UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 15, 2018

 

 

Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-25259   02-0433294

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

325 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth, New Hampshire   03801
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (603) 436-0700

Not Applicable.

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02.

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

Amended and Restated 2009 Stock Incentive Plan

On November 15, 2018, Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. (the “Company”) held its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2009 Plan from 12,750,000 to 14,950,000, which had previously been adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) subject to stockholder approval.

A description of the material terms and conditions of the 2009 Plan, as amended, is set forth under the heading “PROPOSAL 3—APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN” in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2018, which description is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The description of the 2009 Plan, as amended, incorporated herein by reference is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2009 Plan, as amended, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

2018 Israeli Special Stock Incentive Plan

On November 15, 2018, at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, stockholders approved the Company’s 2018 Israeli Special Stock Incentive Plan (the “Israeli Plan”). Up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events) may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the Israeli Plan.

A description of the material terms and conditions of the Israeli Plan is set forth under the heading “PROPOSAL 4—APPROVAL OF THE 2018 ISRAELI SPECIAL PURPOSE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN” in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2018, which description is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3 and incorporated herein by reference. The description is only a summary and does not contain all of the terms and conditions of the Israeli Plan, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Israeli Plan, which is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.4.

 

Item 5.07.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

At the Annual Meeting, each of the five proposals put forth by the Company was approved by stockholders. The specific proposals, and the respective voting results, are noted below.

On the specific proposals:

1.    Stockholders voted to re-elect Peter Gibson and Joseph L. Mullen as Class II Directors, each to serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

2.    Stockholders approved the Company’s executive compensation in a non-binding advisory vote commonly referred to as “say-on-pay”.

3.    Stockholders voted to approve an amendment to the 2009 Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Plan from 12,750,000 to 14,950,000 shares.

4.    Stockholders voted to approve the Israeli Plan and authorized issuance of 200,000 shares of our common stock thereunder.

5.    Stockholders ratified the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.


The respective voting results for each of the proposals approved by stockholders were as follows:

Proposal 1

Stockholders voted to re-elect the Company’s two nominees as Class II Directors for a term of three years.

 

     For      Withheld      Broker non-votes  

Re-elected Peter Gibson

     35,414,738        500,074        2,708,608  

Re-elected Joseph L. Mullen

     35,315,459        599,353        2,708,608  

Proposal 2

Stockholders approved the Company’s executive compensation in a non-binding advisory vote commonly referred to as “say-on-pay”.

 

For   Against   Abstain   Broker non-votes

34,243,315

  1,643,952   27,545   2,708,608

Proposal 3

Stockholders voted to approve an amendment to the 2009 Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2009 Plan from 12,750,000 to 14,950,000 shares.

 

For   Against   Abstain   Broker non-votes

33,187,273

  2,718,335   9,204   2,708,608

Proposal 4

Stockholders voted to approve the Israeli Plan and the authorization for issuance under the Israeli Plan for up to 200,000 shares of common stock thereunder.

 

For   Against   Abstain   Broker non-votes

33,670,494

  2,216,557   27,761   2,708,608

Proposal 5

Stockholders ratified the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.

 

For   Against   Abstain

37,761,192

  857,821   4,407

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

99.1    Text of “PROPOSAL 3—APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN” from the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2018
99.2    2009 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended
99.3    Text of “PROPOSAL 4—APPROVAL OF THE 2018 ISRAELI SPECIAL PURPOSE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN” from the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2018
99.4    2018 Israeli Special Purpose Stock Incentive Plan


SIGNATURE

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

 

    BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES (de), INC.
November 19, 2018     By:  

/s/ Eric K. Morgan

      Eric K. Morgan
      Executive Vice President, Global Controller

Exhibit 99.1

PROPOSAL 3—APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

On September 13, 2018, our Board of Directors adopted, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) to increase the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance under the 2009 Plan by 2,200,000 shares, which would increase the number of shares that may be issued under the 2009 Plan to 14,950,000 and provide that any or all of the shares can be used for the issuance of incentive stock options. We are asking our stockholders to approve this amendment at the annual meeting. Our 2009 Plan was originally adopted by our Board of Directors on November 19, 2009 and was amended on November 17, 2011, November 14, 2013, November 20, 2014, September 15, 2016, November 17, 2016 and November 16, 2017.

Why We Are Requesting Stockholder Approval of the Amendment of the 2009 Plan.

The approval by our stockholders of the amendment of the 2009 Plan will allow us to continue to grant incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-unit awards to our employees, officers and directors, as well as consultants and advisors.

We believe that our success to date is due in large part to our highly talented employee base, and that our future success depends on our ability to attract and retain qualified employees. The market for qualified personnel in our industry is highly competitive. Among the companies we compete with for employee talent are many early stage, private and ventured-backed entities. These companies regularly offer equity incentives as a central and significant component of their compensation packages. We believe that these companies frequently target our employees in an effort to hire top talent away from us. The ability to grant equity awards is critical to our ability to attract and retain the top talent that we need to sustain our growth.

If our stockholders do not approve the proposed amendment to the 2009 Plan, our ability to attract and retain the qualified employees we need to grow our business will be impaired.

Information Regarding Awards Granted under the 2009 Plan, Dilution.

As of August 31, 2018, 2,578,607 shares of common stock subject to unvested restricted stock awards issued under the 2009 Plan were outstanding and 2,783,568 shares of common stock were available for future grant under the 2009 Plan.

The information below excludes our 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. With respect to all of our stock incentive plans as of August 31, 2018:

 

   

Total number of shares available for grant under the 2009 Plan was 2,783,568;

 

   

Total number of shares available for grant under the Andera Plan was 16,827; however, we do not intend to issue shares from this plan;

 

   

Stock options covering 49,237 shares were outstanding;

 

   

the weighted average exercise price of such options was $10.8083;

 

   

the weighted average remaining term of such options was 1.14 years; and

 

   

Total number of shares underlying outstanding full value awards (i.e., awards that are not options or stock appreciation rights) was 2,772,837.

The 2009 Plan is, and the 2009 Plan, as amended, is intended to be, a broad-based plan that allows for the issuance of equity awards throughout our organization. In fiscal 2018, 72% of all equity awards issued by the company were issued to individuals other than executive officers.

The additional 2,200,000 shares that we are requesting to add to the 2009 Plan was based upon careful consideration of the equity compensation needs of the company, including an assessment of the number of shares likely to be needed for future equity grants. As described below, the company also considered the potential dilution to our stockholders that would result from their approval of the amendment of the 2009 Plan. The company believes that approving the additional 2,200,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2009 Plan, as amended, is appropriate and in the best interests of stockholders given our current expectations on hiring and employee retention demands created by recent business growth, the highly competitive environment in which we recruit and retain employees, the dilution rate of our peers and our historical rate of issuing equity awards. Our Board of Directors and our management will carefully consider all proposed grants under the 2009 Plan, as amended.


In developing our share request for the 2009 Plan and analyzing the impact of utilizing equity on our shareholders, we considered our “burn rate”, which we consider to be a key metric of how our equity compensation program affects our shareholders.

Burn rate provides a measure of the potential dilutive impact of our annual equity awards. Set forth below is a table that reflects our burn rate for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 fiscal years as well as the average over those years.

 

Fiscal Year

   Options
Granted
     Restricted Stock
Granted
     Total
Granted (2)
     Basic Weighted
Average Number of
Common Shares
Outstanding
     Gross
Burn
Rate (1)
 

2018

     —          1,231,000        3,078,000        38,227,000        8.05

2017

     —          942,000        2,355,000        37,842,000        6.22

2016

     —          1,061,000        2,653,000        37,957,000        6.99

Three-Year Average

     —          1,078,000        2,695,333        38,009,000        7.09

 

(1)

“Gross Burn Rate” is defined as the number of shares underlying equity awards granted in the year divided by the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

(2)

“Total Granted” reflects the number of shares underlying equity awards granted in the year, adjusted by a burn-rate multiplier. The burn rate multiplier incorporates a measure of stock price volatility into the overall calculation and the multiplier was 2.5 for each of the fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016.

We believe that our future success depends, in large part, upon our continued ability to attract and retain exceptional employee talent. This includes providing long term retention vehicles, such as equity compensation, which serve to retain and motivate those individuals who are expected to make important contributions to the company by providing them with equity ownership opportunities that align their interests with those of the company’s shareholders. Stock-based incentive compensation encourages and rewards employee performance by increasing the value of their compensation if our stock performance improves. Vesting requirements also encourage long-term retention, which is beneficial to our growth and success. We need additional shares under the 2009 Plan to ensure that we have the continued ability to use equity compensation to motivate existing high-performing employees, hire additional, qualified employees and align the interests of our employees, directors, consultants and advisors with those of our stockholders. Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes the proposed amendment of the 2009 Plan is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders and recommends a vote “FOR” the amendment of the 2009 Plan.

Description of the 2009 Plan, as Proposed to be Amended

If our stockholders approve the amendment to the 2009 Plan, the 2009 Plan will remain unchanged in all respects other than (i) the increase to the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance under the 2009 Plan by 2,200,000 shares to 14,950,000 shares and (ii) the increase in the number of shares of common stock that may be issued as incentive stock options to 14,950,000 shares. Below is a brief summary of the 2009 Plan, as proposed to be amended. The full text of the 2009 Plan, including the proposed amendment, is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy statement.

Shares Issuable

After giving effect to the proposed amendment, up to 14,950,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events) will be authorized for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the 2009 Plan, plus such additional number of shares of common stock as is equal to the number of shares of common stock subject to awards granted under the company’s 1998 Director Stock Option Plan, the company’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and the company’s 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (Amended & Restated), which awards expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by the company at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right (subject, however, in the case of incentive stock options, to any limitations of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)).


Types of Awards

The 2009 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code, non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards as described below (collectively, “Awards”).

Incentive Stock Options and Non-statutory Stock Options. Optionees receive the right to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock at a specified option price and subject to such other terms and conditions as are specified in connection with the option grant. Options may not be granted at an exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant (or less than 110% of the fair market value in the case of incentive stock options granted to optionees holding more than 10% of the voting power of the company). Options may not be granted for a term in excess of ten years. The 2009 Plan permits the following forms of payment of the exercise price of options: (i) payment by cash, check or in connection with a “cashless exercise” through a broker, (ii) subject to certain conditions, surrender to the company of shares of common stock, (iii) subject to certain conditions, in the case of non-statutory stock options, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the company, (iv) subject to certain conditions, delivery to the company of a promissory note, (v) any other lawful means, or (vi) any combination of these forms of payment. Options may not contain provisions entitling recipients to the automatic grant of additional options in connection with any exercise of the original option.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right, or SAR, is an award entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount in common stock or cash or a combination thereof determined by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the fair market value of a share of common stock. SARs may be granted independently or in tandem with an option.

Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards entitle recipients to acquire shares of our common stock, subject to the right of the company to repurchase all or part of such shares from the recipient in the event that the conditions specified in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period established for such Award.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards . Restricted stock unit awards entitle the recipient to receive shares of common stock or cash to be delivered at the time such shares vest pursuant to the terms and conditions established by the Board of Directors.

Other Stock and Cash-Based Awards. Under the 2009 Plan, the Board of Directors has the right to grant other Awards based upon our common stock having such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may determine, including the grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, shares of common stock, and the grant of Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of common stock to be delivered in the future. The company may also grant other awards denominated in cash rather than shares of common stock.

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

As a policy, we require participants in our 2009 Plan to waive their rights to accumulate or be paid any dividend or dividend equivalent on any unvested Award.

Transferability of Awards

Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an incentive stock option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. During the life of the participant, Awards are exercisable only by the participant.

Eligibility to Receive Awards

Employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the company and its subsidiaries are eligible to be granted Awards under the 2009 Plan. Except where the context otherwise requires, “company” includes any of the company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined under Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code and any other business ventures (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability companies in which the company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors). Under present law, however, incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of the company and its parent or subsidiaries.

The maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any participant under the 2009 Plan may not exceed 1,000,000 shares per calendar year. For purposes of this limit, the combination of an option in tandem with SAR is treated as a single award.


Plan Benefits

As of June 30, 2018, approximately 1,700 employees were eligible to receive Awards under the 2009 Plan, including the company’s five executive officers and seven non-employee directors. The granting of Awards under the 2009 Plan is discretionary, and the company cannot now determine the number or type of Awards to be granted in the future to any particular person or group. The table below sets forth, as of June 30, 2018, awards that have been granted under the 2009 Plan.

 

Name and Position

   Number of Shares of
Restricted Stock
     Number of
Stock Options
 

Robert A. Eberle

     890,000        —    

President and Chief Executive Officer

     

Richard D. Booth

     136,561        —    

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

     

Norman J. DeLuca

     262,000        —    

Managing Director, Banking Solutions

     

John F. Kelly

     194,500        —    

General Manager, Legal Solutions

     

Nigel K. Savory

     375,000        —    

Managing Director, Europe

     

All Executive Officers (5 persons)

     1,858,061        —    

All Non Executive Directors (7 persons)

     147,000        —    

Each nominee for election as a director:

     

Peter Gibson

     13,000        —    

Joseph L. Mullen

     31,000        —    

All employees and former directors, but excluding all current executive officers and current non executive directors (1)

     6,242,206        5,000  

 

(1)

Includes shares that were subsequently forfeited due to employee departures.

On August 31, 2018, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $65.97.

Administration

The 2009 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the authority to adopt, amend and repeal the administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the 2009 Plan and to interpret the provisions of the 2009 Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the 2009 Plan, the Board of Directors may delegate authority under the 2009 Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board of Directors.

Subject to any applicable limitations contained in the 2009 Plan, the Board of Directors, the leadership development and compensation committee, or any other committee to whom the Board of Directors delegates authority, as the case may be, selects the recipients of Awards and determines (i) the number of shares of common stock covered by options and the dates upon which such options become exercisable, (ii) the exercise price of options (which may not be less than 100% of fair market value of the common stock), (iii) the duration of options (which may not exceed 10 years), and (iv) the number of shares of common stock subject to any SAR, restricted stock award, restricted stock unit award or other stock- or cash-based Awards and the terms and conditions of such Awards, including conditions for repurchase, issue price and repurchase price.

To the extent permitted by applicable law and under the 2009 Plan, the Board of Directors may delegate to one or more officers of the company the power to grant options and other Awards that constitute rights under Delaware law to employees or officers of the company and to exercise such other powers under the 2009 Plan as the Board of Directors may determine. The Board of Directors fixes the terms of the Awards to be granted to such officers (including the exercise price of the Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to such Awards that the officers may grant. No officer will be authorized to grant awards to any “executive officer” or “officer” of the company, as such terms are defined under the Exchange Act.

Discretionary Awards to non-employee directors will only be granted and administered by a committee, all of the members of which are independent directors as defined by Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market rules.


The 2009 Plan provides that no part of any Award made or granted on or after November 17, 2016 shall vest or become exercisable prior to the first anniversary of the date such Award is made or granted, except that an Award may provide that it shall immediately vest or become immediately exercisable, in whole or in part, upon a participant’s death, disability, termination from employment by the company other than for Cause (as defined in the 2009 Plan), or upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event (as defined in the 2009 Plan). The 2009 Plan also provides that any Award made or granted on or after November 17, 2016 to the company’s Chief Executive Officer shall (i) have a vesting schedule of more than four years and (ii) be subject to an additional one year holding period before any sale or transfer of shares that shall have vested may take place, other than relative to the sale of shares to cover minimum statutory tax obligations in respect of the vesting of such shares.

Adjustments and Reorganization Events

The Board of Directors is required to make equitable adjustments in connection with the 2009 Plan and any outstanding Awards to reflect stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, spin-offs and other similar changes in capitalization or any dividend or distribution to holders of company common stock other than ordinary cash dividends. The 2009 Plan also contains provisions addressing the consequences of any Reorganization Event, which is defined as (i) any merger or consolidation of the company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the common stock of the company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property, or is cancelled or (b) any transfer or disposition of all of the common stock of the company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange or other transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the company. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board of Directors may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any outstanding Awards other than restricted stock or restricted stock unit Awards on such terms as the Board of Directors determines: (i) provide that Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice, provide that all unexercised options or other unexercised Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that outstanding Awards will become exercisable, realizable or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of common stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to an Award holder equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of shares of common stock subject to the holder’s Awards (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price of all the holder’s outstanding Awards and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such Awards, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the company, Awards will convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof and any tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. The Board of Directors is not obligated by the 2009 Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a participant in the 2009 Plan or all Awards of the same type identically.

Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation or dissolution of the company, the repurchase and other rights of the company under each outstanding restricted stock or restricted stock unit award will inure to the benefit of the company’s successor and will, unless the Board determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which our common stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the common stock subject to such restricted stock or restricted stock unit award. However, the Board may provide for termination or deemed satisfaction of such repurchase or other rights under the instrument evidencing any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award or any other agreement between a participant and the company, either initially or by amendment. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award or any other agreement between a participant and the Company, all restrictions and conditions on all restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards then outstanding will automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.

The 2009 Plan also contains provisions addressing the consequences of a Change in Control Event (as defined in the 2009 Plan). In connection with a Change in Control Event, except as provided to the contrary in an instrument evidencing an option or any other agreement between a participant and the company, the vesting schedule of each option will be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would have otherwise become vested on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event will immediately become vested. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares will continue to become vested in each case one year in advance of the original vesting schedule set forth for such option. Additionally, each option will be immediately exercisable in full if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the participant’s employment with the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason (as defined in the 2009 Plan) by the participant or is terminated


without Cause (as defined in the 2009 Plan) by the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation. In addition, in connection with a Change in Control Event, except as provided to the contrary in an instrument evidencing a restricted stock or restricted stock unit award or any other agreement between a participant and the company, the vesting schedule of each restricted stock or restricted stock unit award will be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would have otherwise become free from conditions or restrictions on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event will immediately become free from conditions or restrictions. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares will continue to become free from conditions or restrictions in each case one year in advance of the original schedule set forth for such restricted stock or restricted stock unit award. Additionally, each restricted stock or restricted stock unit award will immediately become free from all conditions or restrictions if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the participant’s employment with the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason by the participant or is terminated without Cause by the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation.

The Board of Directors may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.

If any Award expires or is terminated, surrendered, cancelled or forfeited, the unused shares of common stock covered by such Award will again be available for grant under the 2009 Plan, subject, however, in the case of incentive stock options, to any limitations under the Code.

Fungible Share Pool

Subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events, any Award that is not a full-value award (as defined below) will be counted against the 2009 Plan share limits as one share for each share of common stock subject to such Award and any Award that is a full-value award will be counted against the 2009 Plan share as 1.28 shares for each one share of common stock subject to such full-value award . “Full-value award” means any restricted stock award or other stock-based award with a per share price or per unit purchase price lower than 100% of fair market value on the date of grant. To the extent a share that was subject to an Award that counted as one share is returned to the 2009 Plan, each applicable share reserve will be credited with one share. To the extent that a share that was subject to an Award that counts as 1.28 shares is returned to the 2009 Plan, each applicable share reserve will be credited with 1.28 shares.

Share Counting

Shares of common stock repurchased by the company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Award shall not increase the number of shares available for future grant of Awards.

Substitute Awards

In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the company or the acquisition by the company of property or stock of an entity, the Board of Directors may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the 2009 Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the 2009 Plan’s overall share limit, except as may be required by the Code.

Limitation on Repricing

Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not, without stockholder approval, be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding options or SARs or cancel outstanding options or SARs in exchange for cash, other Awards or options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original options or SARs. The company would not take any action that would constitute a repricing under the Nasdaq rules without prior shareholder approval.

Provisions for Foreign Participants

The Board of Directors may modify Awards granted to participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or establish subplans or procedures under the 2009 Plan to recognize differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.


Amendment or Termination

No Award may be made under the 2009 Plan after November 19, 2019 but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date. The Board of Directors may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the 2009 Plan; provided that no amendment requiring stockholder approval under any applicable legal, regulatory or listing requirement will become effective until such stockholder approval is obtained. No Award will be made that is conditioned upon stockholder approval of any amendment to the 2009 Plan.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of the United States federal income tax consequences that generally will arise with respect to Awards granted under the 2009 Plan. This summary is based on the federal tax laws in effect as of the date of this proxy statement. In addition, this summary assumes that all Awards are exempt from, or comply with, the rules under Section 409A of the Code regarding nonqualified deferred compensation. Changes to these laws could alter the tax consequences described below.

Incentive Stock Options

A participant will not have income upon the grant of an incentive stock option. Also, except as described below, a participant will not have income upon exercise of an incentive stock option if the participant has been employed by the company or its corporate parent or 50% or more-owned corporate subsidiary at all times beginning with the option grant date and ending three months before the date the participant exercises the option. If the participant has not been so employed during that time, then the participant will be taxed as described below under “Non-statutory Stock Options.” The exercise of an incentive stock option may subject the participant to the alternative minimum tax.

A participant will have income upon the sale of the stock acquired under an incentive stock option at a profit (if sales proceeds exceed the exercise price). The type of income will depend on when the participant sells the stock. If a participant sells the stock more than two years after the option was granted and more than one year after the option was exercised, then all of the profit will be long-term capital gain. If a participant sells the stock prior to satisfying these waiting periods, then the participant will have engaged in a disqualifying disposition and a portion of the profit will be ordinary income and a portion may be capital gain. This capital gain will be long-term if the participant has held the stock for more than one year and otherwise will be short-term. If a participant sells the stock at a loss (sales proceeds are less than the exercise price), then the loss will be a capital loss. This capital loss will be long-term if the participant held the stock for more than one year and otherwise will be short-term.

Non-statutory Stock Options

A participant will not have income upon the grant of a non-statutory stock option. A participant will have compensation income upon the exercise of a non-statutory stock option equal to the value of the stock on the day the participant exercised the option less the exercise price. Upon sale of the stock, the participant will have capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sales proceeds and the value of the stock on the day the option was exercised. This capital gain or loss will be long-term if the participant has held the stock for more than one year and otherwise will be short-term.

Stock Appreciation Rights

A participant will not have income upon the grant of a stock appreciation right. A participant generally will recognize compensation income upon the exercise of a SAR equal to the amount of the cash and the fair market value of any stock received. Upon the sale of the stock, the participant will have capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sales proceeds and the value of the stock on the day the SAR was exercised. This capital gain or loss will be long-term if the participant held the stock for more than one year and otherwise will be short-term.

Restricted Stock Awards

A participant will not have income upon the grant of restricted stock unless an election under Section 83(b) of the Code is made within 30 days of the date of grant. If a timely 83(b) election is made, then a participant will have compensation income equal to the value of the stock less the purchase price. When the stock is sold, the participant will have capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the sales proceeds and the value of the stock on the date of grant. If the participant does not make an 83(b) election, then when the stock vests the participant will have compensation income equal to the value of the stock on the vesting date less the purchase price, if any. When the stock is sold, the participant will have capital gain or loss equal to the sales proceeds less the value of the stock on the vesting date. Any capital gain or loss will be long-term if the participant held the stock for more than one year from the vesting date and otherwise will be short-term.


Restricted Stock Units

A participant will not have income upon the grant of a restricted stock unit. A participant is not permitted to make a Section 83(b) election with respect to a restricted stock unit award. When the restricted stock unit vests, the participant will have income on the vesting date in an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock on the vesting date less the purchase price, if any. When the stock is sold, the participant will have capital gain or loss equal to the sales proceeds less the value of the stock on the vesting date. Any capital gain or loss will be long-term if the participant held the stock for more than one year and otherwise will be short-term.

Other Stock-Based Awards

The tax consequences associated with any other stock-based Award granted under the 2009 Plan will vary depending on the specific terms of such Award. Among the relevant factors are whether or not the Award has a readily ascertainable fair market value, whether or not the Award is subject to forfeiture provisions or restrictions on transfer, the nature of the property to be received by the participant under the Award and the participant’s holding period and tax basis for the Award or underlying common stock.

Tax Consequences to the Company

There will be no tax consequences to the company except that the company will be entitled to a deduction when a participant has compensation income. Any such deduction will be subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Exhibit 99.2

BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES (de), INC.

AMENDMENT NO. 7 TO 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan of Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc., pursuant to Section 11(d) thereof, is hereby amended as follows:

Section 4(a)(1) is hereby amended by deleting the first sentence thereof and inserting the following new first sentence to read in its entirety as follows:

“(1) Authorized Number of Shares . Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to (i) 14,950,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), plus (ii) such additional number of shares of Common Stock as is equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted under the Company’s 1998 Director Stock Option Plan, the Company’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and the Company’s 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (Amended & Restated) (collectively, the “Existing Plans”) which awards expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by the Company at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right (subject, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined) to any limitations of the Code).”

Section 5(b) is hereby amended by deleting the third sentence thereof and inserting the following new third sentence to read in its entirety as follows:

“No more than 14,950,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.”

Approved by the Annual Meeting Committee of the Board of Directors on October 8, 2018, pursuant to delegated authority granted by the Board of Directors on September 13, 2018.

Approved by Stockholders on November 15, 2018.


BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES (de), INC.

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.

Purpose

The purpose of this 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) of Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Bottomline ” or the “ Company ”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “ Company ” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations thereunder (the “ Code ”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”).

 

2.

Eligibility

All of the Company’s employees, officers, and directors are eligible to be granted options, stock appreciation rights (“ SARs ”), restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock- and cash-based awards (each, an “ Award ”) under the Plan. Consultants and advisors to the Company (as such terms are defined and interpreted for purposes of Form S-8 (or any successor form)) are also eligible to be granted Awards. Each person who is granted an Award under the Plan is deemed a “ Participant .”

 

3.

Administration and Delegation

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

(b)     Appointment of Committees . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “ Committee ”). All references in the Plan to the “ Board ” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or officers.

(c)     Delegation to Officers . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Options and other Awards that constitute rights under Delaware law (subject to any limitations under the Plan) to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the exercise price of the Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to such Awards that the officers may grant; provided further, however, that no officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act). The Board may not delegate authority under this Section 3(c) to grant restricted stock, unless Delaware law then permits such delegation.

(d)     Awards to Non-Employee Directors . Discretionary Awards to non-employee directors will only be granted and administered by a Committee, all of the members of which are independent directors as defined by Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.


4.

Stock Available for Awards

(a)     Number of Shares; Share Counting .

(1)    Authorized Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to (i) 14,950,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), plus (ii) such additional number of shares of Common Stock as is equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted under the Company’s 1998 Director Stock Option Plan, the Company’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and the Company’s 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (Amended & Restated) (collectively, the “Existing Plans”) which awards expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by the Company at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right (subject, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined) to any limitations of the Code).

(2)     Fungible Share Pool . Subject to adjustment under Section 9, any Award that is not a Full-Value Award shall be counted against the share limits specified in Section 4(a)(1) as one share for each share of Common Stock subject to such Award and any Award that is a Full-Value Award shall be counted against the share limits specified in Section 4(a)(1) as 1.28 shares for each one share of Common Stock subject to such Full-Value Award. “Full-Value Award” means any Restricted Stock Award or other Stock-Based Award with a per share price or per unit purchase price lower than 100% of Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date of grant. To the extent a share that was subject to an Award that counted as one share is returned to the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(3), each applicable share reserve will be credited with one share. To the extent that a share that was subject to an Award that counts as 1.28 shares is returned to the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(3), each applicable share reserve will be credited with 1.28 shares.

(3)     Share Counting . For purposes of counting the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan, (i) all shares of Common Stock covered by independent SARs shall be counted against the number of shares available for the grant of Awards; (ii) if any Award (A) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) or (B) results in any Common Stock not being issued (including as a result of an independent SAR that was settleable either in cash or in stock actually being settled in cash), the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards; provided, however , in the case of Incentive Stock Options, the foregoing shall be subject to any limitations under the Code; and provided further, in the case of independent SARs, that the full number of shares subject to any stock-settled SAR shall be counted against the shares available under the Plan and against the sublimits listed in the first clause of this Section in proportion to the portion of the SAR actually exercised regardless of the number of shares actually used to settle such SAR upon exercise; (iii) shares of Common Stock delivered (either by actual delivery, attestation, or net exercise) to the Company by a Participant to (A) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Award or (B) satisfy tax withholding obligations (including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation) shall not be added back to the number of shares available for the future grant of Awards; and (iv) shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Award shall not increase the number of shares available for future grant of Awards.

(b)     Per-Participant Limit . Subject to adjustment under Section 9, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be 1,000,000 per calendar year. For purposes of the foregoing limit, the combination of an Option in tandem with an SAR shall be treated as a single Award. The per Participant limit described in this Section 4(b) shall be construed and applied consistently with Section 162(m) of the Code or any successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder (“ Section  162(m) ”).

(c)     Substitute Awards . In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a)(1) or any sublimits contained in the Plan, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.

 

5.

Stock Options

(a)     General . The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “ Option ”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and


limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be designated a “ Nonstatutory Stock Option .”

(b)     Incentive Stock Options . An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “ Incentive Stock Option ”) shall only be granted to employees of Bottomline, any of Bottomline’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option or if the Company converts an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. No more than 14,950,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.

(c)     Exercise Price . The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify the exercise price in the applicable option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date the Option is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of an Option with an exercise price to be determined on a future date, the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.

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

(e)     Exercise of Options . Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Company, together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following exercise.

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

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

(2)    except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;

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

(4)    to the extent provided for in the applicable Nonstatutory Stock Option agreement or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, as a result of which the Participant would receive the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Option so exercised reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise;

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

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


(g)     Limitation on Repricing. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not, without stockholder approval be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or cancel outstanding Options in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options.

(h)     No Reload Options . No Option granted under the Plan shall contain any provision entitling the Participant to the automatic grant of additional Options in connection with any exercise of the original Option.

(i)     No Dividend Equivalents. No option shall provide for the payment or accrual of dividend equivalents.

 

6.

Stock Appreciation Rights

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

(b)     Grants . SARs may be granted in tandem with, or independently of, Options granted under the Plan.

(1)     Tandem Awards . When SARs are expressly granted in tandem with Options, (i) the SAR will be exercisable only at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable (except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event or a Change in Control Event) and will be exercisable in accordance with the procedure required for exercise of the related Option; (ii) the SAR will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option, except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event or a Change in Control Event and except that a SAR granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by an Option will not be reduced until the number of shares as to which the related Option has been exercised or has terminated exceeds the number of shares not covered by the SAR; (iii) the Option will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the exercise of the related SAR; and (iv) the SAR will be transferable only with the related Option.

(2)     Independent SARs . A SAR not expressly granted in tandem with an Option will become exercisable at such time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board may specify in the SAR Award.

(c)     Measurement Price . The Board shall establish the measurement price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR agreement. The measurement price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of a SAR with a measurement price to be determined on a future date, the measurement price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.

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

(e)     Exercise of SARs . SARs may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Company, together with any other documents required by the Board.

(f)     Limitation on Repricing . Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not, without stockholder approval, be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding SARs or cancel outstanding SARs in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original SARs.


7.

Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units

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

(b)     Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards . The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any; provided, however, that the minimum vesting period of any Restricted Stock Award made on or after November 17, 2016 shall be at least one year.

(c)     Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock .

(1)     Dividends . Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such shares, unless otherwise provided by the Board. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if any dividends or distributions are paid in shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, the shares, cash or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. Each dividend payment will be made no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of stock or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividends are paid to shareholders of that class of stock.

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

(d)     Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units .

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

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

(3)     Dividend Equivalents . To the extent provided by the Board, in its sole discretion, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide Participants with the right to receive an amount equal to any dividends or other distributions declared and paid on an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (“ Dividend Equivalents ”). Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participants, may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock and may be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which paid, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, subject in each case to such terms and conditions as the Board shall establish, in each case to be set forth in the applicable Award agreement.

 

8.

Other Stock-Based and Cash-Based Awards

(a)     General . Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“ Other Stock-Based-Awards ”), including without limitation Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of Common Stock to be delivered in the future. Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine. The Company may also grant other Awards denominated in cash rather than shares of Common Stock (“ Cash-Based Awards ”).


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

 

9.

Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events

(a)     Changes in Capitalization . In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under the Plan, (ii) the sub-limits and share counting rules set forth in Sections 4(a) and 4(b), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iv) the share- and per-share provisions and the measurement price of each SAR, (v) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (vi) the share- and per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Other Stock-Based Award, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable) in the manner determined by the Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

(b)     Reorganization Events .

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

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

For purposes of clause (i) above, an Option shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, the Option confers the right to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however , that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of


the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Options to consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value (as determined by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.

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

(c)     Change in Control Events .

(1)     Definitions .

 

  (A)

A “Change in Control Event” shall mean:

(I)     the acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”)) (a “ Person ”) of beneficial ownership of any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) 50% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “ Outstanding Company Common Stock ”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Outstanding Company Voting Securities ”); provided, however , that for purposes of this subsection (I), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control Event: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition pursuant to the exercise, conversion or exchange of any security exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or voting securities of the Company, unless the Person exercising, converting or exchanging such security acquired such security directly from the Company or an underwriter or agent of the Company), (2) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (3) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a Business Combination (as defined below) which complies with clauses (x) and (y) of subsection (III) of this definition; or

(II)    such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined below) do not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the Board of Directors of a successor corporation to the Company), where the term “ Continuing Director ” means at any date a member of the Board (x) who was a member of the Board on the date of the initial adoption of this Plan by the Board or (y) who was nominated or elected subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election or whose election to the Board was recommended or endorsed by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election; provided, however , that there shall be excluded from this clause (y) any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents, by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or


(III)    the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or share exchange involving the Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “ Business Combination ”), unless, immediately following such Business Combination, each of the following two conditions is satisfied: (x) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, respectively, of the resulting or acquiring corporation in such Business Combination (which shall include, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (such resulting or acquiring corporation is referred to herein as the “ Acquiring Corporation ”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, respectively, immediately prior to such Business Combination and (y) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the Acquiring Corporation) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation, or of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination); or

(IV)    the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

  (B)

Good Reason ” shall mean any significant diminution in the Participant’s duties, authority, or responsibilities from and after the Change in Control Event or any reduction in the annual cash compensation payable to the Participant from and after such Change in Control Event or the relocation of the place of business at which the Participant is principally located to a location that is greater than 50 miles from its location immediately prior to the Change in Control Event.

 

  (C)

Cause ” shall mean any (i) willful failure by the Participant, which failure is not cured within 30 days of written notice to the Participant from the Company, to perform his or her material responsibilities to the Company or (ii) willful misconduct by the Participant which affects the business reputation of the Company. The Participant shall be considered to have been discharged for “ Cause ” if the Company determines, within 30 days after the Participant’s resignation, that discharge for Cause was warranted.

(2)     Effect on Options . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b), except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Option or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, the vesting schedule of each Option shall be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would otherwise have become vested on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event shall immediately become vested. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares shall continue to become vested in each case one year in advance of the original vesting schedule set forth for such Option. Additionally, each Option shall be immediately exercisable in full if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the Participant’s employment with the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason by the Participant or is terminated without Cause by the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation.

(3)     Effect on Restricted Stock Awards . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b), except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock Award or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, the vesting schedule of each Restricted Stock Award shall be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would otherwise have become vested on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event shall immediately become vested. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares shall continue to become vested in each case one year in advance of the original vesting schedule set forth for such Restricted Stock Award. Additionally, each Restricted Stock Award shall immediately become free from all conditions or restrictions if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the Participant’s employment with the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason by the Participant or is terminated without Cause by the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation.


(4)     Effect on SARs and Other Stock-Based Awards . The Board may specify in an Award at the time of the grant the effect of a Change in Control Event on any SAR and Other Stock-Based Award.

 

10.

General Provisions Applicable to Awards

(a)     Transferability of Awards . Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however , that the Board may permit or provide in an Award for the gratuitous transfer of the Award by the Participant to or for the benefit of any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such Award under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such transfer until such time as the Participant and such permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

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

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

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

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

(f)     Amendment of Award . Except as otherwise provided in Section 11(d) with respect to actions requiring shareholder approval, the Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 9 hereof.

(g)     Conditions on Delivery of Stock . The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of


the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

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

(i)     Minimum One-Year Vesting . The terms and conditions of any Award made or granted on or after November 17, 2016 shall provide that no part of such Award shall vest or become exercisable prior to the first anniversary of the date such Award is made or granted, except that an Award may provide that it shall immediately vest or become immediately exercisable, in whole or in part, upon a Participant’s death, disability, termination from employment by the Company other than for Cause, or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Event.

(j)     CEO Grants and Minimum Holding Period . Any Award made or granted on or after November 17, 2016 to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer shall (i) have a vesting schedule of more than four years, and (ii) be subject to an additional one year holding period before any sale or transfer of shares that shall have vested may take place, other than as provided for in Section 10(e) relative to the sale of shares to cover minimum statutory tax obligations in respect of the vesting of such shares.

 

11.

Miscellaneous

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

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

(c)     Effective Date and Term of Plan . The Plan shall become effective on the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “ Effective Date ”). No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years from the Effective Date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

(d)     Amendment of Plan . The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time provided that (i) to the extent required by Section 162(m), no Award granted to a Participant that is intended to comply with Section 162(m) after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable, realizable or vested, as applicable to such Award, unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment if required by Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)); (ii) no amendment that would require stockholder approval under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“ Nasdaq ”) may be made effective unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment; and (iii) if the Nasdaq amends its corporate governance rules so that such rules no longer require stockholder approval of Nasdaq “material amendments” to equity compensation plans, then, from and after the effective date of such amendment to the Nasdaq rules, no amendment to the Plan (A) materially increasing the number of shares authorized under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section 4(c) or 9), (B) expanding the types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan, or (C) materially expanding the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan shall be effective unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment. In addition, if at any time the approval of the Company’s stockholders is required as to any other modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Board may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 11(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the Plan. No Award shall be made that is conditioned upon stockholder approval of any amendment to the Plan.

(e)     Authorization of Sub-Plans . The Board may from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying applicable securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Board shall establish such sub-plans


by adopting supplements to the Plan containing (i) such limitations on the Board’s discretion under the Plan as the Board deems necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of such supplement.

(f)     Non U.S. Employees . Awards may be granted to Participants who are non-U.S. citizens or residents employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Participants employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Board, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Board also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Board’s obligation with respect to tax equalization for Participants on assignments outside their home country. The Board may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the Secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan.

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

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

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

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

Exhibit 99.3

PROPOSAL 4—APPROVAL OF THE 2018 ISRAELI SPECIAL PURPOSE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

On September 13, 2018, the Board of Directors of the company adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the company’s 2018 Israeli Special Purpose Stock Incentive Plan (the “Israeli Plan”). Up to 200,000 shares of our common stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events) may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the Israeli Plan.

The Israeli Plan is intended to provide the company a mechanism to specially recognize the unique contributions of critical members of the company’s cyber fraud and risk management team located in Israel. Cyber fraud experience is in high demand in Israel and around the world. The company is committed to rewarding and retaining employees that are critical to the continued success of our cyber fraud offerings throughout the world.

The Board of Directors believes that the future success of the company depends, in large part, upon the ability of the company to maintain a competitive position in attracting, retaining and motivating key personnel. Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes adoption of the Israeli Plan is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders and recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the Israeli Plan and the reservation of 200,000 shares of our common stock for issuance thereunder.

Description of the Israeli Plan

The following is a brief summary of the Israeli Plan, a copy of which is attached as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.

Types of Awards

The Israeli Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards as described below (collectively, “Awards”).

Stock Options. Optionees receive the right to purchase a specified number of shares of common stock at a specified option price and subject to such other terms and conditions as are specified in connection with the option grant. Options may not be granted at an exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Options may not be granted for a term in excess of ten years. The Israeli Plan permits the following forms of payment of the exercise price of options: (i) payment by cash, check or in connection with a “cashless exercise” through a broker, (ii) subject to certain conditions, surrender to the company of shares of common stock, (iii) subject to certain conditions, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the company, (iv) subject to certain conditions, delivery to the company of a promissory note, (v) any other lawful means, or (vi) any combination of these forms of payment. Options may not contain provisions entitling recipients to the automatic grant of additional options in connection with any exercise of the original option.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right, or SAR, is an award entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount in common stock, determined by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the fair market value of a share of common stock. SARs may be granted independently or in tandem with an option.

Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards entitle recipients to acquire shares of our common stock, subject to the right of the company to repurchase all or part of such shares from the recipient in the event that the conditions specified in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period established for such Award.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards . Restricted stock unit awards entitle the recipient to receive shares of common stock to be delivered at the time such shares vest pursuant to the terms and conditions established by the Board of Directors.

Other Stock-Based Awards. Under the Israeli Plan, the Board of Directors has the right to grant other Awards based upon our common stock having such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may determine, including the grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, shares of common stock, and the grant of Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of common stock to be delivered in the future.

Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

Under the Israeli Plan, participants shall not accumulate or be paid any dividend or dividend equivalent on any unvested Award.

 

1


Transferability of Awards

During the life of the participant, Awards are exercisable only by the participant.

Subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance [New Version], 1961, as amended (the “Tax Ordinance”), as long as Awards under Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance are held by a Trustee, as defined below, Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

Eligibility to Receive Awards

All of the company’s Israeli Employees are eligible to be granted Awards under the Israeli Plan. Any Israeli person, including an advisor, contractor and sub-contractor, engaged by the company to render services to it who is not an Employee (“Consultant”) (as such terms are defined and interpreted for purposes of Form S-8 (or any successor form)) is also eligible to be granted Awards under the Israeli Plan. Each person who is granted an Award under the Israeli Plan and who is a resident of the State of Israel or deemed to be resident of the State of Israel for tax purposes is deemed a “participant.”

For the purposes of the Israeli Plan, “Employee” means any Israeli person, including officers and directors (“Directors”), employed or engaged by the company, who is not a Controlling Stockholder (as defined in Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance). Neither service as a Director nor payment of director’s fees by the company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the company.

The maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any participant under the Israeli Plan may not exceed 1,000,000 shares per calendar year. For purposes of this limit, the combination of an option in tandem with SAR is treated as a single award.

Plan Benefits

All employees of Bottomline who are employees in Israel are eligible to receive Awards under the Israeli Plan, which as of June 30, 2018, included approximately 90 persons. The granting of Awards under the Israeli Plan is discretionary, and the company cannot now determine the number or type of Awards to be granted in the future to any particular person or group.

On August 31, 2018 the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $65.97.

Administration

The Israeli Plan is administered by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the authority to adopt, amend and repeal the administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Israeli Plan and to interpret the provisions of the Israeli Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the Israeli Plan, the Board of Directors may delegate authority under the Israeli Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board of Directors.

Subject to any applicable limitations contained in the Israeli Plan, the Board of Directors, the leadership development and compensation committee, or any other committee to whom the Board of Directors delegates authority, as the case may be, selects the recipients of Awards and determines (i) the number of shares of common stock covered by any options issued and the dates upon which such options become exercisable, (ii) the exercise price of such options (which may not be less than 100% of fair market value of the common stock), (iii) the duration of options (which may not exceed 10 years), and (iv) the number of shares of common stock subject to any SAR, restricted stock award, restricted stock unit award or other stock-based Awards and the terms and conditions of such Awards, including conditions for repurchase, issue price and repurchase price.

To the extent permitted by applicable law and under the Israeli Plan, the Board of Directors may delegate to one or more officers of the company the power to grant options and other Awards that constitute rights under Delaware law to employees or officers of the company and to exercise such other powers under the Israeli Plan as the Board of Directors may determine. The Board of Directors fixes the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the exercise price of the Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to such Awards that the officers may grant. No officer will be authorized to grant awards to any “executive officer” or “officer” of the company, as such terms are defined under the Exchange Act.

Discretionary Awards to non-employee directors will only be granted and administered by a committee, all of the members of which are independent directors as defined by Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market rules.

 

2


The Israeli Plan provides that no part of any Award made or granted shall vest or become exercisable prior to the first anniversary of the date such Award is made or granted, except that an Award may provide that it shall immediately vest or become immediately exercisable, in whole or in part, upon a participant’s death, disability, termination from employment by the company other than for Cause (as defined in the Israeli Plan), or upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event (as defined in the Israeli Plan).

Adjustments and Reorganization Events

The Board of Directors is required to make equitable adjustments in connection with the Israeli Plan and any outstanding Awards to reflect stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, spin-offs and other similar changes in capitalization or any dividend or distribution to holders of company common stock other than ordinary cash dividends. The Israeli Plan also contains provisions addressing the consequences of any Reorganization Event, which is defined as (i) any merger or consolidation of the company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the common stock of the company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property, or is cancelled or (b) any transfer or disposition of all of the common stock of the company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange or other transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the company. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board of Directors may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any outstanding Awards other than restricted stock or restricted stock unit Awards on such terms as the Board of Directors determines: (i) provide that Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice, provide that all unexercised options or other unexercised Awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that outstanding Awards will become exercisable, realizable or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of common stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to an Award holder equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of shares of common stock subject to the holder’s Awards (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Awards and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such Awards, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the company, Awards will convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof and any tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. The Board of Directors is not obligated by the Israeli Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a participant in the Israeli Plan or all Awards of the same type identically.

Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event other than a liquidation or dissolution of the company, the repurchase and other rights of the company under each outstanding restricted stock or restricted stock unit award will inure to the benefit of the company’s successor and will, unless the Board determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which our common stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the common stock subject to such restricted stock or restricted stock unit award. However, the Board may provide for termination or deemed satisfaction of such repurchase or other rights under the instrument evidencing any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award or any other agreement between a participant and the company, either initially or by amendment. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event involving the liquidation or dissolution of the company, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award or any other agreement between a participant and the company, all restrictions and conditions on all restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards then outstanding will automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied.

The Israeli Plan also contains provisions addressing the consequences of a Change in Control Event (as defined in the Israeli Plan). In connection with a Change in Control Event, except as provided to the contrary in an instrument evidencing an option or any other agreement between a participant and the company, the vesting schedule of each option will be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would have otherwise become vested on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event will immediately become vested. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares will continue to become vested in each case one year in advance of the original vesting schedule set forth for such option. Additionally, each option will be immediately exercisable in full if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the participant’s employment with the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason (as defined in the Israeli Plan) by the participant or is terminated without Cause (as defined in the Israeli Plan) by the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation. In addition, in connection with a Change in Control Event, except as provided to the contrary in an instrument evidencing a restricted stock or restricted stock unit award or any other agreement between a participant and the company, the vesting schedule of each restricted stock or restricted stock unit award will be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would have

 

3


otherwise become free from conditions or restrictions on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event will immediately become free from conditions or restrictions. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares will continue to become free from conditions or restrictions in each case one year in advance of the original schedule set forth for such restricted stock or restricted stock unit award. Additionally, each restricted stock or restricted stock unit award will immediately become free from all conditions or restrictions if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the participant’s employment with the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason by the participant or is terminated without Cause by the company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation.

The Board of Directors may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.

If any Award expires or is terminated, surrendered, cancelled or forfeited, the unused shares of common stock covered by such Award will again be available for grant under the Israeli Plan.

Fungible Share Pool

Subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events, any Award that is not a full-value award (as defined below) will be counted against the Israeli Plan share limits as one share for each share of common stock subject to such Award and any Award that is a full-value award will be counted against the Israeli Plan share as 1.28 shares for each one share of common stock subject to such full-value award . “Full-value award” means any restricted stock award or other stock-based award with a per share price or per unit purchase price lower than 100% of fair market value on the date of grant. To the extent a share that was subject to an Award that counted as one share is returned to the Israeli Plan, each applicable share reserve will be credited with one share. To the extent that a share that was subject to an Award that counts as 1.28 shares is returned to the Israeli Plan, each applicable share reserve will be credited with 1.28 shares.

Share Counting

Shares of common stock repurchased by the company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Award shall not increase the number of shares available for future grant of Awards.

Substitute Awards

In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the company or the acquisition by the company of property or stock of an entity, the Board of Directors may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an Affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Israeli Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the Israeli Plan’s overall share limit.

For the purposes of the Israeli Plan, “Affiliate” means any person or entity (i) that holds at least 10% of the issued share capital of the company or of its voting power, (ii) in which the company holds at least 10% of the issued share capital or voting power, or (iii) in which a company under clause (i) above also holds at least 10% of its issued share capital or voting power.

Limitation on Repricing

Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not, without stockholder approval, be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding options or SARs or cancel outstanding options or SARs in exchange for cash, other Awards or options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original options or SARs. The company would not take any action that would constitute a repricing under the Nasdaq rules without prior shareholder approval.

Amendment or Termination

No Award may be made under the Israeli Plan after November 15, 2028 but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date. The Board of Directors may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Israeli Plan; provided that no amendment requiring stockholder approval under any applicable legal, regulatory or listing requirement will become effective until such stockholder approval is obtained. No Award will be made that is conditioned upon stockholder approval of any amendment to the Israeli Plan.

 

4


Israeli Taxation

The Israeli Plan is intended to comply with the requirements set by Israeli law in general, and in particular with the provisions of the Tax Ordinance, as may be amended or replaced from time to time. Subject to the provisions of the Tax Ordinance and applicable law:

 

   

All grants of Awards to Israeli Employees, directors and office holders of the company, other than to a Controlling Stockholder, shall be of 102 Awards; and

 

   

All grants of Awards to Israeli Consultants, contractors or Controlling Stockholders of the company shall be of 3(i) Awards.

For the purposes of the Israeli Plan, “102 Award” means a grant of an Award to an Israeli Employee, Director or other office holder of the company, other than to a Controlling Stockholder, pursuant to the provisions of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance, the 102 Rules, and any other regulations, rulings, procedures or clarifications promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that no such Award shall be settled in cash (unless a special approval from the Israeli Tax Authority is obtained).

For the purposes of the Israeli Plan, “3(i) Award” means a grant of an Option or Restricted Stock Unit (“RSU”) to an Israeli Consultant, contractor or a Controlling Stockholder of the company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(i) of the Tax Ordinance and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The following is a summary of the Israeli income tax consequences that generally will arise with respect to Awards granted under the Israeli Plan. This summary is general and does not purport to be comprehensive. It is based on the Israeli tax laws in effect as of the date of this proxy statement. Changes to those laws could alter the tax consequences described below.

According to the Company’s tax route election, 102 Awards granted under the Israeli Plan to Employees will be subject to the “Capital Gains Tax Route” of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance.

Awards granted under the Israeli Plan to participants who are not Employees do not qualify under the Capital Gains Tax Route, and are generally subject to Section 3(i) of the Tax Ordinance.

The Capital Gains Tax Route generally provides for a reduced tax rate of 25% on gains realized upon the sale of the Award’s underlying shares or their transfer and release from the Trustee (the “Taxation Date”), subject to the fulfillment of certain procedures and conditions, including, (i) filing of the Israeli Plan with the Israeli Tax Authority at least 30 days prior to any grant of 102 Awards; (ii) deposit of such Awards (or shares issued upon their exercise) for a requisite period of time (currently, 24 months from the date of grant) (the “Holding Period”) with a trustee approved by the Israeli Tax Authority (the “Trustee”). Notwithstanding the above, in any event where the exercise price of the underlying shares subject to the Awards is less than the fair market value of the underlying shares at the time of grant of the Awards (calculated as the average value of a company’s shares on the 30 trading days preceding the date of grant), such amount will be deemed ordinary income of the Award holder, taxed, on the Taxation Date, at the applicable marginal tax rate (up to 50% in 2018, including surtax) together with health insurance and social security insurance payments.

If the requirements of Section 102 for the allocation of Awards according to the Capital Gains Tax Route are not met (for example, upon sale of the underlying shares prior to the lapse of the Holding Period), the benefit attributed to the Award holder as a result of the grant of such Awards will be taxed as ordinary income at applicable marginal income tax rates (together with health insurance and social security insurance payments).

For as long as the restricted stock or the shares issued upon exercise of Awards are registered in the name of the Trustee, the voting rights with respect to such shares will remain with the Trustee.

Under the Capital Gains Tax Route, a company, or its Israeli subsidiary, as the case may be, is generally not entitled to recognize a deduction for Israeli tax purposes on the gain recognized by the Award holder upon sale of the shares underlying the Awards or release from trust (except for such amount that will be deemed ordinary income of the Award holder as explained above).

The Israeli subsidiary of the Company will be required to withhold applicable tax (and social security and national health insurance charges, if applicable) at source on behalf of the Award holder and may be required to pay social security and national health insurance charges.

Generally, with respect to a holder of an Award under Section 3(i) of the Tax Ordinance that is not registered for trade, the taxable event shall take place on the date of exercise of the Award into shares, and the benefit will be classified as

 

5


ordinary income subject to marginal tax rates (if the participant is an individual) or corporate tax rates (if the participant is a corporation) (together with health insurance and social security insurance payments). Restricted Stock granted to a non-Employee will be taxed on its issuance date as ordinary income.

 

6

Exhibit 99.4

BOTTOMLINE TECHNOLOGIES (de), INC.

2018 ISRAELI SPECIAL PURPOSE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.

Purpose

The purpose of this 2018 Israeli Special Purpose Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) of Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Bottomline ” or the “ Company ”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “ Company ” shall include the Company and any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations thereunder (the “ Code ”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”).

 

2.

Eligibility

All of the Company’s Israeli employees, officers, and directors (“ Directors ”) are eligible to be granted options, stock appreciation rights (“ SARs ”), restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards (each, an “ Award ”) under the Plan. Any Israeli person, including an advisor, contractor and sub-contractor, engaged by the Company to render services to it, who is not an Employee ( Consultant ”) (as such terms are defined and interpreted for purposes of Form S-8 (or any successor form)) are also eligible to be granted Awards. Each person who is granted an Award under the Plan and who is a resident of the State of Israel or deemed to be resident of the State of Israel for tax purposes is deemed a “ Participant .”

For the purposes of this Plan, “ Employee ” means any person, including officers and Directors, employed or engaged by the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of director’s fees by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

3.

Administration and Delegation

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

(b)     Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “ Committee ”). All references in the Plan to the “ Board ” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or officers.

(c)     Delegation to Officers . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Options and other Awards that constitute rights under Delaware law (subject to any limitations under the Plan) to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the exercise price of the Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to such Awards that the officers may grant; provided further, however, that no officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act). The Board may not delegate authority under this Section 3(c) to grant restricted stock, unless Delaware law then permits such delegation.


(d)     Awards to Non-Employee Directors . Discretionary Awards to non-employee directors will only be granted and administered by a Committee, all of the members of which are independent directors as defined by Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.

 

4.

Stock Available for Awards

(a)     Number of Shares; Share Counting .

(1)     Authorized Number of Shares . Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to 200,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”).

(2)     Fungible Share Pool . Subject to adjustment under Section 9, any Award that is not a Full-Value Award shall be counted against the share limits specified in Section 4(a)(1) as one share for each share of Common Stock subject to such Award and any Award that is a Full-Value Award shall be counted against the share limits specified in Section 4(a)(1) as 1.28 shares for each one share of Common Stock subject to such Full-Value Award. “Full-Value Award” means any Restricted Stock Award or other Stock-Based Award with a per share price or per unit purchase price lower than 100% of Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date of grant. To the extent a share that was subject to an Award that counted as one share is returned to the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(3), each applicable share reserve will be credited with one share. To the extent that a share that was subject to an Award that counts as 1.28 shares is returned to the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(3), each applicable share reserve will be credited with 1.28 shares.

(3)     Share Counting . For purposes of counting the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan, (i) all shares of Common Stock covered by independent SARs shall be counted against the number of shares available for the grant of Awards; (ii) if any Award (A) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) or (B) results in any Common Stock not being issued, the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards; provided, however , in the case of a 102 Award (as defined in section 12(a) below), the foregoing shall be subject to any limitations under the Code; and provided further, in the case of independent SARs, that the full number of shares subject to any stock-settled SAR shall be counted against the shares available under the Plan and against the sublimits listed in the first clause of this Section in proportion to the portion of the SAR actually exercised regardless of the number of shares actually used to settle such SAR upon exercise; (iii) shares of Common Stock delivered (either by actual delivery, attestation, or net exercise) to the Company by a Participant to (A) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Award or (B) satisfy tax withholding obligations (including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation) shall not be added back to the number of shares available for the future grant of Awards; and (iv) shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Award shall not increase the number of shares available for future grant of Awards.

(b)     Per-Participant Limit . Subject to adjustment under Section 9, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be 1,000,000 per calendar year. For purposes of the foregoing limit, the combination of an Option in tandem with an SAR shall be treated as a single Award.

(c)     Substitute Awards . In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an Affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a)(1) or any sublimits contained in the Plan.

For the purposes of this Plan, “ Affiliate ” means any person or entity (i) that holds at least 10% of the issued share capital of Bottomline or of its voting power, (ii) in which Bottomline holds at least 10% of the issued share capital or voting power, or (iii) in which a company under clause (i) above also holds at least 10% of its issued share capital or voting power.

 

5.

Stock Options

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


(b)     Exercise Price . The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify the exercise price in the applicable option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date the Option is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of an Option with an exercise price to be determined on a future date, the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.

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

(d)     Exercise of Options . Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Company, together with payment in full as specified in Section 6(e) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following exercise.

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

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

(2)    except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;

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

(4)    to the extent provided for in the applicable Option agreement or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, as a result of which the Participant would receive the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Option so exercised reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise;

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

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

(f)     Limitation on Repricing. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not, without stockholder approval be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or cancel outstanding Options in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options.

(g)     No Reload Options . No Option granted under the Plan shall contain any provision entitling the Participant to the automatic grant of additional Options in connection with any exercise of the original Option.

(h)     No Dividend Equivalents . No option shall provide for the payment or accrual of dividend equivalents.


6.

Stock Appreciation Rights

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

(b)     Grants . SARs may be granted in tandem with, or independently of, Options granted under the Plan.

(1)     Tandem Awards . When SARs are expressly granted in tandem with Options, (i) the SAR will be exercisable only at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable (except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event or a Change in Control Event) and will be exercisable in accordance with the procedure required for exercise of the related Option; (ii) the SAR will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option, except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event or a Change in Control Event and except that a SAR granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by an Option will not be reduced until the number of shares as to which the related Option has been exercised or has terminated exceeds the number of shares not covered by the SAR; (iii) the Option will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the exercise of the related SAR; and (iv) the SAR will be transferable only with the related Option.

(2)     Independent SARs . A SAR not expressly granted in tandem with an Option will become exercisable at such time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board may specify in the SAR Award.

(c)     Measurement Price . The Board shall establish the measurement price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR agreement. The measurement price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of a SAR with a measurement price to be determined on a future date, the measurement price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.

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

(e)     Exercise of SARs . SARs may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Company, together with any other documents required by the Board.

(f)     Limitation on Repricing . Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not, without stockholder approval, be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding SARs or cancel outstanding SARs in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original SARs.

 

7.

Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units

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

(b)     Terms and Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards . The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any; provided, however , that minimum vesting period of any Restricted Stock Award shall be at least one year.


(c)     Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock .

(1)     Dividends . Participants shall not accrue or be paid any dividends (whether in cash or in stock) or accumulate dividend equivalents with respect to any unvested shares.

(2)     Stock Certificates . Subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance (as defined below) with respect to deposit of Awards with the Trustee as provided below, the Company may require that any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock shall be deposited in escrow by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “ Designated Beneficiary ”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “ Designated Beneficiary ” shall mean the Participant’s estate.

(d)     Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units .

(1)     Settlement . Upon the vesting of and/or lapsing of any other restrictions (i.e., settlement) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share of Common Stock.

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

 

8.

Other Stock-Based Awards

(a)     General . Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder to Participants (“ Other Stock-Based-Awards ”), including without limitation Awards entitling recipients to receive shares of Common Stock to be delivered in the future. Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards will be paid in shares of Common Stock.

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

 

9.

Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events

(a)     Changes in Capitalization . In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under the Plan, (ii) the sub-limits and share counting rules set forth in Sections 4(a) and 4(b), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iv) the share- and per-share provisions and the measurement price of each SAR, (v) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (vi) the share- and per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Other Stock-Based Award, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substitute Awards may be made, if applicable) in the manner determined by the Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then a Participant who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

(b)     Reorganization Events .

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


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

For purposes of clause (i) above, an Option shall be considered assumed if, following consummation of the Reorganization Event, the Option confers the right to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however , that if the consideration received as a result of the Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Options to consist solely of common stock of the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value (as determined by the Board) to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization Event.

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

(c)     Change in Control Events .

(1)     Definitions .

 

  (A)

A “ Change in Control Event ” shall mean:

(I)     the acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “ Person ”) of beneficial ownership of any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) 50% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “ Outstanding Company Common Stock ”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Outstanding


Company Voting Securities ”); provided, however , that for purposes of this subsection (I), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control Event: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition pursuant to the exercise, conversion or exchange of any security exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or voting securities of the Company, unless the Person exercising, converting or exchanging such security acquired such security directly from the Company or an underwriter or agent of the Company), (2) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (3) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a Business Combination (as defined below) which complies with clauses (x) and (y) of subsection (III) of this definition; or

(II)    such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined below) do not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the Board of Directors of a successor corporation to the Company), where the term “ Continuing Director ” means at any date a member of the Board (x) who was a member of the Board on the date of the initial adoption of this Plan by the Board or (y) who was nominated or elected subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election or whose election to the Board was recommended or endorsed by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election; provided, however , that there shall be excluded from this clause (y) any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents, by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or

(III)    the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or share exchange involving the Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “ Business Combination ”), unless, immediately following such Business Combination, each of the following two conditions is satisfied: (x) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, respectively, of the resulting or acquiring corporation in such Business Combination (which shall include, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (such resulting or acquiring corporation is referred to herein as the “ Acquiring Corporation ”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, respectively, immediately prior to such Business Combination and (y) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the Acquiring Corporation) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation, or of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination); or

(IV)    the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

  (B)

Good Reason ” shall mean any significant diminution in the Participant’s duties, authority, or responsibilities from and after the Change in Control Event or any reduction in the annual base salary payable to the Participant from and after such Change in Control Event or the relocation of the place of business at which the Participant is principally located to a location that is greater than 50 miles from its location immediately prior to the Change in Control Event.


  (C)

Cause ” shall mean any (i) willful failure by the Participant, which failure is not cured within 30 days of written notice to the Participant from the Company, to perform his or her material responsibilities to the Company or (ii) willful misconduct by the Participant which affects the business reputation of the Company. The Participant shall be considered to have been discharged for “ Cause ” if the Company determines, within 30 days after the Participant’s resignation, that discharge for Cause was warranted.

(2)     Effect on Options . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b), except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Option or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, the vesting schedule of each Option shall be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would otherwise have become vested on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event shall immediately become vested. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares shall continue to become vested in each case one year in advance of the original vesting schedule set forth for such Option. Additionally, each Option shall be immediately exercisable in full if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the Participant’s employment with the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason by the Participant or is terminated without Cause by the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation.

(3)     Effect on Restricted Stock Awards . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b), except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Restricted Stock Award or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, the vesting schedule of each Restricted Stock Award shall be accelerated in part so that the number of shares that would otherwise have become vested on any date within one year after the date of the Change in Control Event shall immediately become vested. Subject to the following sentence, the remaining shares shall continue to become vested in each case one year in advance of the original vesting schedule set forth for such Restricted Stock Award. Additionally, each Restricted Stock Award shall immediately become free from all conditions or restrictions if, on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of the consummation of the Change in Control Event, the Participant’s employment with the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation is terminated for Good Reason by the Participant or is terminated without Cause by the Company or the acquiring or succeeding corporation.

(4)     Effect on SARs and Other Stock-Based Awards . The Board may specify in an Award at the time of the grant the effect of a Change in Control Event on any SAR and Other Stock-Based Award.

 

10.

General Provisions Applicable to Awards

(a)     Transferability of Awards. Subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance as provided below, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however , that the Board may permit or provide in an Award for the gratuitous transfer of the Award by the Participant to or for the benefit of any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such Award under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such transfer until such time as the Participant and such permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

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

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

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


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

(f)     Amendment of Award . Except as otherwise provided in Section 11(d) with respect to actions requiring shareholder approval, the Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, and changing the date of exercise or realization. The Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 9 hereof.

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

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

(i)     Minimum One-Year Vesting. The terms and conditions of any Award shall provide that no part of such Award shall vest or become exercisable prior to the first anniversary of the date such Award is made or granted, except that an Award may provide that it shall immediately vest or become immediately exercisable, in whole or in part, upon a Participant’s death, disability, termination from employment by the Company other than for Cause, or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Event.

 

11.

Miscellaneous

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

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

(c)     Effective Date and Term of Plan . The Plan shall become effective on the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “ Effective Date ”). No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the expiration of 10 years from the Effective Date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

(d)     Amendment of Plan . The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time provided that (i) no amendment that would require stockholder approval under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market


(“ Nasdaq ”) may be made effective unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment; and (ii) if the Nasdaq amends its corporate governance rules so that such rules no longer require stockholder approval of Nasdaq “material amendments” to equity compensation plans, then, from and after the effective date of such amendment to the Nasdaq rules, no amendment to the Plan (A) materially increasing the number of shares authorized under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section 4(c) or 9, (B) expanding the types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan, or (C) materially expanding the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan shall be effective unless and until the Company’s stockholders approve such amendment. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 11(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the Plan. No Award shall be made that is conditioned upon stockholder approval of any amendment to the Plan.

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

(f)     Governing Law . The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of the state of Israel to the extent applicable to the Participants.

 

12.

Awards Under Sections 102 and 3(i) of the Tax Ordinance

(a)     Definitions :

3(i) Award ” means a grant of an Option or Restricted Stock Unit (“ RSU ”) to an Israeli Consultant, contractor or a Controlling Stockholder of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3(i) of the Tax Ordinance and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other section of the Tax Ordinance that will be relevant for such issuance in the future.

102 Award ” means a grant of an Award to an Israeli Employee, Director or other office holder of the Company, other than to a Controlling Stockholder, pursuant to the provisions of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance, the 102 Rules, and any other regulations, rulings, procedures or clarifications promulgated thereunder, or under any other section of the Tax Ordinance that will be relevant for such issuance in the future; provided, however , that no such Award shall be settled in cash (unless a special approval from the Israeli Tax Authority is obtained).

102(c) Award ” means a 102 Award that will not be subject to a Taxation Route, as detailed in Section 102(c) of the Tax Ordinance.

102 Rules ” means the Israeli Income Tax Rules (Tax Relief in Issuance of Shares to Employees), 2003.

Beneficial Participant ” means the Participant for the benefit of whom the Trustee holds an Award in Trust.

Capital Gains Route ” means the capital gains tax route under Section 102(b)(2) of the Tax Ordinance.

Controlling Stockholder ” means a “controlling shareholder” of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 32(9)(a) of the Tax Ordinance.

Exercised Share ” means a Common Stock issued upon exercise of an Award or vesting of an Award, as applicable, or, if applicable, a freely transferable Common Stock issued to a Participant not resulting from another type of Award.


Minimum Trust Period ” means the minimum period of time required under a Taxation Route for Awards and/or Exercised Shares to be held in Trust in order for the Beneficial Participant to enjoy to the fullest extent the tax benefits afforded under such Taxation Route, as prescribed at any time by Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance.

Ordinary Income Route ” means the ordinary income route under Section 102(b)(1) of the Tax Ordinance.

Rights ” means rights issued in respect of Exercised Shares, including bonus shares.

Taxation Route ” means each of the Ordinary Income Route or the Capital Gains Route.

Tax Ordinance ” means the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance [New Version], 1961, as amended.

Trust ” means the holding of an Award or Exercised Share by the Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Beneficial Participant, pursuant to the instructions of a Taxation Route.

Trustee ” means a trustee designated by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 12(d) below and, with respect to 102 Awards, approved by the Israeli Tax Authorities.

(b)     General. This Plan is intended to comply with the requirements set by the Israeli law in general, and in particular with the provisions of the Israeli Tax Ordinance, as may be amended or replaced from time to time.

(c)     Grant of Awards and Issuance of Shares . Subject to the provisions of the Tax Ordinance and applicable law:

(1)    All grants of Awards to Israeli Employees, Directors and office holders of the Company, other than to a Controlling Stockholder, shall be of 102 Awards; and

(2)    All grants of Awards to Israeli Consultants, contractors or Controlling Stockholders of the Company shall be of 3(i) Awards.

(d)     Trust .

(1)     General .

(a)    In the event Awards are deposited with a Trustee, the Trustee shall hold each such Award and any Exercised Shares in Trust for the benefit of the Beneficial Participant.

(b)    In accordance with Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance, the tax benefits afforded to 102 Awards (and any Exercised Shares) in accordance with the Ordinary Income Route or Capital Gains Route, as applicable, shall be contingent upon the Trustee holding such 102 Awards for the applicable Minimum Trust Period.

(c)    With respect to 102 Awards granted to the Trustee, the following shall apply:

(i)    A Participant granted 102 Awards shall not be entitled to sell the Exercised Shares or to transfer such Exercised Shares (or such 102 Awards) from the Trust prior to the lapse of the Minimum Trust Period; and

(ii)    Any and all Rights shall be issued to the Trustee and held thereby until the lapse of the Minimum Trust Period, and such Rights shall be subject to the Taxation Route which is applicable to such Exercised Shares.

(d)    Notwithstanding the aforesaid, Exercised Shares or Rights may be sold or transferred, and the Trustee may release such Exercised Shares or Rights from Trust, prior to the lapse of the Minimum Trust Period, provided however, that tax is paid or withheld in accordance with Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance and Section 7 of the 102 Rules, and any other provision in any other section of the Tax Ordinance and any regulation, ruling, procedure and clarification promulgated thereunder, that will be relevant, from time to time.


(e)    The Company shall register the Exercised Shares issued to the Trustee pursuant to the Plan, in the name of the Trustee for the benefit of the Israeli Participants, in accordance with any applicable laws, rules and regulations, until such time that such Shares are released from the Trust as herein provided, or shall act in any other manner in accordance with applicable law, ruling or guidelines of the Israeli Tax Authority.

(f)    Subject to the terms hereof, at any time after the Awards are exercised or vested, with respect to any Exercised Shares the following shall apply:

(i)    Upon the written request of any Beneficial Participant, the Trustee shall release from the Trust the Exercised Shares issued, on behalf of such Beneficial Participant, provided, however, that the Trustee shall not so release any such Exercised Shares to such Beneficial Participant unless the latter, prior to, or concurrently with, such release, provides the Trustee with evidence, satisfactory in form and substance to the Trustee, that payment of all taxes, if any, required to be paid upon such release has been secured.

(ii)    Alternatively, subject to the terms hereof, provided the Shares are listed on a Stock Market, upon the written instructions of the Beneficial Participant to sell any Exercised Shares, the Company and/or the Trustee shall use their reasonable efforts to effect such sale and shall transfer such Shares to the purchaser thereof concurrently with the receipt of, or after having made suitable arrangements to secure, the payment of the proceeds of the purchase price in such transaction. The Company and/or the Trustee, as applicable, shall withhold from such proceeds any and all taxes required to be paid in respect of such sale, shall remit the amount so withheld to the appropriate tax authorities and shall pay the balance thereof directly to the Beneficial Participant, reporting to such Beneficial Participant the amount so withheld and paid to said tax authorities.

(2)     Dividends . Subject to the provisions of Section 7 above and to any applicable law, tax ruling or guidelines of the Israeli Tax Authority, as applicable, for so long as Shares deposited with the Trustee on behalf of a Beneficial Participant are held in Trust, the cash dividends, if any, paid or distributed with respect thereto shall be distributed directly to such Beneficial Participant, subject further to any applicable taxation on distribution of dividends, and when applicable subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance, the 102 Rules and the regulations or orders promulgated thereunder.

(3)     Bonus Shares . Subject to the provisions of Section 7 above, if the Company distributes bonus shares to all its stockholders and the date of distribution of such bonus shares or the record date for determining the right to receive such bonus shares is after the date on which Exercised Shares are registered in the name of the Trustee for the Beneficial Participant, the Company will transfer to the Trustee the type of bonus shares and such number of bonus shares calculated according to the number of Exercised Shares then-registered in the name of the Trustee for the benefit of the Beneficial Participant on the date of the distribution or the record date (as applicable), and the Trustee will hold the bonus shares in Trust for the Beneficial Participants.

(e)     Sale . In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the shares of Common Stock of the Company, with respect to Shares held in Trust, the Trustee will follow the instructions of the Board with respect to any shares held in Trust by the Trustee, and will make such transfers as instructed by the Board on the terms so instructed, including instructions with respect to the Company’s obligation (i) to withhold at the source all taxes required to be paid upon release of the Shares from the Trust and to provide the Trustee with evidence, satisfactory to the Trustee, that such taxes indeed have been paid; and (ii) to transfer the consideration for any Shares sold (less applicable tax and compulsory payments) directly to the Participants.

(f)     Limitations of Transfer . In addition to the provisions of Section 10(a) of the Plan, as long as Awards and/or Shares are held by the Trustee on behalf of the Participant, all rights of the Participant over the Shares are personal, cannot be transferred, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, other than by will or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution.

(g)     Taxation .

(1)    The Trustee shall not be required to release any share of Common Stock (or share certificate) to a Participant until all required tax payments have been fully made or secured.

(2)    With regards to 102 Awards, any provision of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance, the 102 Rules and the regulations or orders promulgated thereunder, which is necessary in order to receive and/or to preserve any tax treatment pursuant to Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance, which is not expressly specified in the Plan, shall be considered binding upon the Company and the Israeli Participant.


(3)    In the event a 102(c) Award is granted to a Participant, if the Participant’s employment or service is terminated, for any reason, such Participant shall provide the Company, to its full satisfaction, with a guarantee or collateral securing the future payment of all Taxes required to be paid upon the sale of the Exercised Shares received upon exercise of such 102(c) Award, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance, the 102 Rules and the regulations or orders promulgated thereunder.

(h)     Cessation of Service. It is hereby clarified that the cessation of service of a Participant who is an Employee shall be the cessation of the employee-employer relationship between the Israeli Participant and the Company.