As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2022

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Rigetti Computing, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   83-0950636

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

775 Heinz Avenue
Berkeley, CA
  94710
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan

Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Rigetti & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan

QxBranch, Inc. 2018 Equity Compensation Plan

(Full title of the plans)

Rick Danis

General Counsel

Rigetti Computing, Inc.

775 Heinz Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94710

(Name and address of agent for service)

(510) 210-5550

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

 

 

Copies to:

Rupa Briggs

Sarah Sellers

Cooley LLP

55 Hudson Yards

New York, NY 10001

(212) 479-6000

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered in accordance with Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). These documents, and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of the Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The written statement required by Item 2 of Part I is included in documents that will be delivered to participants in the plans covered by this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act.

 

 

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents, which have been filed with the Commission, are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

 

(i)    The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-40140) (the “Form 10-Q”) for the fiscal quarter ended March  31, 2022, filed with the Commission on May 16, 2022;
(ii)    The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (File No. 001-40140) (other than information furnished rather than filed), filed with the Commission on January  10, 2022, February  9, 2022, February  18, 2022, February  28, 2022, March 7, 2022 (excluding all historical and pro forma audited and unaudited financial statements included in Items  2.01 and 9.01, the related notes to such financial statements and the accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firms issued with respect thereto), April  19, 2022, and May 25, 2022 (including the Registrant’s audited recast financial statements as of and for the eleven months ended December 31, 2021 and as of and for the year ended January 31, 2021) and the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K (File No.  001-40140) filed with the Commission on January 13, 2022 (excluding the audited pro forma balance sheet included in Exhibit 99.1 thereto) and;
(iii)    The Registrant’s prospectus, dated June 1, 2022, filed with the Commission on June 1, 2022 (the “Prospectus”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-263798);
(iv)    The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock which is contained in a registration statement on Form 8-A filed on March 1, 2022 (File No. 001-40140) under the Securities Act as well as any additional amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such information that are related to such items), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.


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

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Registrant is governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (the “DGCL”). Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), because he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which he or she shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, he or she is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court shall deem proper.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under Section 145 of the DGCL.

 


Additionally, the Registrant’s certificate of incorporation limits the Registrant’s directors’ liability to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. The DGCL provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability:

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit;

 

   

for any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

for any unlawful payment of dividends or redemption of shares; or

 

   

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

If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of the Registrant’s directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

Delaware law and the Registrant’s Bylaws provide that the Registrant will, in certain situations, indemnify its directors and officers and may indemnify other employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any indemnified person is also entitled, subject to certain limitations, to advancement, direct payment, or reimbursement of reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding.

In addition, the Registrant has entered into separate indemnification agreements with its directors and officers. These agreements, among other things, require the Registrant to indemnify its directors and officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and settlement amounts incurred by a director or officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of the Registrant’s directors or officers or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at the Registrant’s request.

The Registrant maintains a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy pursuant to which its directors and officers are insured against liability for actions taken in their capacities as directors and officers. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or control persons, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

          Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit No.

  

Description

   Schedule/
Form
   File No.    Exhibit    Filing Date
3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Rigetti Computing, Inc.     8-K    001-40140    3.1    March 7, 2022
3.2    Bylaws of Rigetti Computing, Inc.    8-K    001-40140    3.2    March 7, 2022
5.1*    Opinion of Cooley LLP            
23.1*    Consent of BDO USA LLP            

23.2*

  

Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

           

24.1*

  

Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

           

99.1

  

Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan

   8-K    001-40140    10.16    March 7, 2022


99.2    Form of Stock Option Grant Package under Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan    8-K    001-40140    10.17    March 7, 2022
99.3*    Form of RSU Grant Package under Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan            
99.4    Form of Stock Award Grant Package under Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan    8-K    001-40140    10.19    March 7, 2022
99.5    Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan    8-K    001-40140    10.20    March 7, 2022
99.6    Rigetti & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended    10-Q    001-40140    10.21    May 16, 2022
99.7    Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Form of Stock Option Agreement under Rigetti & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan    S-4/A    333-260692    10.22    February 8,
2022
99.8    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under Rigetti  & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan    S-4/A    333-260692    10.23    February 8,
2022
99.9*    QxBranch, Inc. 2018 Equity Compensation Plan            
99.10*    Form of Stock Option Grant Agreement under the QxBranch, Inc. 2018 Equity Compensation Plan            
107*    Filing Fee Table            

 

*

Filed herewith.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement;


  (iii)

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

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

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

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

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


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Berkeley, State of California, on this 10th day of June, 2022.

 

RIGETTI COMPUTING, INC.
By:  

/s/ Chad Rigetti

  Name: Chad Rigetti
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Chad Rigetti, Brian Sereda and Rick Danis, and each of them, as his true and lawful agents, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature    Title   Date

/s/ Chad Rigetti

Chad Rigetti

   Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chair of the Board (Principal Executive Officer)   June 10, 2022

/s/ Brian Sereda

Brian Sereda

   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   June 10, 2022

/s/ Michael Clifton

Michael Clifton

   Director   June 10, 2022

/s/ David Cowan

David Cowan

   Director   June 10, 2022

/s/ Alissa Fitzgerald

Alissa Fitzgerald

   Director   June 10, 2022

/s/ Ray Johnson

Ray Johnson

   Director   June 10, 2022

/s/ Cathy McCarthy

Cathy McCarthy

   Director   June 10, 2022


/s/ Gen. Peter Pace

Gen. Peter Pace

  

Director

  June 10, 2022

/s/ H. Gail Sandford

H. Gail Sandford

  

Director

  June 10, 2022

LOGO

Exhibit 5.1

Sarah Sellers

+1 212 479 6370

ssellers@cooley.com

June 10, 2022

Rigetti Computing, Inc.

775 Heinz Avenue

Berkeley, CA, 94710

Re:    Rigetti Computing, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Rigetti Computing, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the offering of up to 39,757,334 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), consisting of (a) 18,332,215 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 EIP”), (b) 3,055,370 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (together with 2022 EIP, the “2022 Plans”), (c) 18,367,696 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Rigetti & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2013 Plan”), which awards were assumed by the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 6, 2021, as amended on December 23, 2021 and further amended on January 10, 2022 (as so amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, Supernova Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Supernova Romeo Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Rigetti Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and (d) 2,053 shares of Common Stock issuance pursuant to option awards granted under the QxBranch, Inc. 2018 Equity Compensation Plan (the “QxBranch Plan” and, collectively, with the 2013 Plan and the 2022 Plans, the “Plans”), which awards were assumed by the Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and related prospectuses, (b) the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as currently in effect, (c) the Merger Agreement, (d) the Plans, and (e) originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.

We note that the Company was initially incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and was domesticated as a corporation in the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Domestication”). We have assumed all matters determinable under the laws of the Cayman Islands, including without limitation that (i) immediately prior to the Domestication, the Company was duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, (ii) the Company had full power, authority and legal right to domesticate in the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 388, (iii) the laws of the Cayman Islands permitted the Company to domesticate in the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 388, (iv) the discontinuation of the Company from the Cayman Islands was duly authorized by all necessary corporate action as provided in its governing documents and was

 

COOLEY LLP 55 HUDSON YARDS NEW YORK, NY 10001-2157

t: (212) 479-6000 F: (212) 479-6275 COOLEY.COM


June 10, 2022

Page two

 

duly effected in accordance with Cayman Islands law, (v) any and all consents, approvals and authorizations from applicable Cayman Island governmental authorities required to authorize and permit the Company to domesticate in the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 388 were obtained, and (vi) the approval of the 2022 Plans, and the approval of the Merger Agreement pursuant to which the 2013 Plan and QxBranch Plan were assumed, in each case by the board and shareholders of the Company as a Cayman Islands exempted company prior to the Domestication were done in accordance with the applicable governing documents of the Company as a Cayman Islands exempted company and the laws of the Cayman Islands.

We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than the Company where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters.

Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Plans, the Registration Statement and related prospectuses, will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Sincerely,

COOLEY LLP

 

By:   /s/ Sarah Sellers
  Sarah Sellers

 

COOLEY LLP 55 HUDSON YARDS NEW YORK, NY 10001-2157

t: (212) 479-6000 F: (212) 479-6275 COOLEY.COM

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Rigetti Computing, Inc.

Berkeley, CA

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 7, 2022, except for the effects of the recapitalization described in Note 1, as to which the date is May 24, 2022, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Rigetti Computing, Inc. appearing in the Company’s Form 8-K filed May 25, 2022.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Spokane, WA

June 10, 2022

Exhibit 99.3

RIGETTI COMPUTING, INC.

RSU AWARD GRANT NOTICE

(2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN)

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (the “Company”) has awarded to you (the “Participant”) the number of restricted stock units specified and on the terms set forth below in consideration of your services (the “RSU Award”). Your RSU Award is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein and in the Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), which are attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined herein but defined in the Plan or the Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan or the Agreement.

 

Participant:

 

 

 

Date of Grant:

 

 

 

Vesting Commencement Date:

 

 

 

Number of Restricted Stock Units:

 

 

 

Vesting Schedule: [    ]

 

Issuance Schedule:    One share of Common Stock will be issued for each restricted stock unit which vests at the time set forth in Section 5 of the Agreement.

Participant Acknowledgements: By your signature below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, you understand and agree that:

 

   

The RSU Award is governed by this RSU Award Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”), and the provisions of the Plan and the Agreement, all of which are made a part of this document. Unless otherwise provided in the Plan, this Grant Notice and the Agreement (together, the “RSU Award Agreement”) may not be modified, amended or revised except in a writing signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company.

 

   

You have read and are familiar with the provisions of the Plan, the RSU Award Agreement and the document containing the Plan information specified in Section 10(a) of the Securities Act (the “Prospectus”). In the event of any conflict between the provisions in the RSU Award Agreement, or the Prospectus and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

   

The RSU Award Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding the acquisition of Common Stock and supersedes all prior oral and written agreements, promises and/or representations on that subject with the exception of: (i) other equity awards previously granted to you, and (ii) any written employment agreement, offer letter, severance agreement, written severance plan or policy, or other written agreement between the Company and you in each case that specifies the terms that should govern this RSU Award.

 

RIGETTI COMPUTING, INC.       PARTICIPANT:
By:                                                                                                                        

 

Signature       Signature
Title:                                                                                                                     Date:                                                                                                          
Date:      

ATTACHMENTS: RSU Award Agreement, 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, Sell to Cover Election


RIGETTI COMPUTING, INC.

2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

AWARD AGREEMENT (RSU AWARD)

As reflected by your RSU Award Grant Notice (“Grant Notice”), Rigetti Computing, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you a RSU Award under the Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) for the number of restricted stock units as indicated in your Grant Notice (the “RSU Award”). The terms of your RSU Award as specified in this Award Agreement for your RSU Award (the “Agreement”) and the Grant Notice constitute your “RSU Award Agreement”. Defined terms not explicitly defined in this Agreement but defined in the Grant Notice or the Plan shall have the same definitions as in the Grant Notice or Plan, as applicable.

The general terms applicable to your RSU Award are as follows:

1. GOVERNING PLAN DOCUMENT. Your RSU Award is subject to all the provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to the provisions in:

(a) Section 6 of the Plan regarding the impact of a Capitalization Adjustment, dissolution, liquidation, or Corporate Transaction on your RSU Award;

(b) Section 9(e) of the Plan regarding the Company’s retained rights to terminate your Continuous Service notwithstanding the grant of the RSU Award; and

(c) Section 8(c) of the Plan regarding certain tax consequences of your RSU Award.

Your RSU Award is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations, which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the RSU Award Agreement and the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.

2. GRANT OF THE RSU AWARD. This RSU Award represents your right to be issued on a future date the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that is equal to the number of restricted stock units indicated in the Grant Notice as modified to reflect any Capitalization Adjustment and subject to your satisfaction of the vesting conditions set forth therein (the “Restricted Stock Units”). Any additional Restricted Stock Units that become subject to the RSU Award pursuant to Capitalization Adjustments as set forth in the Plan and the provisions of Section 3 below, if any, shall be subject, in a manner determined by the Board, to the same forfeiture restrictions, restrictions on transferability, and time and manner of delivery as applicable to the other Restricted Stock Units covered by your RSU Award.

 

1.


3. DIVIDENDS. You may become entitled to receive payments equal to any cash dividends and other distributions paid with respect to a corresponding number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in respect of the Restricted Stock Units covered by your RSU Award. Any such dividends or distributions shall be subject to the same forfeiture restrictions as apply to the Restricted Stock Units and shall be paid at the same time that the corresponding shares are issued in respect of your vested Restricted Stock Units, provided, however that to the extent any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares of Common Stock, then you will automatically be granted a corresponding number of additional Restricted Stock Units subject to the RSU Award (the “Dividend Units”), and further provided that such Dividend Units shall be subject to the same forfeiture restrictions and restrictions on transferability, and same timing requirements for issuance of shares, as apply to the Restricted Stock Units subject to the RSU Award with respect to which the Dividend Units relate.

4. WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS. As further provided in Section 8 of the Plan, you hereby agree to make adequate provision for and authorize the Company to satisfy any U.S. federal, state, local and/or foreign tax or social insurance withholding, which arise in connection with your RSU Award (the “Withholding Obligation”), in its sole discretion, by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) causing you to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to you in connection with the RSU Award; (iii) withholding cash from an RSU Award settled in cash; (iv) withholding payment from payroll or any amounts otherwise payable to you; (v) a mandatory sale (on your behalf pursuant to your authorization under this section and without further consent) of the shares of Common Stock issued in settlement upon the vesting of your Restricted Stock Units in an amount necessary to satisfy the Withholding Obligation; or (vi) by such other method as the Company may decide in its sole discretion in accordance with the withholding procedures established by the Company. Unless the Withholding Obligation is satisfied, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver to you any Common Stock in respect of the RSU Award. In the event the Withholding Obligation of the Company arises prior to the delivery to you of Common Stock or it is determined after the delivery of Common Stock to you that the amount of the Withholding Obligation was greater than the amount withheld by the Company, you agree to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any failure by the Company to withhold the proper amount.

5. DATE OF ISSUANCE.

(a) The issuance of shares in respect of the Restricted Stock Units is intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) and will be construed and administered in such a manner. Subject to the satisfaction of the Withholding Obligation, if any, in the event one or more Restricted Stock Units vests, the Company shall issue to you one (1) share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit that vests on the applicable vesting date(s) (subject to any adjustment under Section 2 above, and subject to any different provisions in the Grant Notice). Each issuance date determined by this paragraph is referred to as an “Original Issuance Date.”

(b) If the Original Issuance Date falls on a date that is not a business day, delivery shall instead occur on the next following business day or to the extent delivery on the Original Issuance Date is not administratively convenient, as soon as practicable and convenient thereafter (but for the avoidance of doubt, in no event later than the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Units vest, or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Restricted Stock Units vest).

 

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(c) The form of delivery (e.g., a stock certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares) shall be determined by the Company.

(d) In addition, if:

(i) the Original Issuance Date does not occur (1) during an “open window period” applicable to you, as determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s then-effective policy on trading in Company securities, or (2) on a date when you are otherwise permitted to sell shares of Common Stock on an established stock exchange or stock market (including but not limited to under a previously established written trading plan that meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act and was entered into in compliance with the Company’s policies (a “10b5-1 Arrangement)), and

(ii) either (1) a Withholding Obligation does not apply, or (2) the Company decides, prior to the Original Issuance Date, (A) not to satisfy the Withholding Obligation by withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares otherwise due, on the Original Issuance Date, to you under this Award, (B) not to permit you to enter into a “same day sale” commitment with a broker-dealer (including but not limited to a commitment under a 10b5-1 Arrangement) and (C) not to permit you to pay your Withholding Obligation, if any, in cash,

(iii) then the shares that would otherwise be issued to you on the Original Issuance Date will not be delivered on such Original Issuance Date and will instead be delivered on the first business day when you are not prohibited from selling shares of the Company’s Common Stock in the open public market or as soon as administratively practicable and convenient thereafter, but in no event later than December 31 of the calendar year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs (that is, the last day of your taxable year in which the Original Issuance Date occurs), or, if and only if permitted in a manner that complies with Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), no later than the date that is the 15th day of the third calendar month of the applicable year following the year in which the shares of Common Stock under this Award are no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(d).

(e) To the extent the RSU Award is a Non-Exempt RSU Award, the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan shall apply.

6. TRANSFERABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, your RSU Award is not transferable, except by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution

7. CORPORATE TRANSACTION. Your RSU Award is subject to the terms of any agreement governing a Corporate Transaction involving the Company, including, without limitation, a provision for the appointment of a stockholder representative that is authorized to act on your behalf with respect to any escrow, indemnities and any contingent consideration.

8. NO LIABILITY FOR TAXES. As a condition to accepting the RSU Award, you hereby (a) agree to not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from the RSU Award or other Company compensation and (b) acknowledge that you were advised to consult with your own personal tax, financial and other legal advisors regarding the tax consequences of the RSU Award and have either done so or knowingly and voluntarily declined to do so.

 

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9. SEVERABILITY. If any part of this Agreement or the Plan is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity will not invalidate any portion of this Agreement or the Plan not declared to be unlawful or invalid. Any Section of this Agreement (or part of such a Section) so declared to be unlawful or invalid will, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.

10. OTHER DOCUMENTS. You hereby acknowledge receipt of or the right to receive a document providing the information required by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes the Prospectus. In addition, you acknowledge receipt of the Company’s Trading Policy.

11. QUESTIONS. If you have questions regarding these or any other terms and conditions applicable to your RSU Award, including a summary of the applicable federal income tax consequences please see the Prospectus.

 

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Exhibit 99.9

QXBRANCH, INC.

2018 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN


QXBRANCH, INC.

2018 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

THE QXBRANCH, INC. 2018 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN (the “Plan”) is hereby established effective as of the Effective Date (as defined below).

The Plan is adopted in part to replace the QxBranch, LLC 2016 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2016 Plan”) in connection with the conversion (the “Conversion”) of QxBranch, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, into QxBranch, Inc. (the “Company”), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. As of the effective time of the Conversion (as defined in the QxBranch, LLC Plan of Conversion) (the “Conversion Effective Time”), the 2016 Plan shall be terminated and no additional grants shall be made thereafter under the 2016 Plan. Outstanding grants under the 2016 Plan as of the Conversion Effective Time shall be converted into awards under the Plan, and the number of authorized shares under the Plan shall include a pool of shares for this purpose.

The purpose of the Plan is to provide (i) designated employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) certain consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or its subsidiaries, and (iii) non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) with the opportunity to receive grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock awards, stock units, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based awards. The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby benefiting the Company’s stockholders, and will align the economic interests of the participants with those of the stockholders.

 

SECTION 1.

ADMINISTRATION

(a)    Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Board or by a committee consisting of members of the Board, which shall be appointed by the Board. However, the Board shall approve and administer all grants made to non-employee directors. The Board or the committee may delegate authority to one or more subcommittees, as it deems appropriate. To the extent the Board, committee or subcommittee administers the Plan, references in the Plan to the “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to such Board, committee or subcommittee.

(b)    Committee Authority. The Committee shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom grants shall be made under the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size and terms of the grants to be made to each such individual, (iii) determine the time when the grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability, (iv) amend the terms of any previously issued grant, and (v) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.

(c)    Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The Committee’s interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any awards granted hereunder. All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated individuals.

 

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SECTION 2.

GRANTS

Awards under the Plan may consist of grants of incentive stock options as described in Section 5 (“Incentive Stock Options”), nonqualified stock options as described in Section 5 (“Nonqualified Stock Options”) (Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options are collectively referred to as “Options”), stock awards as described in Section 6 (“Stock Awards”), stock units as described in Section 7 (“Stock Units”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) as described in Section 8, and other equity-based awards as described in Section 9 (“Other Equity Awards”) (collectively referred to herein as “Grants”). All Grants shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with this Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Committee to the individual in a grant instrument or an amendment to the grant instrument (the “Grant Instrument”). All Grants shall be made conditional upon the Grantee’s (as defined below in Section 4(b)) acknowledgement, in writing or by acceptance of the Grant, that all decisions and determinations of the Committee shall be final and binding on the Grantee, his beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under such Grant. Grants under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the Grantees.

 

SECTION 3.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

(a)    Shares Authorized. Subject to adjustment as described below, the aggregate number of shares of Company common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Company Stock”), that may be issued or transferred under the Plan is 728,308, which may be used for all awards under the Plan and is the sum of the following: (i) 106,952 shares (“ECP 1”) intended to cover replacement shares for awards contemplated prior to the Effective Date, plus (ii) 621,350 shares (“ECP 2”) for new awards under the Plan following the Effective Date. All authorized shares may be issued in respect of Incentive Stock Options.

(b)    Determination of Authorized Shares. The shares may be authorized but unissued shares of Company Stock or reacquired shares of Company Stock. If and to the extent Options or SARs granted under the Plan terminate, expire, or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised or if any Stock Awards, Stock Units, or Other Equity Awards are forfeited, the shares subject to such Grants shall again be available for purposes of the Plan.

(c)    Adjustments. If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Company Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split, or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) by reason of a merger, reorganization or consolidation, (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock available for issuance under the Plan, the kind and number of shares covered by outstanding Grants, the kind and number of shares issued and to be issued under the Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Grants shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee, in such a manner as the Committee deems appropriate, to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, the issued shares of Company Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under the Plan and such outstanding Grants; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined below in Section 13) of the Company, the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan shall apply. Any adjustments to outstanding Grants shall be consistent with Section 409A or 424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to the extent applicable. Any adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

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SECTION 4.

ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION

(a)    Eligible Persons. All employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (“Employees”), including Employees who are officers or members of the Board, and members of the Board who are not Employees (“Non-Employee Directors”) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or any of its subsidiaries (“Key Advisors”) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors render bona fide services to the Company or its subsidiaries, the services are not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and the Key Advisors do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

(b)    Selection of Grantees. The Committee shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors to receive Grants and shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to a particular Grant in such manner as the Committee determines. Employees, Key Advisors and Non-Employee Directors who receive Grants under this Plan shall be referred to herein as “Grantees.

 

SECTION 5.

OPTIONS

The Committee may grant Options to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor, upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Options:

(a)    Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock that will be subject to each Grant of Options to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.

(b)    Type of Option and Price.

(i)    The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or Nonqualified Stock Options that are not intended so to qualify or any combination of Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) of the Company. Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.

(ii)    The purchase price (the “Exercise Price”) of Company Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and may be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value (as defined below in Section 5(b)(iii)) of a share of Company Stock on the date the Option is granted. However, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of Company Stock on the date of grant.

(iii)    “Fair Market Value” of Company Stock means, unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to a particular Grant, (i) if the principal trading market for the Company Stock is a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price during regular trading hours of Company Stock on the relevant date or (if there were no trades on that date) the last reported sale price during the regular trading hours on the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported, (ii) if the Company Stock is not principally traded on such exchange, the mean between the last reported “bid” and “asked” prices of Company Stock during regular trading hours on the relevant date, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Company Stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not so reported, the Fair Market Value per share shall be as determined by the Committee through any reasonable valuation method authorized under the Code.

 

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(c)    Option Term. The Committee shall determine the term of each Option. The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant.

(d)    Exercisability of Options.

(i)    Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee and specified in the Grant Instrument. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.

(ii)    The Committee may provide in a Grant Instrument that the Grantee may elect to exercise part or all of an Option before it otherwise has become exercisable. Any shares so purchased shall be restricted shares and shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company during a specified restriction period, with the repurchase price equal to the lesser of (A) the Exercise Price or (B) the Fair Market Value of such shares at the time of repurchase, or such other restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate.

(e)    Grants to Non-Exempt Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such Options may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Grantee’s death, Disability (as defined below in Section 5(f)(vi)(B)) or retirement, or upon a Change of Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).

(f)    Termination of Employment, Disability or Death.

(i)    Except as provided below, an Option may only be exercised while the Grantee is employed by, or providing service to, the Employer (as defined below in Section 5(f)(vi)(C)) as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor.

(ii)    In the event that a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer for any reason other than on account of the Grantee’s Disability, death, or on account of a termination by the Employer (as defined below in Section 5(f)(vi)(D)) for Cause (as defined below in Section 5(f)(vi)(A)), any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer shall terminate as of such date.

(iii)    In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer on account of a termination by the Employer for Cause, any Option held by the Grantee shall terminate as of the date the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 5, if the Committee determines that the Grantee has engaged in conduct that constitutes Cause at any time while the Grantee is employed by, or

 

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providing service to, the Employer or after the Grantee’s termination of employment or service, any Option held by the Grantee shall immediately terminate and the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an Option upon refund by the Company of the lower of the Exercise Price paid by the Grantee for such shares or the Fair Market Value of such shares. Upon any exercise of an Option, the Company may withhold delivery of share certificates pending resolution of an inquiry that could lead to a finding resulting in a forfeiture.

(iv)    In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer on account of the Grantee’s Disability, any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any of the Grantee’s Options which are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer shall terminate as of such date.

(v)    If the Grantee dies while employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed or provide service on account of a termination specified in Section 5(f)(ii) above (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), any Option that is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer shall terminate as of such date.

(vi)    For purposes of the Plan:

(A)    “Cause” shall mean, except to the extent otherwise specified by the Committee, a finding by the Committee that the Grantee (i) has materially breached his or her employment or service contract with the Employer, which breach has not been remedied by the Grantee after written notice has been provided to the Grantee of such breach, (ii) has engaged in disloyalty to the Employer, including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement, theft, commission of a felony or proven dishonesty, (iii) has disclosed trade secrets or confidential information of the Employer to persons not entitled to receive such information, (iv) has breached any written non-competition or non-solicitation agreement between the Grantee and the Employer, or (v) has engaged in such other behavior detrimental to the interests of the Employer as the Committee determines.

(B)    “Disability” shall mean a Grantee’s becoming disabled within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, within the meaning of the Employer’s long-term disability plan applicable to the Grantee, or as otherwise determined by the Committee.

(C)    “Employed by, or provide service to, the Employer” shall mean employment or service as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor (so that, for purposes of exercising Options and satisfying conditions with respect to other Grants, a Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the Grantee ceases to be an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor), unless the Committee determines otherwise.

(D)    “Employer” shall mean the Company and its affiliates, as determined by the Committee.

 

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(g)    Exercise of Options. A Grantee may exercise an Option that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price for an Option as specified by the Committee (i) in cash, (ii) with the approval of the Committee, by delivering shares of Company Stock owned by the Grantee (including Company Stock acquired in connection with the exercise of an Option, subject to such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate) and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or by attestation (on a form prescribed by the Committee) to ownership of shares of Company Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price, (iii) after a Public Offering (as defined below in Section 20) of the Company’s stock, by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, (iv) with the approval of the Committee, by surrender of all or any part of the vested Shares for which the Option is exercisable to the Company for an appreciation distribution payable in shares of Company Stock with a Fair Market Value at the time of the Option surrender equal to the dollar amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the surrendered portion exceeds the aggregate exercise price payable for those shares or (v) by such other method as the Committee may approve. Shares of Company Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Grantee for the requisite period of time to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price and the amount of any Withholding Taxes due (pursuant to Section 10 below) at such time as may be specified by the Committee.

(h)    Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a subsidiary, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any person who is not an Employee of the Company. All shares issued under the Plan as Incentive Stock Options shall count against the limit in Section 3(a).

 

SECTION 6.

STOCK AWARDS

The Committee may issue or transfer shares of Company Stock to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor under a Stock Award, upon such terms as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Stock Awards:

(a)    General Requirements. Shares of Company Stock issued or transferred pursuant to Stock Awards may be issued or transferred for cash consideration or for no cash consideration, and subject to restrictions or no restrictions, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, establish conditions under which restrictions on Stock Awards shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other criteria as the Committee deems appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals. The period of time during which the Stock Awards will remain subject to restrictions will be designated in the Grant Instrument as the “Restriction Period.

(b)    Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock to be issued or transferred pursuant to a Stock Award and the restrictions applicable to such shares.

(c)    Requirement of Employment or Service. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, if the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer during a period designated in the Grant Instrument as the Restriction Period, or if other specified conditions are not met, the Stock Award shall terminate as to all shares covered by the Grant as to which the restrictions have not lapsed, and those shares of Company Stock must be immediately returned to the Company. The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.

 

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(d)    Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock Certificate. During the Restriction Period, a Grantee may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of a Stock Award except to a successor under Section 11(a). Each certificate for a share of a Stock Award shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the Grant. The Grantee shall be entitled to have the legend removed from the stock certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions when all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. The Committee may determine that the Company will not issue certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed, or that the Company will retain possession of certificates for shares of Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.

(e)    Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, during the Restriction Period, the Grantee shall have the right to vote shares of Stock Awards and to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on such shares, subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee, including, without limitation, the achievement of specific performance goals.

(f)    Lapse of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed on Stock Awards shall lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and the satisfaction of all conditions imposed by the Committee. The Committee may determine, as to any or all Stock Awards, that the restrictions shall lapse without regard to any Restriction Period.

 

SECTION 7.

STOCK UNITS

The Committee may grant Stock Units representing one or more shares of Company Stock to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor, upon such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Stock Units:

(a)    Crediting of Units. Each Stock Unit shall represent the right of the Grantee to receive an amount based on the value of a share of Company Stock, if specified conditions are met. All Stock Units shall be credited to bookkeeping accounts established on the Company’s records for purposes of the Plan.

(b)    Terms of Stock Units. The Committee may grant Stock Units that are payable if specified performance goals or other conditions are met, or under other circumstances. Stock Units may be paid at the end of a specified performance period or other period, or payment may be deferred to a date authorized by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the number of Stock Units to be granted and the requirements applicable to such Stock Units.

(c)    Requirement of Employment or Service. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, if the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer during a specified period, or if other conditions established by the Committee are not met, the Grantee’s Stock Units shall be forfeited. The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.

(d)    Payment With Respect to Stock Units. Payments with respect to Stock Units may be made in cash, in Company Stock, or in a combination of the two, as determined by the Committee.

 

SECTION 8.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

The Committee may grant SARs to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor separately or in tandem with any Option. The following provisions are applicable to SARs:

(a)    Base Amount. The Committee shall establish the base amount of the SAR at the time the SAR is granted. The base amount of each SAR shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the date of Grant of the SAR.

 

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(b)    Tandem SARs. In the case of tandem SARs, the number of SARs granted to a Grantee that shall be exercisable during a specified period shall not exceed the number of shares of Company Stock that the Grantee may purchase upon the exercise of the related Option during such period. Upon the exercise of an Option, the SARs relating to the Company Stock covered by such Option shall terminate. Upon the exercise of SARs, the related Option shall terminate to the extent of an equal number of shares of Company Stock.

(c)    Exercisability. An SAR shall be exercisable during the period specified by the Committee in the Grant Instrument, not to exceed ten years from the date of grant, and shall be subject to such vesting and other restrictions as may be specified in the Grant Instrument. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding SARs at any time for any reason. SARs may only be exercised while the Grantee is employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or during the applicable period after termination of employment or service as described in Section 5(f) above. A tandem SAR shall be exercisable only during the period when the Option to which it is related is also exercisable.

(d)    Grants to Non-Exempt Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SARs granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such SARs may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Grantee’s death, Disability or retirement, or upon a Change of Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).

(e)    Value of SARs. When a Grantee exercises SARs, the Grantee shall receive in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of the stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised. The stock appreciation for an SAR is the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the underlying Company Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR exceeds the base amount of the SAR as described in subsection (a).

(f)    Form of Payment. The appreciation in an SAR shall be paid in shares of Company Stock, cash or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine. For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Company Stock to be received, shares of Company Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR.

 

SECTION 9.

OTHER EQUITY AWARDS

The Committee may grant Other Equity Awards, which are awards (other than those described in Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Plan) that are based on, measured by or payable in Company Stock, including, without limitation, stock appreciation rights, to any Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor, on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Equity Awards may be awarded subject to the achievement of performance goals or other conditions and may be payable in cash, Company Stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the Committee shall determine.

 

SECTION 10.

WITHHOLDING OF TAXES

(a)    Required Withholding. All Grants under the Plan shall be subject to withholding of applicable income tax (including U.S. federal, state, and local tax and/or foreign income tax), employment tax (including FICA), payroll tax, social security tax, social insurance, contributions, payment on account obligations, national and local tax or other amounts required to be withheld, collected or accounted for by

 

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the Employer in connection with any taxable event with respect to the Grant (the “Withholding Taxes”). The Employer may require that the Grantee or other person receiving or exercising Grants pay to the Employer the amount of any Withholding Taxes with respect to such Grants, or the Employer may deduct from other wages paid by the Employer the amount of any Withholding Taxes due with respect to such Grants.

(b)    Election to Withhold Shares. If the Committee so permits, a Grantee may elect to satisfy the Employer’s obligation for Withholding Taxes with respect to Grants paid in Company Stock by having shares withheld that have a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of tax to be withheld. Share withholding for taxes shall be based on the Grantee’s minimum applicable tax withholding rate, or such other rate permitted by the Committee that does not cause adverse accounting consequences. The election must be in a form and manner prescribed by the Committee and may be subject to the prior approval of the Committee.

 

SECTION 11.

TRANSFERABILITY OF GRANTS

(a)    Nontransferability of Grants. Except as provided below, only the Grantee may exercise rights under a Grant during the Grantee’s lifetime. A Grantee may not transfer those rights except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) with respect to Grants other than Incentive Stock Options, if permitted in any specific case by the Committee, pursuant to a domestic relations order or otherwise as permitted by the Committee consistent with the applicable securities laws and Section 11(d) below. When a Grantee dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Grantee may exercise such rights. Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to receive the Grant under the Grantee’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b)    Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, in a Grant Instrument, that a Grantee may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with the applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that the Grantee receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option and the transferred Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option immediately before the transfer.

(c)    Prohibition on Certain Transactions. Prior to the date the Company first becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), outstanding Options under the Plan, together with the shares of Company Stock subject to those Options during the period prior to exercise, shall not be the subject of any short position, put equivalent position (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or call equivalent position (as such term is defined Rule 16a-1(b) of the Exchange Act).

(d)    Prohibition on Pledges, Gifts, Hypothecations or other Transfers. Except as otherwise provided in Section 11(a) or (b) above, until the date the Company first becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, outstanding Options under the Plan, together with the shares of Company Stock subject to those Options during the period prior to exercise, shall not be the subject of any pledges, gifts, hypothecations or other transfers, other than pursuant to the Company’s repurchase rights or in connection with a Change in Control of the Company in which such Options shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.

 

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SECTION 12.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL; REPURCHASE RIGHT

(a)    Offer. Prior to the consummation of a Public Offering, if at any time an individual desires to sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of shares of Company Stock that were distributed to him or her under this Plan and that are transferable, the individual may do so only pursuant to a bona fide written offer, and the individual shall first offer the shares to the Company by giving the Company written notice disclosing: (i) the name of the proposed transferee of the Company Stock, (ii) the certificate number and number of shares of Company Stock proposed to be transferred or encumbered, (iii) the proposed price, (iv) all other terms of the proposed transfer, and (v) a written copy of the proposed offer. Within 60 days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall have the option to purchase all or part of such Company Stock at the price and on the terms described in the written notice; provided that the Company may pay such price in installments over a period not to exceed four years, at the discretion of the Committee.

(b)    Sale. In the event the Company (or a stockholder, as described below) does not exercise the option to purchase Company Stock, as provided above, the individual shall have the right to sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of the shares of Company Stock described in subsection (a) at the price and on the terms of the transfer set forth in the written notice to the Company, provided such transfer is effected within 15 days after the expiration of the option period. If the transfer is not effected within such period, the Company must again be given an option to purchase, as provided above.

(c)    Assignment of Rights. The Board, in its sole discretion, may waive the Company’s right of first refusal and repurchase right under this Section 12. If the Company’s right of first refusal or repurchase right is so waived, the Board may, in its sole discretion, assign such right to the remaining stockholders of the Company in the same proportion that each stockholder’s stock ownership bears to the stock ownership of all the stockholders of the Company, as determined by the Board. To the extent that a stockholder has been given such right and does not purchase his or her allotment, the other stockholders shall have the right to purchase such allotment on the same basis.

(d)    Purchase by the Company. Prior to the consummation of a Public Offering, if a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer, the Company shall have the right to purchase all or part of any Company Stock distributed to the Grantee under this Plan at its then current Fair Market Value or at such other price as may be established in the Grant Instrument; provided, however, that such repurchase shall be made in accordance with applicable law and shall be made in accordance with applicable accounting rules to avoid adverse accounting treatment.

(e)    Public Offering. On and after the consummation of a Public Offering, the Company shall have no further right to purchase shares of Company Stock under this Section 12. The requirements of this Section 12 shall lapse and cease to be effective upon a Public Offering.

(f)    Stockholder’s Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 12, if the Committee requires that a Grantee execute a stockholder’s agreement with respect to any Company Stock distributed pursuant to this Plan, which contains a right of first refusal or repurchase right, the provisions of this Section 12 shall not apply to such Company Stock, unless the Committee determines otherwise.

 

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SECTION 13.

CHANGE OF CONTROL OF THE COMPANY

(a)    Change of Control. As used herein, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

(i)    Any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; provided that a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of (A) a transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Company issues securities in a bona fide sale to raise funds for operations, (B) a Public Offering or (C) a transaction in which the Company becomes a subsidiary of another corporation and in which the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the transaction, will beneficially own, immediately after the transaction, shares entitling such stockholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all stockholders of the parent corporation would be entitled in the election of directors; or

(ii)    The consummation of (A) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, will not beneficially own, immediately after the merger or consolidation, shares entitling such stockholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all stockholders of the surviving corporation would be entitled in the election of directors, (B) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (C) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(b)    Other Definition. The Committee may modify the definition of Change of Control for a particular Grant as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code or otherwise.

 

SECTION 14.

CONSEQUENCES OF A CHANGE OF CONTROL

(a)    The Committee may provide in any Grant Instrument terms under which Grants may vest and, as applicable, be exercisable or payable in the event of a Change of Control or in the event of a Grantee’s termination of employment or service in connection with, upon or within a specified time period after a Change of Control.

(b)    In addition, in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee may take any of the following actions with respect to any or all outstanding Grants: the Committee may (i) determine that (x) outstanding Options and SARs shall accelerate, in whole or in part, and become fully exercisable and (y) outstanding Stock Awards, Stock Units and Other Equity Awards shall become fully vested, in whole or in part, and shall be payable on terms determined by the Committee, (ii) determine that all outstanding Options and SARs that are not exercised shall be assumed by, or replaced with comparable options by the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), and other outstanding Grants that remain in effect after the Change of Control shall be converted to similar grants of the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), (iii) require that Grantees surrender their outstanding Options and SARs, in whole or in part, in exchange for one or more payments, in cash or Company Stock as determined by the Committee, in an amount, if any, equal to the amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the Grantee’s unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the Exercise Price or base amount of the Options and SARs, on such terms as the Committee determines, or (iv) after giving Grantees an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options and SARs, in whole or in part, terminate any or all unexercised Options and SARs at such time as the Committee deems appropriate. Such assumption, surrender or termination shall take place as of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Committee may specify. Without limiting the foregoing, if the per share Fair Market Value of the Company Stock equals or is less than the per share Exercise Price or base amount, as applicable, the Company shall not be required to make any payment to the Grantee upon surrender of the Option or SAR.

 

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SECTION 15.

LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER OF SHARES

(a)    Stockholder’s Agreement. The Committee may require that a Grantee execute a joinder to each of the voting agreement and right of first refusal and co-sale agreement to which the Company and certain of its stockholders are party and any other stockholder agreements among the Company and the Company’s stockholders, with such terms as the Committee deems appropriate, with respect to any Company Stock issued or distributed pursuant to this Plan.

(b)    Limitations on Issuance or Transfer of Shares. No Company Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Grant hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such Company Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Committee. The Committee shall have the right to condition any Grant made to any Grantee hereunder on such Grantee’s undertaking in writing to comply with such restrictions on his or her subsequent disposition of such shares of Company Stock as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable, and certificates representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions. Certificates representing shares of Company Stock issued or transferred under the Plan will be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as may be required by applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.

(c)    Lock-Up Period. If so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters (the “Managing Underwriter”) in connection with any underwritten offering of securities of the Company, a Grantee (including any successor or assigns) shall not sell, dispose of, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any shares or other securities of the Company held by the Grantee (other than those included in the registration) during the 30-day period preceding and the 180-day period following the effective date of a registration statement filed by the Company for such underwriting (or such longer period, not to exceed 34 days after the expiration of the 180-day period, as the Managing Underwriter or the Company shall request in order to facilitate compliance with applicable FINRA rules or any successor or similar rules or regulations) (the “Market Standoff Period”). The Grantee agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the Managing Underwriter which are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.

 

SECTION 16.

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

(a)    Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without stockholder approval if such approval is required in order to comply with the Code or other applicable law.

(b)    Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date (as defined below in Section 20), unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the approval of the stockholders.

(c)    Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Grants. A termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after a Grant is made shall not materially impair the rights of a Grantee unless the Grantee consents or unless the Committee acts under Section 21(b). The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Committee with respect to an outstanding Grant. Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Grant may be terminated or amended under Section 21(b) or may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Grantee consistent with the Plan.

 

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(d)    Governing Document. The Plan shall be the controlling document. No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner. The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.

 

SECTION 17.

FUNDING OF THE PLAN

This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Grants under this Plan. In no event shall interest be paid or accrued on any Grant, including unpaid installments of Grants.

 

SECTION 18.

RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS

Nothing in this Plan shall entitle any Employee, Key Advisor, Non-Employee Director or other person to any claim or right to be granted a Grant under this Plan. Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ of the Employer or any other employment rights.

 

SECTION 19.

NO FRACTIONAL SHARES

No fractional shares of Company Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Grant. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

SECTION 20.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN

(a)    Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of March 26, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), subject to stockholder approval of the Plan within 12 months of such date.

(b)    Public Offering. The provisions of the Plan that refer to a Public Offering shall be effective, if at all, upon the initial registration of the Company Stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and shall remain effective thereafter for so long as such stock is so registered.

 

SECTION 21.

MISCELLANEOUS

(a)    Grants in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Committee to make Grants under this Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Grants to employees thereof who become Employees, or for other proper corporate purposes, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards outside of this Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may make a Grant to an employee, director or advisor of another corporation who becomes an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Key Advisor by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company or any of its affiliates in substitution for a stock option or stock awards grant made by such corporation. The terms and conditions of the substitute grants may vary from the terms and conditions required by the Plan and from those of the substituted stock incentives. The Committee shall prescribe the provisions of the substitute grants.

(b)    Compliance with Law. The Plan, the exercise of Options and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Company Stock under Grants shall be subject to all applicable laws and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. After a Public Offering of

 

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the Company, with respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act and Section 162(m) of the Code. It is the intent of the Company that the Plan and Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan comply with the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code and that, to the extent applicable, Grants made under the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder. To the extent that any legal requirement as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under applicable law, the Committee may determine that such Plan provision shall cease to apply. The Committee may revoke any Grant if it is contrary to law or modify a Grant or the Plan to bring a Grant or the Plan into compliance with any applicable law or regulation. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.

(c)    Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable. All Grants shall be construed and administered such that the Grant either (i) qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or (ii) satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. If a Grant is subject to Section 409A of the Code, (i) distributions shall only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted under Section 409A of the Code, (ii) payments to be made upon a termination of employment shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code, (iii) payments to be made upon a Change of Control shall only be made upon a “change of control event” under Section 409A of the Code, (iv) unless the Grant specifies otherwise, each payment shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and (v) in no event shall a Grantee, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made except in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Any Grant granted under the Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is to be distributed to a key employee (as described below) upon separation from service shall be administered so that any distribution with respect to such Grant shall be postponed for six months following the date of the Grantee’s separation from service, if required by Section 409A of the Code. If a distribution is delayed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the distribution shall be paid within 30 days after the end of the six-month period. If the Grantee dies during such six month period, any postponed amounts shall be paid within 60 days of the Grantee’s death. The determination of key employees, including the number and identity of persons considered key employees and the identification date, shall be made by the Committee or its delegate each year in accordance with Section 416(i) of the Code and the “specified employee” requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or any Grant Instrument to the contrary, each Grantee shall be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Grants under this Plan, and in no event shall the Company have any responsibility or liability if any Grant does not meet the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to prevent taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Grant complies with any provision of federal, state, local or other tax law.

(d)    Employees Subject to Taxation outside the United States. With respect to Grantees who are subject to taxation in countries other than the United States, the Committee may make Grants on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with the laws of the applicable countries, and the Committee may create such procedures, addenda and subplans and make such modifications as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such laws.

(e)    Financial Statements. In the event there are at any time 2,000 or more holders of outstanding Options under the Plan or 500 or more holders of outstanding Options under the Plan who are not accredited investors, the Company shall provide to each such Option holder, at the time the outstanding Options first become held by 2,000 holders or 500 holders who are not accredited investors and at successive six month intervals thereafter, financial statements that meet the requirements of Rule 701(e)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that are at the time of distribution not more than 180

 

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days old. Such obligation shall continue until such time as the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or (if earlier) no longer relies on the exemption from such reporting requirements provided by Rule 12h-1(f) under the Exchange Act.

(f)    Governing Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of the Plan and Grant Instruments issued under the Plan shall be governed and construed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

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Exhibit 99.10

QXBRANCH, INC.

2018 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

This Nonqualified Stock Option Grant Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of                      (the “Date of Grant”), is delivered by QxBranch, Inc. (the “Company”) to                      (the “Grantee”).

RECITALS

A.    The QxBranch, Inc. 2018 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) provides for the grant of stock options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (“Company Stock”). The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has decided to make this nonqualified stock option grant as an inducement for the Grantee to promote the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

B.    All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. A copy of the Plan is attached as Exhibit A.

C.    The Board is authorized to appoint a committee to administer the Plan. If a committee is appointed, all references in this Agreement to the “Board” shall be deemed to refer to the committee.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Agreement, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

1.    Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee a nonqualified stock option (the “Option”) to purchase                 shares of Company Stock (“Shares”) at an Exercise Price of $         per Share. The Option shall become vested and exercisable according to Section 2 below.

2.    Vesting and Exercisability of Option.

(a)    The Option shall vest and become exercisable as to [(i) 25% of the Units subject to the Option on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, and (ii) 75% of the Units subject to the Option in 36 equal installments following the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, on the last day of each corresponding calendar month] (each, a “Vesting Date”), if the Grantee continues to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer from the Date of Grant until the applicable Vesting Date.

(b)    The vesting and exercisability of the Option is cumulative, but shall not exceed 100% of the Shares subject to the Option. If the foregoing schedule would produce fractional Shares, the number of Shares for which the Option becomes vested and exercisable shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Share.

 

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3.    Term of Option.

(a)    The Option shall have a term of ten years from the Date of Grant and shall terminate at the expiration of that period, unless it is terminated at an earlier date pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or the Plan.

(b)    The Option shall automatically terminate upon the happening of the first of the following events:

(i)    The expiration of the 90-day period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer, if the termination is for any reason other than Disability, death or Cause.

(ii)    The expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer on account of the Grantee’s Disability.

(iii)    The expiration of the one-year period after the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer, if the Grantee dies while employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or ceases to be so employed or provide such services on account of a termination described in subsection (i) above.

(iv)    The date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer for Cause. In addition, notwithstanding the prior provisions of this Section 3, if the Grantee engages in conduct that constitutes Cause after the Grantee’s employment or service terminates, the Option shall immediately terminate, and the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all Shares underlying any exercised portion of the Option upon refund by the Company of the lower of the Exercise Price paid by the Grantee for such Shares or the Fair Market Value of such Shares.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after the date that is immediately before the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant. Any portion of the Option that is not exercisable at the time the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer shall immediately terminate.

4.    Exercise Procedures.

(a)    Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 and 3 above, the Grantee may exercise part or all of the exercisable Option by giving the Company written notice of intent to exercise in the manner provided in this Agreement, specifying the number of Shares as to which the Option is to be exercised and the method of payment. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be made in accordance with procedures established by the Board from time to time based on the type of payment being made but, in any event, prior to issuance of the Shares. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price (i) in cash, (ii) with the approval of the Board, by delivering Shares of the Company, which shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery, or by attestation (on a form prescribed by the Board) to ownership of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price, (iii) after a Public Offering, by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, or (iv) by such other method as the Board may approve. The Board may impose from time to time such limitations as it deems appropriate on the use of Shares of the Company to exercise the Option.

 

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(b)    The obligation of the Company to deliver Shares upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed appropriate by the Board, including such actions as Company counsel shall deem necessary or appropriate to comply with relevant securities laws and regulations. The Company may require that the Grantee (or other person exercising the Option after the Grantee’s death) represent that the Grantee is purchasing Shares for the Grantee’s own account and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the Shares, or such other representation as the Board deems appropriate.

(c)    All obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall be subject to the rights of the Employer as set forth in the Plan to withhold amounts required to be withheld for any Withholding Taxes, if applicable. Subject to Board approval, the Grantee may elect to satisfy any Withholding Tax obligation of the Employer with respect to the Option by having Shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the minimum applicable Withholding Tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and local tax liabilities (or such other rate approved by the Committee that does not result in adverse tax consequences).

5.    Change of Control. The provisions of the Plan applicable to a Change of Control shall apply to the Option, and, in the event of a Change of Control, [the Board may take such actions as it deems appropriate pursuant to the Plan] or [the Option shall immediately become vested and exercisable with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to the Option].

6.    Right of First Refusal; Repurchase Right; Stockholder’s Agreement. As a condition of receiving this Option, the Grantee hereby agrees that all Shares issued under the Plan shall be subject to a right of first refusal and repurchase right as described in the Plan, and the Board may require that the Grantee (or other person exercising the Option) execute a joinder to each of the voting agreement and right of first refusal and co-sale agreement to which the Company and certain of its stockholders are party and any other stockholder agreements among the Company and the Company’s stockholders, in such form as the Board determines, with respect to all Shares issued upon the exercise of the Option before a Public Offering.

7.    Restrictions on Exercise. Except as the Board may otherwise permit pursuant to the Plan, only the Grantee may exercise the Option during the Grantee’s lifetime and, after the Grantee’s death, the Option shall be exercisable (subject to the limitations specified in the Plan) solely by the legal representatives of the Grantee, or by the person who acquires the right to exercise the Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, to the extent that the Option is exercisable pursuant to this Agreement.

8.    Grant Subject to Plan Provisions. This grant is made pursuant to the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, and in all respects shall be interpreted in accordance with the Plan. The grant and exercise of the Option are subject to the provisions of the Plan and to interpretations, regulations and determinations concerning the Plan established from time to time by the Board in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, including, but not limited to,

 

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provisions pertaining to (a) rights and obligations with respect to Withholding Taxes, (b) the registration, qualification or listing of the Shares, (c) changes in capitalization of the Company and (d) other requirements of applicable law. The Board shall have the authority to interpret and construe the Option pursuant to the terms of the Plan, and its decisions shall be conclusive as to any questions arising hereunder.

9.    No Employment or Other Rights. The grant of the Option shall not confer upon the Grantee any right to be retained by or in the employ or service of the Employer and shall not interfere in any way with the right of the Employer to terminate the Grantee’s employment or service at any time. The right of the Employer to terminate at will the Grantee’s employment or service at any time for any reason is specifically reserved.

10.    No Stockholder Rights. Neither the Grantee, nor any person entitled to exercise the Grantee’s rights in the event of the Grantee’s death, shall have any of the rights and privileges of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to the Option, until certificates for Shares have been issued upon the exercise of the Option.

11.    Lock-Up. The Grantee shall not transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any Options (vested or unvested) during Grantee’s employment or service with the Company; provided, however, that the Grantee, or a Grantee’s estate in the event of Grantee’s death, may transfer all or part of his Option only upon death or incapacity, for bona fide estate planning purposes by will or intestacy to his spouse, child (natural or adopted), or any other direct lineal descendant of Grantee (or his spouse) (all of the foregoing collectively referred to as “family members”), or any custodian or trustee of any trust, partnership or limited liability company for the benefit of, or the ownership interests of which are owned wholly by such Grantee or any such family members, or undue hardship.

12.    Applicable Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

13.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire understanding between the Company and Grantee with respect to the matter set forth herein, and shall supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, inducements or conditions, express or implied, oral or written.

14.    Notice. Any notice to the Company provided for in this Agreement shall be addressed to the Company in care of the President at the corporate headquarters of the Company, and any notice to the Grantee shall be addressed to such Grantee at the current address shown on the payroll of the Employer, or to such other address as the Grantee may designate to the Employer in writing. Any notice shall be delivered by hand, sent by telecopy or enclosed in a properly sealed envelope addressed as stated above, registered and deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused its duly authorized officers to execute and attest this Agreement, and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, effective as of the Date of Grant.

 

QXBRANCH, INC.
By:  

 

Printed Name:
Title:

I hereby accept the Option described in this Agreement, and I agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. I hereby further agree that all the decisions and determinations of the Board shall be final and binding.

 

GRANTEE

 

Printed Name:
Date:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT]


EXHIBIT A

QXBRANCH, INC. 2018 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

Form S-8

(Form Type)

Rigetti Computing, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered

 

Security Type   Security Class Title   Fee
Calculation
Rule
  Amount Registered  

Proposed
Maximum

Offering
Price Per
Unit

 

Maximum Aggregate

Offering Price

  Fee Rate   Amount of
Registration Fee
               
Equity   Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022
Equity Incentive Plan

Common Stock, $0.0001 par
value per share

  Other(2)   18,332,215(7)(8)   $6.83(2)   $125,209,028.45   $0.0000927   $11,606.88(14)
               
Equity   Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022
Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Common Stock, $0.0001 par
value per share

  Other(3)   3,055,370(9)(10)   $5.81(3)   $17,751,699.70   $0.0000927   $1,645.59(14)
               
Equity   Rigetti & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity
Incentive Plan

Common Stock, $0.0001 par
value per share (options)

  Other(4)   9,866,013(11)   $0.37(4)   $3,650,424.81   $0.0000927   $338.40(14)
               
Equity   Rigetti & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity
Incentive Plan

Common Stock, $0.0001 par
value per share (RSUs)

  Other(5)   8,501,683(12)   $6.83(5)   $58,066,494.89   $0.0000927   $5,382.77(14)
               
Equity   QxBranch, Inc. 2018 Equity

Compensation Plan

Common Stock, $0.0001 par

value per share (options)

  Other(6)   2,053(13)   $0.28(6)   $574.84   $0.0000927   $0.06(14)
         
Total Offering Amounts               $18,973.70
         
Total Fees Previously Paid               —  
         
Total Fee Offsets               —  
         
Net Fee Due                 

$18,973.70

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of the Registrant which become issuable under the Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”), the Rigetti & Co, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2013 Plan”), the QxBranch, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “QxBranch Plan”) and under the Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2022 ESPP”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction which results in an increase in the number of shares of the Registrant’s outstanding Common Stock.


(2)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 8, 2022, which date is within five business days prior to the filing of this Registration Statement.

(3)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 8, 2022, which date is within five business days prior to the filing of this Registration Statement, multiplied by 85%, which is the percentage of the trading price per share applicable to purchasers under the 2022 ESPP.

(4)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the weighted-average exercise prices of stock option awards outstanding under the 2013 Plan as of the date of this Registration Statement.

(5)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 8, 2022, which date is within five business days prior to the filing of this Registration Statement.

(6)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the weighted-average exercise prices of stock option awards outstanding under the the QxBranch Plan as of the date of this Registration Statement.

(7)

Represents 18,332,215 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the 2022 Plan. To the extent that any awards outstanding under the 2022 Plan are forfeited, are cancelled, are held back upon exercise or settlement of an award to cover any exercise price, as applicable, or tax withholding, are reacquired by the Registrant prior to vesting, are satisfied without the issuance of stock or are otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement, the shares reserved for issuance pursuant to such awards will become available for issuance as shares of Common Stock under the 2022 Plan.

(8)

The number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2022 Plan will automatically increase on January 1st of each year for a period of nine years commencing on January 1, 2023 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2032, in an amount equal to 5% of the common stock of all classes outstanding on December 31 of the preceding year; provided, however, that the board of directors of the Registrant (the “Board”) may act prior to January 1st of a given year to provide that the increase for such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock. This explanation is provided for informational purposes only. The issuance of such shares is not being registered on this Registration Statement.

(9)

Represents 3,055,370 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuances under the 2022 ESPP.

(10)

The number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2022 ESPP will automatically increase on January 1st of each year for a period of nine years commencing on January 1, 2023 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2032, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of capital stock outstanding on a fully diluted basis on December 31st of the preceding calendar year, and (ii) 3,055,370 shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to the first day of any calendar year to provide that there will be no January 1st increase in the share reserve for such calendar year or that the increase in the share reserve for such calendar year will be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence. This explanation is provided for informational purposes only. The issuance of such shares is not being registered on this Registration Statement.

(11)

Represents 9,866,013 shares of Common Stock underlying stock option awards previously granted and outstanding under the 2013 Plan, as assumed by the Registrant on March 2, 2022 pursuant to the the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 6, 2021, as amended on December 23, 2021, and as further amended on January 10, 2022 (as amended, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd., the predecessor Registrant (“Supernova”), Supernova Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Supernova, Supernova Romeo Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Supernova, and Rigetti Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(12)

Represents 8,501,683 shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock unit awards previously granted and outstanding under the 2013 Plan, as assumed by the Registrant on March 2, 2022 pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

(13)

Represents 2,053 shares of Common Stock underlying stock option awards previously granted and outstanding under the QxBranch Plan, as assumed by the Registrant on March 2, 2022 pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

(14)

Calculated pursuant to Rule 457 of the Securities Act by calculating the product of (i) the proposed maximum aggregate offering price and (ii) 0.0000927.