive the repurchase or forfeiture period and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any Restricted Stock or Stock Unit under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.

10.4 Minimum Purchase Price

Notwithstanding the forgoing, to the extent required by applicable law, the purchase price for any shares of Common Stock that may be purchased under the Plan (“ Stock Purchase Rights ”) shall be at least 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time the Participant is granted the Stock Purchase Right or at the time the purchase is

 

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consummated; provided, however, that the purchase price shall be at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time the Participant is granted the Stock Purchase Right or at the time the purchase is consummated in the case of any person who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiary companies.

SECTION 11. OTHER STOCK OR CASH-BASED AWARDS

Subject to the terms of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate, the Plan Administrator may grant other incentives payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock under the Plan as it determines.

SECTION 12. WITHHOLDING

The Company may require the Participant to pay to the Company the amount of (a) any taxes that the Company is required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law to withhold with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award (“ tax withholding obligations ”) and (b) any amounts due from the Participant to the Company or to any Related Company (“ other obligations ”). The Company shall not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock or otherwise settle an Award under the Plan until such tax withholding obligations and other obligations are satisfied.

The Plan Administrator may permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or part of the Participant’s tax withholding obligations and other obligations by (a) paying cash to the Company, (b) having the Company withhold an amount from any cash amounts otherwise due or to become due from the Company to the Participant, (c) having the Company withhold a number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued to the Participant (or become vested in the case of Restricted Stock) having a Fair Market Value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations, or (d) surrendering a number of shares of Common Stock the Participant already owns having a value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations. The value of the shares so withheld may not exceed the employer’s minimum required tax withholding rate, and the value of the shares so surrendered may not exceed such rate to the extent the Participant has owned the surrendered shares for less than six months if such limitation is necessary to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company.

SECTION 13. ASSIGNABILITY

No Award or interest in an Award may be sold, assigned, pledged (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose) or transferred by a Participant or made subject to attachment or similar proceedings otherwise than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, except to the extent the Participant designates one or more beneficiaries on a Company-approved form who may exercise the Award or receive payment under the Award after the Participant’s death. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Award may be exercised only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to assign or transfer an Award, subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall specify.

SECTION 14. ADJUSTMENTS

14.1 Adjustment of Shares

In the event, at any time or from time to time, a dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), stock split, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or other change in the Company’s corporate or capital structure results in (a) the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or any securities exchanged therefor or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company or any other company or (b) new, different or additional securities of the Company or any other company being received by the holders of shares of Common Stock, then the Plan Administrator shall make proportional adjustments in (i) the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the Plan; (ii) the maximum number and kind of securities issuable as Incentive Stock Options as set forth in Section 4.2(d); and (iii) the number and kind of securities that are subject to any outstanding Award and the per share price of such securities, without any change in the aggregate price to be paid therefor, as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards.

 

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The determination by the Plan Administrator as to the terms of any of the foregoing adjustments shall be conclusive and binding.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services rendered, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, outstanding Awards. Also notwithstanding the foregoing, a dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a Company Transaction shall not be governed by this Section 14.1 but shall be governed by Sections 14.2 and 14.3, respectively.

14.2 Dissolution or Liquidation

To the extent not previously exercised or settled, and unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company. To the extent a vesting condition, forfeiture provision or repurchase right applicable to an Award has not been waived by the Plan Administrator, the Award shall be forfeited immediately prior to the consummation of the dissolution or liquidation.

14.3 Company Transaction

14.3.1 Effect of a Company Transaction

In the event of a Company Transaction that is not a Related Party Transaction, all outstanding Awards will be treated as the Plan Administrator determines (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph), without a Participant’s consent. In taking any of the actions permitted by this Section 14.3, the Plan Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, unless the Plan Administrator shall determine otherwise at the time of grant with respect to a particular Award, in the event of a Company Transaction that is not a Related Party Transaction, all outstanding Awards shall become fully and immediately exercisable, and all applicable deferral and restriction limitations and forfeiture provisions shall lapse, immediately prior to the Company Transaction, and then terminate upon effectiveness of the Company Transaction, unless such Awards are assumed, converted or substituted for by the Successor Company.

14.3.2 Assumption, Conversion or Substitution

For the purposes of this Section 14.3, an Award shall be considered assumed, converted or substituted for if following the Company Transaction, the option or right confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Company Transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Company Transaction by holders of Common Stock for each share held at the effective time of the Company Transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Company Transaction is not solely common stock of the Successor Company, the Plan Administrator may, with the consent of the Successor Company, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award, to be solely common stock of the Successor Company substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Company Transaction. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Plan Administrator, and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.

 

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14.4 Further Adjustment of Awards

Subject to Sections 14.2 and 14.3, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable at any time before a sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change in control of the Company, as defined by the Plan Administrator, to take such further action as it determines to be necessary or advisable with respect to Awards. Such authorized action may include (but shall not be limited to) establishing, amending or waiving the type, terms, conditions or duration of, or restrictions on, Awards so as to provide for earlier, later, extended or additional time for exercise, lifting restrictions and other modifications, and the Plan Administrator may take such actions with respect to all Participants, to certain categories of Participants or only to individual Participants. The Plan Administrator may take such action before or after granting Awards to which the action relates and before or after any public announcement with respect to such sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change in control that is the reason for such action.

14.5 No Limitations

The grant of Awards shall in no way affect the Company’s right to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

14.6 Fractional Shares

In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any Award, each such Award shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from such adjustment.

14.7 Section 409A of the Code

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, (a) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 14 to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; (b) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 14 to Awards that are not considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that after such adjustment the Awards either (i) continue not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; and (c) in any event, the Committee shall not have the authority to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 14 to the extent the existence of such authority would cause an Award that is not intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code at the time of grant to be subject thereto.

SECTION 15. FIRST REFUSAL AND REPURCHASE RIGHTS

15.1 First Refusal Rights

Until the date on which the initial registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act first becomes effective, the Company shall have the right of first refusal with respect to any proposed sale or other disposition by a Participant of any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to an Award. Such right of first refusal shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the stock purchase agreement evidencing the purchase of the shares.

15.2 Repurchase Rights for Unvested Shares

The Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, authorize the issuance of unvested shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option. Should the Participant cease to be employed by or provide services to the Company or a Related Company, then all shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of an Option that are unvested at the time of cessation of employment or service relationship shall be subject to repurchase at the lesser of the exercise price paid for such shares and the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of repurchase. The terms and conditions upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the stock purchase agreement evidencing the purchase of the shares.

 

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Except as otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Award, in the event of a Company Transaction, the Company’s repurchase rights shall automatically be assigned to the Successor Company; provided, however, that such repurchase rights shall automatically lapse if and to the same extent that the vesting schedule for outstanding Options accelerates in connection with the Company Transaction.

The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority, exercisable either before or after a Participant’s Termination of Service, to waive the Company’s outstanding repurchase rights with respect to one or more shares purchased or purchasable by the Participant under an Option and thereby accelerate the vesting of such shares in whole or in part at any time.

15.3 Repurchase Conditions

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent required by applicable law, the Company’s repurchase right set forth in Section 15.2 shall lapse at the rate of at least 20% of the shares per year over five years from the date the Award is granted and the right to repurchase shall be exercised for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares within 90 days of termination of employment (or in the case of securities issued pursuant to Awards after the date of termination, within 90 days after the date of issuance); provided, however, that the securities held by an officer, director or consultant of the Company or a Related Company shall not be subject to these repurchase conditions.

15.4 General

The Company may not exercise its first refusal or repurchase rights under Sections 15.1 or 15.2, respectively, earlier than six months and one day following the date the shares were purchased by a Participant (or any shorter period determined by the Company to be sufficient to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company or required by applicable law).

The Company’s first refusal and repurchase rights under this Section 15 are assignable by the Company at any time.

SECTION 16. MARKET STANDOFF

In the event of an underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, including the Company’s initial public offering, no person may sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer for value or otherwise agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to any shares issued pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan without the prior written consent of the Company or its underwriters. Such limitations shall be in effect for such period of time as may be requested by the Company or such underwriters; provided, however, that in no event shall such period exceed 180 days following the effective date of the registration statement. The limitations of this Section 16 shall in all events terminate two years after the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering.

In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the Company’s outstanding Common Stock effected as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities distributed with respect to the purchased shares shall be immediately subject to the provisions of this Section 16, to the same extent the purchased shares are at such time covered by such provisions.

In order to enforce the limitations of this Section 16, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the purchased shares until the end of the applicable standoff period.

 

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SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

17.1 Amendment, Suspension or Termination

The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion of the Plan at any time and in such respects as it shall deem advisable; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan. Subject to Section 17.3, the Board may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively.

17.2 Term of the Plan

The Plan shall have no fixed expiration date. After the Plan is terminated, no future Awards may be granted, but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the Plan’s terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten years after the later of (a) the adoption of the Plan by the Board and (b) the adoption by the Board of any amendment to the Plan that constitutes the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 422 of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Award may be granted to a resident of California more than ten years after the earlier of the date of adoption of the Plan and the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders.

17.3 Consent of Participant

The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or a portion thereof or the amendment of an outstanding Award shall not, without the Participant’s consent, materially adversely affect any rights under any Award theretofore granted to the Participant under the Plan. Any change or adjustment to an outstanding Incentive Stock Option shall not, without the consent of the Participant, be made in a manner so as to constitute a “modification” that would cause such Incentive Stock Option to fail to continue to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Sections 14.2 and 14.3 shall not be subject to these restrictions.

SECTION 18. GENERAL

18.1 No Individual Rights

No individual or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and the Company has no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan.

Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute an employment contract or confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Related Company or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Related Company to terminate a Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.

18.2 Issuance of Shares

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock under the Plan or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, such issuance, delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act or the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction) and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.

The Company shall be under no obligation to any Participant to register for offering or resale or to qualify for exemption under the Securities Act, or to register or qualify under the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction, any shares of Common Stock, security or interest in a security paid or issued under, or created by, the Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made.

 

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As a condition to the exercise of an Option or any other receipt of Common Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, the Company may require (a) the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that such shares are being purchased or received only for the Participant’s own account and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares and (b) such other action or agreement by the Participant as may from time to time be necessary to comply with the federal, state and foreign securities laws. At the option of the Company, a stop-transfer order against any such shares may be placed on the official stock books and records of the Company, and a legend indicating that such shares may not be pledged, sold or otherwise transferred, unless an opinion of counsel is provided (concurred in by counsel for the Company) stating that such transfer is not in violation of any applicable law or regulation, may be stamped on stock certificates to ensure exemption from registration. The Plan Administrator may also require the Participant to execute and deliver to the Company a purchase agreement or such other agreement as may be in use by the Company at such time that describes certain terms and conditions applicable to the shares.

To the extent the Plan or any instrument evidencing an Award provides for issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Common Stock, the issuance may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.

18.3 Indemnification

To the maximum extent permitted by law, each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board, or a committee appointed by the Board to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Section 3.1 shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such person in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by such person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit or proceeding against such person; provided, however, that such person shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on such person’s own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability or expense is a result of such person’s own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute.

The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such person may be entitled under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or of any power that the Company may have to indemnify such person or hold such person harmless.

18.4 No Rights as a Stockholder

Unless otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator or in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement, no Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Stock Unit shall entitle the Participant to any cash dividend, voting or other right of a stockholder unless and until the date of issuance under the Plan of the shares that are the subject of such Award.

18.5 Compliance With Laws and Regulations

In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Plan, any Option granted as an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to the Plan shall, to the extent permitted by law, be construed as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

18.6 Participants in Other Countries or Jurisdictions

Without amending the Plan, the Plan Administrator may grant Awards to eligible persons who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan, which may, in the judgment of the Plan Administrator, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan and shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans and the like as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws or regulations of other countries or jurisdictions in which the Company or any Related Company may operate or have employees to ensure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants employed in such countries or jurisdictions, meet the requirements that permit the Plan to operate in a qualified or tax efficient manner, comply with applicable foreign laws or regulations and meet the objectives of the Plan.

 

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18.7 No Trust or Fund

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan. Nothing contained herein shall require the Company to segregate any monies or other property, or shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits for any immediate or deferred amounts payable to any Participant, and no Participant shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

18.8 Successors

All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all the business and/or assets of the Company.

18.9 Severability

If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Plan Administrator, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the Plan Administrator’s determination, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

18.10 Choice of Law

The Plan, all Awards granted thereunder and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

18.11 Financial Reports

To the extent required by applicable law, the Company shall provide annual financial statements of the Company to each Participant. Such financial statements need not be audited and need not be issued to employees whose duties within the Company assure them access to equivalent information.

18.12 Legal Requirements

The granting of Awards and the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan is subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required..

18.13 Clawback

All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE

The effective date (the “ Effective Date ”) is the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board. If the stockholders of the Company do not approve the Plan within 12 months after the Board’s adoption of the Plan, (a) any Award exercised or settled before the stockholders of the Company approve the Plan shall be rescinded and any such shares shall not be counted in determining whether such stockholder approval is obtained, and (b) any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan will be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

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APPENDIX A

Acquired Entity ” means any entity acquired by the Company or a Related Company or with which the Company or a Related Company merges or combines.

Acquisition Price ” means the fair market value of the securities, cash or other property, or any combination thereof, receivable upon consummation of a Company Transaction in respect of a share of Common Stock.

Award ” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Restricted Stock, Stock Unit or cash-based award or other incentive payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as may be designated by the Plan Administrator from time to time.

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Cause ,” unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means dishonesty, fraud, serious willful misconduct, unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets, or conduct prohibited by law (except minor violations), in each case as determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, in the case of directors and executive officers, the Board, each of whose determination shall be conclusive and binding.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Common Stock  means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 14.1 of the Plan.

Company ” means LiveRamp, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Company Transaction ,” unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means consummation of

(a) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other company or other entity,

(b) a sale in one transaction or a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose of at least 80% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities, or

(c) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions undertaken with a common purpose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

Where a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose is deemed to be a Company Transaction, the date of such Company Transaction shall be the date on which the last of such transactions is consummated.

Disability ,” unless otherwise defined by the Plan Administrator or in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means a mental or physical impairment of the Participant that is expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more and that causes the Participant to be unable to perform his or her material duties for the Company or a Related Company and to be engaged in any substantial gainful activity, in each case as determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, in the case of directors and executive officers, the Board, each of whose determination shall be conclusive and binding.

Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 18.


Eligible Person ” means any person eligible to receive an Award as set forth in Section 5.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Fair Market Value ” means the per share fair market value of the Common Stock as established in good faith by the Board or, if the Common Stock is publicly traded, the average of the high and low trading prices for the Common Stock on any given date during regular trading or, if not trading on that date, such price on the last preceding date on which the Common Stock was traded, unless determined otherwise by the Plan Administrator using such methods or procedures as it may establish.

Grant Date  means the later of (a) the date on which the Plan Administrator completes the corporate action authorizing the grant of an Award or such later date specified by the Plan Administrator or (b) the date on which all conditions precedent to an Award have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the exercisability or vesting of Awards shall not defer the Grant Date.

Incentive Stock Option  means an Option granted with the intention that it qualify as an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

Nonqualified Stock Option  means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

Option  means a right to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7.

Option Expiration Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.

Option Term ” means the maximum term of an Option as set forth in Section 7.3.

Participant ” means any Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted.

Plan ” means the LiveRamp, Inc.  2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

Plan Administrator ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Related Company ” means any entity that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.

Related Party Transaction ” means (a) a merger or consolidation of the Company in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the merger or consolidation hold at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Successor Company immediately after the merger or consolidation; (b) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to a majority-owned subsidiary company; or (c) a transaction undertaken for the principal purpose of restructuring the capital of the Company, including, but not limited to, reincorporating the Company in a different jurisdiction, converting the Company to a limited liability company or creating a holding company.

Restricted Stock ” means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which may be subject to restrictions prescribed by the Plan Administrator.

Retirement ,”  unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means “retirement” as defined for purposes of the Plan by the Plan Administrator or the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, if not so defined, means Termination of Service on or after the date the Participant reaches “normal retirement age,” as that term is defined in Section 411(a)(8) of the Code.

Securities Act  means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

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Stock Appreciation Right  or “ SAR ” means a right granted under Section 9.1 to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock over the grant price.

Stock Award ” means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are not subject to restrictions prescribed by the Plan Administrator.

Stock Unit ” means an Award denominated in units of Common Stock granted under Section 10.

Substitute Awards ” means Awards granted or shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted by an Acquired Entity.

Successor Company ” means the surviving company, the successor company, the acquiring company or its parent, as applicable, in connection with a Company Transaction.

Termination of Service ” means a termination of employment or service relationship with the Company or a Related Company for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, including by reason of death, Disability or Retirement. Any question as to whether and when there has been a Termination of Service for the purposes of an Award and the cause of such Termination of Service shall be determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors and executive officers, by the Board, and its determination shall be conclusive and binding. Transfer of a Participant’s employment or service relationship between the Company and any Related Company shall not be considered a Termination of Service for purposes of an Award. Unless the Board determines otherwise, a Termination of Service shall be deemed to occur if the Participant’s employment or service relationship is with an entity that has ceased to be a Related Company.

Vesting Commencement Date ” means the Grant Date or such other date selected by the Plan Administrator as the date from which the Award begins to vest.

 

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Exhibit 99.3

PIPPIO, INC.

2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. Purpose; Definitions . The purposes of the Pippio, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) are to: (a) enable Pippio, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and its affiliated companies to recruit and retain highly qualified employees, directors and consultants; (b) provide those employees, directors and consultants with an incentive for productivity; and (c) provide those employees, directors and consultants with an opportunity to share in the growth and value of the Company.

For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise provided by the Board with respect to a particular Award, the following initially capitalized words and phrases will be defined as set forth below, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:

(a)    ” Affiliate ” means, with respect to a Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such Person.

(b)    ” Award ” means a grant of Options, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

(c)    ” Award Agreement ” means, with respect to any particular Award, the written document that sets forth the terms of that particular Award.

(d)    ” Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time; provided, however , that if the Board appoints a Committee to perform some or all of the Board’s administrative functions hereunder pursuant to Section  2 , references in the Plan to the “Board” will be deemed to also refer to that Committee in connection with administrative matters to be performed by that Committee.

(e)    ” Cause ” means (i) conviction of, or the entry of a plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or any other crime that causes the Company or its Affiliates public disgrace or disrepute, or materially and adversely affects the Company’s or its Affiliates’ operations or financial performance or the relationship the Company has with its customers, (ii) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, without limitation fraud, embezzlement, theft or proven dishonesty in the course of his or her employment; (iii) alcohol abuse or use of controlled drugs other than in accordance with a physician’s prescription; (iv) refusal to perform any lawful, material obligation or fulfill any duty (other than any duty or obligation of the type described in clause (vi) below) to the Company or its Affiliates (other than due to a Disability), which refusal, if curable, is not cured within fifteen (15) days after delivery of written notice thereof; (v) material breach of any agreement with or duty owed to the Company or any of its Affiliates, which breach, if curable, is not cured within fifteen (15) days after the delivery of written notice thereof; or (vi) any breach of any obligation or duty to the Company or any of its Affiliates (whether arising by statute, common law or agreement) relating to confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation or proprietary rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant and the Company (or any of its Affiliates) have entered into an employment agreement, consulting agreement or other


similar agreement that specifically defines “cause,” then with respect to such Participant, “Cause” shall have the meaning defined in that employment agreement, consulting agreement or other agreement.

(f)    ” Change in Control ” means, with respect to any entity: (i) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition (including by merger or consolidation, but excluding any sales by stockholders made as part of an underwritten public offering of the common stock of the entity) by stockholders of the entity, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the voting power represented by the then outstanding capital stock of the entity to one or more Persons, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the entity (other than a transfer of financial assets made in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of securitization), or (iii) the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the entity.

(g)    ” Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

(h)    ” Committee ” means a committee appointed by the Board in accordance with Section  2 of the Plan.

(i)    ” Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, subject to substitution or adjustment as provided in Section  3(c) hereof.

(j)    ” Control ” means, as to any Person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise (the terms “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ” shall have correlative meanings).

(k)    ” Director ” means a member of the Board.

(l)    ” Disability ” means a condition rendering a Participant Disabled.

(m)    ” Disabled ” with respect to a particular Participant will have the same meaning as set forth in any long-term disability policy or program sponsored by the Company or any Affiliate covering such Participant, as in effect as of the date of such determination, or if no such policy or program shall be in effect, “Disabled” will have the meaning as set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(n)    ” Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(o)    ” Fair Market Value ” of a Share, means, as of any date: (i) the closing price of the Share as reported on the principal nationally recognized stock exchange on which the type of Shares are traded on such date, or if no prices are reported with respect to such Shares on such date, the closing price of the Share on the last preceding date on which there were reported prices of such Shares or (ii) if Shares of that type are not listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a nationally recognized stock exchange, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Board acting in its discretion based upon the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method taking into account the facts and circumstances existing on the valuation date, which determination will be conclusive.

 

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(p)    ” Incentive Stock Option ” means any Option intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(q)    ” Non-Employee Director ” will have the meaning set forth in Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(r)    ” Non-Qualified Stock Option ” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(s)    ” Option ” means any option to purchase Shares (including Restricted Stock, if the Board so determines) granted pursuant to Section  5 hereof.

(t)    ” Parent ” means a “parent corporation” of the Company (or, in the context of Section  15(c) of the Plan, of a successor corporation), whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(u)    ” Participant ” means an employee, leased employee, consultant, Director or other service provider of the Company or any of its Affiliates to whom an Award is granted.

(v)    ” Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated association, or other entity or association.

(w)    ” Restricted Stock ” means Shares that are subject to restrictions pursuant to Section  7 hereof.

(x)    ” Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right granted under and subject to restrictions pursuant to Section  8 hereof.

(y)    ” Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(z)    ” Stockholders Agreement ” means any stockholders agreement, by and between the Company and certain stockholders and/or one or more agreements among the Company, a Participant (or such Participant’s estate, heirs or beneficiaries) and other parties thereto in such form determined from time to time by the Company in its sole discretion, that include terms and conditions that provide the Company and/or other stockholders with (i) a right of first refusal or impose other restrictions with respect to the transfer of Shares, (ii) a voting agreement with respect to Shares, (iii) “drag-along” rights in favor of the stockholders owning a specified threshold of Shares of the Company, (iv) “market standoff” or “lock-up” conditions or (v) such other reasonable terms and conditions as the Board may require, if any.

(aa)    ” Shares ” means shares of Common Stock, subject to substitution or adjustment as provided in Section  3(c) hereof.

 

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(bb)    ” Subsidiary ” means, in respect of the Company, a subsidiary company, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

SECTION 2. Administration .

(a)    The Plan will be administered by the Board; provided, however , that the Board may at any time appoint a Committee to perform some or all of the Board’s administrative functions hereunder; and provided further , that the authority of any Committee appointed pursuant to this Section 2 will be subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe.

(b)    Subject to the requirements of the Company’s By-Laws (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time) and Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time), any Stockholders Agreement and any other agreement that governs the appointment of Board committees, any Committee established under this Section  2 will be composed of not fewer than one member, who shall serve for such period of time as the Board determines. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereto, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies however caused, or remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan.

(c)    Directors who are eligible for Awards or have received Awards may vote on any matters affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of Awards, except that no such member will act upon the grant of an Award to himself or herself, but any such member may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board during which action is taken with respect to the grant of Awards to himself or herself.

(d)    The Board will have full authority to grant Awards under this Plan. In particular, subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board will have the authority:

(i)    to select the persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder (consistent with the eligibility conditions set forth in Section  4 );

(ii)    to determine the type of Award to be granted to any person hereunder;

(iii)    to determine the number and type of Shares, if any, to be covered by each Award;

(iv)    to establish the terms and conditions of each Award Agreement;

(v)    to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option may be exercised without a payment of cash under  Section  5(b)(iv) ;

(vi)    to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Shares and other amounts payable with respect to an Award may be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant; and

 

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(vii)    to require that, upon exercise of any Award granted under the Plan, the Participant shall become party to (X) any Stockholder Agreement the Board may require and (Y) any other agreement the Board may require.

(e)    The Board will have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it, from time to time, deems advisable; to establish the terms of each Award Agreement; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary to carry out the intent of the Plan.

(f)    All decisions made by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will be final and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Affiliates and Participants. No Director or member of the Committee, nor any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and each of the foregoing shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time.

SECTION 3. Shares Subject to the Plan .

(a)     Shares Subject to the Plan . The Shares to be subject to or related to Awards under the Plan will be authorized and unissued Shares of the Company, whether or not previously issued and subsequently acquired by the Company. The maximum number of Shares that may be subject to Awards under the Plan is 176,500 all of which may be issued in respect of Incentive Stock Options. The Company will reserve for the purposes of the Plan, out of its authorized and unissued Shares, such number of Shares.

(b)     Effect of the Expiration or Termination of Awards . If and to the extent that an Option expires, terminates or is canceled or forfeited for any reason without having been exercised in full, the Shares associated with that Option will again become available for grant under the Plan. Similarly, if and to the extent any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit is canceled, forfeited or repurchased for any reason, or if any Share is withheld pursuant to Section  12(d) in settlement of a tax withholding obligation associated with an Award, that Share will again become available for grant under the Plan. Finally, if any Share is received in satisfaction of the exercise price payable upon exercise of an Option, that Share will become available for grant under the Plan.

(c)     Other Adjustment . Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option and/or Restricted Stock Unit, and the number of Shares of Restricted Stock outstanding, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Award, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option and/or Restricted Stock Unit, and the class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or

 

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each outstanding Award shall be proportionately adjusted as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company or other change in the capital structure of the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares of Common Stock subject to an Award hereunder. With respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code or could be subject to 409A, no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment would cause the Plan or Award to fail to comply with Section 409A.

(d)     Change in Control . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, upon or in anticipation of any Change in Control of the Company or any of its Affiliates, the Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the need for the consent of any Participant, take one or more of the following actions contingent upon the occurrence of that Change in Control (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph), including, without limitation: (i) cause any or all outstanding Options held by Participants affected by the Change in Control to become vested and immediately exercisable, in whole or in part; (ii) cause any or all Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units held by Participants affected by the Change in Control to become non-forfeitable, in whole or in part; (iv) cancel any Option in exchange for a substitute option in a manner consistent with the requirements of Treas. Reg. §1.424-1(a) (notwithstanding the fact that the original Option may never have been intended to satisfy the requirements for treatment as an Incentive Stock Option); (v) cancel any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control in exchange for restricted stock of or restricted stock units in respect of the capital stock of any successor corporation; (vi) redeem any Restricted Stock held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an unrestricted Share on the date of the Change in Control; (vii) cancel any Option held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control in exchange for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to (A) the number of Shares subject to that Option, multiplied by (B) the difference, if any, between the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the Change in Control and the exercise price of that Option; provided , that if the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the Change in Control does not exceed the exercise price of any such Option, the Board may cancel that Option without any payment of consideration therefor; or (viii) cancel any Restricted Stock Unit held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control in exchange for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the Change in Control. In taking any of the actions permitted by this Section 3(d), the Board will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly.

 

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In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), (i) outstanding Options will become vested and immediately exercisable; and (ii) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units will become non-forfeitable. In addition, if an Option is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control, the Board will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this Section 3(d), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity, the Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or upon the payout of any other Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.

(e)     Additional Requirements . Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or in an Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control, each Participant shall, except to the extent otherwise determined by the Board, be subject to substantially the same escrow, indemnification and similar obligations, contingencies and encumbrances contained in the definitive agreement relating to the Change in Control as other stockholders of the Company may be subject (including, without limitation, the requirement to contribute a proportionate number of Shares issued as a result of the exercise or vesting of an Award, or any cash or property that may be received upon exercise or exchange of an Award, to an escrow fund, or otherwise have a proportionate amount of such Shares, cash or other property encumbered by the indemnification, escrow and similar provisions of such definitive agreement). By accepting an Award, a Participant agrees to execute such documents and instruments as the Board may reasonably require for the Participant to be bound by such obligations. In the event that a Participant fails or refuses to execute such documents and instruments, such Participant’s Award (to the extent outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control) shall, unless otherwise determined by the Board, be canceled and be of no further force and effect upon the consummation of a Change in Control.

SECTION 4. Eligibility . Employees, Directors, consultants, and other individuals who provide services to the Company or its Affiliates are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that only employees of the Company or a Subsidiary are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options.

 

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SECTION 5. Options .

(a)    Options granted under the Plan may be of two types: (i) Incentive Stock Options or (ii) Non-Qualified Stock Options. Any Option granted under the Plan will be in such form as the Board may at the time of such grant approve.

(b)    The Award Agreement evidencing any Option will incorporate the following terms and conditions and will contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Board deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion:

(i)     Option Price . The exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of the grant. However, any Incentive Stock Option granted to any Participant who, at the time the Option is granted, owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of a Subsidiary will have an exercise price per Share of not less than 110% of Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the grant.

(ii)     Option Term . The term of each Option will be fixed by the Board, but no Option will be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date the Option is granted. However, any Incentive Stock Option granted to any Participant who, at the time such Option is granted, owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of a Subsidiary may not have a term of more than five years. No Option may be exercised by any person after expiration of the term of the Option.

(iii)     Exercisability . Options will vest and be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Board at the time of grant. If the Board provides, in its discretion, that any Option is exercisable only in installments, the Board may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Board determines, in its sole and absolute discretion.

(iv)     Method of Exercise . Subject to the exercisability provisions of Section  5(b)(iii) , the termination provisions set forth in Section  6 and the applicable Award Agreement, Options may be exercised in whole or in part (provided that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares) at any time and from time to time during the term of the Option, by the delivery of written notice of exercise by the Participant to the Company specifying the number of Shares to be purchased. Such notice will be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price, either by certified or bank check, or such other means as the Board may accept. As determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, at or after grant, payment in full or in part of the exercise price of an Option may be made in the form of previously acquired Shares based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is exercised. Subject to the approval of the Board, Options may be exercised pursuant to such cashless exercise procedures as may be approved and implemented by the Board from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to broker-assisted exercise transactions and/or net exercise procedures. No Shares will be issued upon exercise of an Option until full payment therefor has been made. A Participant will not have the right to distributions or dividends or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to the Option until the Participant has given written notice of exercise, has paid in full for such Shares, and, if requested, has given the representation described in Section  12(a) hereof.

 

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(v)     Incentive Stock Option Limitations . In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary will not exceed $100,000. For purposes of applying the foregoing limitation, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order granted. To the extent any Option does not meet such limitation, that Option will be treated for all purposes as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(vi)     Termination of Service . Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, Options will be subject to the terms of Section  6 with respect to exercise upon or following termination of employment or other service.

(vii)     Transferability of Options . Except as may otherwise be specifically determined by the Board with respect to a particular Option: (i) no Option will be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; and (ii) all Options will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or, in the event of his or her Disability, by his or her personal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Non-Qualified Stock Option may be assigned in whole or in part during the Participant’s lifetime to one or more members of the Participant’s Immediate Family (as defined in the Company’s Bylaws) or to a trust established exclusively for the Participant and/or one or more such family members or to Participant’s former spouse (including, without limitation, any domestic partner or partner by virtue of same-sex marriage and/or civil union), to the extent such assignment is in connection with the Participant’s estate plan or pursuant to a domestic relations order. The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the Non-Qualified Option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the Option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Board may deem appropriate.

SECTION 6. Termination of Service . Unless otherwise specified with respect to a particular Award, Options granted hereunder will remain exercisable after termination of employment or other service only to the extent specified in this Section  6 .

(a)     Termination by Reason of Death . If a Participant’s service with the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates by reason of death, any Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised, to the extent then exercisable or on such accelerated basis as the Board may determine, at or after grant, by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the Participant under the will of the Participant, for a period expiring (i) at such time as may be specified by the Board at or after the time of grant (which, in the event that the Participant resides in the state of California, shall be no less than six (6) months from the date of termination), or (ii) if not specified by the Board, then twelve (12) months from the date of death, or (iii) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (i) or (ii) above, then upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option.

(b)     Termination by Reason of Disability . If a Participant’s service with the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates by reason of Disability, any Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised by the Participant or his or her personal representative, to the

 

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extent it was exercisable at the time of termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Board may determine at or after grant, for a period expiring (i) at such time as may be specified by the Board at or after the time of grant (which, in the event that the Participant resides in the state of California, shall be no less than six (6) months from the date of termination), or (ii) if not specified by the Board, then twelve (12) months from the date of termination of service, or (iii) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (i) or (ii) above, then upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option.

(c)     Cause . If a Participant’s service with the Company or any Affiliate is terminated for Cause: (i) any Option not already exercised will be immediately and automatically forfeited as of the date of such termination, and (ii) any Shares for which the Company has not yet delivered share certificates will be immediately and automatically forfeited and the Company will refund to the Participant the Option exercise price paid for such Shares, if any.

(d)     Other Termination . If a Participant’s service with the Company or any Affiliate terminates for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, any Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised by the Participant, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Board may determine at or after grant, for a period expiring (i) at such time as may be specified by the Board at or after the time of grant (which, in the event that the Participant resides in the state of California, shall be no less than thirty (30) days from the date of termination), or (ii) if not specified by the Board, then ninety (90) days from the date of termination of service or (iii) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (i) or (ii) above, then upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option.

SECTION 7. Restricted Stock .

(a)     Issuance . Restricted Stock may be issued either alone or in conjunction with other Awards. The Board will determine the time or times within which Restricted Stock may be subject to forfeiture, and all other conditions of such Awards.

(b)     Awards and Certificates . The Award Agreement evidencing the grant of any Restricted Stock will contain such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Board deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion. The prospective recipient of an Award of Restricted Stock will not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such recipient has executed an Award Agreement and has delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award. The purchase price for Restricted Stock may, but need not, be zero. A share certificate will be issued in connection with each Award of Restricted Stock. Such certificate will be registered in the name of the Participant receiving the Award, and will bear the following legend and/or any other legend required by this Plan, the Award Agreement, Stockholders Agreement, if any, or by applicable law:

THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PIPPIO, INC. 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND AN AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANT AND PIPPIO, INC. (WHICH

 

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, REPURCHASE RIGHTS AND FORFEITURE CONDITIONS). COPIES OF THAT PLAN AND AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE IN THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF PIPPIO, INC. AND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

Share certificates evidencing Restricted Stock will be held in custody by the Company or in escrow by an escrow agent until the restrictions thereon have lapsed. As a condition to any Restricted Stock award, the Participant may be required to deliver to the Company a share power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such Award.

(c)     Restrictions and Conditions . The Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to this Section  7 will be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:

(i)    During a period commencing with the date of an Award of Restricted Stock and ending at such time or times as specified by the Board (the “ Restriction Period ”), the Participant will not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise encumber Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan. The Board may condition the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock upon the continued employment or service of the recipient, the attainment of specified individual or corporate performance goals, or such other factors as the Board may determine, in its sole and absolute discretion.

(ii)    Except as provided in this Paragraph (ii) or Section  7(c)(i) , once the Participant has been issued a certificate or certificates for Restricted Stock, the Participant will have, with respect to the Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the Shares, and the right to receive any cash distributions or dividends. The Board, in its sole discretion, as determined at the time of award, may permit or require the payment of cash distributions or dividends to be deferred and, if the Board so determines, reinvested in additional Restricted Stock to the extent Shares are available under Section  3 of the Plan. Any distributions or dividends paid in the form of securities with respect to Restricted Stock will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid, including, without limitation, the same Restriction Period.

(iii)    Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s service with the Company and its Affiliates terminates prior to the expiration of the Restriction Period, all of that Participant’s Restricted Stock which then remain subject to forfeiture will then be forfeited automatically.

(iv)    If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock subject to such Restriction Period (or if and when the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock lapse pursuant to Sections 3(d)), the certificates for such Shares will be replaced with new certificates, without the restrictive legends described in Section  7(b) applicable to such lapsed restrictions, and such new certificates will be promptly delivered to the Participant, the Participant’s representative (if the Participant has suffered a Disability), or the Participant’s estate or heir (if the Participant has died).

 

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SECTION 8. Restricted Stock Units . Subject to the other terms of the Plan, the Board may grant Restricted Stock Units to eligible individuals and may impose conditions on such units as it may deem appropriate. Each granted Restricted Stock Unit shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form that is approved by the Board and that is not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan. Each granted Restricted Stock Unit shall entitle the Participant to whom it is granted a distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value (at the time of the distribution) of one Share. Distributions may be made in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares. All other terms governing Restricted Stock Units, such as vesting, time and form of payment and termination of units shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.

SECTION 9. Amendments and Termination . The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan at any time. However, except as otherwise provided in Section  3(d) of the Plan, no amendment, alteration or discontinuation will be made which would adversely affect the rights of a Participant with respect to an Award, without that Participant’s consent, or which, without the approval of such amendment within one year (365 days) of its adoption by the Board, by the Company’s stockholders in a manner consistent with Section 1.422-5 of the Treasury Regulations, would: (i) increase the total number of Shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan (except as otherwise provided in Section  3(c) ), or (ii) change the persons or class of persons eligible to receive Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of the Plan or an Award to the contrary, the Board may at any time (without the consent of a Participant) modify, amend or terminate any or all of the provisions of this Plan or an Award to the extent necessary to conform the provisions of the Plan or an Award with Section 409A of the Code other applicable law, the regulations issued thereunder or an exception thereto, regardless of whether such modification, amendment, or termination of the Plan and/or Award shall adversely affect the rights of a Participant.

SECTION 10. Unfunded Status of Plan . The Plan is intended to be “unfunded.” With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein will give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole discretion, the Board may authorize the creation of grantor trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Shares or payments in lieu of Shares or with respect to Awards.

SECTION 11. Substitute Options . In the event that the Company, directly or indirectly, acquires another entity, the Board may authorize the issuance of stock options (“ Substitute Options ”) to the individuals performing services for the acquired entity in substitution of stock options previously granted to those individuals in connection with their performance of services for such entity upon such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine, taking into account the conditions of Code Section 424(a), as from time to time amended or superceded, in the case of a Substitute Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. Shares of capital stock underlying Substitute Stock Options shall not constitute Shares issued pursuant to the Plan for any purpose.

 

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SECTION 12. General Provisions .

(a)    The Board shall condition any Award upon compliance with applicable securities laws. The Board may require each Participant to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring securities of the Company for investment purposes and without a view to distribution thereof and as to such other matters as the Board believes are appropriate. The certificate evidencing any Award and any securities issued pursuant thereto may include any legend which the Board deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer and compliance with applicable securities laws. All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan will be subject to such share-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any other applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(b)    Nothing contained in the Plan will prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(c)    Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the execution of any document in connection with the Plan will (i) confer upon any person any right to continued employment or engagement with the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (ii) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of any of its employees at any time.

(d)    No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of the Participant for federal income tax purposes with respect to any Award under the Plan, the Participant will pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Board regarding the payment of any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the minimum required withholding obligations may be settled with Shares, including Shares that are part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement. The obligations of the Company under the Plan will be conditioned on such payment or arrangements and the Company will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant.

SECTION 13. Effective Date of Plan . Subject to the approval of the Plan by the Company’ stockholders within twelve (12) months of the Plan’s adoption by the Board, the Plan will become effective on the date that it is adopted by the Board. In the absence of such stockholder approval, any Incentive Stock Option granted prior to the expiration of such 12-month period shall be treated for all purposes as a Non-Qualified Option.

SECTION 14. Term of Plan . The Plan will continue in effect until terminated in accordance with Section  9 ; provided, however , that no Award will be granted hereunder on or after the 10th anniversary of the earlier of: (a) the date of the Plan’s adoption by the Board; or (b) the date of stockholder approval of the Plan (or, if the stockholders approve an amendment that increases the number of shares subject to the Plan, the 10th anniversary of the date of such approval); but provided further , that Awards granted prior to such 10th anniversary may extend beyond that date.

 

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SECTION 15. Invalid Provisions . In the event that any provision of this Plan is found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable under any applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed as rendering any other provisions contained herein as invalid or unenforceable, and all such other provisions will be given full force and effect to the same extent as though the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained herein.

SECTION 16. Governing Law . The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws and judicial decisions of the state of Delaware, without regard to the application of the principles of conflicts of laws of the state of Delaware or any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 17. Board Action . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, any and all actions of the Board or Committee, as the case may be, taken under or in connection with the Plan and any agreements, instruments, documents, certificates or other writings entered into, executed, granted, issued and/or delivered pursuant to the terms hereof, will be subject to and limited by any and all votes, consents, approvals, waivers or other actions of all or certain stockholders of the Company or other persons required by:

(a)    the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time);

(b)    the Bylaws of the Company (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time); and

(c)    any other agreement, instrument, document or writing now or hereafter existing, between or among the Company and its stockholders or other persons (as the same may be amended from time to time).

SECTION 18. Notices . Any notice to be given to the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will be given by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, and, addressed, if to the Company to its Secretary (or such other person as the Company may designate in writing from time to time) at its principal executive office, and, if to a Participant, to the address given beneath his or her signature on his or her Award Agreement, or at such other address as such Participant may hereafter designate in writing to the Company. Any such notice will be deemed duly given on the date and at the time delivered via personal, courier or recognized overnight delivery service or, if sent via telecopier, on the date and at the time telecopied with confirmation of delivery or, if mailed, on the date five (5) days after the date of the mailing (which will be by regular, registered or certified mail). Delivery of a notice by telecopy (with confirmation) will be permitted and will be considered delivery of a notice notwithstanding that it is not an original that is received. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may give notice to any Participant by electronic transmission, which shall be deemed effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by such Person.

 

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SECTION 19. Section  409A . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award to the contrary, if any Award or benefit provided under this Plan is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code (“ Section  409A ”), the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Award shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner necessary to comply with Section 409A or an exception thereto (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted or construed). The following provisions shall apply, as applicable:

(a)    For purposes of Section 409A, and to the extent applicable to any Award or benefit under the Plan, it is intended that distribution events qualify as permissible distribution events for purposes of Section 409A and shall be interpreted and construed accordingly. With respect to payments subject to Section 409A, the Company reserves the right to accelerate and/or defer any payment to the extent permitted and consistent with Section 409A. Whether a Participant has separated from service or employment will be determined based on all of the facts and circumstances and, to the extent applicable to any Award or benefit, in accordance with the guidance issued under Section 409A.

(b)    The grant of Non-Qualified Stock Options and other stock rights shall be granted under terms and conditions consistent with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(5) such that any such Award does not constitute a deferral of compensation under Section 409A.

(c)    In no event shall any member of the Board, the Committee or the Company (or its employees, officers or directors) have any liability to any Participant (or any other Person) due to the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A.

SECTION 20. Clawback . All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

. . .

ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF PLAN

Date Plan adopted by Board: October 20, 2014

Date Plan approved by Stockholders: November 20, 2014

Effective Date of Plan: October 20, 2014

 

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Exhibit 99.4

ARBOR EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

OF

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

1. Establishment and Purpose. In connection with the Merger, the shares of common stock of Arbor are being assumed and converted into Shares that will be available for grant and issuance under the Plan, consistent with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c). This Arbor Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) was established on December 5, 2016 by Acxiom Corporation, the predecessor of the Company, in connection with the Merger. The purpose of the Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company and any of its present or future Subsidiaries and Affiliated Companies (as defined below) by allowing certain Associates (as defined below) to acquire or increase equity ownership in the Company, thereby offering such Associates a proprietary interest in the Company’s business and a more direct stake in its continuing welfare, and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is also intended to assist the Company in attracting and retaining talented Associates, who are vital to the continued development and success of the Company.

2. Definitions. The following capitalized terms, when used in the Plan, have the following meanings:

(a) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(b) “Affiliated Company” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest.

(c) “Arbor” means Arbor Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(d) “Associate” means any employee, officer (whether or not also a director), director, affiliate, independent contractor or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company who renders those types of services which tend to contribute to the success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies, or which may reasonably be anticipated to contribute to the future success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies.

(e) “Award” means the grant, pursuant to the Plan, of any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Awards, Performance Share, Performance Unit, or Other Stock Unit Award. The terms and conditions applicable to an Award shall be set forth in applicable Grant Documents.

(f) “Award Agreement” means any written or electronic agreement, contract, or other document or instrument evidencing any Award granted by the Committee or the Board hereunder, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(g) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.


(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 14 of the Plan.

(j) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (as well as any successor to the Compensation Committee and any Company officers to whom authority has been lawfully delegated by the Compensation Committee). All of the members of the Committee, which may not be less than two, are intended at all times to qualify as “Independent Directors” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and each of whom is “independent” as set forth in the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or Nasdaq or any stock exchange upon which the Shares may be listed in the future; provided, however, that the failure of a member of such Committee to so qualify shall not be deemed to invalidate any Award granted by such Committee.

(k) “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, on which a grant of an Award will become effective.

(l) “Exercise Period” means the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representatives or transferees) as specified in Section 6(c) below.

(m) “Exercise Price” means the purchase price per share payable upon exercise of an Option.

(n) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any applicable determination date or for any applicable determination period, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading).

(o) “Grant Documents” means any written or electronic Award Agreement, memorandum, notice, and/or other document or instrument evidencing the terms and conditions of the grant of an Award by the Committee or the Board under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(p) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(q) “Legal Requirements” means any laws, or any rules or regulations issued or promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading), or any other governmental or quasi-governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company, the Common Stock, or the Plan.

(r) “Merger” means the consummation on November 21, 2016 of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement by and between Acxiom Corporation (the predecessor of the Company), Arbor, and certain other parties executed on November 17, 2016, pursuant to which Arbor became a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.

(s) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(t) “Option” means an option granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan to acquire a certain number of Shares at such price(s) and during such period(s) and under such other terms and conditions as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time, provided that all Options granted under the Plan will be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

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(u) “Other Stock Unit Award” means any right granted to a Participant by the Committee or Board pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

(v) “Participant” means an Associate who is selected by the Committee or the Board to receive an Award under the Plan.

(w) “Performance Award” means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

(x) “Performance Goals” means the pre-established objective performance goals established by the Committee for each Performance Period. The Performance Goals may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant, using one or more of the Performance Measures selected by the Committee in its discretion. Performance Goals may be set at a specific level, or may be expressed as a relative percentage to the comparable measure at comparison companies or a defined index. Performance Goals shall, to the extent applicable, be based upon generally accepted accounting principles, but shall be adjusted by the Committee to take into account the effect of the following: changes in accounting standards that may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board after the Performance Goal is established; realized investment gains and losses; extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring, or infrequent items; “non-gaap financial measures” that have been included in LiveRamp’s quarterly earnings releases and disclosed to investors in accordance with SEC regulations; and other items as the Committee determines to be required so that the operating results of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company shall be computed on a comparative basis from Performance Period to Performance Period. Determinations made by the Committee shall be based on relevant objective information and/or financial data, and shall be final and conclusive with respect to all affected parties.

(y) “Performance Measures” means one or more of the following criteria, on which Performance Goals may be based: (a) earnings (either in the aggregate or on a per-Share basis, reflecting dilution of Shares as the Committee deems appropriate and, if the Committee so determines, net of or including dividends) before or after interest and taxes (“EBIT”) or before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”); (b) gross or net revenue or changes in annual revenues; (c) cash flow(s) (including operating, free or net cash flows); (d) financial return ratios; (e) total stockholder return, stockholder return based on growth measures or the attainment by the Shares of a specified value for a specified period of time, (f) Share price, or Share price appreciation; (g) earnings growth or growth in earnings per Share; (h) return measures, including return or net return on assets, net assets, equity, capital, investment, or gross sales; (i) adjusted pre-tax margin; (j) pre-tax profits; (k) operating margins; (1) operating profits; (m) operating expenses; (n) dividends; (o) net income or net operating income; (p) growth in operating earnings or growth in earnings per Share; (q) value of assets; (r) market share or market penetration with respect to specific designated products or product groups and/or specific geographic areas; (s) aggregate product price and other product measures; (t) expense or cost levels, in each case, where applicable, determined either on a company-wide basis or in respect of any one or more specified divisions; (u) reduction of losses, loss ratios or expense ratios; (v) reduction in fixed costs; (w) operating cost management; (x) cost of capital; (y) debt reduction; (z) productivity improvements; (aa) satisfaction of specified business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; (bb) customer satisfaction based on specified objective goals or a Company-sponsored customer survey; or (cc) Associate diversity goals.

 

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Performance Measures may be applied on a pre-tax or post-tax basis, and may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant. The Committee may, at any time, provide that the Performance Goals for an Award may include or exclude items to measure specific objectives, such as losses from discontinued operations, extraordinary gains or losses, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, acquisitions or divestitures, foreign exchange impacts, and any unusual nonrecurring gain or loss.

(z) “Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee or the Board at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee or the Board with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(aa) “Performance Share” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(bb) “Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of property other than a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(cc) “Restricted Stock” means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, or assign such Share and with such other restrictions as the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, may impose (including, without limitation, any forfeiture condition or any restriction on the right to vote such Share, and the right to receive any cash dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee or the Board may deem appropriate.

(dd) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under Section 8 hereof.

(ee) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right awarded to a Participant that, subject to Section 8(c), may result in the Participant’s ownership of Shares upon, but not before, the lapse of restrictions related thereto.

(ff) “Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee or Board pursuant to Sections 8 and 10 below.

(gg) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Act, as such Rule may be in effect from time to time.

(hh) “Shares” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.10 par value.

(ii) “Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan, to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of such right and, if applicable, a related Option, and receive cash or shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.

(jj) “Strike Price” shall have the meaning set forth for such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

 

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(kk) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power or equity interests represented by all classes of stock, membership or other interests issued by such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity.

(ll) “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.

3. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Board. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Committee or the Board has the full authority and discretion to administer the Plan, and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the authority and discretion to:

(a) select the Associates eligible to become Participants under the Plan;

(b) determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted;

(c) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each grant;

(d) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any grant hereunder (including, but not limited to, the term of the Award, the Exercise Price or Strike Price and any restriction, limitation, procedure, or deferral related thereto, provisions relating to the effect upon the Award of a Participant’s cessation of employment, acceleration of vesting, forfeiture provisions regarding an Award and/or the profits received by any Participant from receiving an Award of exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and any other terms and conditions regarding any Award, based in each case upon such guidelines and factors as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time in their sole discretion);

(e) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants under the Plan are to be made and operate, whether on a tandem basis or otherwise, with other grants or awards (whether equity or cash based) made by the Company under or outside of the Plan; and

(f) delegate to one or more officers of the Company the right to grant Awards under the Plan, provided that such delegation is made in accordance with the provisions of applicable state and federal laws.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award granted under thereunder (and any Grant Documents relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall also have the authority to provide, in their discretion, for the rescission, forfeiture, cancellation or other restriction of any Award granted under the Plan, or for the forfeiture, rescission or repayment to the Company by a Participant or former Participant of any profits or gains related to any Award granted hereunder, or other limitations, upon the occurrence of such prescribed events and under such circumstances as the Committee or the Board shall deem necessary and reasonable for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that this provision shall have no application after a change in control transaction (as defined below in Section 11) has occurred.

 

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All decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s or Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons including the Company and any Participant. No member of the Committee or Board will be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith.

4. Shares Subject to the Plan.

(a) The total number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed (i) 232,664 Shares, the number of Shares that were reserved but not issued or subject to outstanding equity awards under Arbor’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Arbor Plan”), as of the effective date of the Plan and as adjusted to reflect the Merger, plus (ii) any Shares that otherwise would have returned to the Arbor Plan as a result of the termination of stock options granted under the Arbor Plan that were assumed by the Company in connection with the Merger. Such Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, as determined in the discretion of the Committee or the Board.

(b) If any Award made under the Plan is forfeited, any Option (and the related Stock Appreciation Right, if any), or any Stock Appreciation Right not related to an Option terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, or any Stock Appreciation Right is exercised for cash, the Shares subject to such Awards that are, as a result, not delivered to the Participant shall again be available for delivery in connection with Awards. If a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, only the number of Shares issued will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan. If the Exercise Price of any Option is satisfied by delivering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), only the number of Shares issued net of the Shares delivered or attested to shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery pursuant to Awards under the Plan. To the extent any Shares subject to an Award are not delivered to a Participant because such Shares are used to satisfy an applicable tax withholding obligation, such Shares shall again be available for delivery in connection with Awards.

(c) Shares available for issuance or reissuance under the Plan will be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14 below.

5. Eligible Participants. Subject to compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c), all Associates who were not employed by the Company or its Affiliated Companies as of November 21, 2016 shall be eligible to receive Awards and thereby become Participants in the Plan, regardless of such Associate’s prior participation in the Plan or any other benefit plan of the Company.

6. Options.

(a) Grant of Options. The Committee, the Board or their lawful designees may from time to time authorize grants of Options to any Participant upon such terms and conditions as the Committee or Board may determine in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Plan. Each grant will specify, among other things, the number of Shares to which it pertains; the Exercise Price, the form of payment to be made by the Participant for the shares purchased upon exercise of any Option; the required period or periods (if any) of continuous service by the Participant with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company and/or any other conditions to be satisfied before the Options or installments thereof will vest and become exercisable. Options granted under the Plan will be Non-Qualified Options.

Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by Grant Documents delivered to the Participant containing such further terms and provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee or Board may approve in their discretion.

 

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(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for each share of Common Stock purchasable under any Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. All such Exercise Prices shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 14 hereof.

(c) Exercise Period. Subject to Section 11 hereof, the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representative(s) or transferee(s)) whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability (the “Exercise Period”) shall be such period of time as may be designated by the Committee or the Board as set forth in the Committee’s or Board’s applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or in the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Option. If the Committee or Board provides, in their sole discretion, that any Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee or Board may waive or accelerate such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant in whole or in part, based upon such factors as the Committee or Board shall determine, in their sole discretion.

(d) Exercise of Option. Subject to Section 11 hereof, an Option may be exercised by a Participant at any time and from time to time during the Exercise Period by giving written notice of such exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Participant. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with subsection (e) below.

(e) Payment for Shares. Full payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option, together with the amount of any tax or excise due in respect of the sale and issue thereof, may be made in one of the following forms of payment:

(i) Cash, by check or electronic funds transfer;

(ii) Pursuant to procedures approved by the Company, through the sale (or margin) of Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Participant has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale (or if applicable margin loan) proceeds sufficient to pay for the Exercise Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by reason of such exercise;

(iii) By delivering previously-owned shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for a period of at least six months having a Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the Exercise Price, or by delivering a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate Exercise Price;

(iv) By authorizing the Company to withhold a number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the aggregate Exercise Price; or

(v) By any combination of the foregoing.

Provided, however, that the payment methods described in clause (iv) immediately above shall not be available to a Participant without the prior consent of either the Committee or its authorized designee(s), or if at any time the Company is prohibited from purchasing or acquiring Shares under applicable law. The Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to exercise an Option and defer the issuance of any Shares, subject to such rules and procedures as the Committee or Board may establish.

 

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The Company will issue no certificates for Shares until full payment of the Exercise Price has been made, and a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until certificates for the Shares purchased are issued; provided however, that for purposes of this Section 6, full payment shall be deemed to have been received by the Company upon evidence of delivery to a broker-dealer of the irrevocable instructions contemplated by clause (ii) immediately above.

(f) Withholding Taxes. The Company may require a Participant exercising a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder to reimburse the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) for taxes required by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such corporation in respect of the issuance of the Shares. Such withholding requirements may be satisfied by any one of the following methods:

(i) A Participant may deliver cash in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement;

(ii) A Participant may deliver previously-owned Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement; or

(iii) With the prior consent of either the Committee or the Board, or its authorized designees, a Participant may request that the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option such number of Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) as is necessary to satisfy the withholding requirement.

(g) Conditions to Exercise of Options. The Committee or the Board may, in their discretion, require as conditions to the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the issuance of shares thereunder either (a) that a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the shares to be issued upon the exercise thereof, containing such current information as is required by the Rules and Regulations under said Act, shall have become, and continue to be, effective; or (b) that the Participant or his or her transferee(s) (i) shall have represented, warranted and agreed, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, both that he or she is acquiring the Option or Stock Appreciation Right and, at the time of exercising the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, that he or she is acquiring the shares for his/her own account, for investment and not with a view to or in connection with any distribution; (ii) shall have agreed to restrictions on transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company; and (iii) shall have agreed to an endorsement which makes appropriate reference to such representations, warranties, agreements and restrictions both on the option and on the certificate representing the shares.

(h) Use of Proceeds. Proceeds realized from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Options granted hereunder shall constitute general funds of the Company.

7. Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) When granted, Stock Appreciation Rights may, but need not be, identified with a specific Option (including any Option granted on or before the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights) in a number equal to or different from the number of Stock Appreciation Rights so granted. If Stock Appreciation Rights are identified with Shares subject to an Option, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the Participant’s associated Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the expiration, termination, forfeiture or cancellation of such Stock Option or the exercise of such Option.

 

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(b) The Strike Price of any Stock Appreciation Right shall (i) for any Stock Appreciation Right that is identified with an Option, equal the Exercise Price of such Option, or (ii) for any other Stock Appreciation Right, be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. The duration of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be for such period as determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, not to exceed ten years.

(c) Subject to Section 11 hereof, (i) each Stock Appreciation Right which is identified with any Option grant shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant as and to the extent that the related Option with respect to which such Stock Appreciation Right is identified may be exercised; and (ii) each other Stock Appreciation Right shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant, whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability, at such time or times as may be designated by the Committee or Board as set forth in the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Stock Appreciation Right.

(d) Subject to Section 11 hereof, Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by a Participant by delivery to the Company of written notice of intent to exercise a specific number of Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights which are identified with Shares of Common Stock subject to an Option shall result in the cancellation or forfeiture of such Option to the extent of the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right.

(e) The benefit to the Participant for each Stock Appreciation Right exercised shall be equal to (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of exercise, minus (ii) the Strike Price of such Stock Appreciation Right. Such benefit shall be payable in cash, except that the Committee or Board may provide in the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents that benefits may be paid wholly or partly in Shares of Common Stock.

8. Restricted Stock Awards.

(a) Issuance. A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee or the Board during a period of time specified by the Committee or Board (the “Restriction Period”). Restricted Stock Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

(b) Restricted Stock.

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock to those Associates the Committee or the Board may select in their sole discretion. Each Award of Restricted Stock shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in or are required by the Plan and the Grant Documents as the Committee or the Board may determine in their discretion.

(ii) While any restriction applies to any Participant’s Restricted Stock, (a) unless the Committee or the Board provides otherwise, the Participant shall receive the dividends paid on the Restricted Stock and shall not be required to return those dividends to the Company in the event of the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock; (b) the Participant shall receive the proceeds of the Restricted Stock in any stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, or other change in the capital structure of the Company, which proceeds shall automatically and without need for any other action become Restricted Stock and be subject to all restrictions then existing as to the Participant’s Restricted Stock; and (c) the Participant shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period.

 

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(iii) The Restricted Stock will be delivered to the Participant subject to the understanding that while any restriction applies to the Restricted Stock, the Participant shall not have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of Restricted Stock or any interest therein. As a result of the retention of rights in the Restricted Stock by the Company, except as required by any applicable law, neither any shares of the Restricted Stock nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iv) Unless other provisions are specified in the Grant Documents or Plan guidelines which may be adopted by the Committee or the Board from time to time, any Restricted Stock held by the Participant at the time the Participant ceases to be an Associate for any reason shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company and automatically re-conveyed to the Company.

(v) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 15(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Restricted Stock.

(vi) The making of an Award of Restricted Stock and delivery of any Restricted Stock is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable laws. The Company need not issue or transfer Restricted Stock pursuant to the Plan unless the Company’s legal counsel has approved all legal matters in connection with the delivery of the Restricted Stock.

(vii) The Restricted Stock will be book-entry Shares only unless the Committee or the Board decides to issue certificates to evidence any shares of Restricted Stock. The Company may place stop-transfer instructions with respect to all Restricted Stock on its stock transfer records.

(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Stock (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant of an Award of Restricted Stock to defer receipt of his or her Restricted Stock in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee or the Board. Alternatively, the Committee or the Board may, in their discretion and at the times provided above, permit an individual who would have been a Participant with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock, to elect instead to receive an equivalent Award of Restricted Stock Units, and the Committee or the Board may permit the Participant to elect to defer receipt of Shares under the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with Section 8(c)(viii).

(ix) The minimum Restriction Period applicable to any Award of Restricted Stock that is not subject to performance conditions restricting the grant size, the transfer of the shares, or the vesting of the award shall be two (2) years from the date of grant; provided, however, that a Restriction Period of less than two (2) years may be approved under the Plan for such Awards with respect to up to a total of 100,000 Shares.

(c) Restricted Stock Units.

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock Units to those Associates as the Committee or the Board may select in its sole discretion. Restricted Stock Units represent the right to receive Shares in the future, at such times, and subject to such conditions as the Committee or the Board shall determine. The restrictions imposed shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A.

 

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(ii) Until the Restricted Stock Unit is released from restrictions and any Shares subject thereto are delivered to the Participant, the Participant shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Restricted Stock Unit or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, no Restricted Stock Unit nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iii) Upon the lapse of the restrictions, the Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units shall, except as noted below, be entitled to receive, as soon as administratively practical, (a) that number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board shall determine in their sole discretion, or shall have specified at the time the Award was granted.

(iv) Restricted Stock Units and the entitlement to Shares, cash, or any combination thereunder will be forfeited and all rights of a Participant to such Restricted Stock Units and the Shares thereunder will terminate if the applicable restrictions are not satisfied.

(v) A Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g., voting rights and dividend rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan. The Committee or the Board may, however, provide in the Grant Documents that the Participant shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments on Restricted Stock Units, on such terms and conditions as the Grant Documents may specify.

(vi) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 15(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to any Restricted Stock Units.

(vii) The granting of Restricted Stock Units and the delivery of any Shares is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable laws.

(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Stock Units (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to elect to defer receipt of the Shares or cash to be delivered upon lapse of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with rules and procedures that may be established from time to time by the Committee or the Board. Such rules and procedures shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A, and may provide for payment in Shares or cash.

9. Performance Awards.

(a) Grant. The Company or the Board may grant Performance Awards to Associates on any terms and conditions the Committee or the Board deem desirable. Each Award of Performance Awards shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in, or are required by, the Plan and the Grant Documents.

 

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(b) Performance Goals. The Committee or the Board may set Performance Goals which, depending on the extent to which they are met during a Performance Period, will determine the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units that will be delivered to a Participant at the end of the Performance Period. The Performance Goals may be set at threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, and the number of Performance Shares or Units to be delivered may be tied to the degree of attainment of the various performance levels specified under the various Performance Goals during the Performance Period. No payment shall be made with respect to a Performance Share if any specified threshold performance level is not attained.

(c) Beneficial Ownership. A Participant receiving a Performance Award shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Shares subject to such Award until Shares are delivered in satisfaction of the Award, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Performance Award or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, neither the Performance Award nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(d) Determination of Achievement of Performance Awards. The Committee or the Board shall, promptly after the date on which the necessary financial, individual or other information for a particular Performance Period becomes available, determine and certify the degree to which each of the Performance Goals have been attained.

(e) Payment of Performance Awards. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, a recipient of a Performance Award shall be entitled to payment based on the performance level attained with respect to the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Performance Awards shall be settled as soon as practicable after the Committee or Board determines and certifies the degree of attainment of Performance Goals for the Performance Period. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Documents, payment to a Participant with respect to a Performance Award may be made (a) in Shares, (b) in cash, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board may determine at any time in their sole discretion.

(f) Limitation on Rights /Withholding. A recipient of a Performance Award is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g. voting rights and dividend rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan. The Committee or the Board may, however, provide in the Grant Documents that the Participant shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments in an amount commensurate with earned Performance Awards, on such terms and conditions as the Grant Documents may specify. The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 15(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Performance Awards.

10. Other Stock Unit Awards. Other Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property (“Other Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or any other form of property as the Committee or the Board may determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee or the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Associates to whom such Awards shall be made, the times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards. The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant. For any Award or Shares subject to any Award made under this

 

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Section, the vesting of which is conditioned only on the passage of time, such Restriction Period shall be a minimum of two (2) years for full vesting. Shares (including securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards granted under this Section may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law.

11. Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee or Board may determine, in their discretion, that upon the occurrence of a transaction involving a merger or consolidation of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, the acquisition of a significant percentage of the voting power of the Company, or such other form of transaction as the Committee or Board may determine from time to time to constitute a change in control of the Company, which shall not include preliminary transaction activities such as receipt of a letter of interest, receipt of a letter of intent or an agreement in principle, that (i) Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award may become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; (iii) all Performance Awards may be considered to be prorated, and any deferral or other restriction may lapse and such Performance Awards may be immediately settled or distributed; (iv) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan may lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards may become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested.

The Committee or the Board, in their discretion, may also determine that, upon the occurrence of such a change in control transaction, each Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right outstanding hereunder shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the holder, and such holder shall receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares immediately prior to the occurrence of such transaction (which shall be no less than the value being paid for such Shares pursuant to such transaction) over the Exercise Price or Strike Price, as applicable, of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; such amount shall be payable in cash, in one or more of the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee or Board in their discretion shall determine.

12. Transferability of Awards.

(a) Awards (subject to the limitations in paragraph (b) below) granted under the Plan may be transferred by a Participant to: (i) the Participant’s family members (whether related by blood, marriage, or adoption and including a former spouse); (ii) trust(s) in which the Participant’s family members have a greater than 50% beneficial interest; (iii) trusts, including but not limited to charitable remainder trusts, or similar vehicles established for estate planning and/or charitable giving purposes; and (iv) family partnerships and/or family limited liability companies which are controlled by the Participant or the Participant’s family members, such transfers being permitted to occur by gift or pursuant to a domestic relation order, or, only in the case of transfers to the entities described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) immediately above, for value. The Committee or Board, or their authorized designees may, in their sole discretion, permit transfers of Awards to other persons or entities upon the request of a Participant. Subsequent transfers of previously transferred Awards may only be made to one of the permitted transferees named above, unless the subsequent transfer has been approved by the Committee or the Board, or their authorized designee(s). Otherwise, such transferred Awards may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time any Option is transferred as permitted under this Section 12, a corresponding Stock Appreciation Right has been identified as being granted in tandem with such Option, then the transfer of such Option shall also constitute a transfer of the corresponding Stock Appreciation Right, and such Stock Appreciation Right shall not be transferable other than as part of the transfer of the Option to which it relates.

 

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(c) Concurrently with any transfer, the transferor shall give written notice to the Plan’s then current Plan administrator of the name and address of the transferee, the number of shares being transferred, the Date of Grant of the Awards being transferred, and such other information as may reasonably be required by the administrator. Following a transfer, any such Awards shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. The provisions of the Plan and applicable Grant Documents shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, and such Awards shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent that they could have been exercised by the Participant under the terms of the original Grant Documents. The Company disclaims any obligation to provide notice to a transferee of any termination or expiration of a transferred Award.

13. Clawback. All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

14. Alteration, Termination, Discontinuance, Suspension, and Amendment.

(a) The Committee or the Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to qualify for or comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Committee or Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply; or (ii) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would impair the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee or the Board may make technical amendments to the Plan as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to any laws or regulations in any jurisdiction within or outside the United States, so long as stockholder approval of such technical amendments is not required.

(b) The Committee or Board may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively retroactively, except that no such amendment shall impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, the Committee or Board may, without the consent of the Participant, amend any Grant Documents evidencing an Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, or otherwise take action, to accelerate the time or times at which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised; to extend the expiration date of an Award; to waive any other condition or restriction applicable to an Award or to the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; to amend the definition of a change in control of the Company (if such a definition is contained in such Grant Documents) to expand the events that would result in a change in control and to add a change in control provision to such Grant Documents (if such provision is not contained in such Grant Documents); and may amend any such Grant Documents in any other respect with the consent of the Participant.

(c) If an amendment would (i) materially increase the benefits to participants under the Plan, (ii) increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, or (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan by materially increasing the class or number of persons eligible to participate in the Plan, then such amendment shall be subject to stockholder approval.

(d) If required by any Legal Requirement, any amendment to the Plan or any Award will also be submitted to and approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company. If any Legal Requirement requires the Plan to be amended, or in the event any Legal Requirement is amended or supplemented (e.g., by addition of alternative rules) to permit the Company to remove or lessen any restrictions on or with respect to an Award, the Board and the Committee each reserve the right to amend the Plan or any Grant Documents evidencing an Award to the extent of any such requirement, amendment or supplement, and all Awards then outstanding will be subject to such amendment.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee or the Board may not, without prior approval of the stockholders of the Company, reprice any outstanding Option by either lowering the Exercise Price thereof or canceling such outstanding Stock Option in consideration of a grant having a lower Exercise Price. This paragraph 14(d) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Options without prior stockholder approval and shall not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 14 hereof.

(f) The Plan may be terminated at any time by action of the Board. The termination of the Plan will not adversely affect the terms of any outstanding Award. The Plan will continue in effect until October 20, 2024, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms.

15. Adjustment of Shares; Effect of Certain Transactions. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of any change in the shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan or to any Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, issuance of rights to subscribe, or change in capital structure), appropriate adjustments or substitutions shall be made by the Committee or the Board as to the (i) maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan, (ii) maximum number of Shares of Common Stock for which Awards may be granted to any one Associate, and (iii) the number of Shares of Common Stock and price per share subject to outstanding Awards as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards. The determination of the Committee or Board as to these matters shall be conclusive.

16. General Provisions.

(a) No Associate or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Associates or Participants under the Plan.

(b) The Committee or Board shall be authorized to make adjustments in performance award criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. The Committee or 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 desirable to carry it into effect. In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of or combination with another corporation or business entity, the Committee or Board may, in their discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(c) All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee or Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable state of Federal securities law, and the Committee or Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d) No Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee or the Board in their sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws and any other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.

 

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(e) The Committee or the Board shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any Grant Documents, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation, any deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Committee or the Board, be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash dividends, or cash payments in amounts equivalent to cash dividends on Shares (“dividend equivalents”), with respect to the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, and the Committee or Board may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested.

(f) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award or payment hereunder and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Plan administrator to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, not to exceed the statutory minimum withholding obligation. The Committee or Board shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligations for the payment of such taxes (i) by delivery of or transfer of Shares to the Company, (ii) with the consent of the Committee or the Board, by directing the Company to retain Shares otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award, (iii) by payment in cash of the amount to be withheld, or (iv) by withholding from any cash compensation otherwise due to the Participant.

(g) Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(h) The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and applicable Federal law.

(i) If any provision of this Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee or the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee or the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken, and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

(j) Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Participants employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee or the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee or Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Associates on assignments outside their home country.

(k) No Award shall be granted or exercised if the grant of the Award or the exercise and the issuance of shares or other consideration pursuant thereto would be contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction.

(l) The Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company would otherwise have to terminate a Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

 

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Exhibit 99.5

SOLVE MEDIA, INC.

2009 STOCK PLAN

Adopted on October 20, 2009

Amended on May 10, 2010 and November 7, 2011


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

SECTION 1.

  

ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

     1  

SECTION 2.

  

ADMINISTRATION

     1  

(a)

   Committees of the Board of Directors      1  

(b)

   Authority of the Board of Directors      1  

SECTION 3.

  

ELIGIBILITY

     1  

(a)

   General Rule      1  

(b)

   Ten-Percent Stockholders      1  

SECTION 4.

  

STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

     1  

(a)

   Basic Limitation      2  

(b)

   Additional Shares      2  

SECTION 5.

  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS OR SALES

     2  

(a)

   Stock Grant or Purchase Agreement      2  

(b)

   Duration of Offers and Nontransferability of Rights      2  

(c)

   Purchase Price      2  

(d)

   Withholding Taxes      2  

(e)

   Transfer Restrictions and Forfeiture Conditions      3  

SECTION 6.

  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

     3  

(a)

   Stock Option Agreement      3  

(b)

   Number of Shares      3  

(c)

   Exercise Price      3  

(d)

   Exercisability      3  

(e)

   Basic Term      3  

(f)

   Termination of Service (Except by Death)      3  

(g)

   Leaves of Absence      4  

(h)

   Death of Optionee      4  

(i)

   Post-Exercise Restrictions on Transfer of Shares      4  

(j)

   Pre-Exercise Restrictions on Transfer of Options or Shares      5  

(k)

   Withholding Taxes      5  

(l)

   No Rights as a Stockholder      5  

(m)

   Modification, Extension and Assumption of Options      5  

(n)

   Company’s Right to Cancel Certain Options      5  

SECTION 7.

  

PAYMENT FOR SHARES

     6  

(a)

   General Rule      6  

(b)

   Services Rendered      6  

(c)

   Promissory Note      6  

(d)

   Surrender of Stock      6  

(e)

   Exercise/Sale      6  

(f)

   Other Forms of Payment      6  


SECTION 8.

  

ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES

     6  

(a)

   General      7  

(b)

   Mergers, Consolidations      7  

(c)

   Reservation of Rights      8  

SECTION 9.

  

PRE-EXERCISE INFORMATION REQUIREMENT

     9  

(a)

   Application of Requirement      9  

(b)

   Scope of Requirement      9  

SECTION 10.

  

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     9  

(a)

   Securities Law Requirements      9  

(b)

   No Retention Rights      9  

(c)

   Treatment as Compensation      9  

(d)

   Governing Law      9  

(e)

   Clawback      9  

SECTION 11.

  

DURATION AND AMENDMENTS

     10  

(a)

   Term of the Plan      10  

(b)

   Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan      10  

(c)

   Effect of Amendment or Termination      10  

SECTION 12.

  

DEFINITIONS

     10  


SOLVE MEDIA, INC. 2009 STOCK PLAN

SECTION 1.    ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

The purpose of the Plan is to offer selected persons an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company, or to increase such interest, by acquiring Shares of the Company’s Stock. The Plan provides both for the direct award or sale of Shares and for the grant of Options to purchase Shares. Options granted under the Plan may include Nonstatutory Options as well as ISOs intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.

Capitalized terms are defined in Section 12.

SECTION 2.    ADMINISTRATION

(a)      Committees of the Board of Directors.  The Plan may be administered by one or more Committees. Each Committee shall consist of one or more members of the Board of Directors who have been appointed by the Board of Directors. Each Committee shall have such authority and be responsible for such functions as the Board of Directors has assigned to it. If no Committee has been appointed, the entire Board of Directors shall administer the Plan. Any reference to the Board of Directors in the Plan shall be construed as a reference to the Committee (if any) to whom the Board of Directors has assigned a particular function.

(b)      Authority of the Board of Directors.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board of Directors shall have full authority and discretion to take any actions it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding on all Purchasers, all Optionees and all persons deriving their rights from a Purchaser or Optionee.

SECTION 3.    ELIGIBILITY

(a)      General Rule.  Only Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants shall be eligible for the grant of Nonstatutory Options or the direct award or sale of Shares. Only Employees shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs.

(b)      Ten-Percent Stockholders.  A person who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, its Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless (i) the Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant and (ii) such ISO by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Date of Grant. For purposes of this Subsection (b), in determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.

 

E-1


SECTION 4.    STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.

(a)      Basic Limitation.  Not more than 2,945,395 Shares may be issued under the Plan, subject to Subsection (b) below and Section 8(a). 1  All of these Shares may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs. The number of Shares that are subject to Options or other rights outstanding at any time under the Plan shall not exceed the number of Shares that then remain available for issuance under the Plan. The Company, during the term of the Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available sufficient Shares to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. Shares offered under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or treasury Shares.

(b)      Additional Shares.  In the event that Shares previously issued under the Plan are reacquired by the Company, such Shares shall be added to the number of Shares then available for issuance under the Plan. In the event that Shares that otherwise would have been issuable under the Plan are withheld by the Company in payment of the Purchase Price, Exercise Price or withholding taxes, such Shares shall remain available for issuance under the Plan. In the event that an outstanding Option or other right for any reason expires or is canceled, the Shares allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option or other right shall be added to the number of Shares then available for issuance under the Plan.

SECTION 5.    TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS OR SALES

(a)      Stock Grant or Purchase Agreement.  Each award of Shares under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Grant Agreement between the Grantee and the Company. Each sale of Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option) shall be evidenced by a Stock Purchase Agreement between the Purchaser and the Company. Such award or sale shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Board of Directors deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Grant Agreement or Stock Purchase Agreement. The provisions of the various Stock Grant Agreements and Stock Purchase Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

(b)      Duration of Offers and Nontransferability of Rights.  Any right to purchase Shares under the Plan (other than an Option) shall automatically expire if not exercised by the Purchaser within 30 days after the grant of such right was communicated to the Purchaser by the Company. Such right shall not be transferable and shall be exercisable only by the Purchaser to whom such right was granted.

(c)      Purchase Price.  The Board of Directors shall determine the Purchase Price of Shares to be offered under the Plan at its sole discretion. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in Section 7.

(d)      Withholding Taxes.  As a condition to the award, purchase, vesting or transfer of Shares, the Grantee or Purchaser shall make such arrangements as the Board of Directors may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such event.

 

1  

Please refer to Exhibit A for a schedule of the initial share reserve and any subsequent increases in the reserve.


(e)      Transfer Restrictions and Forfeiture Conditions.  Any Shares awarded or sold under the Plan shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Board of Directors may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Grant Agreement or Stock Purchase Agreement and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally.

SECTION 6.    TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

(a)      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. The Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Board of Directors deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

(b)      Number of Shares.  Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 8. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify whether the Option is an ISO or a Nonstatutory Option.

(c)      Exercise Price.  Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant, and in the case of an ISO a higher percentage may be required by Section 3(b). Subject to the preceding sentence, the Exercise Price shall be determined by the Board of Directors at its sole discretion. The Exercise Price shall be payable in a form described in Section 7. This Subsection (c) shall not apply to an Option granted pursuant to an assumption of, or substitution for, another option in a manner that complies with Section 424(a) of the Code (whether or not the Option is an ISO).

(d)      Exercisability.  Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable. No Option shall be exercisable unless the Optionee (i) has delivered an executed copy of the Stock Option Agreement to the Company or (ii) otherwise agrees to be bound by the terms of the Stock Option Agreement. The Board of Directors shall determine the exercisability provisions of the Stock Option Agreement at its sole discretion.

(e)      Basic Term.  The Stock Option Agreement shall specify the term of the Option. The term shall not exceed 10 years from the Date of Grant, and in the case of an ISO a shorter term may be required by Section 3(b). Subject to the preceding sentence, the Board of Directors at its sole discretion shall determine when an Option is to expire.

(f)      Termination of Service (Except by Death).  If an Optionee’s Service terminates for any reason other than the Optionee’s death, then the Optionee’s Options shall expire on the earliest of the following dates:

(i)    The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (e) above;


(ii)    The date three months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service for any reason other than Disability, or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors may determine (but in no event earlier than 30 days after the termination of the Optionee’s Service); or

(iii)    The date six months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service by reason of Disability, or such later date as the Board of Directors may determine.

The Optionee may exercise all or part of the Optionee’s Options at any time before the expiration of such Options under the preceding sentence, but only to the extent that such Options had become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or became exercisable as a result of the termination) and the underlying Shares had vested before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or vested as a result of the termination). The balance of such Options shall lapse when the Optionee’s Service terminates. In the event that the Optionee dies after the termination of the Optionee’s Service but before the expiration of the Optionee’s Options, all or part of such Options may be exercised (prior to expiration) by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired such Options directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that such Options had become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or became exercisable as a result of the termination) and the underlying Shares had vested before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or vested as a result of the termination).

(g)      Leaves of Absence.  For purposes of Subsection (f) above, Service shall be deemed to continue while the Optionee is on a bona fide leave of absence, if such leave was approved by the Company in writing and if continued crediting of Service for this purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law (as determined by the Company).

(h)      Death of Optionee.  If an Optionee dies while the Optionee is in Service, then the Optionee’s Options shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:

(i)    The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (e) above; or

(ii)    The date 12 months after the Optionee’s death, or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors may determine (but in no event earlier than six months after the Optionee’s death).

All or part of the Optionee’s Options may be exercised at any time before the expiration of such Options under the preceding sentence by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired such Options directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that such Options had become exercisable before the Optionee’s death (or became exercisable as a result of the death) and the underlying Shares had vested before the Optionee’s death (or vested as a result of the Optionee’s death). The balance of such Options shall lapse when the Optionee dies.

(i)      Post-Exercise Restrictions on Transfer of Shares.  Any Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Board of Directors may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally.


(j)      Pre-Exercise Restrictions on Transfer of Options or Shares .  An Option shall be transferable by the Optionee only by (i) a beneficiary designation, (ii) a will or (iii) the laws of descent and distribution, except as provided in the next sentence. If the applicable Stock Option Agreement so provides, a Nonstatutory Option shall also be transferable by gift or domestic relations order to a Family Member of the Optionee. An ISO may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or by the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative. In addition, an Option shall comply with all conditions of Rule 12h-1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act until the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Such conditions include, without limitation, the transferability restrictions set forth in Rule 12h-1(f)(1)(iv) and (v) under the Exchange Act, which shall apply to an Option and, prior to exercise, to the Shares to be issued upon exercise of such Option during the period commencing on the Date of Grant and ending on the earlier of (i) the date when the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or (ii) the date when the Company makes a determination that it will cease to rely on the exemption afforded by Rule 12h-1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act. During such period, an Option and, prior to exercise, the Shares to be issued upon exercise of such Option shall be restricted as to any pledge, hypothecation or other transfer by the Optionee, including any short position, any “put equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or any “call equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act).

(k)      Withholding Taxes .  As a condition to the grant or exercise of an Option, the Optionee shall make such arrangements as the Board of Directors may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such grant or exercise. The Optionee shall also make such arrangements as the Board of Directors may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the vesting or transfer of Shares acquired by exercising an Option or any similar event.

(l)      No Rights as a Stockholder .  An Optionee, or a transferee of an Optionee, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by the Optionee’s Option until such person becomes entitled to receive such Shares by filing a notice of exercise and paying the Exercise Price pursuant to the terms of such Option.

(m)      Modification, Extension and Assumption of Options .  Within the limitations of the Plan, the Board of Directors may modify, extend or assume outstanding Options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Options (whether granted by the Company or 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. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, impair the Optionee’s rights or increase the Optionee’s obligations under such Option.

(n)      Company’s Right to Cancel Certain Options .  Any other provision of the Plan or a Stock Option Agreement notwithstanding, the Company shall have the right at any time to


cancel an Option that was not granted in compliance with Rule 701 under the Securities Act. Prior to canceling such Option, the Company shall give the Optionee not less than 30 days’ notice in writing. If the Company elects to cancel such Option, it shall deliver to the Optionee consideration with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Option as of the time of the cancellation over (ii) the Exercise Price of such Option. The consideration may be delivered in the form of cash or cash equivalents, in the form of Shares, or a combination of both. If the consideration would be a negative amount, such Option may be cancelled without the delivery of any consideration.

SECTION 7.    PAYMENT FOR SHARES

(a)      General Rule .  The entire Purchase Price or Exercise Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in cash or cash equivalents at the time when such Shares are purchased, except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.

(b)      Services Rendered .  At the discretion of the Board of Directors, Shares may be awarded under the Plan in consideration of services rendered to the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary prior to the award.

(c)      Promissory Note .  At the discretion of the Board of Directors, all or a portion of the Purchase Price or Exercise Price (as the case may be) of Shares issued under the Plan may be paid with a full-recourse promissory note. The Shares shall be pledged as security for payment of the principal amount of the promissory note and interest thereon. The interest rate payable under the terms of the promissory note shall not be less than the minimum rate (if any) required to avoid the imputation of additional interest under the Code. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors (at its sole discretion) shall specify the term, interest rate, amortization requirements (if any) and other provisions of such note.

(d)      Surrender of Stock .  At the discretion of the Board of Directors, all or any part of the Exercise Price may be paid by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares that are already owned by the Optionee. Such Shares shall be surrendered to the Company in good form for transfer and shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date when the Option is exercised.

(e)      Exercise/Sale .  To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, and if Stock is publicly traded, all or part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by the delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company.

(f)      Other Forms of Payment .  To the extent that a Stock Purchase Agreement or Stock Option Agreement so provides, the Purchase Price or Exercise Price of Shares issued under the Plan may be paid in any other form permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended.


SECTION 8.    ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES

(a)      General.  In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock, a declaration of a dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property) a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock into a lesser number of Shares, a reclassification, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company or other change in the capital structure of the Company, proportionate adjustments shall automatically be made in each of (i) the number of Shares available for future grants under Section 4, (ii) the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Option (iii) the Exercise Price under each outstanding Option, and (iv) the class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or each outstanding Option, as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Options; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall in any event make such adjustments as may be required by Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code. The determination of the Board of Directors as to these matters shall be conclusive

(b)      Mergers, Consolidations.  In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or consolidation, outstanding Options and Shares acquired under the Plan shall be subject to the agreement of merger or consolidation (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph), which need not treat all outstanding Options or Shares in an identical manner. Such agreement, without the Optionees’ or Purchasers’ consent, may dispose of Options that are not exercisable and Shares that are subject to restrictions or deferral limitations as of the effective date of such merger or consolidation in any manner permitted by applicable law, including (without limitation) the cancellation of such Options or Shares without the payment of any consideration. Such agreement, without the Optionees’ or Purchasers’ consent, shall provide for one or more of the following with respect to Options that are exercisable or Shares that are not subject to restrictions or deferral limitations as of the effective date of such merger or consolidation:

(i)    The continuation of such Options or Shares by the Company (if the Company is the surviving corporation).

(ii)    The assumption of such Options or Shares by the surviving corporation or its parent, provided that with respect to Options, such assumption will be conducted in a manner that complies with Section 424(a) of the Code (whether or not such Options are ISOs).

(iii)    The substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent of new options or other awards for such Options or Shares, provided that with respect to Options, such substitution will be conducted in a manner that complies with Section 424(a) of the Code (whether or not such Options are ISOs).

(iv)    The cancellation of such Options and a payment to the Optionees equal to the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Options as of the effective date of such merger or consolidation over (B) their Exercise Price, and/or the cancellation of such Shares and a payment to the Purchasers equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the effective date of such merger or consolidation. Such payment shall be made in the form of cash, cash equivalents, or securities of the surviving corporation or its parent with a Fair Market Value equal to the required amount.


(v)    The cancellation of such Options or Shares. With respect to Options, any exercise of such Options prior to the closing date of such merger or consolidation may be contingent on the closing of such merger or consolidation.

In taking the actions permitted by this Section 8(b), the Board of Directors will not be obligated to treat in an identical manner all outstanding Options or Shares, all outstanding Options or Shares held by an Optionee or Purchaser, as applicable, or all Options or Shares of the same type.

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Options or Shares (or portion thereof), (i) Options will vest and become immediately exercisable; and    (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Shares will become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable. In addition, if an Option is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or consolidation, the Board of Directors will notify the Optionee in writing or electronically that the Option will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this Section 8(b), an Option or Share will be considered assumed if, following the merger or consolidation, the Option or Share confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the award immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or consolidation by holders of Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or consolidation is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity, the Board of Directors may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or upon the payout of any other award, for each Share subject to such award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock in the merger or consolidation.

(c)      Reservation of Rights.  Except as provided in this Section 8, a Grantee, Purchaser or Optionee shall have no rights by reason of (i) any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, (ii) the payment of any dividend or (iii) any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. Any issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Option. The grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

SECTION 9.    PRE-EXERCISE INFORMATION REQUIREMENT

(a)      Application of Requirement.  This Section 9 shall apply only during a period that (i) commences when the Company begins to rely on the exemption described in Rule 12h-


1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, and (ii) ends on the earlier of (A) the date when the Company ceases to rely on such exemption, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, or (B) the date when the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In addition, this Section 9 shall in no event apply to an Optionee after he or she has fully exercised all of his or her Options.

(b)      Scope of Requirement.  The Company shall provide to each Optionee the information described in Rule 701(e)(3), (4) and (5) under the Securities Act. Such information shall be provided at six-month intervals, and the financial statements included in such information shall not be more than 180 days old. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company shall not be required to provide such information unless the Optionee has agreed in writing, on a form prescribed by the Company, to keep such information confidential.

SECTION 10.    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

(a)      Securities Law Requirements.  Shares shall not be issued 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, 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. The Company shall not be liable for a failure to issue Shares that is attributable to such requirements.

(b)      No Retention Rights.  Nothing in the Plan or in any right or Option granted under the Plan shall confer upon the Grantee, Purchaser or Optionee any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining the Grantee, Purchaser or Optionee) or of the Grantee, Purchaser or Optionee, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

(c)      Treatment as Compensation.  Any compensation that an individual earns or is deemed to earn under this Plan shall not be considered a part of his or her compensation for purposes of calculating contributions, accruals or benefits under any other plan or program that is maintained or funded by the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

(d)      Governing Law.  The Plan and all awards, sales and grants under the Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such State.

(e)      Clawback.  All Options and Shares granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.


SECTION 11.    DURATION AND AMENDMENTS.

(a)      Term of the Plan.  The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors, subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders. If the stockholders fail to approve the Plan within 12 months after its adoption by the Board of Directors, then any grants, exercises or sales that have already occurred under the Plan shall be rescinded and no additional grants, exercises or sales shall thereafter be made under the Plan. The Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the later of (i) the date when the Board of Directors adopted the Plan or (ii) the date when the Board of Directors approved the most recent increase in the number of Shares reserved under Section 4 that was also approved by the Company’s stockholders. The Plan may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to Subsection (b) below.

(b)      Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan.  The Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that any amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders if it (i) increases the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan (except as provided in Section 8) or (ii) materially changes the class of persons who are eligible for the grant of ISOs. Stockholder approval shall not be required for any other amendment of the Plan. If the stockholders fail to approve an increase in the number of Shares reserved under Section 4 within 12 months after its adoption by the Board of Directors, then any grants, exercises or sales that have already occurred in reliance on such increase shall be rescinded and no additional grants, exercises or sales shall thereafter be made in reliance on such increase.

(c)      Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No Shares shall be issued or sold under the Plan after the termination thereof, except upon exercise of an Option (or any other right to purchase Shares) granted under the Plan prior to such termination. The termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Share previously issued or any Option previously granted under the Plan.

SECTION 12.    DEFINITIONS

(a)     “ Board of Directors ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

(b)     “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(c)     “ Committee ” shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors, as described in Section 2(a).

(d)     “ Company ” shall mean Solve Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(e)     “ Consultant ” shall mean a person who performs bona fide services for the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as a consultant or advisor, excluding Employees and Outside Directors.

(f)     “ Date of Grant ” shall mean the date of grant specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement, which date shall be the later of (i) the date on which the Board of Directors resolved to grant the Option or (ii) the first day of the Optionee’s Service.


(g)     “ Disability ” shall mean that the Optionee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment.

(h)     “ Employee ” shall mean any individual who is a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

(i)     “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(j)     “ Exercise Price ” shall mean the amount for which one Share may be purchased upon exercise of an Option, as specified by the Board of Directors in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.

(k)     “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean the fair market value of a Share, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

(l)     “ Family Member ” shall mean (i) any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, (ii) any person sharing the Optionee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), (iii) a trust in which persons described in Clause (i) or (ii) have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, (iv) a foundation in which persons described in Clause (i) or (ii) or the Optionee control the management of assets and (v) any other entity in which persons described in Clause (i) or (ii) or the Optionee own more than 50% of the voting interests.

(m)     “ Grantee ” shall mean a person to whom the Board of Directors has awarded Shares under the Plan.

(n)     “ ISO ” shall mean an employee incentive stock option described in Section 422(b) of the Code.

(o)     “ Nonstatutory Option ” shall mean a stock option not described in Sections 422(b) or 423(b) of the Code.

(p)     “ Option ” shall mean an ISO or Nonstatutory Option granted under the Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Shares.

(q)     “ Optionee ” shall mean a person who holds an Option.

(r)     “ Outside Director ” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not an Employee.

(s)     “ Parent ” shall mean 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.


(t)     “ Plan ” shall mean this Solve Media, Inc. 2009 Stock Plan.

(u)     “ Purchase Price ” shall mean the consideration for which one Share may be acquired under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option), as specified by the Board of Directors.

(v)     “ Purchaser ” shall mean a person to whom the Board of Directors has offered the right to purchase Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option).

(w)     “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(x)     “ Service ” shall mean service as an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant.

(y)     “ Share ” shall mean one share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 8 (if applicable).

(z)     “ Stock ” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company, as may be adjusted in accordance with Section 8 (if applicable).

(aa)     “ Stock Grant Agreement ” shall mean the agreement between the Company and a Grantee who is awarded Shares under the Plan that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the award of such Shares.

(bb)     “ Stock Option Agreement ” shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the Optionee’s Option.

(cc)     “ Stock Purchase Agreement ” shall mean the agreement between the Company and a Purchaser who purchases Shares under the Plan that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the purchase of such Shares.

(dd)     “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 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.


EXHIBIT A

SCHEDULE OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN

 

Date of Board

Approval

 

Date of Stockholder

Approval

  Number of
Shares Added
 

Cumulative

Number of Shares

October 20, 2009

  October 20, 2009   N/A   1,296,296

May 10, 2010

  May 10, 2010   433,961   1,730,257

November 7, 2011

  November 7, 2011   1,215,138   2,945,395

Exhibit 99.6

CIRCULATE EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

OF

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

1. Establishment and Purpose. In connection with the Merger, the shares of common stock of Circulate are being assumed and converted into Shares that will be available for grant and issuance under the Plan, consistent with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c). This Circulate Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) was established on December 5, 2016 by Acxiom Corporation, the predecessor of the Company, in connection with the Merger. The purpose of the Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company and any of its present or future Subsidiaries and Affiliated Companies (as defined below) by allowing certain Associates (as defined below) to acquire or increase equity ownership in the Company, thereby offering such Associates a proprietary interest in the Company’s business and a more direct stake in its continuing welfare, and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is also intended to assist the Company in attracting and retaining talented Associates, who are vital to the continued development and success of the Company.

2. Definitions. The following capitalized terms, when used in the Plan, have the following meanings:

(a) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(b) “Affiliated Company” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest.

(c) “Associate” means any employee, officer (whether or not also a director), director, affiliate, independent contractor or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company who renders those types of services which tend to contribute to the success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies, or which may reasonably be anticipated to contribute to the future success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies.

(d) “Award” means the grant, pursuant to the Plan, of any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Awards, Performance Share, Performance Unit, or Other Stock Unit Award. The terms and conditions applicable to an Award shall be set forth in applicable Grant Documents.

(e) “Award Agreement” means any written or electronic agreement, contract, or other document or instrument evidencing any Award granted by the Committee or the Board hereunder, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(g) “Circulate” means Circulate.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation.


(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 15 of the Plan.

(j) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (as well as any successor to the Compensation Committee and any Company officers to whom authority has been lawfully delegated by the Compensation Committee). All of the members of the Committee, which may not be less than two, are intended at all times to qualify as “Independent Directors” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and each of whom is “independent” as set forth in the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or Nasdaq or any stock exchange upon which the Shares may be listed in the future; provided, however, that the failure of a member of such Committee to so qualify shall not be deemed to invalidate any Award granted by such Committee.

(k) “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, on which a grant of an Award will become effective.

(l) “Exercise Period” means the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representatives or transferees) as specified in Section 6(c) below.

(m) “Exercise Price” means the purchase price per share payable upon exercise of an Option.

(n) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any applicable determination date or for any applicable determination period, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading).

(o) “Grant Documents” means any written or electronic Award Agreement, memorandum, notice, and/or other document or instrument evidencing the terms and conditions of the grant of an Award by the Committee or the Board under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(p) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(q) “Legal Requirements” means any laws, or any rules or regulations issued or promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading), or any other governmental or quasi-governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company, the Common Stock, or the Plan.

(r) “Merger” means the consummation on November 29, 2016 of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement by and between the Acxiom Corporation (the predecessor of the Company), Circulate, and certain other parties executed on November 17, 2016, pursuant to which Circulate became a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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(s) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(t) “Option” means an option granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan to acquire a certain number of Shares at such price(s) and during such period(s) and under such other terms and conditions as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time, provided that all Options granted under the Plan will be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

(u) “Other Stock Unit Award” means any right granted to a Participant by the Committee or Board pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

(v) “Participant” means an Associate who is selected by the Committee or the Board to receive an Award under the Plan.

(w) “Performance Award” means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

(x) “Performance Goals” means the pre-established objective performance goals established by the Committee for each Performance Period. The Performance Goals may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant, using one or more of the Performance Measures selected by the Committee in its discretion. Performance Goals may be set at a specific level, or may be expressed as a relative percentage to the comparable measure at comparison companies or a defined index. Performance Goals shall, to the extent applicable, be based upon generally accepted accounting principles, but shall be adjusted by the Committee to take into account the effect of the following: changes in accounting standards that may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board after the Performance Goal is established; realized investment gains and losses; extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring, or infrequent items; “non-GAAP financial measures” that have been included in the Company’s quarterly earnings releases and disclosed to investors in accordance with SEC regulations; and other items as the Committee determines to be required so that the operating results of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company shall be computed on a comparative basis from Performance Period to Performance Period. Determinations made by the Committee shall be based on relevant objective information and/or financial data, and shall be final and conclusive with respect to all affected parties.

(y) “Performance Measures” means one or more of the following criteria, on which Performance Goals may be based: (a) earnings (either in the aggregate or on a per-Share basis, reflecting dilution of Shares as the Committee deems appropriate and, if the Committee so determines, net of or including dividends) before or after interest and taxes (“EBIT”) or before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”); (b) gross or net revenue or changes in annual revenues; (c) cash flow(s) (including operating, free or net cash flows); (d) financial return ratios; (e) total stockholder return, stockholder return based on growth measures or the attainment by

 

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the Shares of a specified value for a specified period of time, (f) Share price, or Share price appreciation; (g) earnings growth or growth in earnings per Share; (h) return measures, including return or net return on assets, net assets, equity, capital, investment, or gross sales; (i) adjusted pre-tax margin; (j) pre-tax profits; (k) operating margins; (1) operating profits; (m) operating expenses; (n) dividends; (o) net income or net operating income; (p) growth in operating earnings or growth in earnings per Share; (q) value of assets; (r) market share or market penetration with respect to specific designated products or product groups and/or specific geographic areas; (s) aggregate product price and other product measures; (t) expense or cost levels, in each case, where applicable, determined either on a company-wide basis or in respect of any one or more specified divisions; (u) reduction of losses, loss ratios or expense ratios; (v) reduction in fixed costs; (w) operating cost management; (x) cost of capital; (y) debt reduction; (z) productivity improvements; (aa) satisfaction of specified business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; (bb) customer satisfaction based on specified objective goals or a Company-sponsored customer survey; or (cc) Associate diversity goals.

Performance Measures may be applied on a pre-tax or post-tax basis, and may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant. The Committee may, at any time, provide that the Performance Goals for an Award may include or exclude items to measure specific objectives, such as losses from discontinued operations, extraordinary gains or losses, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, acquisitions or divestitures, foreign exchange impacts, and any unusual nonrecurring gain or loss.

(z) “Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee or the Board at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee or the Board with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(aa) “Performance Share” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(bb) “Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 9 hereof of a right to receive the value of property other than a Share, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(cc) “Restricted Stock” means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, or assign such Share and with such other restrictions as the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, may impose (including, without limitation, any forfeiture condition or any restriction on the right to vote such Share, and the right to receive any cash dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee or the Board may deem appropriate.

 

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(dd) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under Section 8 hereof.

(ee) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right awarded to a Participant that, subject to Section 8(c), may result in the Participant’s ownership of Shares upon, but not before, the lapse of restrictions related thereto.

(ff) “Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee or Board pursuant to Sections 8 and 10 below.

(gg) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Act, as such Rule may be in effect from time to time.

(hh) “Shares” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.10 par value, as may be adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.

(ii) “Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan, to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of such right and, if applicable, a related Option, and receive cash or shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.

(jj) “Strike Price” shall have the meaning set forth for such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

(kk) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power or equity interests represented by all classes of stock, membership or other interests issued by such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity.

(ll) “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.

3. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Board. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Committee or the Board has the full authority and discretion to administer the Plan, and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the authority and discretion to:

(a) select the Associates eligible to become Participants under the Plan;

(b) determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted;

 

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(c) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each grant;

(d) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any grant hereunder (including, but not limited to, the term of the Award, the Exercise Price or Strike Price and any restriction, limitation, procedure, or deferral related thereto, provisions relating to the effect upon the Award of a Participant’s cessation of employment, acceleration of vesting, forfeiture provisions regarding an Award and/or the profits received by any Participant from receiving an Award of exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and any other terms and conditions regarding any Award, based in each case upon such guidelines and factors as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time in their sole discretion);

(e) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants under the Plan are to be made and operate, whether on a tandem basis or otherwise, with other grants or awards (whether equity or cash based) made by the Company under or outside of the Plan; and

(f) delegate to one or more officers of the Company the right to grant Awards under the Plan, provided that such delegation is made in accordance with the provisions of applicable state and federal laws.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award granted under thereunder (and any Grant Documents relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall also have the authority to provide, in their discretion, for the rescission, forfeiture, cancellation or other restriction of any Award granted under the Plan, or for the forfeiture, rescission or repayment to the Company by a Participant or former Participant of any profits or gains related to any Award granted hereunder, or other limitations, upon the occurrence of such prescribed events and under such circumstances as the Committee or the Board shall deem necessary and reasonable for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that this provision shall have no application after a Change in Control Transaction (as defined below in Section 11) has occurred.

All decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s or Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons including the Company and any Participant. No member of the Committee or Board will be liable for any such action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made in good faith.

4. Shares Subject to the Plan.

(a) The total number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed (i) 96,212 Shares, the number of Shares that were reserved but not issued or subject to outstanding equity awards under Circulate’s 2009 Stock Plan, as amended (the “Circulate Plan”), as of the effective date of the Plan and as adjusted to reflect the Merger, plus (ii) any Shares that otherwise would have returned to the Circulate Plan as a result of the termination of stock options granted under the Circulate Plan that were assumed by the Company in connection with the Merger. Such Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, as determined in the discretion of the Committee or the Board.

 

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(b) If any Award made under the Plan is forfeited, any Option (and the related Stock Appreciation Right, if any), or any Stock Appreciation Right not related to an Option terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, or any Stock Appreciation Right is exercised for cash, the Shares subject to such Awards that are, as a result, not delivered to the Participant shall again be available for delivery in connection with Awards. If a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, only the number of Shares issued will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan. If the Exercise Price of any Option is satisfied by delivering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), only the number of Shares issued net of the Shares delivered or attested to shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery pursuant to Awards under the Plan. To the extent any Shares subject to an Award are not delivered to a Participant because such Shares are used to satisfy an applicable tax withholding obligation, such Shares shall again be available for delivery in connection with Awards.

(c) Shares available for issuance or reissuance under the Plan will be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15 below.

5. Eligible Participants. Subject to compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c), all Associates who were not employed by the Company or its Affiliated Companies as of November 29, 2016 shall be eligible to receive Awards and thereby become Participants in the Plan, regardless of such Associate’s prior participation in the Plan or any other benefit plan of the Company.

6. Options.

(a) Grant of Options. The Committee, the Board or their authorized designees may from time to time authorize grants of Options to any Participant upon such terms and conditions as the Committee or Board may determine in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Plan. Each grant will specify, among other things, the number of Shares to which it pertains; the Exercise Price, the form of payment to be made by the Participant for the Shares purchased upon exercise of any Option; the required period or periods (if any) of continuous service by the Participant with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company and/or any other conditions to be satisfied before the Options or installments thereof will vest and become exercisable. Options granted under the Plan will be Non-Qualified Options.

Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by Grant Documents delivered to the Participant containing such further terms and provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee or Board may approve in their discretion.

(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for each share of Common Stock purchasable under any Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. All such Exercise Prices shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 15 hereof.

 

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(c) Exercise Period. Subject to Section 11 hereof, the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representative(s) or transferee(s)) whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability (the “Exercise Period”) shall be such period of time as may be designated by the Committee or the Board as set forth in the Committee’s or Board’s applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or in the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Option. If the Committee or Board provides, in their sole discretion, that any Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee or Board may waive or accelerate such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant in whole or in part, based upon such factors as the Committee or Board shall determine, in their sole discretion.

(d) Exercise of Option. Subject to Section 11 hereof, an Option may be exercised by a Participant at any time and from time to time during the Exercise Period by giving written notice of such exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Participant. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with subsection (e) below.

(e) Payment for Shares. Full payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option, together with the amount of any tax or excise due in respect of the sale and issue thereof, may be made in one of the following forms of payment:

(i) Cash, by check or electronic funds transfer;

(ii) Pursuant to procedures approved by the Company, through the sale (or margin) of Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Participant has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale (or if applicable margin loan) proceeds sufficient to pay for the Exercise Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by reason of such exercise;

(iii) By delivering previously-owned shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for a period of at least six months having a Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the Exercise Price, or by delivering a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate Exercise Price;

(iv) By authorizing the Company to withhold a number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Option equal to the aggregate Exercise Price; or

(v) By any combination of the foregoing.

Provided, however, that the payment methods described in clause (iv) immediately above shall not be available to a Participant without the prior consent of either the Committee or its authorized designee(s), or if at any time the Company is prohibited from purchasing or acquiring Shares under applicable Legal Requirements. The Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to exercise an Option and defer the issuance of any Shares, subject to such rules and procedures as the Committee or Board may establish.

 

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The Company will issue no certificates for Shares until full payment of the Exercise Price has been made, and a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder until certificates for the Shares purchased are issued; provided however, that for purposes of this Section 6, full payment shall be deemed to have been received by the Company upon evidence of delivery to a broker-dealer of the irrevocable instructions contemplated by clause (ii) immediately above.

(f) Withholding Taxes. The Company may require a Participant exercising a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder to reimburse the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) for taxes required by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such corporation in respect of the issuance of the Shares. Such withholding requirements may be satisfied by any one of the following methods:

(i) A Participant may deliver cash in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement;

(ii) A Participant may deliver previously-owned Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement; or

(iii) With the prior consent of either the Committee or the Board, or its authorized designees, a Participant may request that the Company (or the entity which employs the Participant) withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of an Option such number of Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) as is necessary to satisfy the withholding requirement.

(g) Conditions to Exercise of Options. The Committee or the Board may, in their discretion, require as conditions to the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the issuance of shares thereunder either (a) that a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the shares to be issued upon the exercise thereof, containing such current information as is required by the Rules and Regulations under said Act, shall have become, and continue to be, effective; or (b) that the Participant or his or her transferee(s) (i) shall have represented, warranted and agreed, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, both that he or she is acquiring the Option or Stock Appreciation Right and, at the time of exercising the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, that he or she is acquiring the shares for his/her own account, for investment and not with a view to or in connection with any distribution; (ii) shall have agreed to restrictions on transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company; and (iii) shall have agreed to an endorsement which makes appropriate reference to such representations, warranties, agreements and restrictions both on the option and on the certificate representing the shares.

(h) Use of Proceeds. Proceeds realized from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Options granted hereunder shall constitute general funds of the Company.

 

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7. Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) When granted, Stock Appreciation Rights may, but need not be, identified with a specific Option (including any Option granted on or before the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights) in a number equal to or different from the number of Stock Appreciation Rights so granted. If Stock Appreciation Rights are identified with Shares subject to an Option, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the Participant’s associated Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the expiration, termination, forfeiture or cancellation of such Option or the exercise of such Option.

(b) The Strike Price of any Stock Appreciation Right shall (i) for any Stock Appreciation Right that is identified with an Option, equal the Exercise Price of such Option, or (ii) for any other Stock Appreciation Right, be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. The duration of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be for such period as determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, not to exceed ten years.

(c) Subject to Section 11 hereof, (i) each Stock Appreciation Right which is identified with any Option grant shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant as and to the extent that the related Option with respect to which such Stock Appreciation Right is identified may be exercised; and (ii) each other Stock Appreciation Right shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant, whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability, at such time or times as may be designated by the Committee or Board as set forth in the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Stock Appreciation Right.

(d) Subject to Section 11 hereof, Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by a Participant by delivery to the Company of written notice of intent to exercise a specific number of Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights which are identified with Shares of Common Stock subject to an Option shall result in the cancellation or forfeiture of such Option to the extent of the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right.

(e) The benefit to the Participant for each Stock Appreciation Right exercised shall be equal to (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of exercise, minus (ii) the Strike Price of such Stock Appreciation Right. Such benefit shall be payable in cash, except that the Committee or Board may provide in the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents that benefits may be paid wholly or partly in Shares of Common Stock.

8. Restricted Stock Awards.

(a) Issuance. A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee or the Board during a period of time specified by the Committee or Board (the “Restriction Period”). Restricted Stock Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

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(b) Restricted Stock.

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock to those Associates the Committee or the Board may select in their sole discretion. Each Award of Restricted Stock shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in or are required by the Plan and the Grant Documents as the Committee or the Board may determine in their discretion.

(ii) While any restriction applies to any Participant’s Restricted Stock, (a) unless the Committee or the Board provides otherwise, the Participant shall receive the dividends paid on the Restricted Stock and shall not be required to return those dividends to the Company in the event of the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock; (b) the Participant shall receive the proceeds of the Restricted Stock in any stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, or other change in the capital structure of the Company, which proceeds shall automatically and without need for any other action become Restricted Stock and be subject to all restrictions then existing as to the Participant’s Restricted Stock; and (c) the Participant shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period.

(iii) The Restricted Stock will be delivered to the Participant subject to the understanding that while any restriction applies to the Restricted Stock, the Participant shall not have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of Restricted Stock or any interest therein. As a result of the retention of rights in the Restricted Stock by the Company, except as required by any applicable law, neither any shares of the Restricted Stock nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iv) Unless other provisions are specified in the Grant Documents or Plan guidelines which may be adopted by the Committee or the Board from time to time, any Restricted Stock held by the Participant at the time the Participant ceases to be an Associate for any reason shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company and automatically re-conveyed to the Company.

(v) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 16(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Restricted Stock.

(vi) The making of an Award of Restricted Stock and delivery of any Restricted Stock is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable Legal Requirements. The Company need not issue or transfer Restricted Stock pursuant to the Plan unless the Company’s legal counsel has approved all legal matters in connection with the delivery of the Restricted Stock.

 

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(vii) The Restricted Stock will be book-entry Shares only unless the Committee or the Board decides to issue certificates to evidence any shares of Restricted Stock. The Company may place stop-transfer instructions with respect to all Restricted Stock on its stock transfer records.

(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Stock (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant of an Award of Restricted Stock to defer receipt of his or her Restricted Stock in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee or the Board. Alternatively, the Committee or the Board may, in their discretion and at the times provided above, permit an individual who would have been a Participant with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock, to elect instead to receive an equivalent Award of Restricted Stock Units, and the Committee or the Board may permit the Participant to elect to defer receipt of Shares under the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with Section 8(c)(viii).

(ix) The minimum Restriction Period applicable to any Award of Restricted Stock that is not subject to performance conditions restricting the grant size, the transfer of the shares, or the vesting of the award shall be two (2) years from the date of grant; provided, however, that a Restriction Period of less than two (2) years may be approved under the Plan for such Awards with respect to up to a total of 100,000 Shares.

(c) Restricted Stock Units.

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock Units to those Associates as the Committee or the Board may select in its sole discretion. Restricted Stock Units represent the right to receive Shares in the future, at such times, and subject to such conditions as the Committee or the Board shall determine. The restrictions imposed shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A.

(ii) Until the Restricted Stock Unit is released from restrictions and any Shares subject thereto are delivered to the Participant, the Participant shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Restricted Stock Unit or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, no Restricted Stock Unit nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iii) Upon the lapse of the restrictions, the Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units shall, except as noted below, be entitled to receive, as soon as administratively practical, (a) that number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board shall determine in their sole discretion, or shall have specified at the time the Award was granted.

 

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(iv) Restricted Stock Units and the entitlement to Shares, cash, or any combination thereunder will be forfeited and all rights of a Participant to such Restricted Stock Units and the Shares thereunder will terminate if the applicable restrictions are not satisfied.

(v) A Participant holder of Restricted Stock Units is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g., voting rights and dividend rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan. The Committee or the Board may, however, provide in the Grant Documents that the Participant shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments on Restricted Stock Units, on such terms and conditions as the Grant Documents may specify.

(vi) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 16(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to any Restricted Stock Units.

(vii) The granting of Restricted Stock Units and the delivery of any Shares is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable Legal Requirements.

(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Stock Units (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to elect to defer receipt of the Shares or cash to be delivered upon lapse of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with rules and procedures that may be established from time to time by the Committee or the Board. Such rules and procedures shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A, and may provide for payment in Shares or cash.

9. Performance Awards.

(a) Grant. The Company may grant Performance Awards to Associates on any terms and conditions the Committee or the Board deem desirable. Each Award of Performance Awards shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in, or are required by, the Plan and the Grant Documents.

(b) Performance Goals. The Committee or the Board may set Performance Goals which, depending on the extent to which they are met during a Performance Period, will determine the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units that will be delivered to a Participant at the end of the Performance Period. The Performance Goals may be set at threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, and the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units to be delivered may be tied to the degree of attainment of the various performance levels specified under the various Performance Goals during the Performance Period. No payment shall be made with respect to a Performance Award if any specified threshold performance level is not attained.

 

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(c) Beneficial Ownership. A Participant receiving a Performance Award shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Shares subject to such Award until Shares are delivered in satisfaction of the Award, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Performance Award or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, neither the Performance Award nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(d) Determination of Achievement of Performance Awards. The Committee or the Board shall, promptly after the date on which the necessary financial, individual or other information for a particular Performance Period becomes available, determine and certify the degree to which each of the Performance Goals have been attained.

(e) Payment of Performance Awards. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, a recipient of a Performance Award shall be entitled to payment based on the performance level attained with respect to the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Performance Awards shall be settled as soon as practicable after the Committee or Board determines and certifies the degree of attainment of Performance Goals for the Performance Period. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Documents, payment to a Participant with respect to a Performance Award may be made (a) in Shares, (b) in cash, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board may determine at any time in their sole discretion.

(f) Limitation on Rights /Withholding. A recipient of a Performance Award is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g. voting rights and dividend rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan. The Committee or the Board may, however, provide in the Grant Documents that the Participant shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments in an amount commensurate with earned Performance Awards, on such terms and conditions as the Grant Documents may specify. The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 16(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Performance Awards.

10. Other Stock Unit Awards. Other Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property (“Other Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or any other form of property as the Committee or the Board may determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee or the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Associates to whom such Awards shall be made, the times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards. The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant. For any Award or Shares subject to any Award made under this Section, the vesting of which is conditioned only on the passage of time, such Restriction Period shall be a minimum of two (2) years for full vesting. Shares (including securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards granted under this Section may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law.

 

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11. Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (other than a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to such transaction own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of the surviving corporation), a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the acquisition of a significant percentage, which shall be no less than beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of 20%, of the voting power of the Company, (each a “Change in Control Event”), which shall not include preliminary transaction activities such as receipt of a letter of interest, receipt of a letter of intent or an agreement in principle, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Committee or Board may determine (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph), without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (A) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or affiliate thereof), with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (B) upon written or electronic notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control Event; (C) that, to the extent the Committee or Board may determine, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such Change in Control Event, (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award may become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; (iii) all Performance Awards may be considered to be prorated, and any deferral or other restriction may lapse and such Performance Awards may be immediately settled or distributed (provided, for purposes of clarification, that any Performance Award converted into an Award that provides for service-based vesting will be treated in accordance with clause (ii) of this subsection 11(C)); and (iv) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan may lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards may become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested; (D) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares subject to the Award immediately prior to the occurrence of such transaction (which shall be no less than the value being paid for such Shares pursuant to such transaction as determined by the Committee or Board) over the Exercise Price or Strike Price, if applicable, of such Award, with such amount payable in cash, in one or more of the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee or Board in their discretion shall determine, or (E) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted by this Section 11, the Committee or Board will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly. Notwithstanding the definition of Change in Control Event above in this Section 11, to the extent required to avoid the adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control Event shall be deemed to occur only to the extent it also meets the requirements for a change in control event for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will vest and become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award will become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; (iii) all Performance Awards will be considered to be prorated, and any deferral or other restriction will lapse and such Performance Awards will be immediately settled or distributed; and (iv) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan will lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards will become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control Event, the Committee or Board will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this Section 11, an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control Event, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control Event is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity, the Committee or Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of any other Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control Event.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11 to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more Performance Goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such Performance Goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such Performance Goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control Event corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

12. Clawback. All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

13. Transferability of Awards.

(a) Awards (subject to the limitations in paragraph (b) below) granted under the Plan may be transferred by a Participant to: (i) the Participant’s family members (whether related by blood, marriage, or adoption and including a former spouse); (ii) trust(s) in which the Participant’s family members have a greater than 50% beneficial interest; (iii) trusts, including but not limited to charitable remainder trusts, or similar vehicles established for estate planning and/or charitable giving purposes; and (iv) family partnerships and/or family limited liability companies which are controlled by the Participant or the Participant’s family members, such transfers being permitted to

 

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occur by gift or pursuant to a domestic relation order, or, only in the case of transfers to the entities described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) immediately above, for value. The Committee or Board, or their authorized designees may, in their sole discretion, permit transfers of Awards to other persons or entities upon the request of a Participant. Subsequent transfers of previously transferred Awards may only be made to one of the permitted transferees named above, unless the subsequent transfer has been approved by the Committee or the Board, or their authorized designee(s). Otherwise, such transferred Awards may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time any Option is transferred as permitted under this Section 13, a corresponding Stock Appreciation Right has been identified as being granted in tandem with such Option, then the transfer of such Option shall also constitute a transfer of the corresponding Stock Appreciation Right, and such Stock Appreciation Right shall not be transferable other than as part of the transfer of the Option to which it relates.

(c) Concurrently with any transfer, the transferor shall give written notice to the Plan’s then current Plan administrator of the name and address of the transferee, the number of Shares being transferred, the Date of Grant of the Awards being transferred, and such other information as may reasonably be required by the administrator. Following a transfer, any such Awards shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. The provisions of the Plan and applicable Grant Documents shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, and such Awards shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent that they could have been exercised by the Participant under the terms of the original Grant Documents. The Company disclaims any obligation to provide notice to a transferee of any termination or expiration of a transferred Award.

14. Alteration, Termination, Discontinuance, Suspension, and Amendment.

(a) The Committee or the Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to qualify for or comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Committee or Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply; or (ii) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would impair the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee or the Board may make technical amendments to the Plan as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to any Legal Requirements in any jurisdiction within or outside the United States, so long as stockholder approval of such technical amendments is not required.

(b) The Committee or Board may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively retroactively, except that no such amendment shall impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, the Committee or Board may, without the consent of the Participant, amend any Grant Documents evidencing an Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, or otherwise take action, to accelerate the time or times at which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised; to extend the expiration date of an Award; to waive any other condition or restriction applicable to an Award or to the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; to amend the definition of a change in control

 

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of the Company (if such a definition is contained in such Grant Documents) to expand the events that would result in a change in control and to add a change in control provision to such Grant Documents (if such provision is not contained in such Grant Documents); and may amend any such Grant Documents in any other respect with the consent of the Participant.

(c) If an amendment would (i) materially increase the benefits to participants under the Plan, (ii) increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, or (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan by materially increasing the class or number of persons eligible to participate in the Plan, then such amendment shall be subject to stockholder approval.

(d) If required by any Legal Requirement, any amendment to the Plan or any Award will also be submitted to and approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company. If any Legal Requirement requires the Plan to be amended, or in the event any Legal Requirement is amended or supplemented (e.g., by addition of alternative rules) to permit the Company to remove or lessen any restrictions on or with respect to an Award, the Board and the Committee each reserve the right to amend the Plan or any Grant Documents evidencing an Award to the extent of any such requirement, amendment or supplement, and all Awards then outstanding will be subject to such amendment.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee or the Board may not, without prior approval of the stockholders of the Company, reprice any outstanding Option by either lowering the Exercise Price thereof or canceling such outstanding Option in consideration of a grant having a lower Exercise Price. This paragraph 13(e) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Options without prior stockholder approval and shall not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 15 hereof.

(f) The Plan may be terminated at any time by action of the Board. The termination of the Plan will not adversely affect the terms of any outstanding Award. The Plan will continue in effect until November 7, 2021, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms.

15. Adjustment of Shares; Effect of Certain Transactions. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of any change affecting the Shares subject to the Plan or any Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, issuance of rights to subscribe, or other change in capital structure of the Company), appropriate adjustments or substitutions shall be made by the Committee or the Board as to the (i) Shares subject to the Plan, (ii) maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted to any one Associate, (iii) number of Shares and price per Share subject to outstanding Awards, and (iv) class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or each outstanding Award, as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards. The determination of the Committee or Board as to these matters shall be conclusive.

 

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16. General Provisions.

(a) No Associate or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Associates or Participants under the Plan.

(b) The Committee or Board shall be authorized to make adjustments in performance award criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. The Committee or 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 desirable to carry it into effect. In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of or combination with another corporation or business entity, the Committee or Board may, in their discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(c) All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee or Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable state or Federal securities law, and the Committee or Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d) No Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee or the Board in their sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal securities laws and any other Legal Requirements to which such offer, if made, would be subject.

(e) The Committee or the Board shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any Grant Documents, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation, any deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Committee or the Board, be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash dividends, or cash payments in amounts equivalent to cash dividends on Shares (“dividend equivalents”), with respect to the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, and the Committee or Board may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested.

(f) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award or payment hereunder and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Plan administrator to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, not to exceed the statutory minimum withholding obligation. The Committee or Board shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligations for the payment of such taxes (i) by delivery of or

 

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transfer of Shares to the Company, (ii) with the consent of the Committee or the Board, by directing the Company to retain Shares otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award, (iii) by payment in cash of the amount to be withheld, or (iv) by withholding from any cash compensation otherwise due to the Participant.

(g) Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(h) The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and applicable Federal law.

(i) If any provision of this Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee or the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee or the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken, and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

(j) Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Participants employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee or the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee or Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Associates on assignments outside their home country.

(k) No Award shall be granted or exercised if the grant of the Award or the exercise and the issuance of shares or other consideration pursuant thereto would be contrary to the Legal Requirements of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction.

(l) The Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company would otherwise have to terminate a Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

 

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Exhibit 99.7

2000 ASSOCIATE STOCK OPTION PLAN

OF

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

1. Establishment and Purpose. The purpose of the 2000 Associate Stock Option Plan of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Plan”) is to further the growth and development of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) and any of its present or future Subsidiaries and Affiliated Companies (as defined below) by granting to certain Associates (as defined below) of the Company and any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company options to purchase shares of Common Stock (as defined below) of the Company, thereby offering such Associates a proprietary interest in the Company’s business and a more direct stake in its continuing welfare, and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s shareholders. This Plan is also intended to assist the Company in attracting and retaining talented Associates, who are vital to the continued development and success of the Company.

2. Definitions. The following capitalized terms, when used in the Plan, will have the following meanings:

(a) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(b) “Affiliated Company” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest.

(c) “Associate” means any employee, officer (whether or not also a director), affiliate, independent contractor or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company who renders those types of services which tend to contribute to the success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies, or which may reasonably be anticipated to contribute to the future success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies.

(d) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(f) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 19 of the Plan.

(g) “Committee” means a committee of the Board whose members are appointed by the Board from time to time. All of the members of the Committee, which may not be less than two, are intended at all times to qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; provided, however, that the failure of a member of such Committee to so qualify shall not be deemed to invalidate any Stock Option granted by such Committee.


(h) “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, on which a grant of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights will become effective.

(i) “Exercise Price” means the purchase price per share payable upon exercise of a Stock Option.

(j) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any applicable determination date or for any applicable determination period, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by the Committee or Board.

(k) “Grant Documents” means any written agreement, memorandum or other document or instrument, authorized by the Committee or Board, evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right grant under the Plan.

(l) “Incentive Stock Option” means a Stock Option intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(m) “Legal Requirements” mean any laws, or any rules or regulations issued or promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service (including Section 422 of the Code), the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., The Nasdaq, Inc.’s National Market (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed for trading), or any other governmental or quasi-governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company, the Common Stock or the Plan.

(n) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(o) “Participant” means a person who is selected by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, to receive Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right grants under the Plan and who is at that time an Associate.

(p) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Act, as such Rule is in effect from time to time.

(q) “Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an award granted under Section 12 of the Plan, to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of such right and, if applicable, a related Stock Option, and receive cash or shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.

(r) “Stock Option” means the right to purchase a share of Common Stock upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

(s) “Strike Price” shall have the meaning set forth for such term in Section 12(b) of the Plan.

 

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(t) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power or equity interests represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity.

3. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Board. Each of the Committee or the Board has the full authority and discretion to administer the Plan, and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the authority and discretion to:

(a) select the Associates eligible to become Participants under the Plan;

(b) determine whether and to what extent Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are to be granted hereunder to one or more Associates;

(c) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each such grant;

(d) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any grant hereunder (including, but not limited to, the Exercise Price or Strike Price and any restriction, limitation, procedure, or deferral related thereto, or any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions regarding any Stock Option, or the shares of stock relating thereto, or any Stock Appreciation Right, based in each case on such guidelines and factors as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time in its sole discretion); and

(e) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants under the Plan are to be made and operate, whether on a tandem basis or otherwise, with other grants or awards (whether equity or cash based) made by the Company under or outside of the Plan.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provision of the Plan and any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right grant issued under the Plan (and any Grant Documents relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall also have the authority to provide, in its discretion, for the recision, forfeiture, cancellation or other restriction of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, or for the forfeiture, recision or repayment to the Company by an Associate or former Associate of any profits or gains related to the exercise of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder, or other limitations, upon the occurrence of such prescribed events and under such circumstances as the Committee or the Board shall deem necessary and reasonable for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that this provision shall have no application after a Change in Control Event (as defined below in Section 20) has occurred.

All decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s or Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons including the Company and any Participant. No member of the Committee or Board will be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith.

 

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Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee will have the exclusive authority and discretion to administer or otherwise take any action required or permitted to be taken under the provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18 or 19 hereof with respect to Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan that are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

4. Grant of Stock Options. The Committee or the Board may from time to time authorize grants of Stock Options to any Participant upon such terms and conditions as the Committee or Board may determine in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Plan. Each grant will specify, among other things, the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains; the Exercise Price, the form of payment to be made by the Participant for the shares purchased upon exercise of the Stock Option and the required period or periods (if any) of continuous service by the Participant with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company and/or any other conditions to be satisfied before the Stock Options or installments thereof will vest and become exercisable. Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Non-Qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options. The Committee or Board, at the time each Stock Option is granted, shall designate such option as either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined on the Date of Grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed the maximum amount specified by Section 422 of the Code, as amended from time to time (currently $100,000).

Each Stock Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by Grant Documents delivered to the Participant containing such further terms and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the Committee or Board may approve in its discretion.

5. Shares Subject to the Plan. The total number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 6,500,000 shares. Such shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, as determined in the discretion of the Committee or Board. Any shares of Common Stock which are subject to Stock Options that are terminated unexercised, forfeited or surrendered or that expire for any reason will again be available for issuance under the Plan. The shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 19 below.

6. Eligible Participants. All Associates shall be eligible to receive Stock Options and thereby become Participants in the Plan, regardless of such Associate’s prior participation in the Plan or any other benefit plan of the Company. No executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s then current Proxy Statement shall be eligible to receive in excess of 600,000 Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in any three-year period.

 

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7. Exercise Price.

(a) The Exercise Price for each share of Common Stock purchasable under any Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. All such Exercise Prices shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 19 hereof.

(b) If any Participant to whom an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted under the Plan is on the Date of Grant the owner of stock (as determined under Section 425(d) of the Code) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliated Companies, then the following special provisions shall be applicable to any Incentive Stock Options granted to such individual:

(i) The Exercise Price per share of Common Stock subject to such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant; and

(ii) The Incentive Stock Option shall not have a term in excess of five (5) years from the Date of Grant.

8. Exercise Period. Subject to Section 19 hereof, the period during which a Stock Option shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant (or his or her representative(s) or transferee(s)) whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability (the “Exercise Period”) shall be such period of time as may be designated by the Committee or Board as set forth in the applicable Grant Documents executed in connection with such Stock Option. If the Committee or Board provides, in its sole discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee or Board may waive or accelerate such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant in whole or in part, based upon such factors as the Committee or Board shall determine, in its sole discretion.

The maximum duration of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant (and no such Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of such (10) year period), although such options may be granted for a lesser duration. The duration of Non-Qualified Stock Options shall be for such period as determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion.

9. Exercise of Option. Subject to Section 19 hereof, a Stock Option may be exercised by a Participant at any time and from time to time during the Exercise Period by giving written notice of such exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by Participant. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with Section 10 below.

10. Payment for Shares. Full payment of the Exercise Price for shares purchased upon exercise of a Stock Option, together with the amount of any tax or excise due in respect of the sale and issue thereof, may be made in one of the following forms of payment:

(a) Cash, by check or electronic funds transfer;

 

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(b) Pursuant to procedures approved by the Company, through the sale (or margin) of shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Stock Option through a broker-dealer to whom the Participant has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale (or if applicable margin loan) proceeds sufficient to pay for the Exercise Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by reason of such exercise;

(c) By delivering previously-owned shares of the Company’s Common Stock owned by the Participant for a period of at least six months having a Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Stock Option equal to the Exercise Price, or by delivering a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate Exercise Price;

(d) By authorizing the Company to withhold a number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of a Stock Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date upon which the Participant exercises his or her Stock Option equal to the aggregate Exercise Price; or

(e) By any combination of the foregoing;

provided however, that the payment methods described in clauses (c), (d) or (e) immediately above shall not be available to a Participant (i) without the prior consent of either the Committee or Board, or its authorized designee(s) and (ii) if at any time that the Company is prohibited from purchasing or acquiring shares of Common Stock under applicable law. The Committee may permit a Participant to defer the issuance of any shares, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish.

The Company will issue no certificates for shares until full payment of the Exercise Price has been made, and a Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder until certificates for the shares purchased are issued to him or her; provided however, that for purposes of this Section 10, full payment shall be deemed to be received by the Company upon evidence of delivery to a broker-dealer of the irrevocable instructions contemplated by clause (b) immediately above.

11. Withholding Taxes. The Company may require a Participant exercising a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder to reimburse the Company (or the entity which employs such Participant) for taxes required by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such corporation in respect of the issuance of the shares. Such withholding requirements may be satisfied by any one of the following methods:

(a) A Participant may deliver cash in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement;

(b) A Participant may deliver previously-owned shares of Common Stock (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement; or

 

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(c) With the prior consent of either the Committee or Board, or its authorized designee, a Participant may request that the Company (or the entity which employs such Participant) withhold from the number of shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon exercise of a Stock Option such number of shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) as is necessary to satisfy the withholding requirement.

12. Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) When granted, Stock Appreciation Rights may, but need not be identified with a specific Stock Option (including any Stock Option granted on or before the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights) in a number equal to or different from the number of Stock Appreciation Rights so granted. If Stock Appreciation Rights are identified with shares subject to a Stock Option, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Document, the Participant’s associated Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the expiration, termination, forfeiture or cancellation of such Stock Option or the exercise of such Stock Option.

(b) The “Strike Price” of any Stock Appreciation Right shall (i) for any Stock Appreciation Right that is identified with a Stock Option, equal the Exercise Price of such Stock Option, or (ii) for any other Stock Appreciation Right, be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify.

(c) Subject to Section 19 hereof, (i) each Stock Appreciation Right which is identified with any Stock Option grant shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant as and to extent that the related Stock Option which respect to which such Stock Appreciation Right is identified may be exercised and (ii) each other Stock Appreciation Right shall vest and become exercisable by a Participant, whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability, at such time or times as may be designated by the Committee or Board as set forth in the applicable Grant Documents executed in connection with such Stock Appreciation Right.

(d) Subject to Section 19 hereof, Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by a Participant by delivery to the Company of written notice of intent to exercise a specific number of Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights which are identified with shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option shall result in the cancellation or forfeiture of such Stock Option to the extent of such exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right.

(e) The benefit to the Participant for each Stock Appreciation Right exercised shall be equal to (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of such exercise, minus (ii) the Strike Price of such Stock Appreciation Right. Such benefit shall be payable in cash, except that the Committee or Board may provide in the Grant Documents that benefits may be paid wholly or partly in shares of Common Stock.

13. Loans or Guarantee of Loans. The Committee or Board, or its authorized designee(s), may authorize the extension of a loan to a Participant by the Company (or the guarantee by the Company of a loan obtained by a Participant from a third party) in order to assist a Participant to exercise a Stock Option granted under the Plan. The terms of any loans or guarantees, including the interest rate and terms of repayment, will be subject to the discretion of the Committee or Board, or its authorized designee(s). Loans and guarantees may be granted without security, the maximum credit available being the Exercise Price of the Stock Option sought to be exercised plus any federal and state income tax liability incurred upon exercise of the Stock Option.

 

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14. Clawback. All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

15. Transferability.

(a) Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan shall not be transferred by a Participant, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Non-Qualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (subject to the limitations in paragraph (c) below) granted under the Plan may be transferred by a Participant to: (i) the Participant’s family members (whether related by blood, marriage, or adoption and including a former spouse); (ii) trust(s) in which the Participant’s family members have a greater than 50% beneficial interest; and (iii) family partnerships and/or family limited liability companies which are controlled by the Participant or the Participant’s family members, such transfers being permitted to occur by gift or pursuant to a domestic relation order, or, only in the case of transfers to the entities described in clauses (i) and (ii) immediately above, for value. The Committee or Board, or its authorized designee(s) may, in its sole discretion, permit transfers of Non-Qualified Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to other persons or entities upon the request of a Participant. Subsequent transfers of previously transferred Non-Qualified Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may only be made to one of the permitted transferees named above, unless the subsequent transfer has been approved by the Committee or the Board, or its authorized designee(s). Otherwise, such transferred options may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time any Stock Option is transferred as permitted under this Section 15, a corresponding Stock Appreciation Right has been identified as being granted in tandem with such Stock Option, then the transfer of such Stock Option shall also constitute a transfer of the corresponding Stock Appreciation Right, and such Stock Appreciation Right shall not be transferable other than as part of the transfer of the Stock Option to which it relates.

(d) Concurrently with any transfer, the transferor shall give written notice to the Plan’s then current Stock Option administrator of the name and address of the transferee, the number of shares being transferred, the Date of Grant of the Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights being transferred, and such other information as may reasonably be required by the administrator. Following transfer, any such Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. The provisions of the Plan and applicable Grant Documents shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, and such Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent that they could have been exercised by the Participant under the terms of such Grant Documents. The Company disclaims any obligation to provide notice to a transferee of any termination or expiration of a transferred Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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16. Conditions to Exercise of Options. The Committee or Board may, in its discretion, require as conditions to the exercise of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the issuance of shares thereunder either (a) that a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the shares to be issued upon the exercise thereof, containing such current information as is required by the Rules and Regulations under said Act, shall have become, and continue to be, effective; or (b) that the Participant or his or her transferee(s) (i) shall have represented, warranted and agreed, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, both that he or she is acquiring the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right and, at the time of exercising the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, that he or she is acquiring the shares for his/her own account, for investment and not with a view to or in connection with any distribution; (ii) shall have agreed to restrictions on transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company; and (iii) shall have agreed to an endorsement which makes appropriate reference to such representations, warranties, agreements and restrictions both on the option and on the certificate representing the shares.

17. Conditions to Effectiveness of the Plan. No Stock Option of Stock Appreciation Right shall be granted or exercised if the grant of the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or the exercise and the issuance of shares or other consideration pursuant thereto, would be contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction.

18. Alteration, Termination, Discontinuance, Suspension, or Amendment.

(a) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, the Committee or Board may, without the consent of the Participant, amend any Grant Documents evidencing a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, or otherwise take action, to accelerate the time or times at which the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, to extend the expiration date of the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, to waive any other condition or restriction applicable to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right or to the exercise of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, to reduce the Exercise Price or Strike Price, as applicable, of such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, to amend the definition of a change in control of the Company (if such a definition is contained in such Grant Documents) to expand the events that would result in a change in control of the Company and to add a change in control provision to such Grant Documents (if such provision is not contained in such Grant Documents) and may amend any such Grant Documents in any other respect with the consent of the Participant.

(b) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, the Plan may be amended from time to time by the Board or any duly authorized committee thereof.

(c) If required by any Legal Requirement, any amendment to the Plan or any Grant Document will also be submitted to and approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of the Company. If any Legal Requirement requires the Plan to be amended, or in the event any Legal Requirement is amended or supplemented (e.g., by addition of alternative rules) to permit the Company to remove or lessen any restrictions on or with respect to Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, the Board and the Committee each reserves the right to amend the Plan or any Grant Documents evidencing a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right to the extent of any such requirement, amendment or supplement, and all Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights then outstanding will be subject to such amendment.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee or the Board may not, without prior approval of the shareholders of the Company, reprice any outstanding Stock Option by either lowering the Exercise Price thereof or canceling such outstanding Stock Option in consideration of a grant having a lower Exercise Price. This paragraph 17(d) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Stock Options without prior shareholder approval and shall not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 19 hereof.

(e) The Plan may be terminated at any time by action of the Board. The termination of the Plan will not adversely affect the terms of any outstanding Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

(f) The Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company would otherwise have to terminate a Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

19. Adjustment of Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of any change affecting the shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan or any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, issuance of rights to subscribe, or other change in capital structure of the Company), appropriate adjustments or substitutions shall be made by the Committee or Board as to the (i) maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan, (ii) maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to any one employee, (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock and price per share subject to outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and (iv) class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or each outstanding Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights. The determination of the Committee or Board as to these matters shall be conclusive; provided, however, that (i) any such adjustment with respect to an Incentive Stock Option and any related Stock Appreciation Right shall comply with the rules of Section 424(a) of the Code, and (ii) in no event shall any adjustment be made which would disqualify any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder as an Incentive Stock Option for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

20. Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (other than a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to such transaction own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of the surviving corporation), a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, the liquidation or

 

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dissolution of the Company, the acquisition of a significant percentage, which shall be no less than beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of 20%, of the voting power of the Company, (each a “Change in Control Event”), which shall not include preliminary transaction activities such as receipt of a letter of interest, receipt of a letter of intent or an agreement in principle, each outstanding Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right will be treated as the Committee or Board may determine (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph), without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (A) Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will be assumed, or substantially equivalent awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or affiliate thereof), with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (B) upon written or electronic notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control Event; (C) that, to the extent the Committee or Board may determine, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such Change in Control Event, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may become immediately exercisable; (D) the termination of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right immediately prior to the occurrence of such transaction (which shall be no less than the value being paid for such shares pursuant to such transaction as determined by the Committee or Board) over the Exercise Price or Strike Price, if applicable, of such award, with such amount payable in cash, in one or more of the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee or Board in their discretion shall determine, or (E) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted by this Section 20, the Committee or Board will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly. Notwithstanding the definition of Change in Control Event above in this Section 20, to the extent required to avoid the adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control Event shall be deemed to occur only to the extent it also meets the requirements for a change in control event for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof), Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will vest and become immediately exercisable. In addition, if a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control Event, the Committee or Board will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, and the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this Section 20, a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control Event, the award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held on the effective date of the transaction (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 such consideration

 

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received in the Change in Control Event is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity, the Committee or Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, for each share of Common Stock subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control Event.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 20 to the contrary, a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more pre-established objective performance goals over a performance period will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control Event corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid award assumption.

21. Use of Proceeds. Proceeds realized from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Options granted hereunder shall constitute general funds of the Company.

 

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Exhibit 99.8

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2011 NONQUALIFIED EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

OF

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

1. Establishment and Purpose. LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) has adopted this 2011 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders by enabling grants of Awards to provide a material inducement for new, key executives to enter into employment with the Company or any of its present or future Subsidiaries and Affiliated Companies (as defined below) when the constraints of the Company’s existing equity incentive plans prevent such grants, and to retain and motivate such executives, to encourage and reward their contribution to the performance of the Company, and to align their interests with the interests of the Company’s stockholders. The Plan replaces the 2008 Nonqualified Equity Compensation Plan of Acxiom Corporation, the predecessor of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “2008 Plan”) effective July 25, 2011 and no further grants shall be made under the 2008 Plan. The Plan was amended and restated on December 5, 2016 to increase the total number of Shares (as defined below) which may be issued under the Plan.

2. Definitions . The following capitalized terms, when used in the Plan, have the following meanings:

(a) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(b) “Affiliated Company” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest.

(c) “Associate” means any employee, officer (whether or not also a director), director, affiliate, independent contractor or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company who renders those types of services which tend to contribute to the success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies, or which may reasonably be anticipated to contribute to the future success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies.

(d) “Award” means the grant, pursuant to the Plan, of any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock Unit Award. The terms and conditions applicable to an Award shall be set forth in applicable Grant Documents.

(e) “Award Agreement” means any written or electronic agreement, contract, or other document or instrument evidencing any Award granted by the Committee or the Board hereunder, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Eligible Person.

(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(h) “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 15 of the Plan.

(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (as well as any successor to the Compensation Committee and any Company officers to whom authority has been lawfully delegated by the Compensation Committee). All of the members of the Committee, which may not be less than two, are intended at all times to qualify as “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and each of whom is intended to


qualify as “independent” as set forth in the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or Nasdaq or any stock exchange upon which the Shares may be listed in the future; provided, however, that the failure of a member of such Committee to so qualify shall not be deemed to invalidate any Award granted by such Committee.

(j) “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, on which a grant of an Award will become effective.

(k) “Eligible Person” means a person not previously an employee or director of the Company or any Affiliated Company, or who has experienced a bona-fide period of non-employment with the Company and its Affiliated Companies, within the meaning of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c)(4).

(l) “Exercise Period” means the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a grantee (or his or her representatives or transferees) as specified in Section 6(c) below.

(m) “Exercise Price” means the purchase price per share payable upon exercise of an Option.

(n) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any applicable determination date or for any applicable determination period, the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading).

(o) “Grant Documents” means any written or electronic Award Agreement, memorandum, notice, and/or other document or instrument evidencing the terms and conditions of the grant of an Award by the Committee or the Board under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the grantee.

(p) “Legal Requirements” means any laws, or any rules or regulations issued or promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service (including Section 422 of the Code), the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading), or any other governmental or quasi-governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company, the Common Stock, or the Plan.

(q) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(r) “Option” means an option granted to an Eligible Person pursuant to the Plan to acquire a certain number of Shares at such price(s) and during such period(s) and under such other terms and conditions as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time.

(s) “Other Stock Unit Award” means any right granted to an Eligible Person by the Committee or Board pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

(t) “Restricted Stock” means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, or assign such Share and with such other restrictions as the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, may impose (including, without limitation, any forfeiture condition or any restriction on the right to vote such Share, and the right to receive any cash dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee or the Board may deem appropriate.

(u) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under Section 8 hereof.

(v) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right awarded to an Eligible Person that, subject to Section 8(c), may result in the Eligible Person’s ownership of Shares upon, but not before, the lapse of restrictions related thereto.

 

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(w) “Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee or Board pursuant to Sections 8 and 10 below.

(x) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Act, as such Rule may be in effect from time to time.

(y) “Shares” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $.10 par value, as may be adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.

(z) “Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan, to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of such right and, if applicable, a related Option, and receive cash or shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.

(aa) “Strike Price” shall have the meaning set forth for such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

(bb) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power or equity interests represented by all classes of stock, membership or other interests issued by such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity.

(cc) “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.

3. Administration . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Board. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Committee or the Board has the full authority and discretion to administer the Plan, and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the authority and discretion to:

(a) select Eligible Persons under the Plan;

(b) determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted;

(c) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each grant;

(d) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any grant hereunder (including, but not limited to, the term of the Award, the Exercise Price or Strike Price and any restriction, limitation, procedure, or deferral related thereto, provisions relating to the effect upon the Award of an Eligible Person’s cessation of employment, acceleration of vesting, forfeiture provisions regarding an Award and/or the profits received by any Eligible Person from receiving an Award of exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and any other terms and conditions regarding any Award, based in each case upon such guidelines and factors as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time in their sole discretion);

(e) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants under the Plan are to be made and operate, whether on a tandem basis or otherwise, with other grants or awards (whether equity or cash based) made by the Company under or outside of the Plan; and

(f) delegate to one or more officers of the Company the right to grant Awards under the Plan, provided that such delegation is made in accordance with the provisions of applicable state and federal laws.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award granted under thereunder (and any Grant Documents relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

 

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Each of the Committee and the Board shall also have the authority to provide, in their discretion, for the rescission, forfeiture, cancellation or other restriction of any Award granted under the Plan, or for the forfeiture, rescission or repayment to the Company by a grantee of an Award of any profits or gains related to any Award granted hereunder, or other limitations, upon the occurrence of such prescribed events and under such circumstances as the Committee or the Board shall deem necessary and reasonable for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that this provision shall have no application after a Change in Control Event (as defined below in Section 11) has occurred.

All decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s or Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons including the Company and any Eligible Person who has received an Award hereunder. No member of the Committee or Board will be liable for any such action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made in good faith.

4. Shares Subject to the Plan .

(a) The total number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to Awards under the Plan is 1,270,927. Such Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, as determined in the discretion of the Committee or the Board.

(b) If any Award made under the Plan is forfeited, any Option (and the related Stock Appreciation Right, if any) or any Stock Appreciation Right not related to an Option terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, or any Stock Appreciation Right is exercised for cash, the Shares subject to such Awards that are, as a result, not delivered to the Eligible Person shall again be available for delivery in connection with Awards. If a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, only the number of Shares issued will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan. If the Exercise Price of any Option is satisfied by delivering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), only the number of Shares issued net of the Shares delivered or attested to shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery pursuant to Awards under the Plan. To the extent any Shares subject to an Award are not delivered to an Eligible Person because such Shares are used to satisfy an applicable tax withholding obligation, such Shares shall again be available for delivery in connection with Awards; provided, further, that only Shares that are used to satisfy an applicable tax withholding obligation upon exercise of an Option shall again be available for delivery pursuant to Incentive Options.

(c) Shares available for issuance or reissuance under the Plan will be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15 below.

5. Eligible Persons . A person is eligible to receive grants of Awards if, at the time of the grant of the Award, such person is an Eligible Person and the Award is provided as an inducement material to the individual’s entering into employment with the Company or an Affiliated Entity; provided, however, that the grant is approved by either the Board’s independent Compensation and Human Resources Committee or a majority of independent directors of the whole Board, and provided further , that Awards granted to a person who has received an offer of employment will terminate and be forfeited without consideration if the employment offer is not accepted within such time as may be specified by the Company. Promptly following any grant under this Plan, the Company shall disclose in a press release the material terms of the grant, including the recipient and the number of shares involved. Status as an Eligible Person will not be construed as a commitment that any Award will be granted under this Plan to an Eligible Person or to Eligible Persons generally.

 

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6. Options .

(a) Grant of Options . The Committee, the Board or their authorized designees may from time to time authorize grants of Options to any Eligible Person upon such terms and conditions as the Committee or Board may determine in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Plan. Each grant will specify, among other things, the number of Shares to which it pertains; the Exercise Price, the form of payment to be made by the Eligible Person for the Shares purchased upon exercise of any Option; the required period or periods (if any) of continuous service by the Eligible Person with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company and/or any other conditions to be satisfied before the Options or installments thereof will vest and become exercisable. Incentive Stock Options may not be granted under the Plan.

Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by Grant Documents delivered to the Eligible Person containing such further terms and provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee or Board may approve in their discretion.

(b) Exercise Price . The Exercise Price for each share of Common Stock purchasable under any Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify. All such Exercise Prices shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 15 hereof.

(c) Exercise Period . Subject to Section 11 hereof, the period during which an Option shall vest and become exercisable by a grantee (or his or her representative(s) or transferee(s)) whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability (the “Exercise Period”) shall be such period of time as may be designated by the Committee or the Board as set forth in the Committee’s or Board’s applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or in the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Option. If the Committee or Board provides, in their sole discretion, that any Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee or Board may waive or accelerate such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant in whole or in part, based upon such factors as the Committee or Board shall determine, in their sole discretion.

(d) Exercise of Option . Subject to Section 11 hereof, an Option may be exercised by the grantee at any time and from time to time during the Exercise Period by giving written notice of such exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the grantee. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with subsection (e) below.

(e) Payment for Shares . Full payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option, together with the amount of any tax or excise due in respect of the sale and issue thereof, may be made in one of the following forms of payment:

(i) Cash, by check or electronic funds transfer;

(ii) Pursuant to procedures approved by the Company, through the sale (or margin) of Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option through a broker-dealer to whom the grantee has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale (or if applicable margin loan) proceeds sufficient to pay for the Exercise Price, together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes payable by reason of such exercise;

(iii) By delivering previously-owned shares of Common Stock owned by the grantee for a period of at least six months having a Fair Market Value on the date upon which the grantee exercises his or her Option equal to the Exercise Price, or by delivering a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate Exercise Price;

(iv) By authorizing the Company to withhold a number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the grantee upon exercise of an Option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date upon which the grantee exercises his or her Option equal to the aggregate Exercise Price; or

(v) By any combination of the foregoing.

Provided, however, that the payment methods described in clause (iv) immediately above shall not be available to a grantee without the prior consent of either the Committee or its authorized designee(s), or if at any time the Company is prohibited from purchasing or acquiring Shares under applicable Legal Requirements. The Committee or the Board may permit a grantee to exercise an Option and defer the issuance of any Shares, subject to such rules and procedures as the Committee or Board may establish.

 

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The Company will issue no certificates for Shares until full payment of the Exercise Price has been made, and a grantee shall have none of the rights of a shareholder until certificates for the Shares purchased are issued; provided however, that for purposes of this Section 6, full payment shall be deemed to have been received by the Company upon evidence of delivery to a broker-dealer of the irrevocable instructions contemplated by clause (ii) immediately above.

(f) Withholding Taxes . The Company may require a grantee exercising a Non-Qualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted hereunder to reimburse the Company (or the entity which employs the grantee) for taxes required by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such corporation in respect of the issuance of the Shares. Such withholding requirements may be satisfied by any one of the following methods:

(i) A grantee may deliver cash in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement;

(ii) A grantee may deliver previously-owned Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) in an amount which would satisfy the withholding requirement; or

(iii) With the prior consent of either the Committee or the Board, or its authorized designees, a grantee may request that the Company (or the entity which employs the Eligible Person) withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable to the grantee upon exercise of an Option such number of Shares (based upon the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise) as is necessary to satisfy the withholding requirement.

(g) Conditions to Exercise of Options . The Committee or the Board may, in their discretion, require as conditions to the exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the issuance of shares thereunder either (a) that a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the shares to be issued upon the exercise thereof, containing such current information as is required by the Rules and Regulations under said Act, shall have become, and continue to be, effective; or (b) that the grantee or his or her transferee(s) (i) shall have represented, warranted and agreed, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, both that he or she is acquiring the Option or Stock Appreciation Right and, at the time of exercising the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, that he or she is acquiring the shares for his/her own account, for investment and not with a view to or in connection with any distribution; (ii) shall have agreed to restrictions on transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company; and (iii) shall have agreed to an endorsement which makes appropriate reference to such representations, warranties, agreements and restrictions both on the option and on the certificate representing the shares.

(h) Use of Proceeds . Proceeds realized from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Options granted hereunder shall constitute general funds of the Company.

7. Stock Appreciation Rights .

(a) When granted, Stock Appreciation Rights may, but need not be, identified with a specific Option (including any Option granted on or before the Date of Grant of the Stock Appreciation Rights) in a number equal to or different from the number of Stock Appreciation Rights so granted. If Stock Appreciation Rights are identified with Shares subject to an Option, then, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the grantee’s associated Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the expiration, termination, forfeiture or cancellation of such Option or the exercise of such Option.

(b) The Strike Price of any Stock Appreciation Right shall (i) for any Stock Appreciation Right that is identified with an Option, equal the Exercise Price of such Option, or (ii) for any other Stock Appreciation Right, be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant as the Committee or Board shall specify.

 

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(c) Subject to Section 11 hereof, (i) each Stock Appreciation Right which is identified with any Option grant shall vest and become exercisable by a grantee as and to the extent that the related Option with respect to which such Stock Appreciation Right is identified may be exercised; and (ii) each other Stock Appreciation Right shall vest and become exercisable by the grantee, whether during or after employment or following death, retirement or disability, at such time or times as may be designated by the Committee or Board as set forth in the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents executed in connection with such Stock Appreciation Right.

(d) Subject to Section 11 hereof, Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by the grantee by delivery to the Company of written notice of intent to exercise a specific number of Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Documents, the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights which are identified with Shares of Common Stock subject to an Option shall result in the cancellation or forfeiture of such Option to the extent of the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right.

(e) The benefit to the grantee for each Stock Appreciation Right exercised shall be equal to (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of exercise, minus (ii) the Strike Price of such Stock Appreciation Right. Such benefit shall be payable in cash, except that the Committee or Board may provide in the applicable rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan and/or the Grant Documents that benefits may be paid wholly or partly in Shares of Common Stock.

8. Restricted Stock Awards .

(a) Issuance . A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee or the Board during a period of time specified by the Committee or Board (the “Restriction Period”). Restricted Stock Awards may be issued hereunder to Eligible Persons for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each Eligible Person.

(b) Restricted Stock .

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock to those Eligible Persons the Committee or the Board may select in their sole discretion. Each Award of Restricted Stock shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in or are required by the Plan and the Grant Documents as the Committee or the Board may determine in their discretion.

(ii) While any restriction applies to any grantee’s Restricted Stock, (a) unless the Committee or the Board provides otherwise, the grantee shall receive the dividends paid on the Restricted Stock and shall not be required to return those dividends to the Company in the event of the forfeiture of the Restricted Stock; (b) the grantee shall receive the proceeds of the Restricted Stock in any stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, or other change in the capital structure of the Company, which proceeds shall automatically and without need for any other action become Restricted Stock and be subject to all restrictions then existing as to the grantee’s Restricted Stock; and (c) the grantee shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period.

(iii) The Restricted Stock will be delivered to the grantee subject to the understanding that while any restriction applies to the Restricted Stock, the grantee shall not have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of Restricted Stock or any interest therein. As a result of the retention of rights in the Restricted Stock by the Company, except as required by any applicable law, neither any shares of the Restricted Stock nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the grantee, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the grantee or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

 

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(iv) Unless other provisions are specified in the Grant Documents or Plan guidelines which may be adopted by the Committee or the Board from time to time, any Restricted Stock held by the grantee at the time the grantee ceases to be an Associate for any reason shall be forfeited by the grantee to the Company and automatically re-conveyed to the Company.

(v) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 16(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Restricted Stock.

(vi) The making of an Award of Restricted Stock and delivery of any Restricted Stock is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable Legal Requirements. The Company need not issue or transfer Restricted Stock pursuant to the Plan unless the Company’s legal counsel has approved all legal matters in connection with the delivery of the Restricted Stock.

(vii) The Restricted Stock will be book-entry Shares only unless the Committee or the Board decides to issue certificates to evidence any shares of Restricted Stock. The Company may place stop-transfer instructions with respect to all Restricted Stock on its stock transfer records.

(c) Restricted Stock Units .

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Stock Units to those Eligible Persons as the Committee or the Board may select in its sole discretion. Restricted Stock Units represent the right to receive Shares in the future, at such times, and subject to such conditions as the Committee or the Board shall determine. The restrictions imposed shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A.

(ii) Until the Restricted Stock Unit is released from restrictions and any Shares subject thereto are delivered to the grantee, the grantee shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Unit, nor shall the grantee have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Restricted Stock Unit or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, no Restricted Stock Unit nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the grantee, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the grantee or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iii) Upon the lapse of the restrictions, the holder of Restricted Stock Units shall, except as noted below, be entitled to receive, as soon as administratively practical, (a) that number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, or (c) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee or the Board shall determine in their sole discretion, or shall have specified at the time the Award was granted.

(iv) Restricted Stock Units and the entitlement to Shares, cash, or any combination thereunder will be forfeited and all rights of a grantee to such Restricted Stock Units and the Shares thereunder will terminate if the applicable restrictions are not satisfied.

(v) A grantee of Restricted Stock Units is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Shares (e.g., voting rights and dividend rights), prior to the receipt of such Shares pursuant to the Plan. The Committee or the Board may, however, provide in the Grant Documents that the grantee shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments on Restricted Stock Units, on such terms and conditions as the Grant Documents may specify.

(vi) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 16(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to any Restricted Stock Units.

 

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(vii) The granting of Restricted Stock Units and the delivery of any Shares is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable Legal Requirements.

(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Stock Units (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a grantee to elect to defer receipt of the Shares or cash to be delivered upon lapse of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with rules and procedures that may be established from time to time by the Committee or the Board. Such rules and procedures shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A, and may provide for payment in Shares or cash.

9. Performance Awards . [Reserved]

10. Other Stock Unit Awards . Other Awards of Shares and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property (“Other Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Eligible Persons, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Other Stock Unit Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or any other form of property as the Committee or the Board may determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee or the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Eligible Persons to whom such Awards shall be made, the times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards. The provisions of Other Stock Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each Eligible Person. Shares (including securities convertible into Shares) subject to Awards granted under this Section may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law.

11. Change in Control . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (other than a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to such transaction own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of the surviving corporation), a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the acquisition of a significant percentage, which shall be no less than beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Act) of 20%, of the voting power of the Company, (each a “Change in Control Event”), which shall not include preliminary transaction activities such as receipt of a letter of interest, receipt of a letter of intent or an agreement in principle, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Committee or Board may determine (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph), without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (A) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or affiliate thereof), with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (B) upon written or electronic notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control Event; (C) that, to the extent the Committee or Board may determine, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such Change in Control Event, (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award may become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; and (iii) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan may lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards may become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested; (D) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares subject to the Award immediately prior to the occurrence of such transaction (which shall be no less than the value being paid for such Shares pursuant to such transaction as determined by the Committee or Board) over the Exercise Price or Strike Price, if applicable, of such Award, with such amount payable in cash, in one or more of the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a combination thereof, as the Committee or Board in their discretion shall determine, or (E) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted by this Section 11, the Committee or Board will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly. Notwithstanding the definition of Change in Control Event above in this Section 11, to the extent required to avoid the adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control Event shall be deemed to occur only to the extent it also meets the requirements for a change in control event for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will vest and become immediately exercisable; (ii) restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award will become free of all restrictions and limitations and become fully vested and transferable; and (iii) the restrictions and deferral limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock Unit Awards or any other Awards granted under the Plan will lapse and such Other Stock Unit Awards or such other Awards will become free of all restrictions, limitations or conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the Award not previously forfeited or vested. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control Event, the Committee or Board will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Committee or Board in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this Section 11, an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control Event, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control Event is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity, the Committee or Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of any other Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control Event.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11 to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more pre-established objective performance goals for a performance period will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control Event corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.    

12. Transferability of Awards . Awards granted under the Plan shall not be transferred by an Eligible Person, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

13. Clawback . All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

14. Alteration, Termination, Discontinuance, Suspension, and Amendment .

(a) The Committee or the Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to qualify for or comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Committee or Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply; or (ii) the consent of the affected grantee, if such action would impair the rights of such grantee under any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee or the Board may make technical amendments to the Plan as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to any Legal Requirements in any jurisdiction within or outside the United States, so long as shareholder approval of such technical amendments is not required.

(b) The Committee or Board may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, except that no such amendment shall impair the rights of any grantee of an Award without his or her consent. Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, the Committee or Board may, without the consent of the grantee of an Award, amend any Grant Documents evidencing an Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, or otherwise take action, to accelerate the time or times at which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be

 

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exercised; to extend the expiration date of an Award; to waive any other condition or restriction applicable to an Award or to the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; to reduce the Exercise Price or Strike Price, as applicable, of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; to amend the definition of a change in control of the Company (if such a definition is contained in such Grant Documents) to expand the events that would result in a change in control and to add a change in control provision to such Grant Documents (if such provision is not contained in such Grant Documents); and may amend any such Grant Documents in any other respect with the consent of the grantee.

(c) If required by any Legal Requirement, any amendment to the Plan or any Award will also be submitted to and approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of the Company. If any Legal Requirement requires the Plan to be amended, or in the event any Legal Requirement is amended or supplemented (e.g., by addition of alternative rules) to permit the Company to remove or lessen any restrictions on or with respect to an Award, the Board and the Committee each reserve the right to amend the Plan or any Grant Documents evidencing an Award to the extent of any such requirement, amendment or supplement, and all Awards then outstanding will be subject to such amendment.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee or the Board may not, without prior approval of the shareholders of the Company, reprice any outstanding Option by either lowering the Exercise Price thereof or canceling such outstanding Option in consideration of a grant having a lower Exercise Price. This paragraph 14(d) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Options without prior shareholder approval and shall not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 15 hereof.

(e) The Plan may be terminated at any time by action of the Board. The termination of the Plan will not adversely affect the terms of any outstanding Award.

15. Adjustment of Shares; Effect of Certain Transactions . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of any change affecting the Shares subject to the Plan or any Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, issuance of rights to subscribe, or other change in capital structure of the Company), appropriate adjustments or substitutions shall be made by the Committee or the Board as to the (i) Shares subject to the Plan, (ii) maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted to any one Associate, (iii) number of Shares and price per Share subject to outstanding Awards, and (iv) class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or each outstanding Award, as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards. The determination of the Committee or Board as to these matters shall be conclusive.

16. General Provisions .

(a) No Associate or Eligible Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Associates or Eligible Persons under the Plan.

(b) The Committee or Board shall be authorized to make adjustments in performance award criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. The Committee or 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 desirable to carry it into effect. In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of or combination with another corporation or business entity, the Committee or Board may, in their discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(c) All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee or Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable state or Federal securities law, and the Committee or Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

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(d) No Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee or the Board in their sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal securities laws and any other Legal Requirements to which such offer, if made, would be subject.

(e) The Committee or the Board shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any Grant Documents, the recipient of an Award (including, without limitation, any deferred Award) may, if so determined by the Committee or the Board, be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash dividends, or cash payments in amounts equivalent to cash dividends on Shares (“dividend equivalents”), with respect to the number of Shares covered by the Award, as determined by the Committee or the Board, in their sole discretion, and the Committee or Board may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested.

(f) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award or payment hereunder and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Plan administrator to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, not to exceed the statutory minimum withholding obligation. The Committee or Board shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by grantees to satisfy such obligations for the payment of such taxes (i) by delivery of or transfer of Shares to the Company, (ii) with the consent of the Committee or the Board, by directing the Company to retain Shares otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award, (iii) by payment in cash of the amount to be withheld, or (iv) by withholding from any cash compensation otherwise due to the grantee.

(g) Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(h) The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and applicable Federal law.

(i) If any provision of this Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee or the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee or the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken, and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

(j) Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee or the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee or Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Associates on assignments outside their home country.

(k) No Award shall be granted or exercised if the grant of the Award or the exercise and the issuance of shares or other consideration pursuant thereto would be contrary to the Legal Requirements of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction.

(l) The Plan will not confer upon any Eligible Person or Associate any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company would otherwise have to terminate an Eligible Person’s or Associate’s employment or other service at any time.

 

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Exhibit 99.9

2005 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

OF

LIVERAMP HOLDINGS, INC.

This 2005 Stock Purchase Plan of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (the “Plan”) was originally established by Acxiom Corporation (the predecessor of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.) to be effective as of August 3, 2005, or at such later time as the Plan was approved by the stockholders of Acxiom Corporation.

1. Purpose . The purposes of the Plan are to provide a method whereby employees (“Associates”) of the Company or of any Qualified Subsidiary (as defined below), will have an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of Shares (as defined below) pursuant to a plan which is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meeting of Section 423(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The provisions of the Plan shall be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

2. Definitions .

(a) “ Administrator ” shall mean the administrator of the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 15 hereof.

(b) “ Associate ” shall mean any person who renders services to the Company or a Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Code Section 340 l(c). “Associate” shall not include any director of the Company or a Subsidiary who does not render services to the Company or a Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Code Section 3401(c).

(c) “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d) “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as currently in effect or as may be amended in the future.

(e) “ Committee ” shall mean the committee appointed to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 15 hereof.

(f) “ Company ” shall mean LiveRamp Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor by merger, consolidation or otherwise.

(g) “ Compensation ” shall mean all base, straight-time gross earnings and commissions, exclusive of payments for overtime, shift premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments, bonuses and other compensation.

(h) “ Effective Date ” shall mean August 3, 2005, or such later date as the Plan may be approved by the stockholders of the Company.

(i) “ Eligible Associate ” shall mean an Associate of the Company or of a Qualified Subsidiary: (i) who does not, immediately after the option is granted, own stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or a Subsidiary (as determined under Section 423(b)(3) of the Code); (ii) whose customary employment is for at least twenty (20) hours per week; and (iii) whose customary employment is for at least five (5) months in any calendar year. For purposes of clause (i), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock


ownership shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an individual, and stock which an Associate may purchase under outstanding rights or options shall be treated as stock owned by the Associate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent there is any Associate who is not paid on the Company’s regular payroll system, such Associate must be employed with the Company for two (2) years before becoming eligible to participate in the Plan. The preceding sentence is not intended, and should not be construed, to expand the definition of Associate beyond those individuals who render services for the Company within the meaning of Section 3401 of the Code. The Company may, from time to time, modify the definition of Eligible Associate, provided that such modification shall neither permit nor deny participation in the Plan contrary to the requirements of the Code (including, but not limited to, Section 423 (b)(3), (4), (5), and (8) thereof).

(j) “ Enrollment Date ” shall mean the first day of each Offering Period.

(k) “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean, as of any date, the value of the Shares determined as follows:

(i) Where the Shares are not purchased in the open market, the closing sales price per share of the Shares (or the closing bid price, if no such sales were reported) on the Nasdaq’s National Market System (“NMS”), or such stock exchange or other national market system on which the Shares are listed or traded, on the Purchase Date.

(ii) Where the Shares are purchased in the open market, the average of the actual prices, if such actual prices vary, at which the Shares were purchased on the Purchase Date.

(iii) In the event that the foregoing valuation methods are not practicable, such other reasonable valuation method as the Administrator shall, in its discretion, select and apply in good faith as of such date.

(l) “ Offering Period ” shall mean, subject to Section 4, the period commencing on the first day of any month and terminating on the Purchase Date. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

(m) “ Participating Associate ” shall mean an Associate who participates in the Plan.

(n) “ Plan ” shall mean this 2005 Stock Purchase Plan of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.

(o) “ Purchase Date ” shall mean the last day of each Offering Period. If the last day of any Offering Period falls on a day on which Nasdaq or the national stock exchanges are not open for trading, the Purchase Date shall be the trading day next following the last day. The timing of the Purchase Date may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

(p) “ Purchase Price ” shall mean an amount not less than 85% or greater than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Purchase Date, as determined from time to time by the Board or by an authorized Committee of the Board. In the absence of such a determination by the Board or Committee, the Purchase Price shall be 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Purchase Date.

(q) “ Qualified Subsidiary ” shall mean all Subsidiaries of the Company in existence as of the Effective Date or which may exist in the future. The Board or an authorized Committee of the Board may initiate or terminate the designation of a Subsidiary as a Qualified Subsidiary without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

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(r) “ Shares ” shall mean the common stock of the Company, $0.10 par value.

(s) “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any entity, domestic or foreign, of which not less than 50% of the voting rights are held by the Company or a Subsidiary, whether or not such entity now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.

3. Eligibility .

(a) Any Eligible Associate who is employed by the Company or a Qualified Subsidiary on the first day of any Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of Section 5 and the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

(b) Each Associate who first becomes an Eligible Associate subsequent to the first day of a given Offering Period will be eligible to become a Participating Associate in the Plan on the first day of the first Offering Period following the day on which such person becomes an Eligible Associate, subject to the requirements of Section 5 and the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

(c) No Eligible Associate shall be granted an option under the Plan to the extent that his or her rights to purchase Shares under all Section 423 employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries accrues at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time. This limitation shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

(d) As provided under Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-l(h)(2), an employee on a leave of absence covered by the Family Medical Leave Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or any similar statute or contract that provides for reemployment or continued employment rights will be deemed to be continuously employed for purposes of this Plan.

4. Offering Periods . The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods which shall continue until the Plan expires or is terminated in accordance with Section 20 hereof. Subject to Section 20, Offering Periods shall be one month in duration, unless a longer period (not to exceed 27 months) is otherwise specified by the Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) and Purchase Dates with respect to future offerings without stockholder approval.

5. Participation .

(a) An Eligible Associate may become a Participating Associate in the Plan as soon as administratively practicable following the completion of an enrollment form and the filing of such form with the Company.

(b) Payroll deductions or contributions for a Participating Associate shall commence on the first payroll following the first day of the Offering Period and shall end on the last payroll in the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless terminated sooner by the Participating Associate as provided in Section 11 hereof.

(c) During a leave of absence approved by the Company or a Subsidiary and as long as the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-l(h)(2) are met, a Participating Associate may continue to participate in the Plan by making cash payments to the Company on each pay day equal to the amount of the Participating Associate’s payroll deductions or contributions under the Plan for the pay day

 

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immediately preceding the first day of such Participating Associate’s leave of absence. If a leave of absence is unapproved or fails to meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-l(h)(2), the Participating Associate will automatically cease to participate in the Plan. In such event, the Company will automatically cease to deduct the Participating Associate’s payroll under the Plan. The Company will pay to the Participating Associate his or her total payroll deductions for the Offering Period, in cash and in one lump sum, without interest, as soon as practicable after the Participating Associate ceases to participate in the Plan.

(d) A Participating Associate’s completion of an enrollment form will enroll such Participating Associate in the Plan for each successive and subsequent Offering Period on the terms contained therein until the Participating Associate either submits a new enrollment form, withdraws from participation under the Plan as provided in Section 11 hereof, or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan.

6. Payroll Deductions and Contributions .

(a) At the time a Participating Associate files his or her enrollment form, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each payday during an Offering Period in an amount not less than $5.00 USD (or foreign equivalent thereof) and not more than ten percent (10%) (or such other maximum percentage as the Board may establish from time to time before an Enrollment Date) of such participant’s Compensation on each payday during the Offering Period.

(b) Where payroll deductions are not permitted in a country outside of the United States, a Participating Associate may elect to make contributions on each pay day during any Offering Period in an amount not less than the foreign equivalent of $5.00 USD and not more than ten percent (10%) (or such other maximum percentage as the Board may establish from time to time before an Enrollment Date) of such participant’s Compensation which he or she receives for the payroll period immediately preceding the relevant the Offering Period.

(c) All payroll deductions and contributions made for a Participating Associate shall be credited to his or her Payroll Deduction Account (as defined in Section 7) under the Plan. A Participating Associate may not make any additional payments into such account.

(d) A Participating Associate may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 11 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions or contributions during the Offering Period by completing a revised enrollment form authorizing a change in payroll deduction or contribution and filing it with the Company. An election to increase or decrease a Participating Associate’s payroll deductions or contributions shall be permitted no more than once every thirty days.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(c) hereof, a Participating Associate’s payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time during an Offering Period.

(f) At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Shares issued under the Plan are disposed of, the Participating Associate must make adequate provision for the Company’s or Subsidiary’s federal, national, state, local municipal, or other tax or Social Security withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Shares. At any time, the Company or any Subsidiary may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participating Associate’s Compensation the amount necessary for the Company or the Subsidiary to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of the Shares by a Participating Associate.

 

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7. Payroll Deduction Account . The Company shall establish a payroll deduction account (“Payroll Deduction Account”) for each Participating Associate, and shall credit all payroll deductions and contributions made on behalf of each Participating Associate pursuant to Section 6 to his or her Payroll Deduction Account.

8. Grant of Option . On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Associate participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase on each Purchase Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of Shares determined by dividing such Participating Associate’s payroll deductions accumulated on such Purchase Date and retained in the Participating Associate’s Payroll Deduction Account as of the Purchase Date by the applicable Purchase Price. Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 9 hereof, unless the Participating Associate has Withdrawn pursuant to Section 11 hereof or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan. The option shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

9. Exercise of Option .

(a) By the Purchase Date, the Company shall cause a statement of the balance in each Participating Associate’s Payroll Deduction Account to be forwarded to the securities brokerage firm as set forth in Section 10 for purchase on his or her account of the number of Shares determined under subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Section.

(b) Unless a Participating Associate Withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 11 hereof or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan, his or her option for the purchase of Shares shall be exercised automatically on the Purchase Date, and the maximum number of full Shares and fractional Shares subject to the option shall be purchased for such Participating Associate at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her account. During a Participating Associate’s lifetime, a Participating Associate’s option to purchase Shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

(c) If the Administrator determines that, on a given Purchase Date, the number of Shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of Shares that were available for sale under the Plan on the first day of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares available for sale under the Plan on such Purchase Date, the Administrator shall allocate the available Shares among such Participating Associates in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable. The balance of the amount credited to the account of each Participating Associate which has not been applied to the purchase of Shares shall be paid to such Participating Associate in one lump sum in cash as soon as reasonably practicable after the Exercise Date, without any interest thereon.

10. Brokerage Accounts . By enrolling in the Plan, each Eligible Associate shall be deemed to have authorized the establishment of a brokerage account (“Brokerage Account”) on his or her behalf at a securities brokerage firm to be selected from time to time by the Administrator. The Brokerage Account shall be governed by, and shall be subject to, the terms and conditions of this Plan and of a written agreement between the Company and the securities brokerage firm and, if applicable, the Participating Associate and the securities brokerage firm. As promptly as practicable after each Purchase Date on which a purchase of Shares occurs, the Company may arrange for the deposit into each Participating Associate’s Brokerage Account of the number of Shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option. Shares purchased on behalf of any Participating Associate pursuant to the Plan shall be held in the Participating Associate’s Brokerage Account in his or her name.

 

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11. Withdrawal .

(a) A Participating Associate may withdraw all but not less than all of the payroll deductions or contributions credited to his or her Payroll Deduction Account and not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time prior to a Purchase Date by giving written notice to the Company authorizing payroll deductions (“Withdraw” or “Withdrawal”). All of the Participating Associate’s payroll deductions or contributions credited to his or her account during the Offering Period shall be paid to such Participating Associate as soon as practicable after receipt of the notice of Withdrawal. Thereafter, such Participating Associate’s option for the Offering Period shall be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of Shares shall be made for such Offering Period. If a Participating Associate Withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions or contributions shall not resume at the beginning of any succeeding Offering Periods unless the Participating Associate delivers to the Company a new enrollment form; provided, however, that any Eligible Associate who is deemed to be an “executive officer” of the Company as defined by Section 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall not renew his or her participation in the Plan until at least six (6) months have elapsed since the date of Withdrawal.

(b) A Participating Associate’s Withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods.

12. Termination of Employment . Upon (i) a Participating Associate’s ceasing to be an Eligible Associate for any reason, including termination of employment, disability or death or (ii) a Participating Associate’s being granted a leave of absence and failing to return to active employment upon the expiration of his or her leave in accordance with the Company’s policy with respect to permitted absences, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to Withdraw from the Plan, the payroll deductions on behalf of the Participating Associate shall be discontinued, and any amounts credited to such Participating Associate’s Payroll Deduction Account during the Offering Period shall be paid to such Participating Associate or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 16 hereof, as soon as reasonably practicable, and such Participating Associate’s option for the Offering Period shall be automatically terminated. A transfer of a Participating Associate’s employment between or among the Company and any Qualified Subsidiary shall not be treated as a termination of employment for purposes of the Plan.

13. Interest . No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions or contributions of a Participating Associate in the Plan, unless required to accrue in a country outside of the United States.

14. Shares Subject to Plan .

(a) Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof, the maximum number of Shares which shall initially be made available for sale under the Plan shall be 2,000,000. If any right granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such right may, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, become available for issuance under the Plan. The Shares subject to the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or reacquired Shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

(b) With respect to Shares subject to an option granted under the Plan, a Participating Associate shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company, and the Participating Associate shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder, until such Shares have been issued to the Participating Associate or his or her nominee following exercise of the Participating Associate’s option. A Participating Associate shall have rights as a stockholder with respect to all Shares which are purchased under the Plan for such Participating Associate’s account; provided, however, that a Participating Associate shall have no right to vote any fractional interest in a Share credited to his or her account.

 

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15. Administration .

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board unless and until the Board delegates administration to a different committee as set forth below. The Compensation Committee of the Board may delegate administration of the Plan to an internal Committee made up of Associates if permitted by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or market upon which the Company’s shares may be listed and/or traded. The term “Committee” shall apply to any persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise, subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. References in the Plan to the “Administrator” shall mean the Board unless administration is delegated to a Committee or subcommittee, in which case references in the Plan to the Administrator shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee.

(b) It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and the terms of the options and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All determinations by the Administrator in carrying out and administering the Plan and in construing and interpreting the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons interested. The Administrator at its option may utilize the services of such other persons as are necessary to assist in the proper administration of the Plan. The Administrator may select a securities brokerage firm to assist with the purchase of the Shares and the maintenance of Brokerage Accounts for Participating Associates in the Plan. In its absolute discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Administrator under the Plan.

(c) All expenses and liabilities incurred by the Administrator in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Qualified Subsidiaries; provided, however, that all sales commissions incurred upon sale by a Participating Associate of Shares out of his or her Brokerage Account shall be borne by the Participating Associate. The Administrator may, with the approval of the Board, employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, or such other persons as the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its duties under the Plan. The Administrator, the Company and its officers and directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons so employed by the Administrator.

16. Designation of Beneficiaries / Transferability .

(a) A Participating Associate may file a written beneficiary designation naming those persons who are to receive any cash from the Participating Associate’s Payroll Deduction Account, together with any Shares and/or cash from the Participating Associate’s Brokerage Account, in the event of the Participating Associate’s death. If a Participating Associate is married and the designated beneficiary is not the Participating Associate’s spouse, spousal consent may be required for such designation to be effective.

(b) Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participating Associate’s Payroll Deduction Account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or rights to receive Shares under the Plan maybe assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in by the Plan) by a Participating Associate. Shares acquired by a Participating Associate pursuant to the exercise of an option hereunder, however, are freely transferable.

 

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17. Use of Funds . All funds received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose. The Company shall not be obligated to segregate such funds unless required to in a country outside of the United States.

18. Reports . Statements of account shall be provided to Participating Associates at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price(s), and the number of Shares purchased.

19. Adjustments Upon Changes in Outstanding Shares on Capitalization, Merger, Consolidation or Corporate Reorganization . Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under option, the maximum number of Shares each Participating Associate may purchase each Offering Period (pursuant to Section 9), as well as the price per Share and the number of Shares covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised, shall be automatically adjusted to give proper effect to any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or any other increase or decrease in the number of Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or by reason of any merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization in which the Company is the surviving corporation. Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.

20. Amendment or Termination .

(a) The Board or an authorized Committee or subcommittee may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, at any time, and from time to time, modify or amend the Plan in any respect, including, but not limited to, (i) altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price, by setting the Purchase Price as an amount that is within the range of either 85%—100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Purchase Date, or 85%—100% of the lesser of (x) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Purchase Date, and (y) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the first day of the applicable Offering Period; (ii) shortening or lengthening any Offering Period so that the Offering Period ends on a new Purchase Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Board action, provided, however, that no Offering Period shall be shorter than one month or longer than 27 months; and allocating Shares as provided in Section 9(c). Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Participating Associates, except that no amendment shall be made without the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting stock of the Company represented in person or by proxy at a duly held stockholders’ meeting, if such amendment would:

(i) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participating Associates under the Plan;

(ii) increase the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan (other than as permitted under Section 19 hereof); or

(iii) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation under the Plan, except as allowed under Section 423(b)(4) of the Code.

(b) This Plan and all rights of Participating Associates hereunder may be terminated at any time by the Administrator or by the Board or an authorized Committee. Upon termination of the Plan, all payroll deductions and contributions shall cease and all amounts then credited to the Participating Associates’ Payroll Deduction Accounts shall be equitably applied to the purchase of whole Shares then available for sale, and any remaining amounts shall be promptly refunded to the Participating Associates.

 

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21. Participation by Foreign Emp loyees. Notwithstanding Section 20 hereof, the Board shall have the authority to amend the Plan from time to time by adopting or modifying appendices that shall (a) contain such terms and conditions with respect to the operation of the Plan in one or more countries outside of the United States as are necessary or appropriate, as determined by the Administrator or the Board in its sole discretion, to bring the Plan into compliance with applicable law, tax policy or local custom, and (b) name those Associates, or describe those classes of Associates, who shall be deemed Eligible Associates from among those Associates who reside in the country or countries outside of the United States to which such appendix relates. Nothing contained in this Section 21 shall be deemed to grant the Administrator or the Board the authority to: (i) change the list of Qualified Subsidiaries or otherwise change the designation of corporations whose employees maybe offered options under the Plan; (ii) change the class of securities issuable under the Plan; (iii) increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be sold pursuant to options granted under the Plan; or (iv) increase the maximum number of Shares subject to an Eligible Associate’s option pursuant to Section 3. Any such appendices adopted need not comply with the Code and associated regulations.

22. Notices . All notices or other communications by a Participating Associate to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

23. Conditions to Issuance of Shares / Dividends . Certificates for whole Shares purchased hereunder shall be issued as soon as practicable following a Participating Associate’s written request, for which a reasonable charge may be made. Fractional interests in Shares shall be carried forward in a Participating Associate’s Brokerage Account until they equal one whole Share or until termination of the Participating Associate’s Brokerage Account, in which event an amount in cash equal to the value of such fractional interest shall be paid to him or her in cash. Any cash dividends payable on Shares held in a Participating Associate’s Brokerage Account will be used to purchase additional Shares unless otherwise directed by the Participant.

24. Term of Plan . The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect for a term often (10) years, unless sooner terminated under Section 20 hereof.

25. Equal Rights and Privileges . All Eligible Associates of the Company (or of any Qualified Subsidiary) will have equal rights and privileges under this Plan so that this Plan qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code or applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder. Any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with Section 423 or applicable Treasury Regulations will, without further act or amendment by the Company, the Board or the Administrator, be reformed to comply with the equal rights and privileges requirement of Section 423 or applicable Treasury Regulations.

26. No Employment Rights . Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any Eligible Associate or Participating Associate) the right to remain in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary or to affect the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any person (including any Eligible Associate or Participating Associate) at any time, with or without cause.

27. Governing Law . The internal laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all matters relating to this Plan except to the extent superseded by the laws of the United States.

 

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Exhibit 99.10

2018 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

OF

PACIFIC DATA PARTNERS LLC

1. Establishment and Purpose. The 2018 Equity Compensation Plan of Pacific Data Partners LLC (the “Plan”) was established in order to facilities the proposed acquisition of Pacific Data Partners LLC (the “Company”) by Acxiom Corporation, the predecessor of LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (“Parent”), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, LiveRamp, Inc. (the “Acquiror”) (the “Acquisition”). The Plan is effective as of immediately prior to the closing of the Acquisition and conditioned upon the consummation of the Acquisition. The expectation is that upon closing of the Acquisition that Parent will assume all Awards granted under the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to enhance the value of the Acquisition for Parent and Acquiror and concurrently provide meaningful incentives for the Company’s majority owners to cause the Company following the closing of the Acquisition to achieve substantial performance goals.

2. Definitions . The following capitalized terms, when used in the Plan, have the following meanings:

(a) “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(b) “Affiliated Company” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest.

(c) “Associate” means any employee, officer (whether or not also a director), director, affiliate, independent contractor or consultant of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company who renders those types of services which tend to contribute to the success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies, or which may reasonably be anticipated to contribute to the future success of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliated Companies.

(d) “Award” means the grant, pursuant to the Plan, of any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Awards, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Qualified Performance-Based Award, or Other Stock Unit Award. The terms and conditions applicable to an Award shall be set forth in applicable Grant Documents.

(e) “Award Agreement” means any written or electronic agreement, contract, or other document or instrument evidencing any Award granted by the Committee or the Board hereunder, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(f) “Board” means (i) prior to the closing of the Acquisition, the Managers, and (ii) following the closing of the Acquisition, the Board of Directors of Parent (as well as any successor to the Board of Directors of Parent).

(g) “Class A Units” shall have the same meaning set forth in the Operating Agreement, or any security into which such Class A Units may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 13 of the Plan. Following the closing of the Acquisition, references to Class A Units will mean the common stock of Parent, par value $0.10 per share, or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Section 13 of the Plan (“Common Stock”).

 

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(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

(i) “Committee” means (i) prior to the closing of the Acquisition, the Compensation Committee of the Managers (as well as any successor to the Compensation Committee and any Company officers to whom authority has been lawfully delegated by the Compensation Committee), and (ii) following the closing of the Acquisition, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Parent (as well as any successor to the Compensation Committee and any officers of Parent to whom authority has been lawfully delegated by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Parent).

(j) “Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee or the Board, as applicable, on which a grant of an Award will become effective, but in all instances will occur prior to the closing of the Acquisition.

(k) “Fair Market Value” means the per unit fair market value of the Class A Units as established in good faith by the Board. Following the closing of the Acquisition, “Fair Market Value” will mean, as of any applicable determination date or for any applicable determination period, the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed for trading).

(l) “Grant Documents” means any written or electronic Award Agreement, memorandum, notice, and/or other document or instrument evidencing the terms and conditions of the grant of an Award by the Committee or the Board under the Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by both the Company and the Participant.

(m) “Legal Requirements” means any laws, or any rules or regulations issued or promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Nasdaq (or any other stock exchange upon which the Class A Units or, following the closing of the Acquisition, Common Stock, may be listed for trading), or any other governmental or quasi governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company or the Plan.

(n) “Managers” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Operating Agreement.

(o) Operating Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Pacific Data Partners LLC effective as of March 1, 2017.

(p) “Other Class A Unit Award” means any right granted to a Participant by the Committee or Board pursuant to Section 8 hereof.

(q) “Participant” means an Associate who is selected by the Committee or the Board to receive an Award under the Plan.

(r) “Performance Award” means any Award of Performance Class A Units or Performance Units pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

 

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(s) “Performance Goals” means the pre-established objective performance goals established by the Committee for each Performance Period in a Grant Document. The Performance Goals may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant, using one or more of the Performance Measures selected by the Committee in its discretion. Performance Goals may be set at a specific level, or may be expressed as a relative percentage to the comparable measure at comparison companies or a defined index. Performance Goals shall, to the extent applicable, be based upon generally accepted accounting principles, but shall be adjusted by the Committee to take into account the effect of the following: changes in accounting standards that may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board after the Performance Goal is established; realized investment gains and losses; extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring, or infrequent items; “non-GAAP financial measures” that have been included in the Company’s quarterly earnings releases and disclosed to investors in accordance with SEC regulations; and other items as the Committee determines to be required so that the operating results of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Company shall be computed on a comparative basis from Performance Period to Performance Period. Determinations made by the Committee shall be based on relevant objective information and/or financial data, and shall be final and conclusive with respect to all affected parties.

(t) “Performance Measures” means one or more of the following criteria, on which Performance Goals may be based: (a) earnings (either in the aggregate or on a per-unit basis, reflecting dilution of Class A Units as the Committee deems appropriate and, if the Committee so determines, net of or including dividends) before or after interest and taxes (“EBIT”) or before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”); (b) gross or net revenue or changes in annual revenues; (c) cash flow(s) (including operating, free or net cash flows); (d) financial return ratios; (e) total stockholder return, stockholder return based on growth measures or the attainment by the Class A Units of a specified value for a specified period of time, (f) Class A Unit price, or Class A Unit price appreciation; (g) earnings growth or growth in earnings per Class A Unit; (h) return measures, including return or net return on assets, net assets, equity, capital, investment, or gross sales; (i) adjusted pre-tax margin; (j) pre-tax profits; (k) operating margins; (l) operating profits; (m) operating expenses; (n) dividends; (o) net income or net operating income; (p) growth in operating earnings or growth in earnings per Class A Unit; (q) value of assets; (r) market share or market penetration with respect to specific designated products or product groups and/or specific geographic areas; (s) aggregate product price and other product measures; (t) expense or cost levels, in each case, where applicable, determined either on a company-wide basis or in respect of any one or more specified divisions; (u) reduction of losses, loss ratios or expense ratios; (v) reduction in fixed costs; (w) operating cost management; (x) cost of capital; (y) debt reduction; (z) productivity improvements; (aa) satisfaction of specified business expansion goals or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; (bb) customer satisfaction based on specified objective goals or a Company-sponsored customer survey; or (cc) Associate diversity goals.

Performance Measures may be applied on a pre-tax or post-tax basis, and may be based upon the performance of the Company (or a division, organization or other business unit thereof), a Subsidiary, an Affiliated Company, or of an individual Participant. The Committee may, at any time, provide that the Performance Goals for such Award may include or exclude items to measure specific objectives, such as losses from discontinued operations, extraordinary gains or losses, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, acquisitions or divestitures, foreign exchange impacts, and any unusual nonrecurring gain or loss.

 

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(u) “Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee or the Board at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee or the Board with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(v) “Performance Class A Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 7 hereof of a right to receive the value of a Class A Unit, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Class A Units, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(w) “Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 7 hereof of a right to receive the value of property other than a Class A Unit, or a portion or multiple thereof, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee or Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Class A Units, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the Performance Period as the Committee or the Board shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(x) “Restricted Unit” means a right awarded to a Participant that, subject to Section 6, may result in the Participant’s ownership of Class A Units upon, but not before, the lapse of restrictions related thereto.

(y) “Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee or Board pursuant to Sections 6 and 8 below.

(z) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Act, as such Rule may be in effect from time to time.

(aa) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power or equity interests represented by all classes of stock, membership or other interests issued by such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture or other entity.

3. Administration . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Board. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Committee or the Board has the full authority and discretion to administer the Plan, and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the authority and discretion to:

(a) select the Associates eligible to become Participants under the Plan;

(b) determine whether and to what extent Awards are to be granted;

(c) determine the number of Class A Units to be covered by each grant;

(d) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any grant hereunder (including, but not limited to, the term of the Award and any restriction, limitation, procedure, or deferral related thereto, provisions relating to the effect upon the Award of a Participant’s cessation of

 

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employment, acceleration of vesting, forfeiture provisions regarding an Award and/or the profits received by any Participant from receiving an Award, and any other terms and conditions regarding any Award, based in each case upon such guidelines and factors as the Committee or Board shall determine from time to time in their sole discretion);

(e) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants under the Plan are to be made and operate, whether on a tandem basis or otherwise, with other grants or awards (whether equity or cash based) made by the Company under or outside of the Plan; and

(f) delegate to one or more officers of the Company the right to grant Awards under the Plan, provided that such delegation is made in accordance with the provisions of applicable state and federal laws.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award granted under thereunder (and any Grant Documents relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

Each of the Committee and the Board shall also have the authority to provide, in their discretion, for the rescission, forfeiture, cancellation or other restriction of any Award granted under the Plan, or for the forfeiture, rescission or repayment to the Company by a Participant or former Participant of any profits or gains related to any Award granted hereunder, or other limitations, upon the occurrence of such prescribed events and under such circumstances as the Committee or the Board shall deem necessary and reasonable for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that this provision shall have no application after a Change in Control Event (as defined below in Section 9) has occurred.

All decisions made by the Committee and the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee’s or Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons including the Company and any Participant. No member of the Committee or Board will be liable for any such action taken or omitted to be taken or determination made in good faith.

4. Class  A Units Subject to the Plan .

(a) A number of Class A Units (“Total Class A Units”) will be reserved under, and may be issued pursuant to, the Plan necessary to satisfy any obligations with respect to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan. Following the closing of the Acquisition, Common Stock may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares, as determined in the discretion of the Committee or the Board.

(b) To the extent any Class A Units subject to an Award are not delivered to a Participant because such Class A Units are used to satisfy an applicable tax withholding obligation, such Class A Units that are not delivered shall be deemed delivered and shall not thereafter be available for delivery in connection with Awards.

(c) Class A Units available for issuance or reissuance under the Plan will be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13 below.

5. Eligible Participants . All Associates shall be eligible to receive Awards and thereby become Participants in the Plan, regardless of such Associate’s prior participation in the Plan or any other benefit plan.

 

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6. Restricted Unit Awards .

(a) Issuance . A Restricted Unit Award shall be subject to restrictions imposed by the Committee or the Board during a period of time specified by the Committee or Board (the “Restriction Period”). Restricted Unit Awards may be issued hereunder to Participants for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The provisions of Restricted Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

(b) Restricted Units .

(i) The Company may grant Restricted Units to those Associates as the Committee or the Board may select in its sole discretion. Restricted Units represent the right to receive Class A Units in the future, at such times, and subject to such conditions as the Committee or the Board shall determine. The restrictions imposed shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A.

(ii) Until the Restricted Unit is released from restrictions and any Class A Units subject thereto are delivered to the Participant, the Participant shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Class A Units subject to the Restricted Unit, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Restricted Unit or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, no Restricted Unit nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(iii) Upon the lapse of the restrictions, the Participant holder of Restricted Units shall, except as noted below, be entitled to receive, as soon as administratively practical, (a) that number of Class A Units subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, (b) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Class A Units subject to the Award that are no longer subject to restrictions, or (c) any combination of Class A Units and cash, in the case of (a)—(c) as the Committee or the Board shall determine in their sole discretion, or shall have specified at the time the Award was granted.

(iv) Restricted Units and the entitlement to Class A Units, cash, or any combination thereunder will be forfeited and all rights of a Participant to such Restricted Units and the Class A Units thereunder will terminate if the applicable restrictions are not satisfied.

(v) A Participant holder of Restricted Units is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Class A Units (e.g., voting rights), prior to the receipt of such Class A Units pursuant to the Plan. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an outstanding Restricted Unit.

(vi) The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 14(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to any Restricted Units.

 

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(vii) The granting of Restricted Units and the delivery of any Class A Units is subject to compliance by the Company with all applicable Legal Requirements.

(viii) At the time of grant of Restricted Units (or at such earlier or later time as the Committee or the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the provisions of Code Section 409A), the Committee or the Board may permit a Participant to elect to defer receipt of the Class A Units or cash to be delivered upon lapse of the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Units in accordance with rules and procedures that may be established from time to time by the Committee or the Board. Such rules and procedures shall take into account potential tax treatment under Code Section 409A, and may provide for payment in Class A Units or cash.

7. Performance Awards .

(a) Grant . The Company may grant Performance Awards to Associates on any terms and conditions the Committee or the Board deem desirable. Each Award of Performance Awards shall have those terms and conditions that are expressly set forth in, or are required by, the Plan and the Grant Documents.

(b) Performance Goals . The Committee or the Board may set Performance Goals which, depending on the extent to which they are met during a Performance Period, will determine the number of Performance Class A Units or Performance Units that will be delivered to a Participant at the end of the Performance Period. The Performance Goals may be set at threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, and the number of Performance Class A Units or Performance Units to be delivered may be tied to the degree of attainment of the various performance levels specified under the various Performance Goals during the Performance Period. No payment shall be made with respect to a Performance Award if any specified threshold performance level is not attained.

(c) Beneficial Ownership . A Participant receiving a Performance Award shall not have any beneficial ownership in any Class A Units subject to such Award until Class A Units are delivered in satisfaction of the Award, nor shall the Participant have the right to sell, transfer, assign, convey, pledge, hypothecate, grant any security interest in or mortgage on, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any Performance Award or any interest therein. Except as required by any law, neither the Performance Award nor any interest therein shall be subject in any manner to any forced or involuntary sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition or to any charge, liability, debt, or obligation of the Participant, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Participant or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be void.

(d) Determination of Achievement of Performance Awards . The Committee or the Board shall, promptly after the date on which the necessary financial, individual or other information for a particular Performance Period becomes available, determine and certify the degree to which each of the Performance Goals have been attained.

(e) Payment of Performance Awards . After the applicable Performance Period has ended, a recipient of a Performance Award shall be entitled to payment based on the performance level attained with respect to the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Performance Awards

 

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shall be settled as soon as practicable after the Committee or Board determines and certifies the degree of attainment of Performance Goals for the Performance Period. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Documents, payment to a Participant with respect to a Performance Award may be made (a) in Class A Units, (b) in cash, or (c) any combination of Class A Units and cash, in the case of (a)—(c) as the Committee or the Board may determine at any time in their sole discretion.

(f) Limitation on Rights/Withholding . A recipient of a Performance Award is not entitled to any rights of a holder of the Class A Units (e.g. voting rights), prior to the receipt of such Class A Units pursuant to the Plan. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an outstanding Performance Award. The Committee or the Board may withhold, in accordance with Section 14(f) hereof, any amounts necessary to collect any withholding taxes upon any taxable event relating to Performance Awards.

8. Other Unit Awards . Other Awards of Class A Units and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Class A Units or other property (“Other Class A Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Other Class A Unit Awards may be paid in Class A Units, cash or any other form of property as the Committee or the Board may determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee or the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Associates to whom such Awards shall be made, the times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of Class A Units to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other terms and conditions of such Awards. The provisions of Other Class A Unit Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant. For any Award or Class A Units subject to any Award made under this Section 8, the vesting of which is conditioned only on the passage of time, such Restriction Period shall be a minimum of two (2) years for full vesting. Class A Units (including securities convertible into Class A Units) subject to Awards granted under this Section 8 may be issued for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law. No dividends, dividend equivalents or other similar payments shall be payable in respect of an outstanding Other Class A Unit Award.

9. Change in Control . Upon the closing of the Acquisition, Awards granted hereunder will be assumed by Parent. Following the closing of the Acquisition, and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, a “Change in Control Event” will occur upon the consummation of one or a series of related transactions effecting: (i) the acquisition by a Third Party of at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of Parent (by means of any stock acquisition, merger or similar transaction), other than any transaction where the holders of the Parent voting securities immediately prior thereto retain beneficial ownership of securities that represent immediately after such transaction more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the entity that survives such transaction or the parent of the entity that survives such transaction; or (ii) the sale to a Third Party of all or substantially all of the assets of Parent; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Change in Control Event shall not include any internal reorganization (including the sale of one or more businesses), spin-off, separation or other similar corporate restructuring of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. “Third Party” means any person not affiliated with Parent or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the transaction. For avoidance of doubt, a Change in Control Event shall not include preliminary transaction activities such as receipt of a letter of interest, receipt of a letter of intent or an agreement in principle. In connection with a Change in Control Event, each outstanding Award will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or affiliate thereof). Notwithstanding the definition of Change in Control Event above in this Section 9, to the extent required to avoid the adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control Event shall be deemed to occur only to the extent it also meets the requirements for a change in control event for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), the Award will be treated as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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For the purposes of this Section 9, an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control Event, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control Event is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity, the Committee or Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the payout of any Award, for each share of Common Stock subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent entity equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control Event.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9 to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more Performance Goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such Performance Goals without the Participant’s written consent; provided, however, a modification to such Performance Goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control Event corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

10. Clawback . All Awards granted pursuant to this Plan are subject to the Company’s “clawback policy” as may be in effect at the time.

11. Transferability of Awards .

(a) Awards granted under the Plan may be transferred by a Participant to: (i) the Participant’s family members (whether related by blood, marriage, or adoption and including a former spouse); (ii) trust(s) in which the Participant’s family members have a greater than 50% beneficial interest; (iii) trusts, including but not limited to charitable remainder trusts, or similar vehicles established for estate planning and/or charitable giving purposes; and (iv) family partnerships and/or family limited liability companies which are controlled by the Participant or the Participant’s family members, such transfers being permitted to occur by gift or pursuant to a domestic relation order, or, only in the case of transfers to the entities described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) immediately above, for value. The Committee or Board, or their authorized designees may, in their sole discretion, permit transfers of Awards to other persons or entities upon the request of a Participant; provided, however, that such Awards may not be transferred to a third party financial institution for value, including as collateral. Subsequent transfers of previously transferred Awards may only be made to one of the permitted transferees named above, unless the subsequent transfer has been approved by the Committee or the Board, or their authorized designee(s). Otherwise, such transferred Awards may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Concurrently with any transfer, the transferor shall give written notice to the Plan’s then-current Plan administrator of the name and address of the transferee, the number of Class A Units being transferred, the Date of Grant of the Awards being transferred, and such other information as may reasonably be required by the administrator. Following a transfer, any such Awards shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. The provisions of the Plan and applicable Grant Documents shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, and such Awards shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent that they could have been exercised by the Participant under the terms of the original Grant Documents. The Company disclaims any obligation to provide notice to a transferee of any termination or expiration of a transferred Award.

 

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12. Alteration, Termination, Discontinuance, Suspension, and Amendment .

(a) The Committee or the Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without (i) approval of the Members if such approval is necessary to qualify for or comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Committee or Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply; or (ii) the consent of the affected Participant, if such action would impair the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee or the Board may make technical amendments to the Plan as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform to any Legal Requirements in any jurisdiction within or outside the United States, so long as approval of the Members of such technical amendments is not required.

(b) The Committee or Board may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, except that no such amendment shall impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. Subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) below, the Committee or Board may, without the consent of the Participant, amend any Grant Documents under the Plan or otherwise take action to waive any condition or restriction applicable to an Award; to amend the definition of a change in control of the Company (if such a definition is contained in such Grant Documents) to expand the events that would result in a change in control and to add a change in control provision to such Grant Documents (if such provision is not contained in such Grant Documents); and may amend any such Grant Documents in any other respect with the consent of the Participant.

(c) If an amendment would (i) materially increase the benefits to participants under the Plan, (ii) increase the aggregate number of Class A Units that may be issued under the Plan, or (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan by materially increasing the class or number of persons eligible to participate in the Plan, then such amendment shall be subject to approval of the Members.

(d) If required by any Legal Requirement, any amendment to the Plan or any Award will also be submitted to and approved by the requisite vote of the Members of the Company. If any Legal Requirement requires the Plan to be amended, or in the event any Legal Requirement is amended or supplemented (e.g., by addition of alternative rules) to permit the Company to remove or lessen any restrictions on or with respect to an Award, the Board and the Committee each reserve the right to amend the Plan or any Grant Documents evidencing an Award to the extent of any such requirement, amendment or supplement, and all Awards then outstanding will be subject to such amendment.

(e) The Plan may be terminated at any time by action of the Board. The termination of the Plan will not adversely affect the terms of any outstanding Award.

13. Adjustment of Class  A Units; Effect of Certain Transactions . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event of any change affecting the Class A Units subject to the Plan or any Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Class A Units, other securities or other property), stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of units, exchange of units, issuance of rights to subscribe, or other change in capital structure of the Company), appropriate adjustments or substitutions shall be made by the Committee or the Board as to the (i) Total Class A Units subject to the Plan, (ii) maximum number of Class A Units for which Awards may be granted to any one Associate, (iii) number of Class A Units and price per Class A Unit subject to outstanding Awards, and (iv) class of units or other securities that may be delivered under the Plan and/or each outstanding Award, as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights under previously granted Awards. The determination of the Committee or Board as to these matters shall be conclusive.

 

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14. General Provisions .

(a) No Associate or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Associates or Participants under the Plan.

(b) The Committee or Board shall be authorized to make adjustments in performance award criteria or in the terms and conditions of other Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its financial statements or changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. The Committee or 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 desirable to carry it into effect. In the event the Company shall assume outstanding employee benefit awards or the right or obligation to make future such awards in connection with the acquisition of or combination with another corporation or business entity, the Committee or Board may, in their discretion, make such adjustments in the terms of Awards under the Plan as it shall deem appropriate.

(c) All certificates for Class A Units delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee or Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Class A Units are then listed, and any applicable state or Federal securities law, and the Committee or Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d) No Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee or the Board in their sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal securities laws and any other Legal Requirements to which such offer, if made, would be subject.

(e) The Committee or the Board shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred.

(f) The Company shall be authorized to withhold from any Award granted or payment due under the Plan the amount of withholding taxes due in respect of an Award or payment hereunder and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Plan administrator to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, not to exceed the statutory minimum withholding obligation. The Committee or Board shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligations for the payment of such taxes (i) by delivery of or transfer of Class A Units to the Company, (ii) with the consent of the Committee or the Board, by directing the Company to retain Class A Units otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award, (iii) by payment in cash of the amount to be withheld, or (iv) by withholding from any cash compensation otherwise due to the Participant.

(g) Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to approval of the Members if required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(h) The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and applicable Federal law.

(i) If any provision of this Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee or the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee or the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it shall be stricken, and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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(j) Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee or the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee or Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Associates on assignments outside their home country.

(k) No Award shall be granted or exercised if the grant of the Award or the exercise and the issuance of units or other consideration pursuant thereto would be contrary to the Legal Requirements of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction.

(l) The Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliated Company would otherwise have to terminate a Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

 

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