Registration No. 333-218605
Registration No. 333-221534
Registration No. 333-223880
Registration No. 333-227449
Registration No. 333-230578
Registration No. 333-234541
Registration No. 333-249619
Registration No. 333-253064
Registration No. 333-257724
Registration No. 333-264150
Registration No. 333-271121
Registration No. 333-271123
Registration No. 333-278587
Registration No. 333-278588
Registration No. 333-286345
Registration No. 333-286347
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-218605
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-221534
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-223880
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-227449
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-230578
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-234541
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-249619
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-253064
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-257724
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-264150
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-271121
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-271123
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-278587
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-278588
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-286345
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-286347
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 36-5142687 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1390 McCarthy Boulevard
Milpitas, CA 95035
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
(Full Title of the Plans)
Anne Kuykendall
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer,
and Secretary
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
1390 McCarthy Boulevard
Milpitas, CA 95035 (510) 623-1231
(Name and Address of Agent for Service) (Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
With copies to:
Mark M. Bekheit Erica Kassman Latham & Watkins LLP 140 Scott Drive Menlo Park, California 94025 Telephone: (650) 328-4600 Facsimile: (650) 463-2600 |
Anne Kuykendall Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary Penguin Solutions, Inc. 1390 McCarthy Boulevard Milpitas, CA 95035 (510) 623-1231 |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment is being filed pursuant to Rule 414 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), by Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Penguin Solutions Delaware or the Registrant), as successor issuer to Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (Penguin Solutions Cayman). On June 30, 2025, Penguin Solutions Cayman completed a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement (the Scheme of Arrangement), as part of Penguin Solutions Caymans previously announced intention to redomicile to the United States (the Redomiciliation). Pursuant to the Redomiciliation, among other things, all issued ordinary shares in the capital of Penguin Solutions Cayman as of the scheme record time under the Scheme of Arrangement were exchanged on a one-for-one basis for newly issued shares of common stock of Penguin Solutions Delaware. As a result of the Redomiciliation, Penguin Solutions Cayman is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penguin Solutions Delaware, and Penguin Solutions Delaware is the successor issuer to Penguin Solutions Cayman.
In connection with the Redomiciliation, Penguin Solutions Delaware assumed Penguin Solutions Caymans existing obligations in connection with awards granted under Penguin Solutions Caymans equity incentive plans, assumed and amended and restated such plans and amended such awards as necessary to provide for the issuance of shares of Penguin Solutions Delaware common stock rather than the ordinary shares of Penguin Solutions Cayman upon the exercise or vesting of awards or purchase of shares. This Post-Effective Amendment pertains to the adoption by Penguin Solutions Delaware of the following registration statements on Form S-8 (collectively, the Registration Statements): (i) Registration No. 333-218605, (ii) Registration No. 333-221534, (iii) Registration No. 333-223880, (iv) Registration No. 333-227449, (v) Registration No. 333-230578, (vi) Registration No. 333-234541, (vii) Registration No. 333-249619, (viii) Registration No. 333-253064, (ix) Registration No. 333-257724, (x) Registration No. 333-264150, (xi) Registration No. 333-271121, (xii) Registration No. 333-271123, (xiii) Registration No. 333-278587, (xiv) Registration No. 333-278588, (xv) Registration No. 333-286345 and (xvi) Registration No. 333-286347. Penguin Solutions Delaware hereby expressly adopts each Registration Statement as its own registration statement for all purposes of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). This Post-Effective Amendment constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to each of the Registration Statements.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being filed with or included in this Post-Effective Amendment (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants in the equity benefit plans covered by this Post-Effective Amendment as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. | Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
Penguin Solutions Delaware hereby incorporates by reference the following documents previously filed with the SEC (only to the extent filed and not furnished in accordance with SEC rules):
(a) | Annual Report of Penguin Solutions Cayman on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on October 24, 2024; | |
(b) | Quarterly Reports of Penguin Solutions Cayman on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended November 29, 2024 and February 28, 2025, filed with the SEC on January 8, 2025 and April 2, 2025, respectively; | |
(c) | Penguin Solutions Caymans Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 3, 2024, October 15, 2024 (Item 5.03 only), December 16, 2024 (other than Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1), February 12, 2025, March 24, 2025, April 2, 2025 (Item 5.02 only), June 17, 2025 and June 26, 2025 (other than Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1); |
(d) | Penguin Solutions Delawares Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 30, 2025 (other than Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1); and | |
(e) | The description of Penguin Solutions Delawares common stock that is contained in Penguin Solutions Delawares Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2025 pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All reports that Penguin Solutions Delaware subsequently files pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, on or after the date of this Post-Effective Amendment and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Post-Effective Amendment, which indicate that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or which deregister all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and documents. Unless expressly incorporated in this Post-Effective Amendment, a report furnished on Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by reference into this Post-Effective Amendment.
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Post-Effective Amendment to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Post-Effective Amendment.
Item 4. | Description of Securities. |
Not applicable.
Item 5. | Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
Not applicable.
Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), 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, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that 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), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person 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 the persons conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action brought by or in the right of a corporation, the corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any such threatened, pending or completed action by reason of the fact that 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 such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action if such person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent the appropriate court finds that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court shall deem proper.
The Penguin Solutions Delaware amended and restated bylaws provide that its directors and officers will be indemnified by Penguin Solutions Delaware to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative which such director or officer was, is made, or is threatened to be made a party to by reason of the fact of their service as a director or officer on behalf of the corporation.
As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Penguin Solutions Delaware amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that a director or officer of Penguin Solutions Delaware shall not be personally liable to Penguin Solutions Delaware or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended.
Penguin Solutions Delaware has also entered into certain indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. The indemnification agreements provide Penguin Solutions Delawares directors and executive officers with further indemnification, to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL.
As permitted by Section 145(g) of the DGCL, Penguin Solutions Delaware also maintains a directors and officers insurance policy that insures the directors and officers of Penguin Solutions Delaware against liability asserted against such persons in such capacity whether or not such directors or officers have the right to indemnification pursuant to the Penguin Solutions Delaware certificate of incorporation, bylaws or otherwise.
Item 7. | Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
Not Applicable.
Item 8. | Exhibits. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Item 9. | Undertakings. |
(a) The 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Filing Fee Tables or Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective Registration Statement; |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC 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 Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h) 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statements to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Milpitas, State of California, on this 30th day of June, 2025.
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Anne Kuykendall | |
Anne Kuykendall | ||
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Mark Adams, Nate Olmstead and Anne Kuykendall, and each of them, with full power of substitution and full power to act without the others, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act for him or her in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statements amended by this Post-Effective Amendment, and to file this Post-Effective Amendment, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, 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 order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as they or 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, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
/s/ Mark Adams Mark Adams |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
June 30, 2025 | ||
/s/ Nate Olmstead Nate Olmstead |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
June 30, 2025 | ||
/s/ Penelope Herscher Penelope Herscher |
Chairperson of the Board of Directors | June 30, 2025 | ||
/s/ Min Yong Ha Min Yong Ha |
Director | June 30, 2025 | ||
/s/ Bryan Ingram Bryan Ingram |
Director | June 30, 2025 | ||
/s/ Sandeep Nayyar Sandeep Nayyar |
Director | June 30, 2025 |
/s/ Mark Papermaster Mark Papermaster |
Director | June 30, 2025 | ||
/s/ Mary Puma Mary Puma |
Director | June 30, 2025 | ||
/s/ Maximiliane Straub Maximiliane Straub |
Director | June 30, 2025 |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC.
Penguin Solutions, Inc. (the Corporation), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), does hereby certify as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is Penguin Solutions, Inc. The Corporation was incorporated by the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 20, 2025.
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Restated Certificate), which amends, restates and further integrates the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation as heretofore in effect, has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board of Directors) in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL, and has been adopted by the written consent of the stockholder of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
3. The text of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated by this Restated Certificate to read in its entirety as set forth in EXHIBIT A attached hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Penguin Solutions, Inc. has caused this Restated Certificate to be signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation, on June 27, 2025.
Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Nate Olmstead | |
Name: | Nate Olmstead | |
Title: | President |
[Signature Page to Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended & Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
EXHIBIT A
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is Penguin Solutions, Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
The address of the Corporations registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801, and the name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL) as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented.
ARTICLE IV
The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 230,000,000. The total number of shares of Common Stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 200,000,000, having a par value of $0.03 per share, and the total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 30,000,000, having a par value of $0.03 per share.
ARTICLE V
The designations and the powers, privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation are as follows:
A. COMMON STOCK
1. General. The voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and powers of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of any series of Preferred Stock as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board of Directors) and outstanding from time to time.
2. Voting. Except as otherwise provided herein or expressly required by law, each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to vote on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders and shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation (as defined below)) that relates solely to the rights, powers, preferences (or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) or other terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.
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Subject to the rights of any holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
3. Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights and preferences of any holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to the payment of dividends on the Common Stock when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law.
4. Liquidation. Subject to the rights and preferences of any holders of any shares of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the funds and assets of the Corporation that may be legally distributed to the Corporations stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock pro rata in accordance with the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder.
B. PREFERRED STOCK
Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such terms as stated or expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the creation and issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided.
Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation of any such series, by adopting a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of the shares thereof and by filing a certificate of designation relating thereto in accordance with the DGCL (a Certificate of Designation), to determine and fix the number of shares of such series and such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights (including the dividend rate, whether such dividends will be cumulative and if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that series), conversion rights (and, if conversion rights attach, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine), redemption privileges and liquidation preferences (including the rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation or winding up of the Corporation), and to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the creation and issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law and this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation). Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled only to such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Restated Certificate (including any Certificate of Designation).
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The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
ARTICLE VI
For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:
A. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the directors of the Corporation shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. The initial Class I directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date that this Restated Certificate is accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the Effective Date); the initial Class II directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date; and the initial Class III directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date, subject to any special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. The Board of Directors is authorized to designate members of the Board of Directors already in office as Class I, Class II and Class III.
B. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the DGCL or this Restated Certificate, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors.
C. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.
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D. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, except as otherwise provided by law, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, retirement, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (other than any directors elected by the separate vote of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock). Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the class to which such director shall have been appointed or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
E. Whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the number of directors that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed pursuant to paragraph B of this Article VI, and the total number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be automatically adjusted accordingly. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation(s) in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such Certificate of Designation(s), the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such series of Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.
F. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the Bylaws). In addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock) or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors.
G. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
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ARTICLE VII
A. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and shall not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding shares of the relevant series of Preferred Stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
B. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or President, and shall not be called by any other person or persons.
C. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
No director or officer of the Corporation shall have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article VIII, or the adoption of any provision of the Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption. If the DGCL is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VIII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.
ARTICLE IX
The Corporation shall have the power to provide rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to its current and former officers, directors, employees and agents and to any person who 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.
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ARTICLE X
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the Chancery Court) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Bylaws of the Corporation or this Restated Certificate (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Article X, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a Foreign Action) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholders counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article X. This Article X is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its officers and directors, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article X shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.
If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE XI
A. In addition to any vote required by applicable law or this Restated Certificate, the following provisions in this Restated Certificate may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: Part B of Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X and this Article XI.
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B. If any provision or provisions of this Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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Table of Contents
Page | ||||||
Article I - Corporate Offices |
3 | |||||
1.1 |
Registered Office | 3 | ||||
1.2 |
Other Offices | 3 | ||||
Article II - Meetings of Stockholders |
3 | |||||
2.1 |
Place of Meetings | 3 | ||||
2.2 |
Annual Meeting | 3 | ||||
2.3 |
Special Meeting | 3 | ||||
2.4 |
Notice of Business to be Brought before an Annual Meeting | 4 | ||||
2.5 |
Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board | 8 | ||||
2.6 |
Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors | 11 | ||||
2.7 |
Notice of Stockholders Meetings | 13 | ||||
2.8 |
Quorum | 13 | ||||
2.9 |
Adjourned Meeting; Notice | 13 | ||||
2.10 |
Conduct of Business | 13 | ||||
2.11 |
Voting | 14 | ||||
2.12 |
Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes | 14 | ||||
2.13 |
Proxies | 15 | ||||
2.14 |
List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 15 | ||||
2.15 |
Inspectors of Election | 16 | ||||
2.16 |
Delivery to the Corporation | 16 | ||||
Article III - Directors |
17 | |||||
3.1 |
Powers | 17 | ||||
3.2 |
Number of Directors | 17 | ||||
3.3 |
Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors | 17 | ||||
3.4 |
Resignation and Vacancies | 17 | ||||
3.5 |
Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone | 17 | ||||
3.6 |
Regular Meetings | 18 | ||||
3.7 |
Special Meetings; Notice | 18 | ||||
3.8 |
Quorum | 18 | ||||
3.9 |
Board Action without a Meeting | 18 | ||||
3.10 |
Fees and Compensation of Directors | 19 | ||||
Article IV - Committees |
19 | |||||
4.1 |
Committees of Directors | 19 | ||||
4.2 |
Committee Minutes | 19 | ||||
4.3 |
Meetings and Actions of Committees | 19 | ||||
4.4 |
Subcommittees | 20 | ||||
Article V - Officers |
20 | |||||
5.1 |
Officers | 20 | ||||
5.2 |
Appointment of Officers | 20 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | ||||||
5.3 |
Subordinate Officers | 20 | ||||
5.4 |
Removal and Resignation of Officers | 21 | ||||
5.5 |
Vacancies in Offices | 21 | ||||
5.6 |
Representation of Shares of Other Corporations | 21 | ||||
5.7 |
Authority and Duties of Officers | 21 | ||||
5.8 |
Compensation | 21 | ||||
Article VI - Records |
21 | |||||
Article VII - General Matters |
22 | |||||
7.1 |
Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments | 22 | ||||
7.2 |
Stock Certificates | 22 | ||||
7.3 |
Special Designation of Certificates | 23 | ||||
7.4 |
Lost Certificates | 23 | ||||
7.5 |
Shares Without Certificates | 23 | ||||
7.6 |
Construction; Definitions | 23 | ||||
7.7 |
Dividends | 23 | ||||
7.8 |
Fiscal Year | 24 | ||||
7.9 |
Seal | 24 | ||||
7.10 |
Transfer of Stock | 24 | ||||
7.11 |
Stock Transfer Agreements | 24 | ||||
7.12 |
Registered Stockholders | 24 | ||||
7.13 |
Waiver of Notice | 25 | ||||
Article VIII - Notice |
25 | |||||
8.1 |
Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission | 25 | ||||
Article IX - Indemnification |
26 | |||||
9.1 |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers | 26 | ||||
9.2 |
Indemnification of Others | 26 | ||||
9.3 |
Advancement of Expenses | 26 | ||||
9.4 |
Determination; Claim | 26 | ||||
9.5 |
Non-Exclusivity of Rights | 27 | ||||
9.6 |
Insurance | 27 | ||||
9.7 |
Other Indemnification | 27 | ||||
9.8 |
Continuation of Indemnification | 27 | ||||
9.9 |
Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation | 27 | ||||
Article X - Amendments |
28 | |||||
Article XI - Definitions |
28 |
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Article I - Corporate Offices
1.1 Registered Office.
The address of the registered office of Penguin Solutions, Inc. (the Corporation) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporations certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the Certificate of Incorporation).
1.2 Other Offices.
The Corporation may have additional offices at any place or places, within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporations board of directors (the Board) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may require.
Article II - Meetings of Stockholders
2.1 Place of Meetings.
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders meetings shall be held at the Corporations principal executive office.
2.2 Annual Meeting.
The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting of stockholders. At the annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws may be transacted. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.
2.3 Special Meeting.
Special meetings of stockholders may be called only by such persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.
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2.4 Notice of Business to be Brought before an Annual Meeting.
(a) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof), (ii) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) or the Chairperson of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A) (1) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the Exchange Act). The foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling the meeting, and stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.4, present in person shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appears at such annual meeting. A qualified representative of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.
(b) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not more than the hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than (i) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, (ii) if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made by the Corporation (such notice within such time periods, Timely Notice). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.
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(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(i) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporations books and records), (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (C) the date or dates such shares were acquired, (D) the investment intent of such acquisition and (E) any pledge by such Proposing Person with respect to any of such shares (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (E) are referred to as Stockholder Information);
(ii) As to each Proposing Person,
(A) the material terms and conditions of any derivative security (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a call equivalent position (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) or a put equivalent position (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or other derivative or synthetic arrangement in respect of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation (Synthetic Equity Position) that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person, including, without limitation:
(1) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, future or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation,
(2) any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position or a short position in any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, a stock loan transaction, a stock borrow transaction, or a share repurchase transaction, or
(3) any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to (x) produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (y) mitigate any loss relating to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of, or manage the risk of share price decrease in, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, or (z) increase or decrease the voting power in respect of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation of such Proposing Person, including, without limitation, due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the holder thereof may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the price or value of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;
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provided that, for the purposes of the definition of Synthetic Equity Position, the term derivative security shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a derivative security as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be required to disclose any Synthetic Equity Position that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Persons business as a derivatives dealer,
(B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation,
(C) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation,
(D) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand,
(E) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement),
(F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or a Synthetic Equity Position held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which any such Proposing Person (1) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership or (2) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity,
(G) a representation that such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal, and
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(H) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (H) are referred to as Disclosable Interests); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and
(iii) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.
For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term Proposing Person shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(d) The Board may request that any Proposing Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board. Such Proposing Person shall provide such additional information within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Board.
(e) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
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(f) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The presiding officer of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
(g) This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporations proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(h) For purposes of these bylaws, public disclosure shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
2.5 Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board.
(a) Nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (ii) by a stockholder present in person who (A) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 as to such notice and nomination. For purposes of this Section 2.5, present in person shall mean that the stockholder nominating any person for election to the Board at the meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting. A qualified representative of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting or special meeting.
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(b)
(i) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (1) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (2) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (3) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.
(ii) Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling a special meeting, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at a special meeting, the stockholder must (i) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (ii) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (iii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. To be timely, a stockholders notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of the date of such special meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, Special Meeting Timely Notice).
(iii) In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(iv) In no event may a Nominating Person provide Timely Notice or Special Meeting Timely Notice, as applicable, with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by stockholders at the applicable meeting. If the Corporation shall, subsequent to such notice, increase the number of directors subject to election at the meeting, such notice as to any additional nominees shall be due on the later of (i) the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice or Special Meeting Timely Notice, as applicable, or (ii) the date set forth in Section 2.5(b)(ii) or (iii) the tenth day following the date of public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of such increase.
(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth:
(i) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(i), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term Nominating Person shall be substituted for the term Proposing Person in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(i));
(ii) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(ii), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term Nominating Person shall be substituted for the term Proposing Person in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(ii) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(c)(ii) shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting); and provided that, in lieu of including the information set forth in Section 2.4(c)(ii)(G), the Nominating Persons notice for purposes of this Section 2.5 shall include a representation as to whether the Nominating Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and solicit the holders of shares representing at least 67% of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of director nominees other than the Corporations nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act; and
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(iii) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidates written consent to being named in a proxy statement and accompanying proxy card relating to the Corporations next meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected and to serving as a director for a full term if elected), (B) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the registrant for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant and (C) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.6(a).
For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term Nominating Person shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(d) The Board may request that any Nominating Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board. Such Nominating Person shall provide such additional information within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Board.
(e) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new nomination.
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(f) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5, unless otherwise required by law, (i) no Nominating Person shall solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporations nominees unless such Nominating Person has complied with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with the solicitation of such proxies, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner and (ii) if any Nominating Person (1) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) or Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner, or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Nominating Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence, then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that the nominee is included as a nominee in the Corporations proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials for any annual meeting (or any supplement thereto) and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Corporation (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). If any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than seven (7) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
2.6 Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors.
(a) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.5 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (i) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a Voting Commitment) or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominees ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominees fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such persons term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect), and (D) if elected as a director of the Corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election.
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(b) The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a director to furnish such other information related to such candidates eligibility or qualification to serve as a director as may reasonably be requested by the Board in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidates nomination is to be acted upon. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may request such other information in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation or to comply with the director qualification standards and additional selection criteria in accordance with the Corporations Corporate Governance Guidelines. Such other information shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (or any other office specified by the Corporation in any public announcement) not later than five (5) business days after the request by the Board has been delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Nominating Person.
(c) A candidate for nomination as a director shall further update and supplement the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.6, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (or any other office specified by the Corporation in any public announcement) not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporations rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
(d) No candidate nominated pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(ii) shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidates name in nomination has complied with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, as applicable. The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6.
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2.7 Notice of Stockholders Meetings.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting of stockholders, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called.
2.8 Quorum.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. Where a separate vote by class or series is required, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum with respect to that matter. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of stockholders, then either (i) the person presiding over the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to recess the meeting or adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. At any recessed or adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.
2.9 Adjourned Meeting; Notice.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. At any adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
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2.10 Conduct of Business.
The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall be designated by the Board; in the absence of such designation, the chairperson of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer (in the absence of the chairperson), or in their absence any other executive officer of the Corporation, shall serve as chairperson of the stockholder meeting. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures (which need not be in writing) and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present (including, without limitation, rules and procedures for removal of disruptive persons from the meeting); (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting (including, without limitation, determinations with respect to the administration and/or interpretation of any of the rules, regulations or procedures of the meeting, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting), shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
2.11 Voting.
Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designation relating to any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation then in effect, these bylaws or the DGCL, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.
Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, at all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, each other matter presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter.
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2.12 Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting, but the Board shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original meeting. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
2.13 Proxies.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law, including Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of an electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the transmission was authorized by the stockholder.
Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board.
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2.14 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.
The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporations principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.14 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
2.15 Inspectors of Election.
Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If any person appointed as inspector or any alternate fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the person presiding over the meeting shall appoint a person to fill that vacancy.
Such inspectors shall:
(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting and the validity of any proxies and ballots;
(ii) count all votes or ballots;
(iii) count and tabulate all votes;
(iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s); and
(v) certify its or their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and its or their count of all votes and ballots.
Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspection with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspectors ability. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.
2.16 Delivery to the Corporation.
Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect to the delivery of information and documents to the Corporation required by this Article II.
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Article III - Directors
3.1 Powers.
Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
3.2 Number of Directors.
Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that directors term of office expires.
3.3 Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors.
Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, and subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the class, if any, for which elected and until such directors successor is elected and qualified or until such directors earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Directors need not be stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.
3.4 Resignation and Vacancies.
Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date or upon the happening of an event to occur on a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in Section 3.3.
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
3.5 Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone.
The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
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3.6 Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board may be held within or outside the State of Delaware and at such time and at such place as which has been designated by the Board and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, or by electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board.
3.7 Special Meetings; Notice.
Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:
(i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;
(ii) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;
(iii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail; or
(iv) sent by other means of electronic transmission,
directed to each director at that directors address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, or other address for electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporations records.
If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, or (iii) sent by other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporations principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.
3.8 Quorum.
At all meetings of the Board, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
3.9 Board Action without a Meeting.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board.
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3.10 Fees and Compensation of Directors.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.
Article IV - Committees
4.1 Committees of Directors.
The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist, of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.
4.2 Committee Minutes.
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
4.3 Meetings and Actions of Committees.
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:
(i) Section 3.5 (place of meetings; meetings by telephone);
(ii) Section 3.6 (regular meetings);
(iii) Section 3.7 (special meetings; notice);
(iv) Section 3.9 (board action without a meeting); and
(v) Section 7.13 (waiver of notice),
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with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:
(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;
(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or the chairperson of the applicable committee; and
(iii) the Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.
4.4 Subcommittees.
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws or the resolutions of the Board designating the committee, a committee may create one (1) or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one (1) or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
Article V - Officers
5.1 Officers.
The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a President and a Secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a Chairperson of the Board, a Vice Chairperson of the Board, a Treasurer, one (1) or more Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Treasurers, one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. No officer need be a stockholder or director of the Corporation.
5.2 Appointment of Officers.
The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws.
5.3 Subordinate Officers.
The Board may appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer, the President, to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.
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5.4 Removal and Resignation of Officers.
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
5.5 Vacancies in Offices.
Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Section 5.2.
5.6 Representation of Shares of Other Corporations.
The Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President of this Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares or voting securities of any other corporation or other person standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
5.7 Authority and Duties of Officers.
All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.
5.8 Compensation.
The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by or at the direction of the Board. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.
Article VI - Records
A stock ledger consisting of one or more records in which the names of all of the Corporations stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the Corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL shall be administered by or on behalf of the Corporation. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept (i) can be used to prepare the list of stockholders specified in Sections 219 and 220 of the DGCL, (ii) record the information specified in Sections 156, 159, 217(a) and 218 of the DGCL, and (iii) record transfers of stock as governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in the State of Delaware.
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Article VII - General Matters
7.1 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments.
The Board, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
7.2 Stock Certificates.
The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board by resolution may provide that some or all of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. In respect of a share or shares held jointly by several persons, the Corporation shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate, and delivery of a certificate for a share to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.
Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two officers authorized to sign stock certificates representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be specifically authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
The Corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly paid shares, or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the Corporation shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
Any two or more certificates representing shares of any one class or series held by any stockholder may, at such stockholders request, be cancelled and a single new certificate for such shares issued in lieu of payment (if the Board shall require) of $1.00 or such smaller sum as the Board shall determine.
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7.3 Special Designation of Certificates.
If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or on the back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of uncertificated shares, set forth in a notice provided pursuant to Section 151 of the DGCL); provided, however, that except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face of back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of any uncertificated shares, included in the aforementioned notice) a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
7.4 Lost Certificates.
Except as provided in this Section 7.4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen, damaged, defaced or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen, damaged, defaced or destroyed certificate, or such owners legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
7.5 Shares Without Certificates
The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.
7.6 Construction; Definitions.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.
7.7 Dividends.
The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in (i) the DGCL, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation or (iii) any certificate of designation relating to any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation then in effect, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporations capital stock.
The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.
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7.8 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.
7.9 Seal.
The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
7.10 Transfer of Stock.
Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holders attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the persons from and to whom it was transferred.
7.11 Stock Transfer Agreements.
The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.
7.12 Registered Stockholders.
The Corporation:
(i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner; and
(ii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
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7.13 Waiver of Notice.
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.
Article VIII - Notice
8.1 Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission.
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholders mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholders electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given (1) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (2) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholders address or (3) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholders electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail. A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation.
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation may give a notice by electronic mail in accordance with the first paragraph of this section without obtaining the consent required by this paragraph.
Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:
(i) | if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; |
(ii) | if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and |
(iii) | if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
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An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
Article IX - Indemnification
9.1 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation (or predecessor to the Corporation) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (a covered person), against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person only if the Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board.
9.2 Indemnification of Others.
The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.
9.3 Advancement of Expenses.
The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by any covered person, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an executed undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.
9.4 Determination; Claim.
If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days, or a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within thirty (30) days, after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may thereafter (but not before) file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.
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9.5 Non-Exclusivity of Rights.
The rights conferred on any person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
9.6 Insurance.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.
9.7 Other Indemnification.
The Corporations obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
9.8 Continuation of Indemnification.
The rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.
9.9 Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation.
The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such persons performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article IX the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the Corporation. With respect to current and former directors and officers of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of theses bylaws. With respect to any directors or officers of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or officer of the Corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
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Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article IX shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Secretary, or other officer of the Corporation appointed by (x) the Board pursuant to Article V of these bylaws or (y) an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of Vice President or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article IX.
Article X - Amendments
The Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that such action by stockholders shall require, in addition to any other vote required by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote generally in an election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Article XI - Definitions
As used in these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
An electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
An electronic mail means an electronic transmission directed to a unique electronic mail address (which electronic mail shall be deemed to include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files and information).
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An electronic mail address means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, consisting of a unique user name or mailbox (commonly referred to as the local part of the address) and a reference to an internet domain (commonly referred to as the domain part of the address), whether or not displayed, to which electronic mail can be sent or delivered.
The term person means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
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Exhibit 3.3
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
OF
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware
Penguin Solutions, Inc. (the Company), a corporation duly organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That, pursuant to the authority conferred by the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Certificate of Incorporation; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Certificate of Incorporation), the board of directors of the Company (the Board), at a duly called meeting at which a quorum was present and acted throughout, adopted the following resolutions, which resolutions have not in any way been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded and remain in full force and effect on the date hereof, creating a series of 200,000 shares of Preferred Stock having a par value of $0.03 per share, designated as Convertible Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board does hereby create, authorize and provide for the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock, par value $0.03 per share, of the Company, designated as Convertible Preferred Stock, having the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof that are set forth as follows:
1. Designation and Number of Shares. The shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be designated as Convertible Preferred Stock (the Convertible Preferred Stock), and the total number of authorized shares constituting such series shall be 200,000. Such number of authorized shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board (subject to Section 3.2 below), provided that no such increase shall increase the number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock to a number higher than the total number of authorized shares of the class, and no such decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock to a number lower than the number of shares of such series then issued and outstanding.
2. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up; Certain Mergers, Consolidations and Asset Sales; Liquidation Trigger Event.
2.1 Payments to Holders of Convertible Preferred Stock. In the event of a Liquidation Trigger Event, each holder of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the funds and assets available for distribution to the Companys stockholders (and, in the case of a Deemed Liquidation Event, out of the consideration payable to stockholders in connection therewith), the greater of (x) such holders Liquidation Preference and (y) the amount such holder would receive had such holder, immediately prior to such Liquidation Trigger Event, converted the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock held by such holder into shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Price then in effect in accordance with Section 4.1. No distribution or payment shall be made to or set aside for holders of Junior Shares or any other shares of the Company ranking junior to the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock as to such distribution or payment, by reason of their ownership thereof, until the foregoing amounts have been paid to holders of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock. Liquidation Preference means, as to each share of Convertible Preferred Stock, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Accumulated Stated Value, plus (ii) accrued but unpaid Dividends (whether or not declared) to the date of the applicable Liquidation Trigger Event to the extent such accrued but unpaid Dividends are not Compounded Dividends as of such time. If upon any such Liquidation Trigger Event, the funds and assets available for distribution to the stockholders of the Company shall be insufficient to pay the holders of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock the full amount to which they would otherwise be entitled under this Section 2.1 and the holders of Parity Shares the full amount to which they would otherwise be entitled with respect to such Liquidation Trigger Event, the holders of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock and Parity Shares shall share ratably in any distribution of the funds and assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts that would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock or Parity Shares, as the case may be, held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full.
2.2 Reserved.
2.3 Deemed Liquidation Events.
2.3.1 Definition. Each of the following events shall be considered a Deemed Liquidation Event unless the holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock (voting as a separate series) elect otherwise by written notice sent to the Company at least five (5) days prior to the effective date of any such event:
(a) any transaction (or series of related transactions) as a result of which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction (or such series) no longer hold, immediately following such transaction (or such series), equity securities representing at least a majority of the voting power to elect the board of directors (or similar governing body) of either the surviving or resulting party, or if the surviving or resulting party is a wholly owned subsidiary of another party immediately following such transaction, the parent of such surviving or resulting party; and
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(b) the sale, lease, exclusive license, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether by purchase and sale, merger, consolidation or otherwise, or, if substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by one or more subsidiaries of the Company, the sale or disposition (whether by merger or otherwise) of all of such subsidiaries of the Company, except where such sale, lease, exclusive license, transfer or other disposition is to the Company or one or more wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company.
2.3.2 Amount Deemed Paid or Distributed. The funds and assets deemed paid or distributed to the holders of capital stock of the Company upon any such Liquidation Trigger Event shall be the cash or the fair market value of the property, rights or securities paid or distributed to such holders by the Company or the acquiring person, firm or other entity. Any securities shall be valued as follows:
(a) Securities not subject to restrictions on free marketability covered by (b) below:
(i) If traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the volume weighted average prices of the securities on such exchange over the twenty (20) trading day period ending three (3) trading days prior to the effectiveness of the Deemed Liquidation Event;
(ii) If actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the volume weighted average bid or sale prices (whichever is applicable) over the twenty (20) trading day period ending three (3) trading days prior to the effectiveness of the Deemed Liquidation Event; and
(iii) If there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as reasonably determined by the Board.
(b) The method of valuation of securities subject to restrictions on free marketability (other than restrictions arising solely by virtue of a stockholders status as an affiliate or former affiliate) shall be to make an appropriate discount from the market value determined as above in Section 2.3.2(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) to reflect the approximate fair market value thereof, as determined by the Board.
2.3.3 Remaining Assets. After payment or setting aside for payment of the full amounts specified in this Section 2 to the holders of the Convertible Preferred Stock, any remaining assets of the Company legally available for distribution or, in the case of a Deemed Liquidation Event, consideration not payable to holders of Convertible Preferred Stock, shall be distributed to the holders of Junior Shares according to their respective rights and preferences.
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2.3.4 Effecting a Deemed Liquidation Event. The Company shall not have the power to effect a Deemed Liquidation Event unless the agreement or plan with respect to such transaction, or the terms of such transaction, provide that the consideration payable to stockholders of the Company in such Deemed Liquidation Event be allocated to the stockholders in accordance with this Section 2. Any share of Convertible Preferred Stock in respect of which the holder thereof has received payment in full of the amounts specified in this Section 2 upon the occurrence of a Liquidation Trigger Event shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding upon receipt of such payment, and all rights with respect to such share of Convertible Preferred Stock, including the rights, if any, to receive notices and to vote as Convertible Preferred Stock, shall immediately cease and terminate at the time of such payment in full.
3. | Voting. |
3.1 General. Except as prohibited by applicable law and without limiting any voting rights of holders of the Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to applicable law, each holder of Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to (i) vote as a single class with the holders of Common Stock on all matters submitted for a vote of holders of Common Stock, (ii) in connection with such vote, vote a number of votes equal to the largest number of whole shares of Common Stock in which all shares of Convertible Preferred Stock held of record by such holder could then be converted to pursuant to Section 4.1 at the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote on the applicable matter or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken and (iii) receive notice of and attend all stockholders meetings (or receive notice of any proposed action by written resolutions and given the right to provide or withhold such consent) and receive copies of all notices and other materials sent by the Company to its stockholders relating to meetings as if the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock were holders of Common Stock.
3.2 Protective Provisions.
3.2.1 At any time when any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Company shall not, either directly or indirectly (including through a subsidiary) by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, do any of the following without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation (or any certificate of designation relating to any series of the Preferred Stock)) the prior written consent or affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock (and for the avoidance of doubt, any of the actions prohibited by or taken in contravention of this Section 3.2.1 shall be ultra vires, null and void ab initio and of no force or effect):
(a) amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation (or any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), as then in effect, in a manner adverse to the powers, rights, preferences, restrictions or privileges of the Convertible Preferred Stock;
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(b) (i) issue shares of Convertible Preferred Stock (or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Convertible Preferred Stock) after the Original Issue Date; (ii) increase the authorized number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock; (iii) reclassify any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to give those shares a preference or priority as to dividends or assets or property superior to any existing series of Preferred Stock; or (iv) create or authorize the creation of, increase the authorized amount of, or issue (A) any class or series of shares that have, or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any class or series of shares where the underlying shares have, rights, preferences or privileges that are senior to, superior to, or on parity, in any respect, with the Convertible Preferred Stock (provided, however that, for the avoidance of doubt, shares of Common Stock or securities that are convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock shall not be deemed on parity with the Convertible Preferred Stock solely because the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock vote with or participate in dividends and distributions with shares of Common Stock on an as-converted basis) or (B) any class or series of shares that provide for, or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any class or series of shares where the underlying shares provide for, mandatory redemption or repurchase of such shares by the Company (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, conversion of such shares into shares of Common Stock deemed to be a repurchase of such converted shares); or
(c) (i) declare or pay any dividend on, (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or (iii) otherwise make any distribution with respect to, any shares of the Company (other than shares of Convertible Preferred Stock), except for dividends on shares of Common Stock paid solely in additional shares of Common Stock (provided, that the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock participate in such dividend on an as-converted basis); provided that no such consent shall be required for (x) purchases, redemptions, repurchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors, managers or consultants of or to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (y) repurchases of shares of Common Stock in cash provided the amount paid by the Company therefor does not exceed $20 million during any twelve month period; or (z) payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares issued upon conversion of options or convertible securities.
3.2.2 At any time when any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock (and/or any shares of Common Stock issued in respect thereof) representing at least 7.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (calculated on a Fully-Diluted Basis) remains outstanding and continues to be held by one or more Designated Holders, the Company shall not, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, do any of the following without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation (or any certificate of designation relating to any series of the Preferred Stock)) the prior written consent of such Designated Holders, unless (i) waived pursuant to Section 8 hereof or (ii) such action has been approved by the Board (which approval must include the vote or consent of each Investor Designee), incur, assume or otherwise become liable for Indebtedness (as defined in the Credit Agreement), including by issuing or creating debt securities, if, as a result thereof, the Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2022, by and among Penguin Solutions, Inc., an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, Citizens Bank, N.A. and the other parties thereto, as amended on August 29, 2022 and as in effect on the Original Issue Date (the Credit Agreement)) would exceed 5.00 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company (and for the avoidance of doubt, any of the actions prohibited by or taken in contravention of this Section 3.2.2 shall be ultra vires, null and void ab initio and of no force or effect).
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3.2.3 During the Director Period (as defined in the Investor Agreement), the Designated Holders holding Convertible Preferred Stock (acting together) may nominate one director if the total number of directors of the Company is eleven or less, and two directors if the total number of directors of the Company is twelve or more, to be elected or appointed to the Board (any such director, an Investor Designee); provided, however that any Investor Designee must meet the Board Qualifications (as defined in the Investor Agreement) and be reasonably acceptable to the Board at the time of his or her designation. During the Director Period, at each meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which the appointment of directors is to be considered, the Board shall nominate the individual serving as such Investor Designee (or any individual subsequently designated by such Designated Holders to serve as the Investor Designee) for appointment or re-appointment, as the case may be, as a director, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Investor Designee to be appointed or re-appointed, including providing the same level of support as is provided for other nominees. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause each Investor Designee to be appointed to the Board (including voting all unrestricted proxies in favor of the election of such Investor Designee and including recommending approval of such Investor Designees appointment to the Board) and shall not take any action designed to diminish the prospects of such Investor Designee(s) of being appointed to the Board. At each subsequent re-appointment of an Investor Designee, such Investor Designee shall be assigned to a class with a full term of three (3) years. During the Director Period, the Board or the Company will not decrease the size of the Board if such decrease would require the resignation of the Investor Designee. The Investors rights pursuant to this Section 3.2.3 with respect to the Investor Designee shall not be transferable to any Third Party (as defined in the Investor Agreement) without the Companys prior written consent. If an Investor Designee resigns from the Board, is removed as a director of the Company in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, or refuses or is unable to serve or fulfill his or her duties as a director because of death or disability, or otherwise vacates their office as a director, in each case prior to the expiration of the Director Period, the Designated Holders holding Convertible Preferred Stock (acting together) shall have the right to select a replacement Investor Designee, reasonably acceptable to the Board and subject to compliance with the Director Conditions (as defined in the Investor Agreement), and shall provide the Company with the name of and relevant background information for such replacement Investor Designee. Subject to the terms of this Section 3.2.3, within twenty (20) days following receipt of such information and compliance with the Director Conditions, the Board will appoint such replacement Investor Designee to the Board to replace the departing Investor Designee to serve the remaining term of the departing Investor Designee, and the replacement Investor Designee shall be considered an Investor Designee for all purposes of this Section 3.2.3.
3.2.4 Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as may be amended from time to time), the holders of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock may act by written consent with respect to this Section 3.2.
4. Conversion. The holders of the Convertible Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows:
4.1 Right to Convert. Each holder of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to convert, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and from time to time, and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof, some or all of such holders shares of Convertible Preferred Stock into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by (a) multiplying the number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted by the sum of (i) the Accumulated Stated Value, plus (ii) accumulated Compounded Dividends (if such Dividends have not yet been added to the Accumulated Stated Value) and, without duplication, accrued but unpaid Dividends up to, but excluding, the conversion date of such shares of Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted and then (b) dividing the result by the Conversion Price in effect at the time of conversion. The Conversion Price shall initially equal $32.80784. The Conversion Price, and the rate at which shares of Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted into shares of Common Stock, shall be subject to adjustment as provided below.
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4.2 Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Company shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the Current Market Price as of the conversion date. Whether or not fractional shares would be issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock the holder is at the time converting into Common Stock and the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion.
4.3 Mechanics of Conversion.
4.3.1 Notice of Conversion. In order for a holder of Convertible Preferred Stock to voluntarily convert shares of Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, such holder shall deliver written notice to the transfer agent for the Convertible Preferred Stock (or to the Company if the Company serves as its own transfer agent) that such holder elects to convert all or any number of such holders shares of Convertible Preferred Stock and, if applicable, any event on which such conversion is contingent (a Contingency Event). Such notice shall state such holders name or the names of the nominees in which such holder wishes the shares of Common Stock to be issued. The close of business on the date of receipt by the transfer agent (or by the Company if the Company serves as its own transfer agent) of such notice (or, if later, the date on which all Contingency Events have occurred) shall be the time of conversion (the Conversion Time), and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the specified shares shall be deemed to be outstanding of record as of such time. The Company, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Conversion Time, shall register such holder, or such holders nominees as the registered holder of the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof and shall pay in cash such amount as provided in Section 4.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion.
4.3.2 Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times while any Convertible Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued capital stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock, such number of its duly authorized shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock and the Company shall not issue shares of Common Stock such that the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock would at any time be insufficient to permit the conversion of all shares of Convertible Preferred Stock from time to time outstanding into shares of Common Stock. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, the Company shall take, or use its best efforts to cause such corporate action to be taken, as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.
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4.3.3 Effect of Conversion. The shares of Common Stock to be issued on an exchange or conversion of Convertible Preferred Stock shall be registered in the name of the applicable holder of such Convertible Preferred Stock or in such name as such holder may direct. All shares of Convertible Preferred Stock that shall have been surrendered as provided herein, shall at the Conversion Time or the Mandatory Conversion Time (as defined below), as applicable, no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all rights with respect to such shares, including the rights, if any, to receive notices and to vote as holders of Convertible Preferred Stock, shall immediately cease and terminate at the Conversion Time (or the Mandatory Conversion Time in the case of a conversion pursuant to Section 4.10), except only the right of the holders thereof to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange therefor and to receive payment in lieu of any fraction of a share otherwise issuable upon such conversion as provided in this Section 4. Any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock converted pursuant to this Section 4 shall be retired and cancelled and may not be reissued.
4.4 Adjustment for Share Subdivision and Consolidation. If the Company shall at any time or from time to time after the date on which shares of Convertible Preferred Stock are first issued by the Company (such date is referred to herein as the Original Issue Date) effect a subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock, the Conversion Price in effect immediately before that subdivision shall be proportionately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of Convertible Preferred Stock shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. If the Company shall at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price in effect immediately before the combination or consolidation shall be proportionately increased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of Convertible Preferred Stock shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Any adjustment under this Section 4.4 shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.
4.5 Adjustment for Certain Dividends and Distributions. In the event the Company at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event the Conversion Price in effect immediately before such event shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying such Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:
(a) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date; and
(b) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, such Conversion Price shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of business on such record date, and thereafter such Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.5 as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions; and (ii) no such adjustment shall be made if the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock simultaneously receive a dividend or other distribution of shares of Common Stock in a number equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that they would have received if all outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.
4.6 Adjustment for Other Dividends and Distributions. In the event the Company at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in shares or securities of the Company or in other property (other than a distribution of shares of Common Stock in respect of outstanding shares of Common Stock and other than rights distributed upon the adoption of a shareholder rights plan that have not separated from the shares of Common Stock), then and in each such event the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock shall receive, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such shares or securities or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such shares or securities or other property as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.
4.7 Adjustment for Reclassification, Exchange, Etc. If there shall occur any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation, merger or other similar event, or any other event, in which the Common Stock (but not the Convertible Preferred Stock) is converted into, changed into or exchanged for shares, securities, cash or other property (other than a transaction covered by Sections 4.4, 4.5 or 4.6 or a Liquidation Trigger Event) (a Reorganization Event), then, following any such Reorganization Event, each share of Convertible Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding and be convertible, in lieu of the Common Stock into which it was convertible prior to such Reorganization Event, into the number, kind and amount of shares, securities, cash or other property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of one outstanding share of Convertible Preferred Stock immediately prior to the effective time of the Reorganization Event would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such Reorganization Event; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the Board) shall be made in the application of the provisions in this Section 4 with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock, to the end that the provisions set forth in this Section 4 (including provisions with respect to changes in and other adjustments of the Conversion Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any shares, securities or other property thereafter issuable or deliverable upon the conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock. The Company (or any successor) shall, no less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the occurrence of any Reorganization Event, provide written notice to the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock of the expected occurrence of such event and of the kind and amount of the cash, shares, securities or other property that each share of Convertible Preferred Stock is expected to be convertible into under this Section 4.7. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the operation of this Section 4.7. The Company shall not enter into any agreement for a transaction constituting a Reorganization Event unless, to the extent that the Company is not the surviving corporation or company in such Reorganization Event, or will be dissolved in connection with such Reorganization Event, proper provision shall be made in the agreements governing such Reorganization Event for the conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock into the applicable securities of the person surviving such Reorganization Event, of the parent of such surviving person or of such other continuing entity in such Reorganization Event and/or into the other applicable property receivable by holders of Common Stock upon the Reorganization Event. If the kind or amount of shares, securities, cash and other property receivable by holders of Common Stock upon the Reorganization Event is not the same for each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the Reorganization Event, then for purposes of this Section 4.7, the kind and amount of shares, securities, cash and other property receivable upon conversion following the Reorganization Event will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Common Stock.
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4.8 Shareholder Rights Plan. To the extent that any shareholder rights plan adopted by the Company is in effect upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock, the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock will receive, in addition to any shares of Common Stock due upon conversion, the appropriate number of rights, if any, under the applicable rights agreement (as the same may be amended from time to time). However, if, prior to any conversion, the rights have separated from the shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable shareholder rights plan, the Conversion Price will be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all holders of Common Stock, shares or securities as described in Section 4.6, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination, repurchase or redemption of such rights.
4.9 Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 4, the Company at its expense shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter, compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each holder of Convertible Preferred Stock a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment (including the kind and amount of shares, securities, cash or other property into which the Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible) and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Company shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the written request at any time of any holder of Convertible Preferred Stock (but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter), furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a certificate setting forth (a) the Conversion Price then in effect and (b) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other shares, securities, cash or property which then would be received upon the conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock.
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4.10 Mandatory Conversion. Effective as of a date following December 13, 2026 upon which the Daily VWAP of the shares of Common Stock on each day of any 15 consecutive Trading Day period following December 13, 2026 (ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding delivery by the Company of the Mandatory Conversion Notice (as defined below)) equals or exceeds 150% of the Conversion Price (the Mandatory Conversion Time), provided (i) all Requisite Approvals with respect to all holders of Convertible Preferred Stock have been obtained, (ii) an effective Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Investor Agreement) covers the resale of the Common Stock issued upon conversion and (iii) the Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market or, if the principal stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed is the New York Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange (or, if the Common Stock is then listed on both the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Market (and such listings were done with the cooperation of the Company), both such exchanges), the Company shall be entitled to require all (but not less than all) outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted into Common Stock at the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such conversion, with the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company to be determined pursuant to the formula set forth in Section 4.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.10, the Companys exercise of its right to require conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock will not apply and no Mandatory Conversion Notice may be delivered with respect to any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock as to which a Repurchase Notice has been duly delivered. In the event the Company elects to require all outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted into Common Stock, the Company shall provide all holders of record of Convertible Preferred Stock written notice of such election (the Mandatory Conversion Notice) no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Mandatory Conversion Time. The Mandatory Conversion Notice must state (i) that the Company has exercised its right to cause the mandatory conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4.10; (ii) the date of the Mandatory Conversion Time and the date scheduled for settlement of such mandatory conversion; (iii) the Conversion Price in effect at the Mandatory Conversion Time; and (iv) a certification that all Requisite Approvals with respect to all holders of Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to such conversion have been obtained. If the Company duly exercises, in accordance with this Section 4.10, its right to require conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock, then (x) the conversion of such shares will occur automatically and without the need for any action on the part of the holders thereof; and (y) as soon as practicable after the Mandatory Conversion Notice, the Company will register the shares of Common Stock due upon such conversion to each holder, or to such holders nominee(s) as of the close of business on the date of the Mandatory Conversion Time and deliver to such holders cash as provided in Section 4.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion.
4.11 Certain Notices. In the event:
4.11.1 that the Company shall take a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock (or other shares or securities at the time issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, to vote at a meeting (or by written consent), to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares or securities, or to receive any other share or security; or
4.11.2 of any capital reorganization of the Company, any reclassification of shares of Common Stock, any consolidation or merger of the Company, or sale of all or substantially all of the Companys assets (or the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole); or
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4.11.3 of any Liquidation Trigger Event;
then, and in each such case, the Company shall send or cause to be sent to each holder of record of Convertible Preferred Stock at the address specified for such holder in the books and records of the Company (or at such other address as may be provided to the Company in writing by such holder) at least ten (10) days prior to the applicable record date or the applicable expected effective date, as the case may be, for the event, a written notice specifying, as the case may be, (i) the record date for such dividend, distribution, meeting or consent or other right or action, and a description of such dividend, distribution or other right or action to be taken at such meeting or by written consent, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up or Deemed Liquidation Event is proposed to take place, and the date, if any is to be fixed, as of which the books of the Company shall close or a record shall be taken with respect to which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other shares or securities at the time issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other shares or securities) for shares, securities or other property issuable or deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up or Deemed Liquidation Event, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Convertible Preferred Stock and the Common Stock (or other shares or securities) issuable upon conversion thereof. Such notice shall be in addition to any notices to be delivered to each holder of record of Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and this Certificate of Designation.
4.12 Taxes. The Company shall pay any and all issuance, delivery and transfer tax due on the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Convertible Preferred Shares pursuant to this Section 4. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any issuance of Common Stock to a person other than the holder of the Convertible Preferred Stock so converted, and no such issuance shall be made unless and until the person or entity has established that such tax has been paid.
5. | Dividends. |
From and after the Original Issue Date, cumulative dividends (Dividends) on each share of Convertible Preferred Stock shall accrue whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of dividends, on a daily basis at the rate of 6% per annum on the sum of (i) the Original Issue Price thereof, plus (ii) any Compounded Dividends thereon (the Original Issue Price plus accumulated Compounded Dividends, the Accumulated Stated Value).
5.1 If, as and when declared by the Board out of funds legally available therefor to the maximum extent not prohibited by Delaware law, Dividends shall be paid in cash quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year (each, a Dividend Payment Date), commencing on August 15, 2025 (the Initial Dividend Payment Date); provided that if any such Dividend Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, such Dividend Payment Date shall instead be (and any Dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date shall instead be payable on) the immediately succeeding Business Day. Each Dividend period (a Dividend Period) shall commence on and include a Dividend Payment Date (other than the initial Dividend Period, which shall commence on and include the Original Issue Date) and shall end on and include the calendar day next preceding the next Dividend Payment Date. Dividends payable in respect of a Dividend Period shall be payable in arrears on the first Dividend Payment Date after such Dividend Period. Dividends shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve thirty-day months. The amount of Dividends accrued or payable on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve thirty-day months, and actual days elapsed over a thirty-day month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, an amount equal to the accrued but unpaid dividends owed to former holders of convertible preferred shares, par value $0.03 per share, of Penguin Solutions, Inc., an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, prior to the Original Issue Date shall be added to the amount of the Dividend paid on the Initial Dividend Payment Date.
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5.2 Dividends shall begin to accrue from the Original Issue Date and, if not declared and paid, shall be cumulative. All Dividends that the Company does not elect to declare and pay in cash shall compound quarterly on the applicable Dividend Payment Date and shall be added to the then current Accumulated Stated Value (Compounded Dividends). No Dividend may be declared by the Board in respect of the Convertible Preferred Stock unless paid immediately in cash. For the avoidance of doubt, Dividends shall accumulate whether or not in any Dividend Period there have been funds of the Company legally available for the payment of such Dividends.
5.3 If the Company declares and pays in cash any Dividends, the Company shall declare and pay in cash such Dividends on the same pro rata portion of each holders Convertible Preferred Stock.
5.4 The Company will deliver prior to the record date for each Dividend Payment Date written notice to each record holder of Convertible Preferred Stock of the amount of the Dividend that the Company intends to pay in cash, and if the Company does not elect to pay the applicable Dividend in full in cash, such written notice will include the Accumulated Stated Value immediately before and immediately after giving effect to any cash payment of such Dividend and any Compounded Dividend as of such Dividend Payment Date and a certification that all Requisite Approvals required in connection with each holders acquisition of Common Stock upon conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock (giving effect to such Compounded Dividend) have been obtained. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, to the extent Compounded Dividends with respect to any Dividend Payment Date would result in the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Convertible Preferred Stock would be converted to be in excess of the Common Stock Issuance Limitation for any or all holders of Convertible Preferred Stock, then, to the extent of such excess, the Company shall declare the applicable Dividend and make the Dividend payment on such Dividend Payment Date in cash.
5.5 Each Dividend shall be payable to the holders of record of Convertible Preferred Stock as they appear in the register of members of the Company at the close of business on the applicable record date in respect of such Dividend, which shall be February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 or such other record date fixed by the Board that does not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing such date is adopted and is not more than 60 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date, as applicable, immediately preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date. If any share of Convertible Preferred Stock is converted after the close of business on the record date for a Dividend declared and payable in cash but prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, the holder of such share as of the applicable record date shall be entitled to receive such Dividend, notwithstanding the conversion prior to such Dividend Payment Date.
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6. | Repurchase. |
6.1 Repurchase upon Election by the Holders of Convertible Preferred Stock. Shares of Convertible Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable upon or repurchased upon the election of the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock.
6.2 Repurchase upon Election by the Company. Each share of Convertible Preferred Stock (and not fewer than all shares of Convertible Preferred Stock) shall be repurchased by the Company out of funds lawfully available therefor at the Repurchase Price (as defined below) in one installment commencing on a date (the Repurchase Date) not less than thirty (30) days after and not more than sixty (60) days after the Company sends to the holders of all then outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock written notice of the repurchase of all shares of Convertible Preferred Stock (the Repurchase Notice); provided that the Company shall not send the Repurchase Notice until five (5) years have passed from December 13, 2024 and all Requisite Approvals with respect to all holders of Convertible Preferred Stock have been obtained. Notwithstanding receipt of a Repurchase Notice, each holder of Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the ability to convert such holders Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock based on the then-applicable Conversion Price prior to the Repurchase Date. The Repurchase Notice shall be irrevocable and shall state (i) that the Company will repurchase all shares of Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding on the Repurchase Date; and (ii) the Repurchase Date, the Repurchase Price and the Conversion Price. For purposes of this Section 6.2, Repurchase Price shall mean, with respect to any share of Convertible Preferred Stock, the sum of (i) the Accumulated Stated Value, plus (ii) accrued but unpaid Dividends (whether or not declared) to the Repurchase Date to the extent such accrued but unpaid Dividends are not Compounded Dividends as of such time.
6.3 Reserved.
6.4 Rights Subsequent to Repurchase. If the Repurchase Notice shall have been duly given, and if on or prior to the Repurchase Date the Repurchase Price payable upon repurchase of the shares of Convertible Preferred Stock to be repurchased is paid or tendered for payment or deposited with an independent payment agent so as to be available therefor in a timely manner, then all rights with respect to such shares not converted shall forthwith after the Repurchase Date terminate, except only the right of the holders to receive the Repurchase Price without interest.
7. No Reissuance of Convertible Preferred Stock. Any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock that are converted, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be automatically and immediately cancelled and retired and may not be reissued, sold or transferred. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries may exercise any voting or other rights granted to the holders of Convertible Preferred Stock following repurchase or acquisition thereof.
8. Waiver. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, any of the rights, powers, privileges and other terms of the Convertible Preferred Stock set forth herein may be waived on behalf of all holders of Convertible Preferred Stock by a written waiver from the holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock; provided that the provisions of Section 3.2.2 and 3.2.2 hereof may be waived only by a written waiver from the applicable Designated Holders.
14
9. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices under this Certificate of Designation shall be in writing and shall be delivered in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation; provided that in the case of notices to the transfer agent of the Company (if not the Company), such notices shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (ii) when received by the transfer agent if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (iii) on the date sent by e-mail of a PDF document if sent during normal business hours of the transfer agent, and on the next business day of the transfer agent if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (iv) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such notices to the transfer agent of the Company (if not the Company) must be sent to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at PO Box 43006 Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3006 or such other address for the transfer agent as the Company may specify by notice to the holders of the Convertible Preferred Stock.
10. Cash Payments. All cash payments made hereunder shall be made in U.S. dollars.
11. Ranking. With respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon any Liquidation Trigger Event, all Convertible Preferred Stock shall rank senior to Common Stock and all other Junior Shares and pari passu with any Parity Shares.
12. Definitions. As used in this Certificate of Designation:
Accumulated Stated Value means as of any date with respect to any share of Convertible Preferred Stock, the Original Issue Price thereof, plus accumulated Compounded Dividends thereon.
Business Day means a day on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York, San Jose, California and Seoul, the Republic of Korea are open for business.
Common Stock Issuance Limitation means, at any time, with respect to any holder of Convertible Preferred Stock, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued to such holder if such holder converted such shares of Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.1 without the receipt of applicable Requisite Approvals (if such Requisite Approvals have not been obtained).
Current Market Price means, on any day, the average of the Daily VWAP for five (5) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the day in question.
Daily VWAP on any Trading Day means the per share volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock displayed under the heading Bloomberg VWAP on Bloomberg (or, if Bloomberg ceases to publish such price, any successor service reasonably chosen by the Company) page for PENG US Equity (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the open of trading on the relevant Trading Day until the close of trading on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market price of one share of Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a U.S. nationally recognized investment banking firm (unaffiliated with the Company) retained for this purpose by the Company).
15
Designated Holders means the Investor and its Affiliates (as defined in the Investor Agreement).
Fully-Diluted Basis means, as of any time, the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, together with all shares of Common Stock that the Company would be required to issue pursuant to any then-outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock and any vested in-the-money options, warrants or other securities or rights convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for (whether directly or following conversion into or exercise or exchange for other options, warrants or other securities or rights) shares of Common Stock.
Governmental Authority means any court, agency, authority, department, or other instrumentality of any government or country or of any national, federal, state, provincial, regional, county, city or other political subdivision of any such government or country or any supranational organization of which any such country is a member.
Investor Agreement means that certain Investor Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2024, by and between the Company and the investor named therein and its successors and permitted assigns (the Investor), as such agreement is amended from time to time.
Junior Shares means shares of Common Stock and any other class or series of shares in the capital of the Company that ranks junior to the Convertible Preferred Stock either (or both) as to the payment of dividends and/or as to the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and/or any Deemed Liquidation Event and/or other Liquidation Trigger Event.
Liquidation Trigger Event means a voluntary or involuntary winding up, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a Deemed Liquidation Event.
Market Disruption Event means any of the following events:
(i) any suspension of, or limitation imposed on, trading of Common Stock by the Relevant Exchange during any period or periods aggregating one half-hour or longer during the regular trading session on the relevant day, whether by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the Relevant Exchange as to securities generally, or otherwise relating to Common Stock or options contracts relating to Common Stock on the Relevant Exchange; or
(ii) any event that disrupts or impairs (as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion) the ability of market participants during any period or periods aggregating one half-hour or longer during the regular trading session on the relevant day in general to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, shares of Common Stock on the Relevant Exchange or to effect transactions in, or obtain market values for, options contracts relating to Common Stock on the Relevant Exchange.
Original Issue Price means, as to any share of Convertible Preferred Stock, $1,000, as adjusted for share splits, consolidations, combinations, recapitalizations, reorganizations and the like with respect to the Convertible Preferred Stock.
16
Parity Shares means any class or series of shares in the capital of the Company (other than the Convertible Preferred Stock) that both ranks equally with the Convertible Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends and ranks equally with the Convertible Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and any Deemed Liquidation Event (without regard to whether dividends accrue on a cumulative or non-cumulative basis).
Relevant Exchange means the NASDAQ Stock Market or the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, or if shares of Common Stock are not listed or quoted on any such exchange, Pink Sheets or similar U.S. over-the-counter organization on which shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted in U.S. dollars.
Requisite Approvals means, to the extent applicable and required to permit the conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock and for the applicable holder to own such shares of Common Stock without the Company or such holder (or any direct or indirect affiliate or parent entity of such holder) being in violation of applicable law, rule or regulation, any and all (x) necessary approvals of stockholders of the Company and (y) necessary approvals and authorizations of, filings and registrations with and notifications to, any Governmental Authority or stock exchange, and expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (or any similar laws of any jurisdiction), or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Trading Day means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday on which the Relevant Exchange is scheduled to be open for business and on which there has not occurred a Market Disruption Event.
***************
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate of Designation to be executed on behalf of the Company by the undersigned authorized officer this 27th day of June, 2025.
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC.
| ||
By: | /s/Nate Olmstead | |
Name: Nate Olmstead | ||
Title: President |
[Signature Page to Certificate of Designation]
Exhibit 4.1
ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS#
COMMON STOCK
COMMON STOCK
PAR VALUE $0.03
PENGUIN®
SOLUTIONS
Certificate
Number
ZQ00000000
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
Shares
* * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * 0 0 0
0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr.
Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample
**** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David
Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander
David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr.
Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample
**** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David
Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample
**000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares***
*000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****
000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0
00000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00
0000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000
000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000
00**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00000
0**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000
**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000*
*Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**
Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**S
SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP
706915 10 5
THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CITIES DESIGNATED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.computershare.com
FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF
Penguin Solutions, Inc. (hereinafter called the Company), transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby, are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, and the Bylaws, as
amended from time to time, of the Company (copies of which are on file with the Company and with the Transfer Agent), to all of which each holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by
the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
FACSIMILE SIGNATURE TO COME
President
DATED
DD-MMM-YYYY
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR,
FACSIMILE SIGNATURE TO COME
Secretary
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC.
CORPORATE
SEAL
DATE
DELAWARE
By
AUTHORIZEDSIGNATURE
PENGUIN®
SOLUTIONS
PO Box 43004, Providence RI 02940-3004
MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4
CUSIP/IDEN TIFIER
Holder ID
Insurance Value
Number of Shares D T C
Certificate Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890
1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Total Transaction
706915 10 5
X X X X X X X X X X
1,000,000.00
123456
12345678 123456789012345
Num/No. 123456 Denom.123456 Total 1234567
SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS ON REVERSE
1234567
.
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC.
THE COMPANY WILL
FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR
RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE
OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE COMPANY A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR
DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they
were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN as joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - Custodian (Cust) (Minor)
under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (State)
UNIFTRF MIN ACT Custodian (until age (Cust)
under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
(Minor) (State)
Additional
abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
Shares of the common stock
represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: 20 Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever.
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and
Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.
The IRS requires that the named transfer agent (we) report the cost basis of certain shares or units acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares or units are covered
by the legislation, and you requested to sell or transfer the shares or units using a specific cost basis
calculation method, then we have processed as you
requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, then we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis.
If you do not keep in contact with the issuer or do not have any activity in your account for the time period specified by state law, your property may become subject to state
unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state.
SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS THIS IS WATERMARKED PAPER DO NOT ACCEPT WITHOUT NOTING WATERMARK HOLD TO
LIGHT TO VERIFY WATERMARK.
1234567
Exhibit 5.1
140 Scott Drive Menlo Park, California 94025 Tel: +1.650.328.4600 Fax: +1.650.463.2600 www.lw.com
| ||||
![]() |
FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES | |||
Austin | Milan | |||
Beijing | Munich | |||
Boston | New York | |||
Brussels | Orange County | |||
Century City | Paris | |||
June 30, 2025 | Chicago | Riyadh | ||
Dubai | San Diego | |||
Düsseldorf | San Francisco | |||
Frankfurt | Seoul | |||
Hamburg | Silicon Valley | |||
Hong Kong | Singapore | |||
Houston | Tel Aviv | |||
London | Tokyo | |||
Los Angeles | Washington, D.C. | |||
Madrid |
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
1390 McCarthy Blvd
Milpitas, California 95035
Re: | Penguin Solutions, Inc. Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 |
to Registration Statements on Form S-8 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with its filing on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (the Amendment) to sixteen registration statements on Form S-8 (Registration Nos. 333-218605; 333-221534; 333-223880; 333-227449; 333-230578; 333-234541; 333-249619; 333-253064; 333-257724; 333-264150; 333-271121; 333-271123; 333-278587; 333-278588; 333-286345; and 333-286347) previously filed by Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company and the Companys predecessor, with respect to the adoption of such registration statements by the Company pursuant to Rule 414 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act). Such registration statements on Form S-8, as amended by the Amendment, are referred to herein as the Registration Statements. In connection with such representation, the Company has advised us that shares (Shares) of common stock, par value $0.03 per share, of the Company may be issuable or become issuable pursuant to grants or awards under the employee plans (the Plans) set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statements, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.
As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.
June 30, 2025
Page 2
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the Plans, assuming in each case that the individual issuances, grants or awards under the Plans are duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and duly issued, granted or awarded and exercised in accordance with the requirements of law and the Plans (and the agreements and awards duly adopted thereunder and in accordance therewith), the issuance and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Amendment and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Amendment. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours, |
/s/Latham & Watkins LLP |
June 30, 2025
Page 3
Exhibit A
Plans
Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated October 24, 2024 relating to the financial statements of Penguin Solutions, Inc. and the effectiveness of Penguin Solutions, Inc.s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Penguin Solutions, Inc. for the year ended August 30, 2024.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose, California
June 30, 2025
Exhibit 99.1
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated
2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan is to promote the interests of Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the Company), and its stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional executive personnel, Employees, Directors, and Consultants (as defined below); (ii) motivating Employees, Consultants and Directors by means of performance-related incentives to achieve longer-range performance goals; and (iii) enabling Employees, Consultants and Directors to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. The Plan (as defined below) constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Amended and Restated 2017 Share Incentive Plan (the Prior Plan) as sponsored by Penguin Solutions Cayman (as defined below), effective as of June 30, 2025, primarily to reflect the Companys assumption of the Prior Plan and all Awards (as defined below) thereunder in connection with the redomicile of the parent holding company of the Penguin Solutions company group from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware (the Redomicile), and shall be construed accordingly.
Section 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) Affiliate means with respect to any Person, (i) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person and any entity that is, directly or indirectly, controlled by the Company and (ii) any other entity in which such Person has a significant equity interest or which has a significant equity interest in such Person, in either case as determined by the Committee. For purposes of this definition, the terms control (including with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with) when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any Incentive Stock Option, Affiliate shall mean any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.
(b) Award means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Other Cash-Based Award, or Other Stock-Based Award.
(c) Award Agreement means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.
(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) Cause means, unless otherwise defined in any Employment Agreement or Award Agreement:
(i) | a Participants willful and continued failure substantially to perform his or her duties (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness); |
(ii) | a Participants gross negligence or willful malfeasance in the performance of his or her duties; |
(iii) | a Participants commission of an act constituting fraud, embezzlement, or any other act constituting a felony or other similar offense under the laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Company conducts business; |
Page 1 of 15
(iv) | a Participant being repeatedly under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while performing his or her duties; or |
(v) | any other act or omission which is materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company, including a Participants breach of the provisions of any non-solicitation, non-competition, trade secret or confidentiality covenant in favor of the Company or its Affiliates binding upon such Participant. |
The existence or non-existence of Cause with respect to any Participant will be determined in good faith by the Board.
(f) Change in Control means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i) | the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person or group (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than such a sale or disposition immediately after which such assets will be owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition; or |
(ii) | any person or group, other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the Company, including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation or otherwise. |
The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a change in control event as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
(g) Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of any Award.
(h) Company means Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns). Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, with respect to periods prior to the Redomicile, references to the Company herein shall refer to Penguin Solutions Cayman.
(i) Committee means a committee of one or more members of the Board and/or officers designated by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with applicable law. The full Board may act as the Committee under the Plan.
(j) Consultant means any natural person, including an advisor, who is a consultant or advisor to the Company or an Affiliate.
Page 2 of 15
(k) Director means a member of the Board.
(l) Disability shall mean permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(m) Effective Date means the business day prior to the IPO Date (as defined below) and is the date on which the Prior Plan initially became effective, in the form of an amendment and restatement of the Smart Global Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Share Incentive Plan. The Prior Plan was amended and restated as of October 15, 2024 to reflect the Companys corporate name change (from Smart Global Holdings, Inc. to Penguin Solutions, Inc.) and to integrate the amendments to the Prior Plan approved by the Companys stockholders since the Effective Date.
(n) Employee means an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(o) Employment Agreement means an employment or severance and change of control agreement or other similar agreement entered into between a Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(p) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q) Exercise Price means the purchase price of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement.
(r) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) if there should be a public market for the Shares on such date, the closing market price of the Shares as reported on such date (or if such date is not a trading date, on the immediately preceding date on which sales of the Shares have been so reported), or (ii) if there should not be a public market for the Shares on such date, then Fair Market Value shall be the price determined in good faith by the Committee.
(s) Incentive Stock Option means a right to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
(t) IPO Date means the effective date of the first registration statement filed by Penguin Solutions Cayman and declared effective pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
(u) Non-Qualified Stock Option means a right to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(v) Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(w) Other Cash-Based Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10, including cash awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of specified performance criteria or otherwise as permitted under the Plan.
(x) Other Stock-Based Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 11 that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares or factors that may influence the value of Shares, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, purchase rights for Shares, dividend rights or dividend equivalent rights or Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee.
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(y) Participant means a Person granted an Award under the Plan (and to the extent applicable, any heirs or legal representatives thereof).
(z) Penguin Solutions Cayman means Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company, and the parent holding company of the Penguin Solutions company group prior to the Redomicile.
(aa) Performance Award shall mean an Award subject, in part, to the terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 9, pursuant to which the recipient may become entitled to receive cash, Shares or other property, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(bb) Performance Period means the period established by the Committee with respect to any Performance Award during which the performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.
(cc) Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
(dd) Plan means this Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be further amended from time to time. Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, references to the Plan herein shall include the Prior Plan.
(ee) Restricted Stock Award shall mean an Award of Shares that are issued subject to any applicable terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 8.
(ff) Restricted Stock Units or RSUs shall mean an Award of the right to receive either (as the Committee determines) Shares or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the settlement or payment date, subject to any applicable terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 8.
(gg) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
(hh) SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
(ii) Section 162(m) shall mean §162(m) of the Code, as in effect prior to its amendment by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, including any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
(jj) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(kk) Shares means common stock of the Company, par value $0.03 per share, or such other securities as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.
(ll) Stock Appreciation Right or SAR shall mean an Award of a right to receive (without payment to the Company) cash, Shares or other property, or other forms of payment, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee, based on the increase in the value of the number of Shares specified in the applicable Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to any applicable terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 7.
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(mm) Substitute Awards means Awards granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.
Section 3. Administration.
(a) Authority of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, applicable law and contractual restrictions affecting the Company, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to:
(i) | designate Participants; |
(ii) | determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant and the exercise price or purchase price, if applicable; |
(iii) | determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; |
(iv) | determine the terms and conditions (including the vesting schedule, if any) of any Award and Award Agreement; |
(v) | determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; |
(vi) | determine whether to cancel an Option or SAR in exchange for the grant of a new Award or for cash, including to the extent such action would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of such Option or SAR; |
(vii) | determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; |
(viii) | interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; |
(ix) | establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and |
(x) | make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. |
(b) Committee Composition. If the Board in its discretion deems it advisable, the Board may provide that the Committee may consist solely of (i) Directors who are independent, within the meaning of and to the extent required by applicable rulings and interpretations of the applicable stock market or exchange on which the Shares are or traded, and/or (ii) two or more Non-Employee Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board or the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or to any other person or body some or all of its authority under the Plan, including the authority to grant Options and SARs or other Awards in the form of Shares (except that such delegation shall not be applicable to any Award for a Person then covered by Section 16 of the Exchange Act), and the Committee may delegate to one or more committees of the Board (which may consist of solely one Director) some or all of its authority under the Plan, including the authority to grant all types of Awards, in accordance with applicable law.
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(c) Committee Discretion Binding. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any of its Affiliates, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any stockholder and any Employee. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable.
Section 4. Shares Available For Awards.
(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in this Section, the number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan on and following the Effective Date shall be 1,500,000 as of the Effective Date, plus 1,500,000 as of February 1, 2019 (the 2019 Reserved Shares), plus 1,000,000 as of February 13, 2021, plus an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year during the term of the Plan beginning with the fiscal year starting September 1, 2017 and continuing for ten fiscal years (ending with the fiscal year starting September 1, 2026), in each case in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 1,500,000 Shares, (ii) 2.5% of the number of Shares outstanding on such date, or (iii) an amount determined by the Board; provided, however, that such aggregate number of Shares as authorized and available for issuance under the Plan, or that may become available for issuance pursuant to Section 4(a)(i) hereof, in each case as of February 1, 2022 (the Distribution Date), has been adjusted as of the Distribution Date to reflect the Companys two-for-one share split, effected on such Distribution Date. To the extent that the Plan is and remains exempt from Section 162(m) of the Code pursuant to Treasury Regulation section 1.162-27(f) as a plan that existed during the period in which the Company was not publicly held, the 2019 Reserved Shares shall not be available for awards to any person who at the time of the award is a covered employee within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, if, on or after the Effective Date, any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan (including any Awards granted prior to the Effective Date and outstanding as of the Effective Date, as well as any Substitute Award) or to which such an Award relates are forfeited, or if such an Award is settled for cash or otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, shall again become Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted. In addition, Shares tendered in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of the exercise price of any Award or any tax withholding obligations will again become Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted. All of the Shares reserved under the Plan may be designated as Incentive Stock Options. Shares issued under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares.
(b) Participant Limitations. Subject to the provisions below relating to adjustments upon changes in the Shares and as adjusted as of the Distribution Date to reflect the Companys two-for-one share split, no Participant shall be granted during any calendar year (i) Options and SARs covering more than 4,000,000 Shares, (ii) Performance Awards denominated in Shares covering more than 2,000,000 Shares, and (iii) with respect to any Performance Award or Cash-Based Award denominated by dollar value, $10,000,000 during any calendar year.
(c) Non-Employee Director Limits. Subject to the provisions below relating to adjustments upon changes in the Shares, during any calendar year, no non-employee Director may be granted (i) Award(s) (denominated in Shares) with a grant date fair value exceeding $750,000 or (ii) Award(s) denominated in cash in excess of $750,000.
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(d) Adjustments. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares by reason of any Share dividend, Share split, reverse Share split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, spin-off, combination, transaction or exchange of Shares, or other corporate exchange, or any cash dividend or distribution to stockholders other than ordinary cash dividends or any transaction similar to the foregoing, the Committee shall make such proportionate substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan, including any individual or other limits set forth in this Section, or pursuant to outstanding Awards, (ii) the Exercise Price of any Option and/or (iii) any other affected terms of outstanding Awards; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events that is an equity restructuring (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Section 718, Compensation Stock Compensation (FASB ASC 718)), the Committee shall make an equitable adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such event; and provided, further, that in the case of any Share dividend, Share split or reverse split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or other distribution of the Companys equity securities with respect to the Shares without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall make a proportionate adjustment.
(e) Substitute Awards. Any Shares underlying Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan and shall, subject to existing corporate authorities, increase the number of Shares available for issuance hereunder, unless determined otherwise by the Committee. Further, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the terms of Substitute Awards may vary from the terms set forth in the Plan to the extent the Committee deems appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the awards in substitution for which they are granted.
Section 5. Eligibility.
(a) General. Any Employee, Consultant or Director shall be eligible to be selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.
(b) Incentive Stock Options. Only Employees who are U.S. taxpayers shall be eligible for the grant of Incentive Stock Options.
(c) Non-Employee Directors. Awards may be granted to Non-Employee Directors in accordance with the policies established from time to time by the Board or the Committee specifying the number of shares (if any) to be subject to each such Award and the time(s) at which such awards shall be granted. Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be on terms and conditions determined by the Board or the Committee, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
Section 6. Options.
(a) Grants. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants with the terms and conditions set forth in this Section and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.
(b) Type of Option. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options to U.S. taxpayers or to grant Non-Qualified Stock Options to any Participant, or both. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, as from time to time amended, or any successor provision thereto, and any regulations implementing such statute.
(c) Exercise Price. The Committee in its sole discretion shall establish the Exercise Price at the time each Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Exercise Price of any Option granted shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value at the time the Option is granted.
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(d) Exercise. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of U.S. federal or state securities laws, or those of any other jurisdiction, as it may deem necessary or advisable.
(e) Payment. No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the exercise price is received by the Company, together with any documentation required by the Company and any applicable taxes. Such payment may be made:
(i) | in cash; |
(ii) | if approved by the Committee, in Shares (the value of such Shares shall be their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) owned by the Participant for the period required to avoid a charge to the Companys earnings; |
(iii) | if approved by the Committee, by a combination of the foregoing; |
(iv) | if approved by the Committee, in accordance with a broker-assisted cashless exercise program; |
(v) | if approved by the Committee, through net settlement in Shares; or |
(vi) | in such other manner as permitted by the Committee at the time of grant or thereafter. |
Section 7. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Section, with such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
(b) The Committee shall determine the number of Shares to be subject to each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall have an exercise or base price no less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by the right on the date of grant.
(c) Any Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised during its term only at such time or times and in such installments as the Committee may establish and shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date it is granted.
(d) An Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the holder to exercise such Award and to receive from the Company in exchange thereof, without payment to the Company, that number of Shares or cash having an aggregate value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one Share, at the time of such exercise, over the exercise price, times the number of Shares subject to the Award, or portion thereof, that is so exercised or surrendered, as the case may be.
(e) No grant of SARs may be accompanied by a tandem award of dividend equivalents or provide for dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions to be paid on such SARs (except as provided under Section 4(d)).
Section 8. Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units.
(a) The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Awards and RSUs pursuant to this Section, with such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
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(b) The Committee shall determine the number of Shares to be issued to a Participant pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards or RSUs, and the extent, if any, to which they shall be issued in exchange for cash, other consideration, or both. The Award Agreement shall specify the vesting schedule and, with respect to RSUs, the delivery schedule (which may include deferred delivery later than the vesting date).
(c) The Committee may, in its discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement that any or all dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions, as applicable, paid on Restricted Stock Awards or RSUs prior to vesting or settlement, as applicable, be paid either in cash or in additional Shares and either on a current or deferred basis (and may be subject to the same vesting restrictions as the underlying Award) and that such dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions may be reinvested in additional Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends and dividend equivalents with respect to Restricted Stock Awards and RSUs that are granted as Performance Awards shall vest only if and to the extent that the underlying Performance Award vests, as determined by the Committee.
Section 9. Performance-Based Awards.
(a) Grant. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4, the Committee may grant a Performance Award which shall consist of a right that is (i) denominated and/or payable in cash, Shares or any other form of Award issuable under this Plan (or any combination thereof) (other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights), (ii) valued, as determined by the Committee, in accordance with the achievement of such performance goals applicable to such Performance Periods as the Committee shall establish and (iii) payable at such time and in such form as the Committee shall determine.
(b) Terms and Conditions. Performance Awards shall be conditioned upon the achievement of pre-established goals relating to one or more performance measures, including but not limited to the following performance measures or such other measures, each as determined in writing by the Committee and subject to such modifications as specified by the Committee: cash flow; cash flow from operations; earnings (including, but not limited to, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or some variation thereof); earnings per share, diluted or basic; earnings per share from continuing operations; net asset turnover; inventory turnover; capital expenditures; debt; debt reduction; working capital; return on investment; return on sales; net or gross sales; market share; economic value added; cost of capital; change in assets; expense reduction levels; productivity; delivery performance; safety record and/or performance; environmental record and/or performance; share price; return on equity; total or relative increases to stockholder return; return on invested capital; return on assets or net assets; revenue; income or net income; operating income or net operating income; operating profit or net operating profit; gross margin, operating margin or profit margin; and completion of acquisitions, business expansion, product diversification, new or expanded market penetration, and other non-financial operating and management performance objectives. The Committee may determine that certain adjustments shall apply, in whole or in part, in such manner as determined by the Committee, to exclude or include the effect of specified events that occur during a Performance Period. Performance measures may be determined either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary entity thereof, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured over a period of time including any portion of a year, annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous fiscal years results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee.
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(c) Preestablished Performance Goals. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, performance goals relating to the performance measures set forth above shall be preestablished in writing by the Committee, and achievement thereof certified in writing prior to payment of the Award. To the extent required or advisable under applicable law, all such performance goals shall be established in writing no later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of the applicable Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under applicable law). In addition to establishing minimum performance goals below which no compensation shall be payable pursuant to a Performance Award, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may create a performance schedule under which an amount less than or more than the target award may be paid so long as the performance goals have been achieved.
(d) Additional Restrictions/Negative Discretion. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may establish additional restrictions or conditions that must be satisfied as a condition precedent to the payment of all or a portion of any Performance Awards. Such additional restrictions or conditions need not be performance-based and may include, among other things, the receipt by a Participant of a specified annual performance rating, the continued employment by the Participant and/or the achievement of specified performance goals by the Company, business unit or Participant. Furthermore, and notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may retain the discretion to reduce the amount of any Performance Award to a Participant if it concludes that such reduction is necessary or appropriate.
(e) Payment or Settlement of Performance Awards. Performance Awards may be paid or settled, as applicable, in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred or accelerated basis.
Section 10. Other Cash-Based Awards.
(a) Terms and Conditions. The Committee may grant Other Cash-Based Awards in the form of cash bonus or cash incentive awards, which may but need not be valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares. Subject to the terms of this Plan and any applicable Award agreement, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Cash-Based Award.
Section 11. Other Stock-Based Awards.
(a) Terms and Conditions. The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards, which shall consist of any right that is (i) not an Award described in Sections 6 through 9 above and (ii) an Award of Shares or an Award denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan. Subject to the terms of this Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Stock-Based Award.
Section 12. Effect Of Termination Of Employment Or Service.
(a) Termination of Employment or Service. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, or as required to comply with applicable law, if a Participants employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by Participant or by the Company for any reason (other than death or Disability or by the Company for Cause), then vesting shall immediately cease and, to the extent vested as of the date of termination, an Award may be retained and, if applicable, exercised until the earlier of (i) the date three months (or such longer or shorter period, if any, specified in the applicable Award Agreement or Employment Agreement) after such termination of employment or service or (ii) the date such Award would have expired had it not been for the termination of employment or service, after which time, in either case, the Award shall expire.
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(b) Death or Disability. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, or as required to comply with applicable law, if a Participants employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by reason of death or Disability, then vesting shall immediately cease and, to the extent vested as of the date of termination, the Award may be retained and, if applicable, exercised by the Participant or his successor (if employment or service is terminated by death) until the earlier of (i) the date one year after such termination of employment or service or (ii) the date such Award would have expired had it not been for the termination of such employment or service, after which time, in either case, the Award shall expire.
(c) Cause. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, or as required to comply with applicable law, if a Participants employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by the Company or an Affiliate for Cause, all Awards held by such Participant shall be forfeited and shall expire immediately on the date of termination.
(d) Transfers; Changes in Status. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant will not be treated as having had a termination of employment or service for purposes of the Plan in the case of (i) a termination of the Participants employment or service followed by an immediate rehire in connection with the Participants transfer of employment or service between the Company and its Affiliates or between Affiliates or (ii) a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director or Consultant, provided that there is no interruption of the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however, that if the entity to which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Committee, such Participants employment or service will be considered to have terminated on the date such entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate.
Section 13. Amendment and Termination.
(a) Amendment or Termination of the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that (i) no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply and (ii) any amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, or termination that would adversely affect the rights of a Participant with respect to any outstanding Award shall not to that extent be effective with respect to such Award without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary, except as otherwise provided in Section 14 below or elsewhere in the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform with local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United States.
(b) Amendment or Termination of Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would adversely affect the rights of a Participant shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary, except as otherwise provided in Section 14 below or elsewhere in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.
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Section 14. Corporate Transactions.
(a) Change in Control. Any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion, (i) may cause any outstanding Award to be (A) continued by the Company, (B) assumed, or substituted with a substantially equivalent award, by the successor company (or its parent or any of its subsidiaries), (C) accelerated with respect to vesting and/or exercisability, as applicable, or (D) canceled in consideration of a cash payment or alternative Award, if applicable, made to the holder of such canceled Award equal in value to the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction, directly or indirectly, to holders of the same number of Shares subject to such Award (the Deal Consideration) (or if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of such canceled Award) over the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Committee may determine that only holders of vested Awards shall receive any such cash payment or alternative Award; and further provided, that any Award with an aggregate exercise price that equals or exceeds the Deal Consideration (or if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of such canceled Award) shall be canceled without payment or consideration thereof; or (ii) may take any other action or actions with respect to the outstanding Awards that it deems appropriate, which need not be uniform with respect to all Participants and/or Awards. Any Award (or any portion thereof) not continued or assumed by the Company or the successor company (or its parent or any of its subsidiaries), as applicable, pursuant to the foregoing shall terminate on such Change in Control and the holder thereof shall be entitled to no consideration for such Award.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Awards shall terminate immediately prior to such event.
Section 15. General Provisions.
(a) Clawback Policy. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Award granted under the Plan (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Participant pursuant to the Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) which is or becomes subject to recovery under the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Clawback Policy or any other Company policy, or pursuant to any law, regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, shall be subject to such deductions, recoupment, and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant thereto.
(b) Dividend Equivalents. In the sole and complete discretion of the Committee, an Award may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property on a current or deferred basis.
(c) Nontransferability of Awards. Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or as determined by the Committee (except with respect to Incentive Stock Options), no Award shall be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(d) No Rights to Awards. No Employee, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
(e) Lock-up Period. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares shall not be issued under this Plan unless the Participant agrees that he or she will not sell, 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 Participant prior to the date 180 days following the effective date of a registration statement with respect to any underwritten public offering by the Company of its securities as requested by the managing underwriters for such offering.
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(f) Shares. No certificates will be issued in respect of the Shares unless the Board determines otherwise and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator) or otherwise as permitted by applicable law.
(g) Withholding. As a condition to the issuance of any Shares in satisfaction of an Award, a Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any of its Affiliates, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized (i) to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, in each case if permissible under local law) of any applicable taxes, social contributions or other amounts required by applicable law in respect of the grant, exercise, lapse or vesting of an Award or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan, including net share withholding up to the statutory maximum amount, and (ii) to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such amounts.
(h) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder may be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto.
(i) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements.
(j) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate and shall not lessen or affect the right of the Company or its Affiliates to terminate the employment or service of a Participant.
(k) Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be issued under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares.
(l) Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without, to the fullest extent permissible thereby, application of the conflict of law principles thereof.
(m) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(n) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant in connection therewith shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder is, nor shall be construed as, an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws and any other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.
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(o) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create, or be construed to create, a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
(p) No Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash or other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(q) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(r) Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant shall, as a condition precedent to the exercise or settlement of an Award, have executed and be in compliance with the Companys (or its Affiliates) standard form of confidentiality, non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements.
(s) Modification of Award Terms for non-U.S. Participants. The Committee shall have the discretion and authority to grant Awards with such modified terms as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with the laws of the country in which the Participant resides or is employed, and the Committee may establish a subplan under this Plan for such purposes.
(t) Company Governing Instruments. All Shares issued and/or vested pursuant to an Award or Substitute Award, or transferred thereafter, shall be held subject to the Companys certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as may be amended from time to time.
Section 16. Term of The Plan.
The Plan shall remain in effect until May 18, 2027, unless terminated earlier by the Board under the terms of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after the authority for grant of new Awards hereunder has been exhausted.
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Section 17. Section 409A.
It is intended that the Company grant Awards under the Plan that are exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code (Section 409A). To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Plan and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A. In that regard, to the extent any Award is subject to Section 409A and such Award is payable on account of a Participants termination of service, then (a) such Award shall be paid only to the extent such termination of service qualifies as a separation from service as defined in Section 409A, and (b) if such Award is payable to a specified employee as defined in Section 409A then, to the extent required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such Award shall not be paid until the date that is six months after such separation from service, except to the extent that earlier distribution would not result in such Participants incurring interest or additional tax under Section 409A.
Further notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required under Section 409A in order to make payment of an Award upon a Change in Control, the applicable transaction or event described in Section 2(f) must qualify as a change in control within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code, and if it does not, then unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, payment of such Award will be made on the Awards original payment schedule or, if earlier, upon the death of the Participant.
If an Award includes a series of installment payments (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations), a Participants right to such series of installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not as a right to a single payment, and if an Award includes dividend equivalents (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(e) of the Treasury Regulations), a Participants right to such dividend equivalents shall be treated separately from the right to other amounts under the Award.
To the extent applicable, the Plan and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Committee may (but is not obligated to), without a Participants consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or comply with the requirements of Section 409A and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under Section 409A. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to the tax treatment of any Award under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company shall have no obligation under this Section 17 or otherwise to take any action (whether or not described herein) to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and neither the Committee, the Company nor any of the Companys employees, directors or representatives shall have any liability to any Participant with respect to this Section.
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Exhibit 99.2
PENGUIN SOLUTIONS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
2018 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
1. Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of this Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Plan) is to provide an opportunity for Eligible Employees of the Company and its Designated Companies to purchase Shares at a discount through voluntary Contributions, thereby attracting, retaining and rewarding such persons and strengthening the mutuality of interest between such persons and the Companys stockholders. The Company intends for offerings under the Plan to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code (each, a Section 423 Offering); provided, however, that the Committee may also authorize the grant of rights under offerings of the Plan that are not intended to comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, pursuant to any rules, procedures, appendices, or sub-plans (collectively, Sub-Plans) adopted by the Committee for such purpose (each, a Non-423 Offering). The Plan constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. 2018 Employee Share Purchase Plan as sponsored by Penguin Solutions Cayman (the Prior Plan) effective as of June 30, 2025, primarily to reflect the Companys assumption of the Prior Plan and outstanding purchase rights thereunder in connection with the redomicile of the parent holding company of the Penguin Solutions company group from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware (the Redomicile), and shall be construed accordingly. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in Section 2 below.
2. Definitions.
(a) Administrator means the Committee or, subject to Applicable Law, one or more of the Companys officers or management team appointed by the Board or Committee to administer the day-to-day operations of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Board or Committee may assign any of its administrative tasks to the Administrator.
(b) Affiliate will have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times at which Affiliate status is determined within the foregoing definition.
(c) Applicable Law means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under state corporate laws, United States federal and state securities laws, the Code, the rules of any share exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction where rights are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) Change in Control means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person or group (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than such a sale or disposition immediately after which such assets will be owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition;
(ii) any person or group, other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the Company, including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation or otherwise; or
(iii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
The Compensation Committee of the Board shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a change in control event as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
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(f) Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or United States Treasury Regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other official applicable guidance promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(g) Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any subcommittee referred to in Section 4(e).
(h) Company means Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its successors and assigns. Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, with respect to periods prior to the Redomicile, references to the Company herein shall refer to Penguin Solutions Cayman.
(i) Contributions means the amount of after-tax Eligible Pay contributed by a Participant through payroll deductions and other additional payments that the Committee may permit a Participant to make to fund the exercise of rights to purchase Shares granted pursuant to the Plan.
(j) Designated Company means any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate, whether now existing or existing in the future, that has been designated by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee may designate Parents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates as Designated Companies in a Non-423 Offering. For purposes of a Section 423 Offering, only the Company and its Parents or Subsidiaries may be Designated Companies; provided, however, that at any given time, a Parent or Subsidiary that is a Designated Company under a Section 423 Offering will not be a Designated Company under a Non-423 Offering.
(k) Effective Date means the date the Prior Plan was originally approved by the Board, subject to approval by the Companys stockholders which approval was obtained at the Companys annual meeting of stockholders on January 24, 2018, within twelve (12) months from the date the Board approved and adopted the Prior Plan.
(l) Eligible Employee means any individual in an employee-employer relationship with the Company or a Designated Company for income tax and employment tax withholding and reporting purposes. For purposes of clarity, and unless otherwise required by Section 423 of the Code, the term Eligible Employee will not include the following, regardless of any subsequent reclassification as an employee by the Company or a Designated Company, any governmental agency, or any court: (i) any independent contractor; (ii) any consultant; (iii) any individual performing services for the Company or a Designated Company who has entered into an independent contractor or consultant agreement with the Company or a Designated Company; (iv) any individual performing services for the Company or a Designated Company under an independent contractor or consultant agreement, a purchase order, a supplier agreement or any other agreement that the Company or a Designated Company enters into for services; (v) any individual classified by the Company or a Designated Company as contract labor (such as contractors, contract employees, job shoppers), regardless of length of service; (vi) any individual whose base wage or salary is not processed for payment by the payroll department(s) or payroll provider(s) of the Company or a Designated Company; and (vii) any leased employee. The Committee will have exclusive discretion to determine whether an individual is an Eligible Employee for purposes of the Plan.
(m) Eligible Pay means the total pre-tax amount paid by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to the Eligible Employee (other than amounts paid after termination of employment date, even if such amounts are paid for pre-termination date services) as base salary or wages (including 13th/14th month payments or similar concepts under local law) and any portion of such amounts voluntarily deferred or reduced by the Eligible Employee (i) under any employee benefit plan of the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate available to all levels of employees on a non-discriminatory basis upon satisfaction of eligibility requirements, and (ii) under any deferral plan of the Company (provided such amounts would not otherwise have been excluded had they not been deferred), but excluding any cash bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, stipends, lump sum payments in lieu of foregone merit increases, bonus buyouts as the result of job changes, pension, retainers, severance pay, special stay-on bonus, income derived from stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and dispositions of shares acquired thereunder, and other special remuneration or variable pay. For Eligible Employees in the United States, Eligible Pay will include elective amounts that are not includible in gross income of the Eligible Employee by reason of Sections 125, 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3), 402(h) or 403(b) of the Code. The Committee will have discretion to determine the application of this definition to Eligible Employees outside the United States.
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(n) Enrollment Period means the period during which an Eligible Employee may elect to participate in the Plan, with such period occurring before the first day of each Offering Period or, as applicable, before a subsequent Entry Date for an Offering Period, as prescribed by the Administrator.
(o) Entry Date means the date on which an Eligible Employee first commences participation in an Offering Period under the Plan, which date shall either be the first Trading Day of the Offering Period or the first Trading Day of a Purchase Period within such Offering Period, or such other date as may be established by the Administrator.
(p) Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, from time to time, or any successor law thereto, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(q) Fair Market Value means, as of any given date, (i) the closing price reported for the Shares on the applicable date as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if no sale occurred on such date, the closing price reported for the first Trading Day immediately prior to such date during which a sale occurred; or (ii) if the Shares are not traded on an exchange but are regularly quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the closing sales price on such date as quoted on such market or system, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the date immediately prior to such date on which sales prices are reported; or (iii) in the absence of an established market for the Shares of the type described in (i) or (ii) of this Section 2(q), the fair market value established by the acting in good faith.
(r) Offering means a Section 423 Offering or a Non-423 Offering of a right to purchase Shares under the Plan during an Offering Period as further described in Section 6. The Committee may establish separate Offerings under the Plan in which Eligible Employees of one or more Designated Companies may participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Periods of each such Offering are identical, and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering. With respect to Section 423 Offerings, the terms of separate Offerings need not be identical provided that all Eligible Employees granted purchase rights in a particular Offering will have the same rights and privileges, except as otherwise may be permitted by Code Section 423; a Non-423 Offering need not satisfy such requirements.
(s) Offering Period means the periods established in accordance with Section 6 during which rights to purchase Shares may be granted pursuant to the Plan and Shares may be purchased on one or more Purchase Dates. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Sections 6 and 17.
(t) Parent means a parent corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(u) Participant means an Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan.
(v) Penguin Solutions Cayman means Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company, the parent holding company of the Penguin Solutions companies group prior to the Redomicile.
(w) Plan means the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be further amended from time to time. Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, references to the Plan herein shall include the Prior Plan.
(x) Purchase Date means the last Trading Day of each Purchase Period (or such other Trading Day as the Committee may determine).
(y) Purchase Period means a period of time within an Offering Period, as may be specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 6, generally beginning on the first Trading Day of each Offering Period or on a subsequent Entry Date within an Offering Period, and ending on a Purchase Date. An Offering Period may consist of one or more Purchase Periods.
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(z) Purchase Price means the purchase price at which Shares may be acquired on a Purchase Date and which will be set by the Committee; provided, however, that the Purchase Price for a Section 423 Offering will not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the applicable Entry Date for an Offering Period or (ii) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Purchase Date. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee prior to the commencement of an Offering Period, and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 16 hereof, the Purchase Price will be eighty-five percent (85%) of the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Entry Date for an Offering Period or (b) the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Purchase Date.
(aa) Redomicile means the redomicile of the parent holding company of the Penguin Solutions companies group from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware, effective as of June 30, 2025.
(bb) Shares means shares of common stock of the Company, each with a par value $0.03 per share, or such other securities as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.
(cc) Subsidiary means a subsidiary corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(dd) Tax-Related Items means any income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related items arising in relation to the Participants participation in the Plan.
(ee) Trading Day means a day on which the principal exchange that Shares are listed on is open for trading.
3. Shares Reserved for the Plan.
(a) Number of Reserved Shares. Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3(b) and Section 16 hereof, 350,000 Shares may be sold pursuant to the Plan; provided, however, that such aggregate number of Shares as authorized and available for sale under the Plan, or that may become available for sale pursuant to Section 3(b)(ii) hereof, in each case as of February 1, 2022 (the Distribution Date), has been adjusted as of the Distribution Date to reflect the Companys two-for-one share split, effected on such Distribution Date. Such Shares may be authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares or Shares purchased in the open market. For avoidance of doubt, up to the maximum number of Shares reserved under this Section 3(a) may be used to satisfy purchases of Shares under Section 423 Offerings and any remaining portion of such maximum number of Shares may be used to satisfy purchases of Shares under Non-423 Offerings.
(b) Annual Increase in Number of Reserved Shares. Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 16 hereof, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be sold under the Plan and Section 423 Offerings thereunder as set forth in Section 3(a) shall be cumulatively increased automatically on September 1, 2018 and on each subsequent September 1, through and including September 1, 2027, by a number of Shares (the Annual Increase) equal to the smallest of (i) one and one half percent (1.5%) of the number of Shares issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding fiscal year end date, (ii) 300,000 shares (as adjusted as of the Distribution Date), or (iii) an amount determined by the Board.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Committee as Administrator. The Plan will be administered by the Committee. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, subject to Applicable Law, any authority or responsibility that, under the terms of the Plan, may be exercised by the Committee may alternatively be exercised by the Board. Subject to Applicable Law, no member of the Board or Committee (or its delegates) will be liable for any good faith action or determination made in connection with the operation, administration or interpretation of the Plan. In the performance of its responsibilities with respect to the Plan, the Committee will be entitled to rely upon, and no member of the Committee will be liable for any action taken or not taken in reliance upon, information and/or advice furnished by the Companys officers or employees, the Companys accountants, the Companys counsel and any other party that the Committee deems necessary.
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(b) Powers of the Committee. The Committee will have full power and authority to: administer the Plan, including, without limitation, the authority to (i) construe, interpret, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any default in and supply any omission in, and apply the terms of the Plan and any enrollment form or other instrument or agreement relating to the Plan, (ii) determine eligibility and adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan, including whether Eligible Employees will participate in a Section 423 Offering or a Non-423 Offering and which Parents, Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Company will be Designated Companies participating in either a Section 423 Offering or a Non-423 Offering, (iii) determine the terms and conditions of any right to purchase Shares under the Plan, (iv) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it deems appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan, (v) amend an outstanding right to purchase Shares, including any amendments to a right that may be necessary for purposes of effecting a transaction contemplated under Section 16 hereof (including, but not limited to, an amendment to the class or type of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of a right or the Purchase Price applicable to a right), provided that the amended right otherwise conforms to the terms of the Plan, and (vi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan including, without limitation, the adoption of such Sub-Plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit the participation in the Plan by employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, as further set forth in Section 4(c) below.
(c) Non-U.S. Sub-Plans. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, the Committee may adopt such Sub-Plans relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures for jurisdictions outside of the United States, the terms of which Sub- Plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 3 and Section 26 hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such Sub-Plan, the provisions of this Plan will govern the operation of such Sub-Plan. To the extent inconsistent with the requirements of Section 423, any such Sub-Plan will be considered part of a Non-423 Offering, and purchase rights granted thereunder will not be required by the terms of the Plan to comply with Section 423 of the Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee is authorized to adopt Sub-Plans for particular non-U.S. jurisdictions that modify the terms of the Plan to meet applicable local requirements regarding, without limitation, (i) eligibility to participate, (ii) the definition of Eligible Pay, (iii) the dates and duration of Offering Periods or other periods during which Participants may make Contributions towards the purchase of Shares, (iv) the method of determining the Purchase Price and the discount from Fair Market Value at which Shares may be purchased, (v) any minimum or maximum amount of Contributions a Participant may make in an Offering Period or other specified period under the applicable Sub-Plan, (vi) the treatment of purchase rights upon a Change in Control or a change in capitalization of the Company, (vii) the handling of payroll deductions, (viii) establishment of bank, building society or trust accounts to hold Contributions (ix) payment of interest, (x) conversion of local currency, (xi) obligations to pay Tax-Related Items, (xii) determination of beneficiary designation requirements, (xiii) withholding procedures and (xiv) handling of Share issuances and restrictions on the sale of Shares.
(d) Binding Authority. All determinations by the Committee in carrying out and administering the Plan and in construing and interpreting the Plan and any enrollment form or other instrument or agreement relating to the Plan will be made in the Committees sole discretion and will be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all interested persons.
(e) Delegation of Authority. To the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, the Committee may, from time to time, delegate some or all of its authority under the Plan to a subcommittee or subcommittees of the Committee, the Administrator or other persons or groups of persons as it deems necessary, appropriate or advisable under conditions or limitations that it may set at or after the time of the delegation. For purposes of the Plan, reference to the Committee will be deemed to refer to any subcommittee, subcommittees, or other persons or groups of persons to whom the Committee delegates authority pursuant to this Section 4(e).
5. Eligible Employees.
(a) General. Any individual who is an Eligible Employee as of the commencement of an Offering Period, or as applicable, as of a subsequent Entry Date within an Offering Period, will be eligible to participate in the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 7.
(b) Non-U.S. Employees. An Eligible Employee who works for a Designated Company and is a citizen or resident of a jurisdiction other than the United States (without regard to whether such individual also is a citizen or resident of the United States or is a resident alien (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the Code)) may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an Offering if the participation of such Eligible Employee is prohibited under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction or if complying with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction would cause the Plan or a Section 423 Offering to violate Section 423 of the Code. In the case of a Non-423 Offering, an Eligible Employee (or group of Eligible Employees) may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an Offering if the Administrator has determined, in its sole discretion, that participation of such Eligible Employee(s) is not advisable or practicable for any reason.
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(c) Limitations. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee will be granted a right to purchase Shares (i) to the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose shares would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital shares of the Company and/or hold outstanding rights to purchase capital shares possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital shares of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase capital shares under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries accrues at a rate that exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars (US$25,000) worth of such shares (determined at the fair market value of such shares at the time such right is granted) for each calendar year in which such purchase right is outstanding. The Committee, in its discretion, from time to time may, prior to an Enrollment Period for all purchase rights to be granted in an Offering, determine (on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis for Section 423 Offerings) that the definition of Eligible Employee will or will not include an individual if he or she: (i) has not completed at least two (2) years of service since his or her last hire date (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Committee in its discretion), (ii) customarily works not more than twenty (20) hours per week (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Committee in its discretion), (iii) customarily works not more than five (5) months per calendar year (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Committee in its discretion), (iv) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code, or (v) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code with compensation above a certain level or is an officer or subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, provided the exclusion is applied with respect to each Section 423 Offering in an identical manner to all highly compensated individuals of the Designated Company whose employees are participating in that Offering.
6. Offering Periods. The Plan will be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first Trading Day of the relevant Offering Period and terminating on the last Trading Day of the relevant Offering Period. Unless and until the Committee determines otherwise in its discretion, each Offering Period will consist of two (2) six (6)-month Purchase Periods. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, Purchase Periods will run from April 16 (or the first Trading Day thereafter) through October 15 (or the first Trading Day prior to such date) and from October 16 (or the first Trading Day thereafter) through April 15 (or the first Trading Day prior to such date). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the first Offering Period under the Plan will run from April 16, 2018 through April 15, 2019. The Committee has authority to establish additional or alternative sequential or overlapping Offering Periods, a different duration for one or more Offering Periods or Purchase Periods or different commencement or ending dates for such Offering Periods without stockholder approval, provided, however, that no Offering Period may have a duration exceeding twenty-seven (27) months. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the Fair Market Value of the Shares on any Purchase Date within an Offering Period is less than or equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the first Trading Day of that Offering Period, then (i) that Offering Period will terminate immediately as of that first Trading Day, and (ii) the Participants in such terminated Offering Period will be automatically enrolled in a new Offering Period beginning on the first Trading Day of such new Purchase Period.
7. Election to Participate and Payroll Deductions. An Eligible Employee may elect to participate in an Offering Period under the Plan during any Enrollment Period. Any such election will be made by completing the online enrollment process through the Companys designated Plan broker or by completing and submitting an enrollment form to the Administrator during such Enrollment Period, authorizing Contributions in whole percentages from 1% to 15% of the Eligible Employees Eligible Pay for the Purchase Periods within the Offering Period to which the deduction applies. A Participant may elect to increase or decrease the rate of such Contributions during any subsequent Enrollment Period for the next Offering Period by submitting the appropriate form online through the Companys designated Plan broker or to the Administrator, provided that no change in Contributions will be permitted to the extent that such change would result in total Contributions exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of the Eligible Employees Eligible Pay, or such other maximum amount as may be determined by the Administrator. During a Purchase Period, a Participant may reduce his or her rate of Contributions, including to 0%, to become effective as soon as possible after completing an amended enrollment form (either through the Companys online Plan enrollment process or in paper form). The Participant may not, however, effect more than one such reduction per Purchase Period. Except for one reduction in the rate of Contributions per Purchase Period, an Eligible Employee may not initiate, increase or decrease Contributions as of any date within an Offering Period, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. The Participant may, at any time during the Enrollment Period for a subsequent Offering Period (or by such other deadline as may be prescribed by the Administrator) increase the rate of his or her Contributions by completing an amended enrollment form (either through the Companys online Plan enrollment process or in paper form). The new rate (which may not exceed 15% of the Participants Eligible Pay or such other amount as may be determined by the Administrator) will become effective on the first day of the first Offering Period following the completion of such enrollment form. If a Participant reduces his or her rate of Contributions to 0% during an Offering Period and does not increase such rate of Contributions above 0% prior to the commencement of the next subsequent Offering Period under the Plan, such action will be treated as the Participants withdrawal from the Plan in accordance with Section 14 hereof. The Administrator has the authority to change the foregoing rules set forth in this Section 7 regarding participation in the Plan.
Rev. June 2025
8. Contributions. The Company will establish an account in the form of a bookkeeping entry for each Participant for the purpose of tracking Contributions made by each Participant during the Offering Period, and will credit all Contributions made by each Participant to such account. The Company will not be obligated to segregate the Contributions from the general funds of the Company or any Designated Company nor will any interest be paid on such Contributions, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law. All Contributions received by the Company for Shares sold by the Company on any Purchase Date pursuant to this Plan may be used for any corporate purpose.
9. Limitation on Number of Shares That an Employee May Purchase. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), each Participant will have the right to purchase as many Shares as may be purchased with the Contributions credited to his or her account as of the last day of the Purchase Period (or such other date as the Committee may determine) at the Purchase Price applicable to such Purchase Period; provided, however, that a Participant may not purchase in excess of 5,000 Shares under the Plan per Offering Period or such other maximum number of Shares as may be established for an Offering Period by the Committee (in each case subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 16 hereof and as adjusted to reflect the Companys two-for-one share split, which was effected on February 1, 2022). Any amount remaining in a Participants account as of the relevant Purchase Date in excess of the amount that may not be applied to the purchase of Shares as a result of the application of the limitations set forth herein (or as designated by the Administrator) will be carried over to the next Purchase Period; provided that if the Purchase Date is for the last Purchase Period of an Offering Period, then any remaining amounts (other than any amount representing a fractional Share) will be refunded, without interest (unless required by Applicable Law), as soon as practicable. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, fractional Shares will not be purchased under the Plan.
10. Taxes. At the time a Participants purchase right is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time a Participant disposes of some or all of the Shares acquired under the Plan, the Participant will make adequate provision for any Tax-Related Items. In their sole discretion, and except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company or the Designated Company that employs the Participant may satisfy their obligations to withhold Tax-Related Items by (a) withholding from the Participants wages or other compensation, (b) withholding a sufficient number of Shares otherwise issuable following purchase having an aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to pay the Tax-Related Items required to be withheld with respect to the Shares, (c) withholding from proceeds from the sale of Shares issued upon purchase, either through a voluntary sale or a mandatory sale arranged by the Company, (d) permitting or requiring the Participant to remit payment for all Tax-Related Items to the Company or the applicable Designated Company, or (e) such other method as may be approved by the Administrator.
11. Brokerage Accounts or Plan Share Accounts. By enrolling in the Plan, each Participant will be deemed to have authorized the establishment of a brokerage account on his or her behalf at a securities brokerage firm selected by the Administrator. Alternatively, the Administrator may provide for Plan share accounts for each Participant to be established by the Company or by an outside entity selected by the Administrator which is not a brokerage firm. Shares purchased by a Participant pursuant to the Plan will be held in the Participants brokerage or Plan share account. The Company may require that Shares be retained in such brokerage or Plan share account for a designated period of time, and/or may establish procedures to permit tracking of dispositions of Shares.
12. Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant will have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to any rights granted under this Plan or any Shares deliverable under this Plan unless and until recorded in the register of members or books of the firm selected by the Administrator or, as applicable, the Company, its transfer agent, stock plan administrator or such other outside entity which is not a brokerage firm.
13. Rights Not Transferable. Rights granted under this Plan are not transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during a Participants lifetime only by the Participant.
14. Withdrawals. A Participant may withdraw from an Offering Period by submitting the appropriate form online through the Companys designated Plan broker or to the Administrator. A notice of withdrawal must be received no later than the last day of the month immediately preceding the month of the Purchase Date or by such other deadline as may be prescribed by the Administrator. Upon receipt of such notice, automatic deductions of Contributions on behalf of the Participant will be discontinued commencing with the payroll period immediately following the effective date of the notice of withdrawal, and such Participant will not be eligible to participate in the Plan until the Enrollment Period for the next subsequent new Offering Period under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, amounts credited to the contribution account of any Participant who withdraws prior to the date set forth in this Section 14 will be refunded, without interest, as soon as practicable.
Rev. June 2025
15. Termination of Employment.
(a) General. Upon a Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Employee for any reason prior to a Purchase Date, Contributions for such Participant will be discontinued and any amounts then credited to the Participants contribution account will be refunded, without interest (except if required by Applicable Law), as soon as practicable, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator.
(b) Leave of Absence. Subject to the discretion of the Administrator, if a Participant is granted a paid leave of absence, payroll deductions on behalf of the Participant will continue and any amounts credited to the Participants contribution account may be used to purchase Shares as provided under the Plan. If a Participant is granted an unpaid leave of absence, payroll deductions on behalf of the Participant will be discontinued and no other Contributions will be permitted (unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law), but any amounts then credited to the Participants contribution account may be used to purchase Shares on the next applicable Purchase Date. Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the Participants right to reemployment is not guaranteed by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated for purposes of the Plan three (3) months and one (1) day following the commencement of such leave.
(c) Transfer of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, a Participant whose employment transfers or whose employment terminates with an immediate rehire (with no break in service) by or between the Company or a Designated Company will not be treated as having terminated employment for purposes of participating in the Plan or an Offering; however, if a Participant transfers from a Section 423 Offering to a Non-423 Offering, the exercise of the Participants purchase right will be qualified under the Section 423 Offering only to the extent that such exercise complies with Section 423 of the Code. If a Participant transfers from a Non-423 Offering to a Section 423 Offering, the exercise of the Participants purchase right will remain non- qualified under the Non-423 Offering.
16. Adjustment Provisions.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Without limitation to Section 17 below, in the event of any change affecting the number, class, value or terms of the outstanding Shares by reason of a Share dividend, Share split, reverse Share split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, spin-off, combination, transaction or exchange of Shares, or other corporate exchange, or any cash dividend or distribution to stockholders other than ordinary cash dividends or any transaction similar to the foregoing, then the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust the number, class and/or kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including the numerical limits of Sections 3 and 9 and pursuant to the Annual Increase), the Purchase Price per Share and the number of Shares covered by each right under the Plan that has not yet been exercised. For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee may not delegate its authority to make adjustments pursuant to this Section. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, will affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof will be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to a purchase right.
(b) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding right to purchase Shares will be equitably adjusted and assumed or an equivalent right to purchase Shares substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for the purchase right, the successor corporation is not a publicly traded corporation, or there is no successor corporation in the case of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a New Purchase Date and will end on the New Purchase Date. The New Purchase Date will be before the date of the Companys proposed Change in Control. The Committee will notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the New Purchase Date, that the Purchase Date for the Participants purchase right has been changed to the New Purchase Date and that Shares will be purchased automatically for the Participant on the New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period, as provided in Section 14 hereof.
Rev. June 2025
17. Amendments and Termination of the Plan. The Board or the Committee may amend the Plan at any time, provided that, if stockholder approval is required pursuant to Applicable Law, then no such amendment will be effective unless approved by the Companys stockholders within such time period as may be required. The Board may suspend the Plan or discontinue the Plan at any time, including shortening an Offering Period in connection with a spin-off or other similar corporate event. Upon termination of the Plan, all Contributions will cease and all amounts then credited to a Participants account will be equitably applied to the purchase of Shares then available for sale, and any remaining amounts will be promptly refunded, without interest (except where required by Applicable Law), to Participants. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board or Committee, as applicable herein, may not delegate its authority to make amendments to or suspend the operations of the Plan pursuant to this Section.
18. Stockholder Approval; Effective Date. The Plan became effective on the Effective Date. The Plan was amended and restated as of June 30, 2025 in connection with the Redomicile. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board may not delegate its authority to approve the Plan.
19. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless there is an available exemption from any registration, qualification or other legal requirement applicable to the Shares, the Company will not be required to issue any Shares issuable upon exercise of a right under the Plan prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of the Shares under any local, state, federal or foreign securities or exchange control law or under rulings or regulations of any governmental regulatory body, or prior to obtaining any approval or other clearance from any local, state, federal or foreign governmental agency, which registration, qualification or approval the Committee will, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable. The Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Shares with any state or foreign securities commission, or to seek approval or clearance from any governmental authority for the issuance or sale of the Shares. If, pursuant to this Section 19, the Committee determines that the Shares will not be issued to any Participant, any Contributions credited to such Participants account will be promptly refunded, without interest, to the Participant, without any liability to the Company or any of its Parents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
20. Code Section 409A; Tax Qualification.
(a) Code Section 409A. Rights to purchase Shares granted under a Section 423 Offering are exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code and rights to purchase Shares granted under a Non-423 Offering are intended to be exempt from Sections 409A of the Code pursuant to the short- term deferral exemption contained therein. In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, if the Committee determines that a right granted under the Plan may be subject to Section 409A of the Code or that any provision in the Plan would cause a right under the Plan to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may amend the terms of the Plan and/or of an outstanding right granted under the Plan, or take such other action the Committee determines is necessary or appropriate, in each case, without the Participants consent, to exempt any outstanding right or future right that may be granted under the Plan from or to allow any such rights to comply with Section 409A of the Code, but only to the extent any such amendments or action by the Committee would not violate Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will have no liability to a Participant or any other party if the right to purchase Shares under the Plan that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee with respect thereto. The Company makes no representation that the right to purchase Shares under the Plan is compliant with Section 409A of the Code.
(b) Tax Qualification. Although the Company may endeavor to (i) qualify a right to purchase Shares for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment (e.g., under Section 409A of the Code), the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 20(a) hereof. The Company will be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on Participants under the Plan.
21. No Employment Rights. Participation in the Plan will not be construed as giving any Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary, or Affiliate, as applicable. Furthermore, the Company, a Parent, Subsidiary, or an Affiliate may dismiss any Participant from employment at any time, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan.
22. Governing Law; Choice of Forum. Except to the extent that provisions of this Plan are governed by applicable provisions of the Code or any other substantive provision of United States federal law, this Plan will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Any legal action related to the Plan, the purchase rights granted under the Plan or any enrollment form or other instrument or agreement relating to the Plan shall be brought only in a United States federal or state court located in the State of Delaware.
Rev. June 2025
23. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each Participant waives any right it may have to trial by jury in respect of any litigation based on, arising out of, under or in connection with the Plan.
24. Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings will not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan.
25. Expenses. Unless otherwise set forth in the Plan or determined by the Administrator, all expenses of administering the Plan, including expenses incurred in connection with the purchase of Shares for sale to Participants, will be borne by the Company and its Parents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
26. Term of Plan. The Plan initially became effective on the Effective Date and will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the date of such approval by the Companys stockholders (i.e., until January 24, 2028), unless sooner terminated under Section 17.
Rev. June 2025
Exhibit 99.3
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
(effective February 15, 2021)
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan is to promote the interests of Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the Company) and its stockholders by (i) providing an inducement material for certain individuals to enter into employment with the Company within the meaning of Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, and (ii) motivating such persons to contribute to, and enabling them to share in, the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. The Plan constitutes an amendment and restatement of the 2021 Inducement Plan (the Prior Plan) as sponsored by Penguin Solutions Cayman (as defined below), effective as of June 30, 2025, primarily to reflect the Companys assumption of the Prior Plan and all Awards (as defined below) thereunder in connection with the redomicile of the parent holding company of the Penguin Solutions company group from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware (the Redomicile), and shall be construed accordingly.
Section 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) Affiliate means with respect to any Person, (i) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person and any entity that is, directly or indirectly, controlled by the Company and (ii) any other entity in which such Person has a significant equity interest or which has a significant equity interest in such Person, in either case as determined by the Committee in accordance with the Inducement Award Rules. For purposes of this definition, the terms control (including with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with) when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
(b) Award means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award.
(c) Award Agreement means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.
(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) Cause means, unless otherwise defined in any Employment Agreement or Award Agreement:
(i) | a Participants willful and continued failure substantially to perform his or her duties (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness); |
(ii) | a Participants gross negligence or willful malfeasance in the performance of his or her duties; |
(iii) | a Participants commission of an act constituting fraud, embezzlement, or any other act constituting a felony or other similar offense under the laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Company conducts business; |
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(iv) | a Participant being repeatedly under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while performing his or her duties; or |
(v) | any other act or omission which is materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company, including a Participants breach of the provisions of any non-solicitation, non-competition, trade secret or confidentiality covenant in favor of the Company or its Affiliates binding upon such Participant. |
The existence or non-existence of Cause with respect to any Participant will be determined in good faith by the Board.
(f) Change in Control means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i) | the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person or group (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than such a sale or disposition immediately after which such assets will be owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition; or |
(ii) | any person or group, other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the Company, including by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation or otherwise. |
The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a change in control event as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
(g) Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of any Award.
(h) Company means Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns). Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, with respect to periods prior to the Redomicile, references to the Company herein shall refer to Penguin Solutions Cayman.
(i) Committee means a committee of one or more members of the Board and/or officers designated by the Board to administer the Plan, as further set forth in Section 3(b) of the Plan in accordance with applicable law. Subject to Section 3(b) of the Plan, the full Board may act as the Committee under the Plan.
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(j) Director means a member of the Board.
(k) Disability shall mean permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(l) Effective Date means February 15, 2021, the date on which the Prior Plan initially became effective, upon its adoption by the Board.
(m) Employee means an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(n) Employment Agreement means an employment or severance and change of control agreement or other similar agreement entered into between a Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(o) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(p) Exercise Price means the purchase price of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement.
(q) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) if there should be a public market for the Shares on such date, the closing market price of the Shares as reported on such date (or if such date is not a trading date, on the immediately preceding date on which sales of the Shares have been so reported), or (ii) if there should not be a public market for the Shares on such date, then Fair Market Value shall be the price determined in good faith by the Committee.
(r) Independent Director means a member of the Board who is not an Employee and who meets the applicable independence requirements of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5605(a)(2) (and any successor or analogous rules or guidance effective after the Effective Date).
(s) Inducement Award Rules means Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c)(4) and the related guidance under Nasdaq IM 5635-1 (and any successor or analogous rules or guidance effective after the Effective Date).
(t) Option means a right to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code relating to incentive stock options.
(u) Other Stock-Based Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10 that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares or factors that may influence the value of Shares, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, purchase rights for Shares, dividend rights or dividend equivalent rights or Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee.
(v) Participant means an Employee granted an Award under the Plan (and to the extent applicable, any heirs or legal representatives thereof).
(w) Penguin Solutions Cayman means Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company, and the parent holding company of the Penguin Solutions company group prior to the Redomicile.
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(x) Performance Award shall mean an Award subject, in part, to the terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 9, pursuant to which the recipient may become entitled to receive cash, Shares or other property, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(y) Performance Period means the period established by the Committee with respect to any Performance Award during which the performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.
(z) Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
(aa) Plan means this Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan, as it may be further amended from time to time. Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, references to the Plan herein shall include the Prior Plan.
(bb) Restricted Stock Award shall mean an Award of Shares that are issued subject to any applicable terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 8.
(cc) Restricted Stock Units or RSUs shall mean an Award of the right to receive either (as the Committee determines) Shares or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the settlement or payment date, subject to any applicable terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 8.
(dd) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
(ee) SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
(ff) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(gg) Shares means common stock of the Company, par value $0.03 per share, or such other securities as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.
(hh) Stock Appreciation Right or SAR shall mean an Award of a right to receive (without payment to the Company) cash, Shares or other property, or other forms of payment, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee, based on the increase in the value of the number of Shares specified in the applicable Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to any applicable terms, conditions and restrictions described in Section 7.
Section 3. Administration.
(a) Authority of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, applicable law and contractual restrictions affecting the Company, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to:
(i) | designate Participants; |
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(ii) | determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant and the exercise price or purchase price, if applicable; |
(iii) | determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; |
(iv) | determine the terms and conditions (including the vesting schedule, if any) of any Award and Award Agreement; |
(v) | determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; |
(vi) | determine whether to cancel an Option or SAR in exchange for the grant of a new Award or for cash, including to the extent such action would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of such Option or SAR; |
(vii) | determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; |
(viii) | interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; |
(ix) | establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and |
(x) | make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. |
(b) Committee Composition. If the Board in its discretion deems it advisable, the Board may provide that the Committee may consist solely of (i) Directors who are independent, within the meaning of and to the extent required by applicable rulings and interpretations of the applicable stock market or exchange on which the Shares are or traded, and/or (ii) two or more Non-Employee Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3; provided, however, that for purposes of the granting or issuing of Awards under this Plan, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board as long as such committee consists solely of Independent Directors or otherwise the Committee shall consist of a majority of the Companys Independent Directors, in either case in order to comply with the exemption from the stockholder approval requirement for inducement grants under the Inducement Award Rules. Subject to the foregoing, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board or the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or to any other person or body certain of its authority under the Plan and the Committee may delegate to one or more committees of the Board (which may consist of solely one Director) certain of its authority under the Plan.
(c) Committee Discretion Binding. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any of its Affiliates, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any stockholder and any Employee. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable.
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Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.
(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in this Section, the number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan on and following the Effective Date shall be 2,000,000 Shares; provided, however, that such aggregate number of Shares as authorized and available for issuance under the Plan as of February 1, 2022 (the Distribution Date) has been adjusted as of the Distribution Date to reflect the Companys two-for-one share split, effected on such Distribution Date. In addition, if, on or after the Effective Date, any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan or to which such an Award relates are forfeited, or if such an Award is settled for cash or otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, shall again become Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted. In addition, Shares tendered in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of the exercise price of any Award or any tax withholding obligations will again become Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted. Shares issued under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares.
(b) Adjustments. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares by reason of any Share dividend, Share split, reverse Share split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, spin-off, combination, transaction or exchange of Shares, or other corporate exchange, or any cash dividend or distribution to stockholders other than ordinary cash dividends or any transaction similar to the foregoing, the Committee shall make such proportionate substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to (i) the number or kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan or pursuant to outstanding Awards, (ii) the Exercise Price of any Option and/or (iii) any other affected terms of outstanding Awards; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events that is an equity restructuring (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Section 718, Compensation Stock Compensation (FASB ASC 718)), the Committee shall make an equitable adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such event; and provided, further, that in the case of any Share dividend, Share split or reverse split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or other distribution of the Companys equity securities with respect to the Shares without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall make a proportionate adjustment.
Section 5. Eligibility. The only persons eligible to receive grants of Awards under this Plan are individuals who receive the offer of an Award as a material inducement to their becoming an Employee and who otherwise meet the requirements for inducement grants under the Inducement Award Rules. A person who previously served as an Employee or Director will not be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, other than following a bona fide period of non-employment.
Section 6. Options.
(a) Grants. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants with the terms and conditions set forth in this Section and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.
(b) Exercise Price. The Committee in its sole discretion shall establish the Exercise Price at the time each Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Exercise Price of any Option granted shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value at the time the Option is granted.
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(c) Exercise. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of U.S. federal or state securities laws, or those of any other jurisdiction, as it may deem necessary or advisable.
(d) Payment. No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the exercise price is received by the Company, together with any documentation required by the Company and any applicable taxes. Such payment may be made:
(i) | in cash; |
(ii) | if approved by the Committee, in Shares (the value of such Shares shall be their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) owned by the Participant for the period required to avoid a charge to the Companys earnings; |
(iii) | if approved by the Committee, by a combination of the foregoing; |
(iv) | if approved by the Committee, in accordance with a broker-assisted cashless exercise program; |
(v) | if approved by the Committee, through net settlement in Shares; or |
(vi) | in such other manner as permitted by the Committee at the time of grant or thereafter. |
Section 7. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Section, with such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
(b) The Committee shall determine the number of Shares to be subject to each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall have an exercise or base price no less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by the right on the date of grant.
(c) Any Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised during its term only at such time or times and in such installments as the Committee may establish and shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date it is granted.
(d) An Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the holder to exercise such Award and to receive from the Company in exchange thereof, without payment to the Company, that number of Shares or cash having an aggregate value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one Share, at the time of such exercise, over the exercise price, times the number of Shares subject to the Award, or portion thereof, that is so exercised or surrendered, as the case may be.
(e) No grant of SARs may be accompanied by a tandem award of dividend equivalents or provide for dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions to be paid on such SARs (except as provided under Section 4(b)).
Section 8. Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units.
(a) The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Awards and RSUs pursuant to this Section, with such additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
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(b) The Committee shall determine the number of Shares to be issued to a Participant pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards or RSUs, and the extent, if any, to which they shall be issued in exchange for cash, other consideration, or both. The Award Agreement shall specify the vesting schedule and, with respect to RSUs, the delivery schedule (which may include deferred delivery later than the vesting date).
(c) The Committee may, in its discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement that any or all dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions, as applicable, paid on Restricted Stock Awards or RSUs prior to vesting or settlement, as applicable, be paid either in cash or in additional Shares and either on a current or deferred basis (and may be subject to the same vesting restrictions as the underlying Award) and that such dividends, dividend equivalents or other distributions may be reinvested in additional Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends and dividend equivalents with respect to Restricted Stock Awards and RSUs that are granted as Performance Awards shall vest only if and to the extent that the underlying Performance Award vests, as determined by the Committee.
Section 9. Performance-Based Awards.
(a) Grant. The Committee may grant a Performance Award which shall consist of a right that is (i) denominated and/or payable in cash, Shares or any other form of Award issuable under this Plan (or any combination thereof) (other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights), (ii) valued, as determined by the Committee, in accordance with the achievement of such performance goals applicable to such Performance Periods as the Committee shall establish and (iii) payable at such time and in such form as the Committee shall determine.
(b) Terms and Conditions. Performance Awards may be conditioned upon the achievement of pre-established goals relating to one or more performance measures, including but not limited to the following performance measures or such other measures, each as determined in writing by the Committee and subject to such modifications as specified by the Committee: cash flow; cash flow from operations; earnings (including, but not limited to, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or some variation thereof); earnings per share, diluted or basic; earnings per share from continuing operations; net asset turnover; inventory turnover; capital expenditures; debt; debt reduction; working capital; return on investment; return on sales; net or gross sales; market share; economic value added; cost of capital; change in assets; expense reduction levels; productivity; delivery performance; safety record and/or performance; environmental record and/or performance; share price; return on equity; total or relative increases to stockholder return; return on invested capital; return on assets or net assets; revenue; income or net income; operating income or net operating income; operating profit or net operating profit; gross margin, operating margin or profit margin; and completion of acquisitions, business expansion, product diversification, new or expanded market penetration, and other non-financial operating and management performance objectives. The Committee may determine that certain adjustments shall apply, in whole or in part, in such manner as determined by the Committee, to exclude or include the effect of specified events that occur during a Performance Period. Performance measures may be determined either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary entity thereof, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured over a period of time including any portion of a year, annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous fiscal years results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee.
(c) Performance Goals. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish minimum performance goals below which no compensation shall be payable pursuant to a Performance Award, and/or may create a performance schedule under which an amount less than or more than the target award may be paid so long as the performance goals have been achieved.
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(d) Additional Restrictions/Negative Discretion. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Performance Awards shall be settled only after the end of the relevant Performance Period. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may establish additional restrictions or conditions that must be satisfied as a condition precedent to the payment of all or a portion of any Performance Awards. Such additional restrictions or conditions need not be performance-based and may include, among other things, the receipt by a Participant of a specified annual performance rating, the continued employment by the Participant and/or the achievement of specified performance goals by the Company, business unit or Participant. Furthermore, and notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may retain the discretion to reduce the amount of any Performance Award to a Participant if it concludes that such reduction is necessary or appropriate.
(e) Payment or Settlement of Performance Awards. Performance Awards may be paid or settled, as applicable, in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred or accelerated basis.
Section 10. Other Stock-Based Awards.
(a) Terms and Conditions. The Committee may grant Other Stock-Based Awards, which shall consist of any right that is (i) not an Award described in Sections 6 through 9 above and (ii) an Award of Shares or an Award denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan. Subject to the terms of this Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Stock-Based Award.
Section 11. Effect of Termination of Employment or Service.
(a) Termination of Employment or Service. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, or as required to comply with applicable law, if a Participants employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by Participant or by the Company for any reason (other than death or Disability or by the Company for Cause), then vesting shall immediately cease and, to the extent vested as of the date of termination, an Award may be retained and, if applicable, exercised until the earlier of (i) the date three months (or such longer or shorter period, if any, specified in the applicable Award Agreement or Employment Agreement) after such termination of employment or service or (ii) the date such Award would have expired had it not been for the termination of employment or service, after which time, in either case, the Award shall expire.
(b) Death or Disability. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, or as required to comply with applicable law, if a Participants employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by reason of death or Disability, then vesting shall immediately cease and, to the extent vested as of the date of termination, the Award may be retained and, if applicable, exercised by the Participant or his successor (if employment or service is terminated by death) until the earlier of (i) the date one year after such termination of employment or service or (ii) the date such Award would have expired had it not been for the termination of such employment or service, after which time, in either case, the Award shall expire.
(c) Cause. Except as the Committee may otherwise provide at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, or as required to comply with applicable law, if a Participants employment or service with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated by the Company or an Affiliate for Cause, all Awards held by such Participant shall be forfeited and shall expire immediately on the date of termination.
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(d) Transfers; Changes in Status. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant will not be treated as having had a termination of employment or service for purposes of the Plan in the case of (i) a termination of the Participants employment or service followed by an immediate rehire in connection with the Participants transfer of employment or service between the Company and its Affiliates or between Affiliates or (ii) a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director or consultant, provided that there is no interruption of the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however, that if the entity to which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Committee, such Participants employment or service will be considered to have terminated on the date such entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate.
Section 12. Amendment and Termination.
(a) Amendment or Termination of the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that (i) no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable to qualify or comply and (ii) any amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, or termination that would adversely affect the rights of a Participant with respect to any outstanding Award shall not to that extent be effective with respect to such Award without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary, except as otherwise provided in Section 13 below or elsewhere in the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform with local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United States.
(b) Amendment or Termination of Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would adversely affect the rights of a Participant shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary, except as otherwise provided in Section 13 below or elsewhere in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.
Section 13. Corporate Transactions.
(a) Change in Control. Any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee, in its sole discretion, (i) may cause any outstanding Award to be (A) continued by the Company, (B) assumed, or substituted with a substantially equivalent award, by the successor company (or its parent or any of its subsidiaries), (C) accelerated with respect to vesting and/or exercisability, as applicable, or (D) canceled in consideration of a cash payment or alternative Award, if applicable, made to the holder of such canceled Award equal in value to the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction, directly or indirectly, to holders of the same number of Shares subject to such Award (the Deal Consideration) (or if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of such canceled Award) over the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Committee may determine that only holders of vested Awards shall receive any such cash payment or alternative Award; and further provided, that any Award with an aggregate exercise price that equals or exceeds the Deal Consideration (or if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of such canceled Award) shall be canceled without payment or consideration thereof; or (ii) may take any other action or actions with respect to the outstanding Awards that it deems appropriate, which need not be uniform with respect to all Participants and/or Awards. Any Award (or any portion thereof) not continued or assumed by the Company or the successor company (or its parent or any of its subsidiaries), as applicable, pursuant to the foregoing shall terminate on such Change in Control and the holder thereof shall be entitled to no consideration for such Award.
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(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Awards shall terminate immediately prior to such event.
Section 14. General Provisions.
(a) Clawback Policy. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Award granted under the Plan (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Participant pursuant to the Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) which is or becomes subject to recovery under the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Clawback Policy or any other Company policy, or pursuant to any law, regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, shall be subject to such deductions, recoupment, and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant thereto.
(b) Dividend Equivalents. In the sole and complete discretion of the Committee, an Award may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property on a current or deferred basis.
(c) Nontransferability of Awards. Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or as determined by the Committee, no Award shall be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(d) No Rights to Awards. No Employee, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
(e) Lock-up Period. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares shall not be issued under this Plan unless the Participant agrees that he or she will not sell, 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 Participant prior to the date 180 days following the effective date of a registration statement with respect to any underwritten public offering by the Company of its securities as requested by the managing underwriters for such offering.
(f) Shares. No certificates will be issued in respect of the Shares unless the Board determines otherwise and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator) or otherwise as permitted by applicable law.
(g) Withholding. As a condition to the issuance of any Shares in satisfaction of an Award, a Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any of its Affiliates, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized (i) to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, in each case if permissible under local law) of any applicable taxes, social contributions or other amounts required by applicable law in respect of the grant, exercise, lapse or vesting of an Award or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan, including net share withholding up to the statutory maximum amount, and (ii) to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such amounts.
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(h) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder may be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto.
(i) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements.
(j) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate and shall not lessen or affect the right of the Company or its Affiliates to terminate the employment or service of a Participant.
(k) Rights as a Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be issued under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares.
(l) Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without, to the fullest extent permissible thereby, application of the conflict of law principles thereof.
(m) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(n) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant in connection therewith shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder is, nor shall be construed as, an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws and any other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.
(o) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create, or be construed to create, a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
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(p) No Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash or other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(q) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(r) Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant shall, as a condition precedent to the exercise or settlement of an Award, have executed and be in compliance with the Companys (or its Affiliates) standard form of confidentiality, non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements.
(s) Modification of Award Terms for non-U.S. Participants. The Committee shall have the discretion and authority to grant Awards with such modified terms as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with the laws of the country in which the Participant resides or is employed, and the Committee may establish a subplan under this Plan for such purposes.
(t) Company Governing Instruments. All Shares issued and/or vested pursuant to an Award, or transferred thereafter, shall be held subject to the Companys certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as may be amended from time to time.
Section 15. Term of the Plan.
The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by the Board under the terms of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after the authority for grant of new Awards hereunder has been exhausted.
Section 16. Section 409A.
It is intended that the Company grant Awards under the Plan that are exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code (Section 409A). To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Plan and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A. In that regard, to the extent any Award is subject to Section 409A and such Award is payable on account of a Participants termination of service, then (a) such Award shall be paid only to the extent such termination of service qualifies as a separation from service as defined in Section 409A, and (b) if such Award is payable to a specified employee as defined in Section 409A then, to the extent required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such Award shall not be paid until the date that is six months after such separation from service, except to the extent that earlier distribution would not result in such Participants incurring interest or additional tax under Section 409A.
Further notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required under Section 409A in order to make payment of an Award upon a Change in Control, the applicable transaction or event described in Section 2(f) must qualify as a change in control within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code, and if it does not, then unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, payment of such Award will be made on the Awards original payment schedule or, if earlier, upon the death of the Participant.
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If an Award includes a series of installment payments (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations), a Participants right to such series of installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not as a right to a single payment, and if an Award includes dividend equivalents (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(e) of the Treasury Regulations), a Participants right to such dividend equivalents shall be treated separately from the right to other amounts under the Award.
To the extent applicable, the Plan and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Committee may (but is not obligated to), without a Participants consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or comply with the requirements of Section 409A and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under Section 409A. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to the tax treatment of any Award under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company shall have no obligation under this Section 16 or otherwise to take any action (whether or not described herein) to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and neither the Committee, the Company nor any of the Companys employees, directors or representatives shall have any liability to any Participant with respect to this Section.
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Exhibit 99.4
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Date of Grant: [DATE]
Name of Participant: [NAME]
Number of Units/Shares: [QUANTITY]
Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby grants, as of the date of grant set forth above (the Grant Date), the number of restricted stock units set forth above (the RSUs), with each RSU representing the right to receive a share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.03 per share (a Share), to the above-named participant (Participant) pursuant and subject to the terms of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, including any appendices attached hereto (collectively, the Agreement).
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning set forth in the Plan.
1. Vesting. The RSUs shall vest and the Shares shall become issuable as follows: [INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the RSUs may be subject to other vesting terms to the extent expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant, if the terms of such Employment Agreement have been approved by the Committee.
2. Forfeiture of Unvested RSUs. Except as expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant to the contrary, the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, (i) immediately upon termination of Participants employment or service for any reason (including death or disability), if and to the extent that the RSUs remain subject to the satisfaction of service conditions as of the time of such termination, such RSUs shall be forfeited without consideration; and (ii) to the extent that the RSUs are subject to the achievement of certain performance criteria or performance conditions with respect to a Performance Period, in each case as designated in Section 1 above, that are not achieved as of the closing of such Performance Period, then any portion of the RSUs subject to the achievement of such performance criteria or performance conditions which were not achieved, shall be forfeited. The Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine the date of termination of Participants employment or service for purposes of the forfeiture of unvested RSUs pursuant to Section 2(i) hereof, including whether Participant may still be considered to be in employment or service while on a leave of absence or during any applicable notice period.
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3. Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be issued on, or as soon as practicable following, the applicable vesting date of the RSUs, notwithstanding any payment timing terms to the contrary in any Employment Agreement. As a condition to such issuance, Participant shall have satisfied his or her obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items as specified in Section 4 of this Agreement and shall have completed, signed and returned any documents and taken any additional action that the Company deems appropriate to enable it to accomplish the delivery of the Shares. In no event will the Company be obligated to issue a fractional Share, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares during any period when the Company determines that the conversion of an RSU or the delivery of Shares hereunder would violate any federal, state or other applicable laws and/or may issue Shares subject to any restrictive legends that, as determined by the Companys counsel, is necessary to comply with securities or other regulatory requirements, (ii) the date on which Shares are issued may include a delay in order to provide the Company such time as it determines appropriate to address tax withholding and other administrative matters (but in no event later than the deadline required to comply with the short-term deferral exemption under Section 409A of the Code), and (iii) to the extent that payment in Shares is prohibited under applicable law or would require Participant or the Company to obtain the approval of any governmental and/or regulatory body in the Participants country, or as necessary to meet tax or administrative objectives, the Company in its sole discretion may substitute a cash payment in lieu of Shares, such cash payment to be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the applicable vesting date. Without limiting the generality of Section 3(i), the Committee may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of Shares issued upon the vesting of the RSUs does not violate the Securities Act, and may issue stop-transfer orders covering such Shares.
4. Tax Withholding.
(a) Regardless of any action the Company or, if different, any Affiliate that employs Participant (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income, income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding items related to Participants participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (Tax-Related Items), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participants responsibility and may exceed the amount (if any) actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting, value or settlement of the RSUs, the issuance of Shares pursuant to such settlement, the subsequent sale of Shares and the receipt of any dividends, and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Agreement, the grant or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participants liability for Tax-Related Items or to achieve a particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
(b) Except as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) below, any withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the RSUs shall be satisfied in one or more of the following manners: (i) if the Shares are publicly traded at the time of the Tax-Related Items withholding event, by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the RSUs (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities, or (ii) if and only to the extent permitted by the Company in its sole discretion: (A) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the RSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law); or (B) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company).
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) above, in the event that the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the RSUs arise on a date on which the sale of Shares would otherwise be prohibited by the Companys insider trading policy, then provided that the RSUs do not vest prior to the expiration of the applicable cooling-off period in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(B) under the Exchange Act, measured from the Grant Date (the Cooling-Off Period), any such Tax-Related Items withholding obligations shall be satisfied by the automatic and mandatory sale by or on behalf of Participant of sufficient Shares that are issued under the RSUs to pay the Tax-Related Items obligations (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities. It is the Companys intent that the mandatory sale of Shares to cover withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall constitute an eligible sell-to-cover transaction (as described in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(D)(3) under the Exchange Act) and shall satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. In this regard, Participant certifies that Participant is not aware of any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company as of the Grant Date; provided that if Participant is in possession of such material nonpublic information as of the Grant Date, then the mandatory sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall become a binding contract as of the first date thereafter on which Participant is not in possession of material nonpublic information and as of the date any sales are effected pursuant to this Section 4(c), Participant will not effect such sales on the basis of material nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company of which Participant was aware at the Grant Date. Further, Participant certifies that he or she is entering into the sell-to-cover arrangement in this Section 4(c) in good faith and not as a part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5 under the Exchange Act. If the sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) is prohibited by a legal, contractual or regulatory restriction applicable to Participant or to the broker effecting the sale, or is prevented by a market disruption or similar issue, or if the Tax-Related Items withholding obligation arises at a time other than the vesting and associated settlement of the RSUs or prior to the expiration of the Cooling-Off Period or at a time when the Shares are not publicly traded, then the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items may be satisfied in one or more of the following manners, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion: (i) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the RSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of tax required to be withheld by law); (ii) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company); or (iii) unless prohibited by applicable law, by the Company or the Employer withholding such Tax-Related Items from wages or other amounts otherwise owed to Participant.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) and Section 4(c) above, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items will be satisfied by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the RSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law), and not by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the RSUs.
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(e) The Company or the Employer may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participants jurisdiction. In the event of over-withholding, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the equivalent in Shares), or if not refunded, Participant may need to seek a refund from the applicable tax authority. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding Shares, for tax purposes, Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested RSUs, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds from the sale of Shares, if Participant fails to comply with Participants obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
5. Lock-up Period. Participant agrees that the Company (or a representative of the underwriter(s)) may, in connection with any underwritten registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, require that Participant 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 Participant, for a period of time specified by the underwriter(s) (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) following the effective date of the registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided that transactions pursuant to Section 4 hereof shall be exempt from any such lock-up request. Participant further agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the underwriter(s) that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Participants Shares until the end of such period. The underwriters of the Companys shares are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 5 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.
6. Restrictions on Transfer. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Participant understands and agrees that the RSUs may not be sold, given, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise hypothecated and any attempt to sell, give, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise hypothecate all or any portion of the RSUs will be void and wholly without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transfer of the RSUs will be effective if and to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in response to a written Participant request, subject to compliance with applicable law.
7. Certificates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, any Shares due to Participant under this Agreement shall be maintained in uncertificated form through book-entry registration with the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator) or otherwise as permitted by applicable law. Any such book-entry records, or certificates if issued, shall carry such appropriate legends, and such written instructions shall be given to the Company transfer agent, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by counsel to the Company in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, any state securities laws or any other applicable laws.
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8. Stockholder Rights. Participant will have no voting or other rights as the Companys other stockholders with respect to the Shares until issuance of the Shares to Participant.
9. No Employment/Service Rights. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the RSUs shall (a) create a right to, or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company or any Affiliate, or a right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate; or (b) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to determine the terms of Participants employment or service and to terminate Participants employment or service.
10. Nature of the Grant. In accepting the grant of these RSUs, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees as follows:
(a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and, to the extent permitted by the Plan, it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b) the grant of the RSUs is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of restricted stock units, or other awards or benefits in lieu of restricted stock units, even if restricted stock units have been granted in the past;
(c) all decisions with respect to future restricted stock unit grants or other awards or benefits, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee;
(d) Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(e) the RSUs and Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or pension compensation;
(f) the RSUs and Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not part of, or normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, payment in lieu of notice, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, non-U.S. pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments;
(g) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted;
(h) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of RSUs resulting from termination of Participants employment or service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or provides services or the terms of Participants Employment Agreement, if any) or from any forfeiture of RSUs or recoupment of Shares resulting from the application of a Recoupment Policy (as defined below) or any other forfeiture or recoupment pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement;
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(i) Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the RSUs and Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an Affiliate; and
(j) If Participants local currency is not the U.S. Dollar, neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participants local currency and the U.S. Dollar that may affect the value of the RSUs or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon vesting. including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Participant pursuant to the Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award.
11. Recoupment. The RSUs, whether unvested or vested, and any Shares issued on vesting of the RSUs (as well as any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Participant pursuant to the RSUs or any Shares), shall be subject to deduction, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent required to comply with any recoupment requirement imposed under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards or under any associated Company recoupment policy, including, without limitation, the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Clawback Policy (collectively, a Recoupment Policy). In order to satisfy any recoupment obligation arising under a Recoupment Policy or otherwise under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards, among other things, Participant expressly and explicitly authorizes the Company to issue instructions, on Participants behalf, to any brokerage firm or stock plan service provider engaged by the Company to hold any Shares or other amounts acquired pursuant to the RSUs to re-convey, transfer or otherwise return such Shares and/or other amounts to the Company upon the Companys enforcement of the Recoupment Policy.
12. Terms of Plan, Interpretations. This Agreement and the terms and conditions herein set forth are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which shall be controlling; provided, that in the event of a conflict between Section 4 hereof and Section 15(g) of the Plan regarding the satisfaction of withholding tax liabilities, the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall control. All interpretations or determinations of the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon Participant and Participants legal representatives on any question arising hereunder. Participant acknowledges that Participant has received and reviewed a copy of the Plan.
13. Notices. The Company may require any notice hereunder to be transmitted, submitted or received, by the Company or Participant, electronically in accordance with the procedures established by the Company for such notice. Otherwise, all notices hereunder to the party shall be delivered or mailed to the following addresses:
If to the Company:
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Attn: Stock Plan Administrator
39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, California 94560
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If to Participant:
At the last address for Participant in the Companys records.
Such addresses for the service of notices may be changed at any time provided notice of such change is furnished in advance to the other party.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement together with the Plan supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from or relates to the RSUs granted under the Plan and/or this Agreement, the Company and Participant submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the federal courts located in Delaware, and no other courts.
16. Code Section 409A. The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided hereunder be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, Section 409A) to the maximum extent possible. However, to the extent that the RSUs (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the parties intend that this Agreement and such benefits comply with the deferral, payout, and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A and this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate either for the RSUs to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, to the extent necessary to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of settlement of any portion of the RSUs unless such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. Each amount to be paid under this Agreement shall be construed as a separately identified payment for purposes of Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if upon termination of employment, a Participant is deemed to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A, then, to the extent the settlement of the RSUs following such termination of employment is considered the payment of non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service that is not exempt from Section 409A, such settlement shall be delayed until the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service or (ii) the date of Participants death.
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17. Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. Participant acknowledges that, depending on Participants country, the Plan brokers country, or the country in which Shares are listed, Participant may be subject to insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect Participants ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of Shares, rights to such Shares (including RSUs) or rights linked to the value of Shares under the Plan during such times as Participant is considered to have material nonpublic information or inside information regarding the Company (or similar type matters as defined by the laws or regulations in the relevant jurisdiction). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders Participant places before he or she possessed inside information. Furthermore, Participant could be prohibited from (i) disclosing inside information to any third party (other than on a need to know basis) and (ii) tipping third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities (including fellow employees or service providers). Any restrictions under these or similar laws or regulations are separate from, in addition to, and may differ from, any restrictions that may be imposed under the Companys insider trading policy. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, and that Participant should speak to his or her personal advisor on this matter.
18. Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participants participation in the Plan, on the RSUs and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
19. Appendix A. Participants participation in the Plan is subject to the applicable data privacy terms attached hereto in Appendix A. Moreover, if Participant relocates into or out of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, the Company will determine the application of the data privacy terms as necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix A constitutes part of this Agreement.
20. Appendix B. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the RSU grant shall be subject to any additional or modified terms and conditions for Participants country set forth in Appendix B hereto. Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in Appendix B, the terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix B constitutes part of this Agreement.
21. Foreign Asset/Account Reporting. Participant acknowledges that there may be foreign asset and/or account reporting requirements which may affect Participants ability to acquire or hold Shares acquired under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on Shares acquired under the Plan) in a brokerage or bank account outside Participants country. Participant may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in Participants country. Participant also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds from the sale of Shares or other funds received as a result of participation in the Plan to Participants country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time after receipt. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to be compliant with any such requirements, and should consult his or her personal legal advisor for any details.
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22. No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company and its Affiliates are not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor making any recommendations regarding Participants participation in the Plan or his or her acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participants participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
23. Electronic Delivery and Participation. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan by electronic means or to request Participants consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By participating in the Plan, Participant consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
24. Language. If Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
25. Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Person who holds outstanding RSUs or other Awards under the Plan.
26. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
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Appendix A to the
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Data Privacy Terms for Participants outside the U.S.
These data privacy terms govern the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
By participating in the Plan and accepting the grant of the RSUs, Participant provides the consents and acknowledgements set forth in this Appendix A with respect to the collection, processing and use of Data (as defined below) by the Company and its Affiliates and the transfer of Data to the recipients mentioned herein, including recipients located in countries which do not provide an adequate level of protection from a European (or other non-U.S.) data protection law perspective, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. If Participant does not wish to provide such consents and acknowledgments, Participant may notify the Company, at any time, that Participant rejects the RSUs and requests the cancellation of the RSUs by the Company.
1. | For Participants in the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Data Processing and Legal Basis. The Company and the Employer may collect, process and use certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participants name, home address and telephone number, email address, date of birth, social insurance number, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all RSUs under the Plan or any other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participants favor (collectively Data), for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data is Participants consent.
(b) Stock Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data, or parts thereof, to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates, including E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. (collectively, Morgan Stanley), an independent service provider based in the United States, which assists the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and Participant consents to the Companys transfer of Data to Morgan Stanley for this limited purpose. Participant acknowledges and understands that Morgan Stanley will open an account for Participant to receive and trade Shares acquired under the Plan and that Participant will be asked to agree on separate terms and data processing practices with Morgan Stanley, which is a condition of Participants ability to participate in the Plan. In the future, the Company may select a different service provider and may share Data with such different service provider that serves in a similar manner.
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(c) International Data Transfers. Participant understands that, as of the date hereof, any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, such as Morgan Stanley, are based in the United States. Participant understands and acknowledges that his or her country has enacted data privacy laws that are different from the laws of the United States. As a result, in the absence of appropriate safeguards such as standard data protection clauses, the processing of Participants Data in the United States or, as the case may be, other countries might not be subject to substantive data processing principles or supervision by data protection authorities. In addition, Participant might not have enforceable rights regarding the processing of his or her Data in such countries.
To the extent applicable to Participant, the Company provides appropriate safeguards for protecting Data that it receives in the United States through its adherence to data transfer agreements entered into between the Company and Affiliates within the European Union and European Economic Area. Otherwise, where required, the Companys legal basis for the transfer of Data is Participants consent.
(d) Data Retention. Participant understands that the Company will use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan, or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws. In the latter case, Participant understands and acknowledges that the Companys legal basis for the processing of Data would be compliance with relevant laws or regulations.
(e) Voluntariness and Consequences of Denial/Withdrawal of Consent. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and Participant is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. Participant understands that he or she may withdraw consent at any time with future effect for any or no reason. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke consent, Participants salary from or employment or service with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing consent is that the Company would not be able to grant RSUs to Participant or administer or maintain Participants participation in the Plan.
(f) Data Subject Rights. Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction, and/or (vii) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
(g) Alternative Basis for Data Processing and Transfer. Participant understands that the Company may rely on a different legal basis for the processing or transfer of Data in the future and/or request that Participant provide another data privacy consent form. If applicable and upon request of the Company, Participant agrees to provide an executed acknowledgement or data privacy consent form to the Employer or the Company (or any other acknowledgements, agreements or consents that may be required by the Employer or the Company) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain under the data privacy laws in Participants country, either now or in the future. Participant understands that he or she will not be able to participate in the Plan if Participant fails to execute any such acknowledgement, agreement or consent requested by the Company and/or the Employer.
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2. | For Participants Outside the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Participants personal Data as described herein by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their respective payroll and Plan administrators), wherever they may be located, (collectively, the Data Recipients) for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan. Participant understands that the Data Recipients will collect, hold, and process certain personal information about Participant (which Data includes, without limitation, Participants name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, nationality and job detail and details of the Award granted hereunder and any other Awards granted to Participant).
(b) The Data Recipients will treat Participants personal Data as private and confidential and will not disclose such Data for purposes other than the management and administration of Participants participation in the Plan and will take reasonable measures to keep such personal Data private, confidential, accurate and current.
(c) Where the transfer is to a destination outside the jurisdiction in which Participant resides, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their Data Recipients) shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such personal data continues to be adequately protected and securely held. Nonetheless, by accepting the Award granted hereunder, Participant acknowledges that personal Data about Participant may be transferred to a jurisdiction that does not offer the same level of protection as the jurisdiction in which Participant resides. Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative. Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom he or she may elect to deposit any Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan. Participant understands that his or her personal Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws.
(d) Participant may, at any time, view his or her personal Data, require any necessary corrections to it or withdraw Participants consent by contacting the Secretary of the Company. Participant understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the processing of personal Data, including the consequences of Participants refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant understands that he or she may contact his or her local human resources representative.
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(e) Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, and/or (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
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Appendix B to the
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Country-Specific Terms
These country-specific terms govern the Agreement and the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
CHINA
The following terms and conditions will be applicable to Participant to the extent that the Company, in its discretion, determines that the RSUs or Participants participation in the Plan will be subject to exchange control restrictions in the Peoples Republic of China (the PRC), as implemented by the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE).
Vesting and Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. The following provision supplements Sections 1 and 3 of the Agreement:
In addition to any other vesting and settlement conditions, the RSUs will not release and no Shares will be delivered to Participant unless and until all necessary approvals from SAFE or its relevant branch have been received and remain effective, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion (SAFE Approval). In the event that SAFE Approval has not been obtained prior to any date(s) on which the RSUs are scheduled to be released in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement, the RSUs will not be released until SAFE Approval is obtained. If Participant experiences a termination of employment prior to the date that SAFE Approval is obtained, Participant will have no entitlement to receive unreleased Shares relating to the RSUs.
Sale of Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the Agreement, to facilitate compliance with PRC exchange control restrictions, Participant agrees that any Shares acquired under the Plan may be immediately sold at vesting of the RSUs or, at the Companys discretion, at a later time (including as a result of Participants termination of employment). Participant further agrees that the Company is authorized to instruct its designated broker to assist with the mandatory sale of Shares (on Participants behalf pursuant to this authorization), and Participant expressly authorizes such broker to complete the sale of the Shares. Participant acknowledges that the Companys designated broker is under no obligation to arrange for the sale of Shares at any particular price. Upon the sale of Shares, the Company agrees to pay the cash proceeds from the sale, less any brokerage fees or commissions, to Participant in accordance with applicable exchange control laws and regulations and provided any liability for Tax-Related Items has been satisfied. Participant further agrees that any Shares to be issued to Participant shall be deposited directly into an account with the Companys designated broker. The deposited Shares shall not be transferable (either electronically or in certificate form) from the brokerage account. This limitation shall apply both to transfers to different accounts with the same broker and to transfers to other brokerage firms. The limitation shall apply to all Shares issued to Participant under the Plan, whether or not Participant continues to be employed by the Company or any Affiliate.
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Exchange Control Restrictions. By accepting the RSUs, Participant understands and agrees that Participant will be required to immediately repatriate to China all proceeds due to Participant under the Plan, including any proceeds from the sale of Shares or any other distributions with respect to such Shares. Participant understands that such repatriation will need to be effected through a special exchange control account established by the Company or its Affiliate in China, and Participant hereby agrees that the proceeds may be transferred to such account prior to being delivered to Participant.
Participant further understands that the foregoing proceeds may be paid to Participant in U.S. Dollars or in local currency, at the Companys discretion. If the proceeds are paid in U.S. Dollars, Participant understands that Participant will be required to set up a U.S. Dollar bank account in China so that the proceeds may be deposited into such account. If the proceeds are paid in local currency, Participant acknowledges that neither the Company nor its Affiliates are under an obligation to secure any particular currency conversion rate and that the Company (or its Affiliates) may face delays in converting the proceeds to local currency due to exchange control requirements in China.
Participant agrees to bear any foreign exchange rate fluctuation risk between the time the Shares are delivered to Participant or are sold and the time the sale proceeds are converted into local currency and distributed to Participant. Participant understands and agrees that the Company is not responsible for the amount of any foreign currency loss Participant may incur and that the Company assumes no liability for any fluctuation in the Share price and/or U.S. Dollar exchange rate.
Participant further agrees to comply with any other requirements that may be imposed by the Company in the future to facilitate compliance with exchange control requirements in China.
Finally, PRC residents may be required to report to the SAFE details of their foreign financial assets and liabilities, as well as details of any economic transactions conducted with non-PRC residents, either directly or through financial institutions. Under these rules, Participant may be subject to reporting obligations for the Shares or the RSUs under the Plan and Plan-related transactions. It is Participants responsibility to comply with any applicable reporting obligation and Participant should consult a personal legal advisor in this regard.
HONG KONG
Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. The following provision supplements Section 3 of the Agreement:
The grant of the RSUs does not provide any right for Participant to receive a cash payment and the RSUs will be settled in Shares only.
Restriction on Sale of Shares. To the extent the RSUs vest within six months of the Grant Date, Participant may not dispose of the Shares acquired pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs, or otherwise offer the Shares to the public, prior to the six-month anniversary of the Grant Date. Any Shares acquired under the Plan are accepted as a personal investment.
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SECURITIES WARNING: This offer of RSUs and the Shares to be issued upon vesting and settlement of the RSUs are available only to eligible employees and service providers of the Company or any Affiliate and are not a public offer of securities. The Agreement (including Appendix A and Appendix B), the Plan and other communication materials associated with the offer have not been prepared in accordance with and are not intended to constitute a prospectus for a public offering of securities under the applicable securities legislation in Hong Kong, nor have the documents been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. The Agreement and any related documentation are intended only for the personal use of each Participant and may not be distributed to any other person. Participant is advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If Participant is in any doubt about any of the contents of the offer documents, Participant should obtain independent professional advice.
IRELAND
There are no country-specific provisions.
JAPAN
Compliance with Law. By accepting the RSUs, Participant agrees to comply with all applicable Japanese laws and report and pay any and all applicable Tax-Related Items associated with the receipt of RSUs and any payment made to Participant upon vesting of RSUs. Participant acknowledges that the Japanese tax authorities are aware that employees and service providers of Japanese affiliates of Delaware companies may earn substantial income as a result of participation in an equity incentive plan, and may audit the tax returns of such employees and service providers to confirm that they have correctly reported the resulting income.
KOREA
There are no country-specific provisions.
MALAYSIA
Director Notification Obligation. Malaysian resident Participants who are directors of a Malaysian entity are subject to certain notification requirements under the Malaysian Companies Act. Among these requirements is an obligation to notify the Malaysian entity in writing when receiving or disposing of an interest (e.g., RSUs, Shares, etc.) in the Company or any related company. This notification must be made within 14 days of receiving or disposing of any interest in the Company or any related company.
Responsibility for Taxes. This provision replaces Section 4 of the Agreement in its entirety, except as otherwise provided below:
As a condition of grant, Participant hereby elects to pay any and all income tax due on the benefits derived from participation in the Plan (Taxes) directly to the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board and report such benefits on Participants annual tax return for the relevant year of the tax assessment. Participant further understands and agrees that by making this election, the Company and the Employer will not withhold any Taxes pursuant to the Income Tax (Deduction of Remuneration) Rules 1994, and Participant acknowledges and agrees that the ultimate liability for all Taxes is and remains Participants responsibility.
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Further, if Participant becomes subject to taxation in more than one jurisdiction between the Grant Date and the date of any relevant taxable event, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for the Taxes in any relevant jurisdiction outside Malaysia and may do so in the manner set forth in Section 4 of the Agreement.
This election will remain in effect unless and until Participant actively cancels the election by notifying Participants Employer in writing and Participants Employer confirms receipt of such cancellation notice.
Data Privacy. The following provisions supplement Section 2 of Appendix A to the Agreement:
(a) Peserta dengan ini secara eksplisit dan tanpa sebarang keraguan mengizinkan pengumpulan, penggunaan dan pemindahan, dalam bentuk elektronik atau bentuk lain, data peribadi Peserta seperti yang dinyatakan di sini oleh dan di antara, yang berkenaan, Syarikat dan Gabungannya (termasuk mana-mana pentadbir gaji mereka masing-masing), di mana sahaja mereka berada, (secara kolektif, Penerima-penerima Data) untuk tujuan eksklusif bagi melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaan Peserta dalam Pelan. Peserta memahami bahawa Penerima-penerima Data akan mengumpul, memegang, dan memproses maklumat peribadi tertentu mengenai Peserta (termasuk, tetapi tidak terhad kepada, nama Peserta, alamat rumah, nombor telefon, tarikh lahir, kewarganegaraan dan butiran pekerjaan dan butiran mengenai Anugerah yang diberikan di bawah ini dan mana-mana Anugerah lain yang diberikan kepada Peserta).
(b) Penerima-penerima Data akan menganggap data peribadi Peserta sebagai sulit dan rahsia dan tidak akan mendedahkan data sedemikian untuk tujuan selain daripada pengurusan dan pentadbiran penyertaan Peserta dalam Pelan tersebut dan akan mengambil langkah yang munasabah untuk menyimpan data peribadi sedemikian secara sulit, tepat dan semasa.
(c) Di mana pemindahan adalah ke satu destinasi di luar bidang kuasa di mana Peserta menetap, Syarikat dan Gabungannya (termasuk mana-mana pentadbir gaji mereka masing-masing) hendaklah mengambil langkah yang munasabah untuk memastikan bahawa data peribadi sedemikian terus dilindungi dengan sewajarnya dan dipegang secara selamat. Walau bagaimanapun, dengan menerima Anugerah yang diberi di bawah ini, Peserta mengakui bahawa maklumat peribadi mengenai Peserta boleh dipindahkan ke bidang kuasa yang tidak menawarkan tahap perlindungan yang sama seperti bidang kuasa di mana Peserta menetap. Peserta memahami bahawa dia boleh meminta satu senarai yang mengandungi nama dan alamat penerima-penerima data yang berpotensi dengan menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatannya. Peserta memberi kuasa kepada penerima-penerima untuk menerima, memiliki, mengguna, mengekal dan memindah data, dalam bentuk elektronik atau bentuk lain, bagi tujuan melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaaan Peserta dalam Pelan, termasuk apa-apa pemindahan data yang diperlukan tersebut kepada seorang broker atau pihak ketiga lain yang dipilihnya untuk mendepositkan apa-apa Saham yang diperolehi menurut Anugerah ini. Peserta memahami bahawa data peribadinya akan dipegang hanya untuk tempoh yang diperlukan untuk melaksana, mentadbir dan mengurus penyertaan Peserta dalam Pelan.
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(d) Peserta boleh, pada bila-bila masa, melihat data peribadinya, meminta sebarang pembetulan yang perlu kepadanya atau menarik balik persetujuan Peserta dengan menghubungi Setiausaha Syarikat. Walau bagaimanapun, Peserta memahami bahawa keenggannan atau penarikan balik persetujuannya akan menjejaskan kebolehannya untuk menyertai Pelan. Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai pemprosesan data peribadi, termasuk akibat keengganan Peserta untuk memberi persetujuan atau penarikan balik persetujuannya, Peserta memahami bahawa dia boleh menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatannya.
SINGAPORE
Restriction on Sale of Shares. Shares received upon vesting of the RSUs are accepted as a personal investment. To the extent the RSUs vest within six months of the Grant Date, Participant may not dispose of the Shares acquired pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs, or otherwise offer the Shares to the public, prior to the six-month anniversary of the Grant Date, unless such sale or offer is made pursuant to the exemptions under Part XIII Division (1) Subdivision (4) (other than section 280) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chap. 289, 2006 Ed.) (SFA) and in accordance with the conditions of any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Securities Law Information. The RSUs are being granted pursuant to the Qualifying Person exemption under section 273(1)(f) of the SFA, are exempt from the prospectus and registration requirements under the SFA and are not made with a view to the RSUs or the underlying Shares being subsequently offered for sale to any other party. The Plan has not been, and will not be, lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Director Notification Requirement. Any director (including an alternate, associate, substitute or shadow director) of a Singapore entity must notify the Singapore entity in writing within two business days of (i) becoming the registered holder of or acquiring an interest (e.g., RSUs, Shares) in the Company or any related entity, or becoming a director, or (ii) any change in a previously disclosed interest (e.g., sale of Shares). These notification requirements apply regardless of whether directors are residents of or employed in Singapore.
TAIWAN
Securities Law Information. The offer of participation in the Plan is available only for eligible employees and service providers. The offer of participation in the Plan is not a public offer of securities by a Taiwanese company.
Data Privacy Acknowledgement. Participant hereby acknowledges that Participant has read and understood the terms regarding collection, processing and transfer of Data provided in Section 2 of Appendix A to the Agreement and by participating in the Plan, Participant agrees to such terms. In this regard, upon request of the Company or the Employer, Participant agrees to provide an executed data privacy consent form to the Company or the Employer (or any other agreements or consents that may be required by the Company or the Employer) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain under the data privacy laws in Participants country of residence, either now or in the future. Participant understands Participant may be unable to participate in the Plan if Participants fail to execute any such consent or agreement.
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UNITED KINGDOM
Tax Obligations. The following provisions supplement Section 4 of the Agreement:
Participant agrees to be liable for any Tax-Related Items and covenants to pay any such Tax-Related Items, as and when requested by the Company or, if different, the Employer or by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority). Participant also agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and, if different, the Employer against any Tax-Related Items that they are required to pay or withhold or have paid or will pay to HMRC (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority) on Participants behalf.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Participant is a director or executive officer (within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act), Participant understands that Participant may not be able to indemnify the Company and/or the Employer for the amount of any Tax-Related Items not collected from or paid by Participant, in case the indemnification could be considered to be a loan. In this case, the Tax-Related Items not collected or paid may constitute a benefit to Participant on which additional income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) may be payable. Participant acknowledges that the Company or the Employer may recover any such additional income tax and NICs at any time thereafter by any of the means referred to in the Agreement. However, Participant is primarily responsible for reporting and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime and for paying to the Company and/or the Employer (as appropriate) the amount of any NICs due on this additional benefit, which may also be recovered from Participant by any of the means referred to in Section 4 of the Agreement.
UNITED STATES
There are no country-specific provisions.
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Exhibit 99.5
Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Date of Grant: | [DATE] | |
Name of Participant: | [NAME] | |
Number of Cash-Settled Units: | [QUANTITY] |
Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby grants, as of the date of grant set forth above (the Grant Date), the number of restricted stock units set forth above (the RSUs), with each RSU representing the right to receive the cash equivalent value of a share of common stock (a Share) of the Company, to the above-named participant (Participant) pursuant and subject to the terms of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, including any appendices attached hereto (collectively, the Agreement).
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning set forth in the Plan.
1. Vesting. The RSUs shall vest and become payable in cash as follows: [INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the RSUs may be subject to other vesting terms to the extent expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant, if the terms of such Employment Agreement have been approved by the Committee.
2. Forfeiture of Unvested RSUs. Except as expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant to the contrary, the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, (i) immediately upon termination of Participants employment or service for any reason (including death or disability), if and to the extent that the RSUs remain subject to the satisfaction of service conditions as of the time of such termination, such RSUs shall be forfeited without consideration; and (ii) to the extent that the RSUs are subject to the achievement of certain performance criteria or performance conditions with respect to a Performance Period, in each case as designated in Section 1 above, that are not achieved as of the closing of such Performance Period, then any portion of the RSUs subject to the achievement of such performance criteria or performance conditions which were not achieved, shall be forfeited. The Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine the date of termination of Participants employment or service for purposes of the forfeiture of unvested RSUs pursuant to Section 2(i) hereof, including whether Participant may still be considered to be in employment or service while on a leave of absence or during any applicable notice period.
3. Cash Settlement of RSUs. RSUs granted to Participant shall, once vested, be settled in cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares corresponding to the applicable number of vested RSUs on the applicable vesting date. Such cash payment will be delivered on, or as soon as practicable following, the applicable vesting date of the RSUs, notwithstanding any payment timing terms to the contrary in any Employment Agreement (but in no event later than the deadline required to comply with the short-term deferral exemption under Section 409A of the Code). As a condition to such payment, Participant shall have satisfied his or her obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items as specified in Section 4 of this Agreement and shall have completed, signed and returned any documents and taken any additional action that the Company deems appropriate to enable it to accomplish the delivery of the payments.
4. Tax Withholding.
(a) Regardless of any action the Company or, if different, any Affiliate that employs Participant (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income, income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding items related to Participants participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (Tax-Related Items), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participants responsibility and may exceed the amount (if any) actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting, value or settlement of the RSUs, and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Agreement, the grant or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participants liability for Tax-Related Items or to achieve a particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
(b) Any withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the RSUs shall be satisfied in one or more of the following manners, as determined by the Company in its discretion: (i) by the Company or the Employer withholding cash that would otherwise be payable under the RSUs; or (ii) by payment by Participant to the Company or the Employer by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company).
(c) The Company or the Employer may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participants jurisdiction, in which case Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash or, if not refunded, Participant may need to seek a refund from the applicable tax authority. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer.
5. Restrictions on Transfer. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Participant understands and agrees that the RSUs may not be sold, given, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise hypothecated and any attempt to sell, give, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise hypothecate all or any portion of the RSUs will be void and wholly without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transfer of the RSUs will be effective if and to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in response to a written Participant request, subject to compliance with applicable law.
6. Stockholder Rights. Participant will have no voting or other rights as the Companys other stockholders with respect to the RSUs and will not receive any Shares on vesting of the RSUs.
7. No Employment/Service Rights. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the RSUs shall (a) create a right to, or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company or any Affiliate, or a right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate; or (b) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to determine the terms of Participants employment or service and to terminate Participants employment or service.
8. Nature of the Grant. In accepting the grant of these RSUs, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees as follows:
(a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and, to the extent permitted by the Plan, it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b) the grant of the RSUs is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of restricted stock units, or other awards or benefits in lieu of restricted stock units, even if restricted stock units have been granted in the past;
(c) all decisions with respect to future restricted stock unit grants or other awards or benefits, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee;
(d) Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(e) the RSUs and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or pension compensation;
(f) the RSUs and the income from and value of same, are not part of, or normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, payment in lieu of notice, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, non-U.S. pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments;
(g) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted;
(h) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of RSUs resulting from termination of Participants employment or service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or provides services or the terms of Participants Employment Agreement, if any) or from any forfeiture of RSUs or recoupment of Shares resulting from the application of a Recoupment Policy (as defined below) or any other forfeiture or recoupment pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement;
(i) Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the RSUs and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an Affiliate; and
(j) If Participants local currency is not the U.S. Dollar, neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participants local currency and the U.S. Dollar that may affect the value of the RSUs or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs.
9. Recoupment. The RSUs, whether unvested or vested, and any cash paid on vesting of the RSUs, shall be subject to deduction, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent required to comply with any recoupment requirement imposed under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards or under any associated Company recoupment policy, including, without limitation, the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Clawback Policy (collectively, a Recoupment Policy). In order to satisfy any recoupment obligation arising under a Recoupment Policy or otherwise under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards, among other things, Participant expressly and explicitly authorizes the Company to issue instructions, on Participants behalf, to any brokerage firm or stock plan service provider engaged by the Company to hold any amounts acquired pursuant to the RSUs to re-convey, transfer or otherwise return such amounts to the Company upon the Companys enforcement of the Recoupment Policy.
10. Terms of Plan, Interpretations. This Agreement and the terms and conditions herein set forth are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which shall be controlling; provided, that in the event of a conflict between Section 4 hereof and Section 15(g) of the Plan regarding the satisfaction of withholding tax liabilities, the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall control. All interpretations or determinations of the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon Participant and Participants legal representatives on any question arising hereunder. Participant acknowledges that Participant has received and reviewed a copy of the Plan.
11. Notices. The Company may require any notice hereunder to be transmitted, submitted or received, by the Company or Participant, electronically in accordance with the procedures established by the Company for such notice. Otherwise, all notices hereunder to the party shall be delivered or mailed to the following addresses:
If to the Company:
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Attn: Stock Plan Administrator
39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, California 94560
If to Participant:
At the last address for Participant in the Companys records.
Such addresses for the service of notices may be changed at any time provided notice of such change is furnished in advance to the other party.
12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement together with the Plan supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from or relates to the RSUs granted under the Plan and/or this Agreement, the Company and Participant submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the federal courts located in Delaware, and no other courts.
14. Code Section 409A. The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided hereunder be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, Section 409A) to the maximum extent possible. However, to the extent that the RSUs (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the parties intend that this Agreement and such benefits comply with the deferral, payout, and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A and this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate either for the RSUs to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, to the extent necessary to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of settlement of any portion of the RSUs unless such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. Each amount to be paid under this Agreement shall be construed as a separately identified payment for purposes of Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if upon termination of employment, a Participant is deemed to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A, then, to the extent the settlement of the RSUs following such termination of employment is considered the payment of non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service that is not exempt from Section 409A, such settlement shall be delayed until the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service or (ii) the date of Participants death.
15. Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participants participation in the Plan and on the RSUs, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
16. Appendix A. Participants participation in the Plan is subject to the applicable data privacy terms attached hereto in Appendix A. Moreover, if Participant relocates into or out of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, the Company will determine the application of the data privacy terms as necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix A constitutes part of this Agreement.
17. Appendix B. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the RSU grant shall be subject to any additional or modified terms and conditions for Participants country set forth in Appendix B hereto. Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in Appendix B, the terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix B constitutes part of this Agreement.
18. No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company and its Affiliates are not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor making any recommendations regarding Participants participation in the Plan. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participants participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
19. Electronic Delivery and Participation. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan by electronic means or to request Participants consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By participating in the Plan, Participant consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
20. Language. If Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
21. Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Person who holds outstanding RSUs or other Awards under the Plan.
22. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
Appendix A to the
Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit
Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Data Privacy Terms for Participants outside the U.S.
These data privacy terms govern the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
By participating in the Plan and accepting the grant of the RSUs, Participant provides the consents and acknowledgements set forth in this Appendix A with respect to the collection, processing and use of Data (as defined below) by the Company and its Affiliates and the transfer of Data to the recipients mentioned herein, including recipients located in countries which do not provide an adequate level of protection from a European (or other non-U.S.) data protection law perspective, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. If Participant does not wish to provide such consents and acknowledgments, Participant may notify the Company, at any time, that Participant rejects the RSUs and requests the cancellation of the RSUs by the Company.
1. | For Participants in the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Data Processing and Legal Basis. The Company and the Employer may collect, process and use certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participants name, home address and telephone number, email address, date of birth, social insurance number, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all RSUs under the Plan or any other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participants favor (collectively Data), for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data is Participants consent.
(b) Stock Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data, or parts thereof, to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates, including E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. (collectively, Morgan Stanley), an independent service provider based in the United States, which assists the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and Participant consents to the Companys transfer of Data to Morgan Stanley for this limited purpose. In the future, the Company may select a different service provider and may share Data with such different service provider that serves in a similar manner.
(c) International Data Transfers. Participant understands that, as of the date hereof, any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, such as Morgan Stanley, are based in the United States. Participant understands and acknowledges that his or her country has enacted data privacy laws that are different from the laws of the United States. As a result, in the absence of appropriate safeguards such as standard data protection clauses, the processing of Participants Data in the United States or, as the case may be, other countries might not be subject to substantive data processing principles or supervision by data protection authorities. In addition, Participant might not have enforceable rights regarding the processing of his or her Data in such countries.
To the extent applicable to Participant, the Company provides appropriate safeguards for protecting Data that it receives in the United States through its adherence to data transfer agreements entered into between the Company and Affiliates within the European Union and European Economic Area. Otherwise, where required, the Companys legal basis for the transfer of Data is Participants consent.
(d) Data Retention. Participant understands that the Company will use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan, or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws. In the latter case, Participant understands and acknowledges that the Companys legal basis for the processing of Data would be compliance with relevant laws or regulations.
(e) Voluntariness and Consequences of Denial/Withdrawal of Consent. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and Participant is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. Participant understands that he or she may withdraw consent at any time with future effect for any or no reason. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke consent, Participants salary from or employment or service with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing consent is that the Company would not be able to grant RSUs to Participant or administer or maintain Participants participation in the Plan.
(f) Data Subject Rights. Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction, and/or (vii) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
(g) Alternative Basis for Data Processing and Transfer. Participant understands that the Company may rely on a different legal basis for the processing or transfer of Data in the future and/or request that Participant provide another data privacy consent form. If applicable and upon request of the Company, Participant agrees to provide an executed acknowledgement or data privacy consent form to the Employer or the Company (or any other acknowledgements, agreements or consents that may be required by the Employer or the Company) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain under the data privacy laws in Participants country, either now or in the future. Participant understands that he or she will not be able to participate in the Plan if Participant fails to execute any such acknowledgement, agreement or consent requested by the Company and/or the Employer.
2. | For Participants Outside the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Participants personal Data as described herein by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their respective payroll and Plan administrators), wherever they may be located, (collectively, the Data Recipients) for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan. Participant understands that the Data Recipients will collect, hold, and process certain personal information about Participant (which Data includes, without limitation, Participants name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, nationality and job detail and details of the Award granted hereunder and any other Awards granted to Participant).
(b) The Data Recipients will treat Participants personal Data as private and confidential and will not disclose such Data for purposes other than the management and administration of Participants participation in the Plan and will take reasonable measures to keep such personal Data private, confidential, accurate and current.
(c) Where the transfer is to a destination outside the jurisdiction in which Participant resides, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their Data Recipients) shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such personal data continues to be adequately protected and securely held. Nonetheless, by accepting the Award granted hereunder, Participant acknowledges that personal Data about Participant may be transferred to a jurisdiction that does not offer the same level of protection as the jurisdiction in which Participant resides. Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative. Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom he or she may elect to deposit any Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan. Participant understands that his or her personal Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws.
(d) Participant may, at any time, view his or her personal Data, require any necessary corrections to it or withdraw Participants consent by contacting the Secretary of the Company. Participant understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the processing of personal Data, including the consequences of Participants refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant understands that he or she may contact his or her local human resources representative.
(e) Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, and/or (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
Appendix B to the
Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Country-Specific Terms
These country-specific terms govern the Agreement and the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
AUSTRALIA
There are no country-specific provisions.
BELGIUM
There are no country-specific provisions.
CHINA
There are no country-specific provisions.
FRANCE
RSUs Not Tax-Qualified. The RSUs are not intended to be French tax-qualified.
Language Consent. In accepting the RSUs, Participant confirms having read and understood the documents relating to the RSUs (the Plan and the Award Agreement including this Appendix), which were provided in English. Participant accepts the terms of those documents accordingly.
Consentement Relatif à la Langue Utilisée. En acceptant cette Attribution, le Participant confirme avoir lu et compris les documents relatifs à cette Attribution (le Plan, le Contrat dAttribution incluant cette Annexe), qui ont été remis en langue anglaise. Le Participant accepte les termes de ces documents en conséquence.
GERMANY
There are no country-specific provisions.
INDIA
There are no country-specific provisions.
INDONESIA
Language Consent. By accepting the RSUs, Participant (i) confirms having read and understood the documents relating to the grant (i.e., the Plan and the Agreement) which were provided in the English language, (ii) accepts the terms of those documents accordingly, and (iii) agrees not to challenge the validity of this document based on Law No. 24 of 2009 on National Flag, Language, Coat of Arms and National Anthem or the implementing Presidential Regulation (when issued).
Dengan menerima pemberian Unit Saham Terbatas ini, Peserta (i) memberikan konfirmasi bahwa dirinya telah membaca dan memahami dokumen-dokumen berkaitan dengan pemberian ini (yaitu, Perjanjian Penghargaan dan Program) yang disediakan dalam Bahasa Inggris, (ii) menerima persyaratan di dalam dokumen-dokumen tersebut, dan (iii) setuju untuk tidak mengajukan keberatan atas keberlakuan dari dokumen ini berdasarkan Undang-Undang No. 24 Tahun 2009 tentang Bendera, Bahasa dan Lambang Negara serta Lagu Kebangsaan ataupun Peraturan Presiden sebagai pelaksanaannya (ketika diterbitkan).
ITALY
Plan Document Acknowledgment. By accepting the RSUs, Participant acknowledges that he or she has received a copy of the Plan and the Agreement and has reviewed the Plan and the Agreement, including Appendix A and Appendix B, in their entirety and fully understands and accepts all provisions thereof.
Participant further acknowledges that he or she has read, understands and specifically and expressly accepts the following sections of the Agreement: Section 1: Vesting; Section 3: Cash Settlement of RSUs; Section 4: Tax Withholding; Section 5: Restrictions on Transfer; Section 7: No Employment/Service Rights; Section 8: Nature of the Grant; Section 13: Governing Law; and Section 1 of Appendix A: Data Privacy Terms For Participants in the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom.
KOREA
There are no country-specific provisions.
NETHERLANDS
There are no country-specific provisions.
SOUTH AFRICA
There are no country-specific provisions.
SPAIN
Acknowledgment and Waiver. The following provision supplements Section 8 of the Agreement:
By accepting the grant of RSUs, Participant acknowledges that Participant consents to participation in the Plan and has received a copy of the Plan.
Participant understands that the Company has unilaterally, gratuitously and discretionally decided to grant RSUs under the Plan to individuals who may be employees or other service providers of the Company or its Affiliates throughout the world. The decision is a limited decision that is entered into upon the express assumption and condition that:
(a) | any grant will not economically or otherwise bind the Company or any of its Affiliates on an ongoing basis except as provided in the Plan; |
(b) | the RSUs or the cash acquired upon vesting shall not become a part of any employment contract (either with the Company or any of its Affiliates) and shall not be considered a mandatory benefit, salary for any purposes (including severance compensation) or any other right whatsoever; and |
(c) | unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, the RSUs will be forfeited upon Participants termination of employment or service for any reason, as detailed below. |
In addition, Participant understands that this grant would not be made to Participant but for the assumptions and conditions referred to above; thus, Participant acknowledges and freely accepts that should any or all of the assumptions be mistaken or should any of the conditions not be met for any reason, then the RSUs shall be null and void.
Further, Participant understands that the RSUs are a conditional right to receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Number of a corresponding number of Shares and can be forfeited in the case of, or affected by, Participants termination of employment or service. This will be the case, for example, even if (i) Participant is considered to be unfairly dismissed without good cause; (ii) Participant is dismissed for disciplinary or objective reasons or due to a collective dismissal; (iii) Participant terminates employment or service due to a change of work location, duties or any other employment or contractual condition; (iv) Participant terminates employment or service due to unilateral breach of contract of the Company, the Employer, or any other Affiliate; or (v) Participants employment or service terminates for any other reason whatsoever. Consequently, upon termination of Participants employment or service for any of the reasons set forth above, Participant may automatically lose any rights to the unvested RSUs granted to him or her as of the date of Participants termination of employment, as described in the Plan and the Agreement.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
There are no country-specific provisions.
Exhibit 99.6
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Date of Grant: | [DATE] | |
Name of Participant: | [NAME] | |
Number of Units/Shares: | [QUANTITY] |
Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby grants, as of the date of grant set forth above (the Grant Date), the number of restricted stock units set forth above (the RSUs), with each RSU representing the right to receive a share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.03 per share (a Share), to the above-named participant (Participant) pursuant and subject to the terms of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan (the Plan) and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, including any appendices attached hereto (collectively, the Agreement).
The RSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement are intended to comply with the inducement award exception from the Nasdaq Marketplace (Nasdaq) rules requiring stockholder approval for the issuance of equity-based compensation. The Company will take such actions as may be necessary to comply with such Inducement Award Rules (as defined in the Plan), including notification to Nasdaq and disclosure of the material terms of the RSUs in a press release.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning set forth in the Plan.
1. Vesting. The RSUs shall vest and the Shares shall become issuable as follows: [INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the RSUs may be subject to other vesting terms to the extent expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant, if the terms of such Employment Agreement have been approved by the Committee.
2. Forfeiture of Unvested RSUs. Except as expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant to the contrary, the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, (i) immediately upon termination of Participants employment or service for any reason (including death or disability), if and to the extent that the RSUs remain subject to the satisfaction of service conditions as of the time of such termination, such RSUs shall be forfeited without consideration; and (ii) to the extent that the RSUs are subject to the achievement of certain performance criteria or performance conditions with respect to a Performance Period, in each case as designated in Section 1 above, that are not achieved as of the closing of such Performance Period, then any portion of the RSUs subject to the achievement of such performance criteria or performance conditions which were not achieved, shall be forfeited. The Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine the date of termination of Participants employment or service for purposes of the forfeiture of unvested RSUs pursuant to Section 2(i) hereof, including whether Participant may still be considered to be in employment or service while on a leave of absence or during any applicable notice period.
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3. Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be issued on, or as soon as practicable following, the applicable vesting date of the RSUs, notwithstanding any payment timing terms to the contrary in any Employment Agreement. As a condition to such issuance, Participant shall have satisfied his or her obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items as specified in Section 4 of this Agreement and shall have completed, signed and returned any documents and taken any additional action that the Company deems appropriate to enable it to accomplish the delivery of the Shares. In no event will the Company be obligated to issue a fractional Share, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares during any period when the Company determines that the conversion of an RSU or the delivery of Shares hereunder would violate any federal, state or other applicable laws and/or may issue Shares subject to any restrictive legends that, as determined by the Companys counsel, is necessary to comply with securities or other regulatory requirements, (ii) the date on which Shares are issued may include a delay in order to provide the Company such time as it determines appropriate to address tax withholding and other administrative matters (but in no event later than the deadline required to comply with the short-term deferral exemption under Section 409A of the Code), and (iii) to the extent that payment in Shares is prohibited under applicable law or would require Participant or the Company to obtain the approval of any governmental and/or regulatory body in the Participants country, or as necessary to meet tax or administrative objectives, the Company in its sole discretion may substitute a cash payment in lieu of Shares, such cash payment to be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the applicable vesting date. Without limiting the generality of Section 3(i), the Committee may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of Shares issued upon the vesting of the RSUs does not violate the Securities Act, and may issue stop-transfer orders covering such Shares.
4. Tax Withholding.
(a) Regardless of any action the Company or, if different, any Affiliate that employs Participant (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income, income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding items related to Participants participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (Tax-Related Items), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participants responsibility and may exceed the amount (if any) actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting, value or settlement of the RSUs, the issuance of Shares pursuant to such settlement, the subsequent sale of Shares and the receipt of any dividends, and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Agreement, the grant or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participants liability for Tax-Related Items or to achieve a particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
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(b) Except as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) below, any withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the RSUs shall be satisfied in one or more of the following manners: (i) if the Shares are publicly traded at the time of the Tax-Related Items withholding event, by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the RSUs (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities, or (ii) if and only to the extent permitted by the Company in its sole discretion: (A) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the RSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law); or (B) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company).
(c) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) above, in the event that the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the RSUs arise on a date on which the sale of Shares would otherwise be prohibited by the Companys insider trading policy, then provided that the RSUs do not vest prior to the expiration of the applicable cooling-off period in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(B) under the Exchange Act, measured from the Grant Date (the Cooling-Off Period), any such Tax-Related Items withholding obligations shall be satisfied by the automatic and mandatory sale by or on behalf of Participant of sufficient Shares that are issued under the RSUs to pay the Tax-Related Items obligations (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities. It is the Companys intent that the mandatory sale of Shares to cover withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall constitute an eligible sell-to-cover transaction (as described in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(D)(3) under the Exchange Act) and shall satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. In this regard, Participant certifies that Participant is not aware of any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company as of the Grant Date; provided that if Participant is in possession of such material nonpublic information as of the Grant Date, then the mandatory sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall become a binding contract as of the first date thereafter on which Participant is not in possession of material nonpublic information and as of the date any sales are effected pursuant to this Section 4(c), Participant will not effect such sales on the basis of material nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company of which Participant was aware at the Grant Date. Further, Participant certifies that he or she is entering into the sell-to-cover arrangement in this Section 4(c) in good faith and not as a part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5 under the Exchange Act. If the sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) is prohibited by a legal, contractual or regulatory restriction applicable to Participant or to the broker effecting the sale, or is prevented by a market disruption or similar issue, or if the Tax-Related Items withholding obligation arises at a time other than the vesting and associated settlement of the RSUs or prior to the expiration of the Cooling-Off Period or at a time when the Shares are not publicly traded, then the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items may be satisfied in one or more of the following manners, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion: (i) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the RSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of tax required to be withheld by law); (ii) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company); or (iii) unless prohibited by applicable law, by the Company or the Employer withholding such Tax-Related Items from wages or other amounts otherwise owed to Participant.
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(d) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) and Section 4(c) above, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items will be satisfied by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the RSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law), and not by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the RSUs.
(e) The Company or the Employer may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participants jurisdiction. In the event of over-withholding, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the equivalent in Shares), or if not refunded, Participant may need to seek a refund from the applicable tax authority. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding Shares, for tax purposes, Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested RSUs, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds from the sale of Shares, if Participant fails to comply with Participants obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
5. Lock-up Period. Participant agrees that the Company (or a representative of the underwriter(s)) may, in connection with any underwritten registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, require that Participant 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 Participant, for a period of time specified by the underwriter(s) (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) following the effective date of the registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided that transactions pursuant to Section 4 hereof shall be exempt from any such lock-up request. Participant further agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the underwriter(s) that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Participants Shares until the end of such period. The underwriters of the Companys shares are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 5 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.
6. Restrictions on Transfer. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Participant understands and agrees that the RSUs may not be sold, given, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise hypothecated and any attempt to sell, give, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise hypothecate all or any portion of the RSUs will be void and wholly without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transfer of the RSUs will be effective if and to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in response to a written Participant request, subject to compliance with applicable law.
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7. Certificates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, any Shares due to Participant under this Agreement shall be maintained in uncertificated form through book-entry registration with the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator) or otherwise as permitted by applicable law. Any such book-entry records, or certificates if issued, shall carry such appropriate legends, and such written instructions shall be given to the Company transfer agent, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by counsel to the Company in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, any state securities laws or any other applicable laws.
8. Stockholder Rights. Participant will have no voting or other rights as the Companys other stockholders with respect to the Shares until issuance of the Shares to Participant.
9. No Employment/Service Rights. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the RSUs shall (a) create a right to, or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company or any Affiliate, or a right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate; or (b) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to determine the terms of Participants employment or service and to terminate Participants employment or service.
10. Nature of the Grant. In accepting the grant of these RSUs, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees as follows:
(a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and, to the extent permitted by the Plan, it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b) the grant of the RSUs is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of restricted stock units, or other awards or benefits in lieu of restricted stock units, even if restricted stock units have been granted in the past;
(c) all decisions with respect to future restricted stock unit grants or other awards or benefits, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee;
(d) Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(e) the RSUs and Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or pension compensation;
(f) the RSUs and Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not part of, or normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, payment in lieu of notice, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, non-U.S. pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments;
(g) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted;
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(h) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of RSUs resulting from termination of Participants employment or service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or provides services or the terms of Participants Employment Agreement, if any) or from any forfeiture of RSUs or recoupment of Shares resulting from the application of a Recoupment Policy (as defined below) or any other forfeiture or recoupment pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement;
(i) Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the RSUs and Shares subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an Affiliate; and
(j) If Participants local currency is not the U.S. Dollar, neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participants local currency and the U.S. Dollar that may affect the value of the RSUs or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon vesting including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Participant pursuant to the Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award.
11. Recoupment. The RSUs, whether unvested or vested, and any Shares issued on vesting of the RSUs (as well as any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Participant pursuant to the RSUs or any Shares), shall be subject to deduction, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent required to comply with any recoupment requirement imposed under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards or under any associated Company recoupment policy, including, without limitation, the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Clawback Policy (collectively, a Recoupment Policy). In order to satisfy any recoupment obligation arising under a Recoupment Policy or otherwise under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards, among other things, Participant expressly and explicitly authorizes the Company to issue instructions, on Participants behalf, to any brokerage firm or stock plan service provider engaged by the Company to hold any Shares or other amounts acquired pursuant to the RSUs to re-convey, transfer or otherwise return such Shares and/or other amounts to the Company upon the Companys enforcement of the Recoupment Policy.
12. Terms of Plan, Interpretations. This Agreement and the terms and conditions herein set forth are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which shall be controlling; provided, that in the event of a conflict between Section 4 hereof and Section 14(g) of the Plan regarding the satisfaction of withholding tax liabilities, the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall control. All interpretations or determinations of the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon Participant and Participants legal representatives on any question arising hereunder. Participant acknowledges that Participant has received and reviewed a copy of the Plan.
13. Notices. The Company may require any notice hereunder to be transmitted, submitted or received, by the Company or Participant, electronically in accordance with the procedures established by the Company for such notice. Otherwise, all notices hereunder to the party shall be delivered or mailed to the following addresses:
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If to the Company:
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Attn: Stock Plan Administrator
39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, California 94560
If to Participant:
At the last address for Participant in the Companys records.
Such addresses for the service of notices may be changed at any time provided notice of such change is furnished in advance to the other party.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement together with the Plan supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from or relates to the RSUs granted under the Plan and/or this Agreement, the Company and Participant submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the federal courts located in Delaware, and no other courts.
16. Code Section 409A. The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided hereunder be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, Section 409A) to the maximum extent possible. However, to the extent that the RSUs (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the parties intend that this Agreement and such benefits comply with the deferral, payout, and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A and this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate either for the RSUs to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, to the extent necessary to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of settlement of any portion of the RSUs unless such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. Each amount to be paid under this Agreement shall be construed as a separately identified payment for purposes of Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if upon termination of employment, a Participant is deemed to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A, then, to the extent the settlement of the RSUs following such termination of employment is considered the payment of non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service that is not exempt from Section 409A, such settlement shall be delayed until the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service or (ii) the date of Participants death.
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17. Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. Participant acknowledges that, depending on Participants country, the Plan brokers country, or the country in which Shares are listed, Participant may be subject to insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect Participants ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of Shares, rights to such Shares (including RSUs) or rights linked to the value of Shares under the Plan during such times as Participant is considered to have material nonpublic information or inside information regarding the Company (or similar type matters as defined by the laws or regulations in the relevant jurisdiction). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders Participant places before he or she possessed inside information. Furthermore, Participant could be prohibited from (i) disclosing inside information to any third party (other than on a need to know basis) and (ii) tipping third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities (including fellow employees or service providers). Any restrictions under these or similar laws or regulations are separate from, in addition to, and may differ from, any restrictions that may be imposed under the Companys insider trading policy. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, and that Participant should speak to his or her personal advisor on this matter.
18. Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participants participation in the Plan, on the RSUs and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
19. Appendix A. Participants participation in the Plan is subject to the applicable data privacy terms attached hereto in Appendix A. Moreover, if Participant relocates into or out of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, the Company will determine the application of the data privacy terms as necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix A constitutes part of this Agreement.
20. Appendix B. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the RSU grant shall be subject to any additional or modified terms and conditions for Participants country set forth in Appendix B hereto. Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in Appendix B, the terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix B constitutes part of this Agreement.
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21. Foreign Asset/Account Reporting. Participant acknowledges that there may be foreign asset and/or account reporting requirements which may affect Participants ability to acquire or hold Shares acquired under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on Shares acquired under the Plan) in a brokerage or bank account outside Participants country. Participant may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in Participants country. Participant also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds from the sale of Shares or other funds received as a result of participation in the Plan to Participants country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time after receipt. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to be compliant with any such requirements, and should consult his or her personal legal advisor for any details.
22. No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company and its Affiliates are not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor making any recommendations regarding Participants participation in the Plan or his or her acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participants participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
23. Electronic Delivery and Participation. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan by electronic means or to request Participants consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By participating in the Plan, Participant consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
24. Language. If Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
25. Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Person who holds outstanding RSUs or other Awards under the Plan.
26. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
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Appendix A to the
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Data Privacy Terms for Participants outside the U.S.
These data privacy terms govern the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
By participating in the Plan and accepting the grant of the RSUs, Participant provides the consents and acknowledgements set forth in this Appendix A with respect to the collection, processing and use of Data (as defined below) by the Company and its Affiliates and the transfer of Data to the recipients mentioned herein, including recipients located in countries which do not provide an adequate level of protection from a European (or other non-U.S.) data protection law perspective, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. If Participant does not wish to provide such consents and acknowledgments, Participant may notify the Company, at any time, that Participant rejects the RSUs and requests the cancellation of the RSUs by the Company.
1. | For Participants in the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Data Processing and Legal Basis. The Company and the Employer may collect, process and use certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participants name, home address and telephone number, email address, date of birth, social insurance number, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all RSUs under the Plan or any other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participants favor (collectively Data), for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data is Participants consent.
(b) Stock Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data, or parts thereof, to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates, including E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. (collectively, Morgan Stanley), an independent service provider based in the United States, which assists the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and Participant consents to the Companys transfer of Data to Morgan Stanley for this limited purpose. Participant acknowledges and understands that Morgan Stanley will open an account for Participant to receive and trade Shares acquired under the Plan and that Participant will be asked to agree on separate terms and data processing practices with Morgan Stanley, which is a condition of Participants ability to participate in the Plan. In the future, the Company may select a different service provider and may share Data with such different service provider that serves in a similar manner.
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(c) International Data Transfers. Participant understands that, as of the date hereof, any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, such as Morgan Stanley, are based in the United States. Participant understands and acknowledges that his or her country has enacted data privacy laws that are different from the laws of the United States. As a result, in the absence of appropriate safeguards such as standard data protection clauses, the processing of Participants Data in the United States or, as the case may be, other countries might not be subject to substantive data processing principles or supervision by data protection authorities. In addition, Participant might not have enforceable rights regarding the processing of his or her Data in such countries.
To the extent applicable to Participant, the Company provides appropriate safeguards for protecting Data that it receives in the United States through its adherence to data transfer agreements entered into between the Company and Affiliates within the European Union and European Economic Area. Otherwise, where required, the Companys legal basis for the transfer of Data is Participants consent.
(d) Data Retention. Participant understands that the Company will use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan, or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws. In the latter case, Participant understands and acknowledges that the Companys legal basis for the processing of Data would be compliance with relevant laws or regulations.
(e) Voluntariness and Consequences of Denial/Withdrawal of Consent. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and Participant is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. Participant understands that he or she may withdraw consent at any time with future effect for any or no reason. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke consent, Participants salary from or employment or service with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing consent is that the Company would not be able to grant RSUs to Participant or administer or maintain Participants participation in the Plan.
(f) Data Subject Rights. Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction, and/or (vii) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
(g) Alternative Basis for Data Processing and Transfer. Participant understands that the Company may rely on a different legal basis for the processing or transfer of Data in the future and/or request that Participant provide another data privacy consent form. If applicable and upon request of the Company, Participant agrees to provide an executed acknowledgement or data privacy consent form to the Employer or the Company (or any other acknowledgements, agreements or consents that may be required by the Employer or the Company) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain under the data privacy laws in Participants country, either now or in the future. Participant understands that he or she will not be able to participate in the Plan if Participant fails to execute any such acknowledgement, agreement or consent requested by the Company and/or the Employer.
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2. | For Participants Outside the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Participants personal Data as described herein by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their respective payroll and Plan administrators), wherever they may be located, (collectively, the Data Recipients) for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan. Participant understands that the Data Recipients will collect, hold, and process certain personal information about Participant (which Data includes, without limitation, Participants name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, nationality and job detail and details of the Award granted hereunder and any other Awards granted to Participant).
(b) The Data Recipients will treat Participants personal Data as private and confidential and will not disclose such Data for purposes other than the management and administration of Participants participation in the Plan and will take reasonable measures to keep such personal Data private, confidential, accurate and current.
(c) Where the transfer is to a destination outside the jurisdiction in which Participant resides, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their Data Recipients) shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such personal data continues to be adequately protected and securely held. Nonetheless, by accepting the Award granted hereunder, Participant acknowledges that personal Data about Participant may be transferred to a jurisdiction that does not offer the same level of protection as the jurisdiction in which Participant resides. Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative. Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom he or she may elect to deposit any Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan. Participant understands that his or her personal Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws.
(d) Participant may, at any time, view his or her personal Data, require any necessary corrections to it or withdraw Participants consent by contacting the Secretary of the Company. Participant understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the processing of personal Data, including the consequences of Participants refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant understands that he or she may contact his or her local human resources representative.
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(e) Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, and/or (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
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Appendix B to the
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Country-Specific Terms
These country-specific terms govern the Agreement and the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
CHINA
The following terms and conditions will be applicable to Participant to the extent that the Company, in its discretion, determines that the RSUs or Participants participation in the Plan will be subject to exchange control restrictions in the Peoples Republic of China (the PRC), as implemented by the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE).
Vesting and Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. The following provision supplements Sections 1 and 3 of the Agreement:
In addition to any other vesting and settlement conditions, the RSUs will not release and no Shares will be delivered to Participant unless and until all necessary approvals from SAFE or its relevant branch have been received and remain effective, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion (SAFE Approval). In the event that SAFE Approval has not been obtained prior to any date(s) on which the RSUs are scheduled to be released in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement, the RSUs will not be released until SAFE Approval is obtained. If Participant experiences a termination of employment prior to the date that SAFE Approval is obtained, Participant will have no entitlement to receive unreleased Shares relating to the RSUs.
Sale of Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the Agreement, to facilitate compliance with PRC exchange control restrictions, Participant agrees that any Shares acquired under the Plan may be immediately sold at vesting of the RSUs or, at the Companys discretion, at a later time (including as a result of Participants termination of employment). Participant further agrees that the Company is authorized to instruct its designated broker to assist with the mandatory sale of Shares (on Participants behalf pursuant to this authorization), and Participant expressly authorizes such broker to complete the sale of the Shares. Participant acknowledges that the Companys designated broker is under no obligation to arrange for the sale of Shares at any particular price. Upon the sale of Shares, the Company agrees to pay the cash proceeds from the sale, less any brokerage fees or commissions, to Participant in accordance with applicable exchange control laws and regulations and provided any liability for Tax-Related Items has been satisfied. Participant further agrees that any Shares to be issued to Participant shall be deposited directly into an account with the Companys designated broker. The deposited Shares shall not be transferable (either electronically or in certificate form) from the brokerage account. This limitation shall apply both to transfers to different accounts with the same broker and to transfers to other brokerage firms. The limitation shall apply to all Shares issued to Participant under the Plan, whether or not Participant continues to be employed by the Company or any Affiliate.
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Exchange Control Restrictions. By accepting the RSUs, Participant understands and agrees that Participant will be required to immediately repatriate to China all proceeds due to Participant under the Plan, including any proceeds from the sale of Shares or any other distributions with respect to such Shares. Participant understands that such repatriation will need to be effected through a special exchange control account established by the Company or its Affiliate in China, and Participant hereby agrees that the proceeds may be transferred to such account prior to being delivered to Participant.
Participant further understands that the foregoing proceeds may be paid to Participant in U.S. Dollars or in local currency, at the Companys discretion. If the proceeds are paid in U.S. Dollars, Participant understands that Participant will be required to set up a U.S. Dollar bank account in China so that the proceeds may be deposited into such account. If the proceeds are paid in local currency, Participant acknowledges that neither the Company nor its Affiliates are under an obligation to secure any particular currency conversion rate and that the Company (or its Affiliates) may face delays in converting the proceeds to local currency due to exchange control requirements in China.
Participant agrees to bear any foreign exchange rate fluctuation risk between the time the Shares are delivered to Participant or are sold and the time the sale proceeds are converted into local currency and distributed to Participant. Participant understands and agrees that the Company is not responsible for the amount of any foreign currency loss Participant may incur and that the Company assumes no liability for any fluctuation in the Share price and/or U.S. Dollar exchange rate.
Participant further agrees to comply with any other requirements that may be imposed by the Company in the future to facilitate compliance with exchange control requirements in China.
Finally, PRC residents may be required to report to the SAFE details of their foreign financial assets and liabilities, as well as details of any economic transactions conducted with non-PRC residents, either directly or through financial institutions. Under these rules, Participant may be subject to reporting obligations for the Shares or the RSUs under the Plan and Plan-related transactions. It is Participants responsibility to comply with any applicable reporting obligation and Participant should consult a personal legal advisor in this regard.
HONG KONG
Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. The following provision supplements Section 3 of the Agreement:
The grant of the RSUs does not provide any right for Participant to receive a cash payment and the RSUs will be settled in Shares only.
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Restriction on Sale of Shares. To the extent the RSUs vest within six months of the Grant Date, Participant may not dispose of the Shares acquired pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs, or otherwise offer the Shares to the public, prior to the six-month anniversary of the Grant Date. Any Shares acquired under the Plan are accepted as a personal investment.
SECURITIES WARNING: This offer of RSUs and the Shares to be issued upon vesting and settlement of the RSUs are available only to eligible employees of the Company or any Affiliate and are not a public offer of securities. The Agreement (including Appendix A and Appendix B), the Plan and other communication materials associated with the offer have not been prepared in accordance with and are not intended to constitute a prospectus for a public offering of securities under the applicable securities legislation in Hong Kong, nor have the documents been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. The Agreement and any related documentation are intended only for the personal use of each Participant and may not be distributed to any other person. Participant is advised to exercise caution in relation to the offer. If Participant is in any doubt about any of the contents of the offer documents, Participant should obtain independent professional advice.
IRELAND
There are no country-specific provisions.
JAPAN
Compliance with Law. By accepting the RSUs, Participant agrees to comply with all applicable Japanese laws and report and pay any and all applicable Tax-Related Items associated with the receipt of RSUs and any payment made to Participant upon vesting of RSUs. Participant acknowledges that the Japanese tax authorities are aware that employees of Japanese affiliates of Delaware companies may earn substantial income as a result of participation in an equity incentive plan, and may audit the tax returns of such employees to confirm that they have correctly reported the resulting income.
KOREA
There are no country-specific provisions.
MALAYSIA
Director Notification Obligation. Malaysian resident Participants who are directors of a Malaysian entity are subject to certain notification requirements under the Malaysian Companies Act. Among these requirements is an obligation to notify the Malaysian entity in writing when receiving or disposing of an interest (e.g., RSUs, Shares, etc.) in the Company or any related company. This notification must be made within 14 days of receiving or disposing of any interest in the Company or any related company.
Responsibility for Taxes. This provision replaces Section 4 of the Agreement in its entirety, except as otherwise provided below:
As a condition of grant, Participant hereby elects to pay any and all income tax due on the benefits derived from participation in the Plan (Taxes) directly to the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board and report such benefits on Participants annual tax return for the relevant year of the tax assessment. Participant further understands and agrees that by making this election, the Company and the Employer will not withhold any Taxes pursuant to the Income Tax (Deduction of Remuneration) Rules 1994, and Participant acknowledges and agrees that the ultimate liability for all Taxes is and remains Participants responsibility.
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Further, if Participant becomes subject to taxation in more than one jurisdiction between the Grant Date and the date of any relevant taxable event, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for the Taxes in any relevant jurisdiction outside Malaysia and may do so in the manner set forth in Section 4 of the Agreement.
This election will remain in effect unless and until Participant actively cancels the election by notifying Participants Employer in writing and Participants Employer confirms receipt of such cancellation notice.
Data Privacy. The following provisions supplement Section 2 of Appendix A to the Agreement:
(a) Peserta dengan ini secara eksplisit dan tanpa sebarang keraguan mengizinkan pengumpulan, penggunaan dan pemindahan, dalam bentuk elektronik atau bentuk lain, data peribadi Peserta seperti yang dinyatakan di sini oleh dan di antara, yang berkenaan, Syarikat dan Gabungannya (termasuk mana-mana pentadbir gaji mereka masing-masing), di mana sahaja mereka berada, (secara kolektif, Penerima-penerima Data) untuk tujuan eksklusif bagi melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaan Peserta dalam Pelan. Peserta memahami bahawa Penerima-penerima Data akan mengumpul, memegang, dan memproses maklumat peribadi tertentu mengenai Peserta (termasuk, tetapi tidak terhad kepada, nama Peserta, alamat rumah, nombor telefon, tarikh lahir, kewarganegaraan dan butiran pekerjaan dan butiran mengenai Anugerah yang diberikan di bawah ini dan mana-mana Anugerah lain yang diberikan kepada Peserta).
(b) Penerima-penerima Data akan menganggap data peribadi Peserta sebagai sulit dan rahsia dan tidak akan mendedahkan data sedemikian untuk tujuan selain daripada pengurusan dan pentadbiran penyertaan Peserta dalam Pelan tersebut dan akan mengambil langkah yang munasabah untuk menyimpan data peribadi sedemikian secara sulit, tepat dan semasa.
(c) Di mana pemindahan adalah ke satu destinasi di luar bidang kuasa di mana Peserta menetap, Syarikat dan Gabungannya (termasuk mana-mana pentadbir gaji mereka masing-masing) hendaklah mengambil langkah yang munasabah untuk memastikan bahawa data peribadi sedemikian terus dilindungi dengan sewajarnya dan dipegang secara selamat. Walau bagaimanapun, dengan menerima Anugerah yang diberi di bawah ini, Peserta mengakui bahawa maklumat peribadi mengenai Peserta boleh dipindahkan ke bidang kuasa yang tidak menawarkan tahap perlindungan yang sama seperti bidang kuasa di mana Peserta menetap. Peserta memahami bahawa dia boleh meminta satu senarai yang mengandungi nama dan alamat penerima-penerima data yang berpotensi dengan menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatannya. Peserta memberi kuasa kepada penerima-penerima untuk menerima, memiliki, mengguna, mengekal dan memindah data, dalam bentuk elektronik atau bentuk lain, bagi tujuan melaksanakan, mentadbir dan menguruskan penyertaaan Peserta dalam Pelan, termasuk apa-apa pemindahan data yang diperlukan tersebut kepada seorang broker atau pihak ketiga lain yang dipilihnya untuk mendepositkan apa-apa Saham yang diperolehi menurut Anugerah ini. Peserta memahami bahawa data peribadinya akan dipegang hanya untuk tempoh yang diperlukan untuk melaksana, mentadbir dan mengurus penyertaan Peserta dalam Pelan.
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(d) Peserta boleh, pada bila-bila masa, melihat data peribadinya, meminta sebarang pembetulan yang perlu kepadanya atau menarik balik persetujuan Peserta dengan menghubungi Setiausaha Syarikat. Walau bagaimanapun, Peserta memahami bahawa keenggannan atau penarikan balik persetujuannya akan menjejaskan kebolehannya untuk menyertai Pelan. Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai pemprosesan data peribadi, termasuk akibat keengganan Peserta untuk memberi persetujuan atau penarikan balik persetujuannya, Peserta memahami bahawa dia boleh menghubungi wakil sumber manusia tempatannya.
SINGAPORE
Restriction on Sale of Shares. Shares received upon vesting of the RSUs are accepted as a personal investment. To the extent the RSUs vest within six months of the Grant Date, Participant may not dispose of the Shares acquired pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs, or otherwise offer the Shares to the public, prior to the six-month anniversary of the Grant Date, unless such sale or offer is made pursuant to the exemptions under Part XIII Division (1) Subdivision (4) (other than section 280) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chap. 289, 2006 Ed.) (SFA) and in accordance with the conditions of any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Securities Law Information. The RSUs are being granted pursuant to the Qualifying Person exemption under section 273(1)(f) of the SFA, are exempt from the prospectus and registration requirements under the SFA and are not made with a view to the RSUs or the underlying Shares being subsequently offered for sale to any other party. The Plan has not been, and will not be, lodged or registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Director Notification Requirement. Any director (including an alternate, associate, substitute or shadow director) of a Singapore entity must notify the Singapore entity in writing within two business days of (i) becoming the registered holder of or acquiring an interest (e.g., RSUs, Shares) in the Company or any related entity, or becoming a director, or (ii) any change in a previously disclosed interest (e.g., sale of Shares). These notification requirements apply regardless of whether directors are residents of or employed in Singapore.
TAIWAN
Securities Law Information. The offer of participation in the Plan is available only for eligible employees. The offer of participation in the Plan is not a public offer of securities by a Taiwanese company.
Data Privacy Acknowledgement. Participant hereby acknowledges that Participant has read and understood the terms regarding collection, processing and transfer of Data provided in Section 2 of Appendix A to the Agreement and by participating in the Plan, Participant agrees to such terms. In this regard, upon request of the Company or the Employer, Participant agrees to provide an executed data privacy consent form to the Company or the Employer (or any other agreements or consents that may be required by the Company or the Employer) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain under the data privacy laws in Participants country of residence, either now or in the future. Participant understands Participant may be unable to participate in the Plan if Participants fail to execute any such consent or agreement.
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UNITED KINGDOM
Tax Obligations. The following provisions supplement Section 4 of the Agreement:
Participant agrees to be liable for any Tax-Related Items and covenants to pay any such Tax-Related Items, as and when requested by the Company or, if different, the Employer or by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority). Participant also agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and, if different, the Employer against any Tax-Related Items that they are required to pay or withhold or have paid or will pay to HMRC (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority) on Participants behalf.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Participant is a director or executive officer (within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act), Participant understands that Participant may not be able to indemnify the Company and/or the Employer for the amount of any Tax-Related Items not collected from or paid by Participant, in case the indemnification could be considered to be a loan. In this case, the Tax-Related Items not collected or paid may constitute a benefit to Participant on which additional income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) may be payable. Participant acknowledges that the Company or the Employer may recover any such additional income tax and NICs at any time thereafter by any of the means referred to in the Agreement. However, Participant is primarily responsible for reporting and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime and for paying to the Company and/or the Employer (as appropriate) the amount of any NICs due on this additional benefit, which may also be recovered from Participant by any of the means referred to in Section 4 of the Agreement.
UNITED STATES
There are no country-specific provisions.
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Exhibit 99.7
Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Date of Grant: [DATE] |
Name of Participant: [NAME] |
Number of Cash-Settled Units: [QUANTITY] |
Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby grants, as of the date of grant set forth above (the Grant Date), the number of restricted stock units set forth above (the RSUs), with each RSU representing the right to receive the cash equivalent value of a share of common stock (a Share) of the Company, to the above-named participant (Participant) pursuant and subject to the terms of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan (the Plan) and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, including any appendices attached hereto (collectively, the Agreement).
The RSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement are intended to comply with the inducement award exception from the Nasdaq Marketplace (Nasdaq) rules requiring stockholder approval for the issuance of equity-based compensation. The Company will take such actions as may be necessary to comply with such Inducement Award Rules (as defined in the Plan), including notification to Nasdaq and disclosure of the material terms of the RSUs in a press release.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning set forth in the Plan.
1. Vesting. The RSUs shall vest and become payable in cash as follows: [INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE]. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the RSUs may be subject to other vesting terms to the extent expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant, if the terms of such Employment Agreement have been approved by the Committee.
2. Forfeiture of Unvested RSUs. Except as expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant to the contrary, the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, (i) immediately upon termination of Participants employment or service for any reason (including death or disability), if and to the extent that the RSUs remain subject to the satisfaction of service conditions as of the time of such termination, such RSUs shall be forfeited without consideration; and (ii) to the extent that the RSUs are subject to the achievement of certain performance criteria or performance conditions with respect to a Performance Period, in each case as designated in Section 1 above, that are not achieved as of the closing of such Performance Period, then any portion of the RSUs subject to the achievement of such performance criteria or performance conditions which were not achieved, shall be forfeited. The Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine the date of termination of Participants employment or service for purposes of the forfeiture of unvested RSUs pursuant to Section 2(i) hereof, including whether Participant may still be considered to be in employment or service while on a leave of absence or during any applicable notice period.
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3. Cash Settlement of RSUs. RSUs granted to Participant shall, once vested, be settled in cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares corresponding to the applicable number of vested RSUs on the applicable vesting date. Such cash payment will be delivered on, or as soon as practicable following, the applicable vesting date of the RSUs, notwithstanding any payment timing terms to the contrary in any Employment Agreement (but in no event later than the deadline required to comply with the short-term deferral exemption under Section 409A of the Code). As a condition to such payment, Participant shall have satisfied his or her obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items as specified in Section 4 of this Agreement and shall have completed, signed and returned any documents and taken any additional action that the Company deems appropriate to enable it to accomplish the delivery of the payments.
4. Tax Withholding.
(a) Regardless of any action the Company or, if different, any Affiliate that employs Participant (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income, income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding items related to Participants participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (Tax-Related Items), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participants responsibility and may exceed the amount (if any) actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting, value or settlement of the RSUs, and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Agreement, the grant or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participants liability for Tax-Related Items or to achieve a particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
(b) Any withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the RSUs shall be satisfied in one or more of the following manners, as determined by the Company in its discretion: (i) by the Company or the Employer withholding cash that would otherwise be payable under the RSUs; or (ii) by payment by Participant to the Company or the Employer by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company).
(c) The Company or the Employer may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participants jurisdiction, in which case Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash or, if not refunded, Participant may need to seek a refund from the applicable tax authority. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer.
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5. Restrictions on Transfer. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Participant understands and agrees that the RSUs may not be sold, given, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise hypothecated and any attempt to sell, give, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise hypothecate all or any portion of the RSUs will be void and wholly without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transfer of the RSUs will be effective if and to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in response to a written Participant request, subject to compliance with applicable law.
6. Stockholder Rights. Participant will have no voting or other rights as the Companys other stockholders with respect to the RSUs and will not receive any Shares on vesting of the RSUs.
7. No Employment/Service Rights. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the RSUs shall (a) create a right to, or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company or any Affiliate, or a right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate; or (b) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to determine the terms of Participants employment or service and to terminate Participants employment or service.
8. Nature of the Grant. In accepting the grant of these RSUs, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees as follows:
(a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and, to the extent permitted by the Plan, it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b) the grant of the RSUs is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of restricted stock units, or other awards or benefits in lieu of restricted stock units, even if restricted stock units have been granted in the past;
(c) all decisions with respect to future restricted stock unit grants or other awards or benefits, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee;
(d) Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(e) the RSUs and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or pension compensation;
(f) the RSUs and the income from and value of same, are not part of, or normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, payment in lieu of notice, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, non-U.S. pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments;
(g) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted;
(h) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of RSUs resulting from termination of Participants employment or service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or provides services or the terms of Participants Employment Agreement, if any) or from any forfeiture of RSUs or recoupment of Shares resulting from the application of a Recoupment Policy (as defined below) or any other forfeiture or recoupment pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement;
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(i) Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the RSUs and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an Affiliate; and
(j) If Participants local currency is not the U.S. Dollar, neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participants local currency and the U.S. Dollar that may affect the value of the RSUs or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs.
9. Recoupment. The RSUs, whether unvested or vested, and any cash paid on vesting of the RSUs, shall be subject to deduction, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent required to comply with any recoupment requirement imposed under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards or under any associated Company recoupment policy, including, without limitation, the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Clawback Policy (collectively, a Recoupment Policy). In order to satisfy any recoupment obligation arising under a Recoupment Policy or otherwise under applicable laws, rules, regulations or stock exchange listing standards, among other things, Participant expressly and explicitly authorizes the Company to issue instructions, on Participants behalf, to any brokerage firm or stock plan service provider engaged by the Company to hold any amounts acquired pursuant to the RSUs to re-convey, transfer or otherwise return such amounts to the Company upon the Companys enforcement of the Recoupment Policy.
10. Terms of Plan, Interpretations. This Agreement and the terms and conditions herein set forth are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which shall be controlling; provided, that in the event of a conflict between Section 4 hereof and Section 14(g) of the Plan regarding the satisfaction of withholding tax liabilities, the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall control. All interpretations or determinations of the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon Participant and Participants legal representatives on any question arising hereunder. Participant acknowledges that Participant has received and reviewed a copy of the Plan.
11. Notices. The Company may require any notice hereunder to be transmitted, submitted or received, by the Company or Participant, electronically in accordance with the procedures established by the Company for such notice. Otherwise, all notices hereunder to the party shall be delivered or mailed to the following addresses:
If to the Company:
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Attn: Stock Plan Administrator
39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, California 94560
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If to Participant:
At the last address for Participant in the Companys records.
Such addresses for the service of notices may be changed at any time provided notice of such change is furnished in advance to the other party.
12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement together with the Plan supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from or relates to the RSUs granted under the Plan and/or this Agreement, the Company and Participant submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the federal courts located in Delaware, and no other courts.
14. Code Section 409A. The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided hereunder be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, Section 409A) to the maximum extent possible. However, to the extent that the RSUs (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the parties intend that this Agreement and such benefits comply with the deferral, payout, and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A and this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate either for the RSUs to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, to the extent necessary to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of settlement of any portion of the RSUs unless such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. Each amount to be paid under this Agreement shall be construed as a separately identified payment for purposes of Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if upon termination of employment, a Participant is deemed to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A, then, to the extent the settlement of the RSUs following such termination of employment is considered the payment of non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service that is not exempt from Section 409A, such settlement shall be delayed until the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service or (ii) the date of Participants death.
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15. Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participants participation in the Plan and on the RSUs, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
16. Appendix A. Participants participation in the Plan is subject to the applicable data privacy terms attached hereto in Appendix A. Moreover, if Participant relocates into or out of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, the Company will determine the application of the data privacy terms as necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix A constitutes part of this Agreement.
17. Appendix B. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the RSU grant shall be subject to any additional or modified terms and conditions for Participants country set forth in Appendix B hereto. Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in Appendix B, the terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Appendix B constitutes part of this Agreement.
18. No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company and its Affiliates are not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor making any recommendations regarding Participants participation in the Plan. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participants participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
19. Electronic Delivery and Participation. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan by electronic means or to request Participants consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By participating in the Plan, Participant consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
20. Language. If Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
21. Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Person who holds outstanding RSUs or other Awards under the Plan.
22. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
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Appendix A to the
Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit
Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Data Privacy Terms for Participants outside the U.S.
These data privacy terms govern the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
By participating in the Plan and accepting the grant of the RSUs, Participant provides the consents and acknowledgements set forth in this Appendix A with respect to the collection, processing and use of Data (as defined below) by the Company and its Affiliates and the transfer of Data to the recipients mentioned herein, including recipients located in countries which do not provide an adequate level of protection from a European (or other non-U.S.) data protection law perspective, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. If Participant does not wish to provide such consents and acknowledgments, Participant may notify the Company, at any time, that Participant rejects the RSUs and requests the cancellation of the RSUs by the Company.
1. | For Participants in the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Data Processing and Legal Basis. The Company and the Employer may collect, process and use certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participants name, home address and telephone number, email address, date of birth, social insurance number, passport or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all RSUs under the Plan or any other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participants favor (collectively Data), for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan. The legal basis, where required, for the processing of Data is Participants consent.
(b) Stock Plan Administration Service Providers. The Company transfers Data, or parts thereof, to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates, including E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. (collectively, Morgan Stanley), an independent service provider based in the United States, which assists the Company with the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and Participant consents to the Companys transfer of Data to Morgan Stanley for this limited purpose. In the future, the Company may select a different service provider and may share Data with such different service provider that serves in a similar manner.
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(c) International Data Transfers. Participant understands that, as of the date hereof, any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, such as Morgan Stanley, are based in the United States. Participant understands and acknowledges that his or her country has enacted data privacy laws that are different from the laws of the United States. As a result, in the absence of appropriate safeguards such as standard data protection clauses, the processing of Participants Data in the United States or, as the case may be, other countries might not be subject to substantive data processing principles or supervision by data protection authorities. In addition, Participant might not have enforceable rights regarding the processing of his or her Data in such countries.
To the extent applicable to Participant, the Company provides appropriate safeguards for protecting Data that it receives in the United States through its adherence to data transfer agreements entered into between the Company and Affiliates within the European Union and European Economic Area. Otherwise, where required, the Companys legal basis for the transfer of Data is Participants consent.
(d) Data Retention. Participant understands that the Company will use Data only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan, or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws. In the latter case, Participant understands and acknowledges that the Companys legal basis for the processing of Data would be compliance with relevant laws or regulations.
(e) Voluntariness and Consequences of Denial/Withdrawal of Consent. Participation in the Plan is voluntary and Participant is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. Participant understands that he or she may withdraw consent at any time with future effect for any or no reason. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke consent, Participants salary from or employment or service with the Employer will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing consent is that the Company would not be able to grant RSUs to Participant or administer or maintain Participants participation in the Plan.
(f) Data Subject Rights. Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction, and/or (vii) receive a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of Data. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
(g) Alternative Basis for Data Processing and Transfer. Participant understands that the Company may rely on a different legal basis for the processing or transfer of Data in the future and/or request that Participant provide another data privacy consent form. If applicable and upon request of the Company, Participant agrees to provide an executed acknowledgement or data privacy consent form to the Employer or the Company (or any other acknowledgements, agreements or consents that may be required by the Employer or the Company) that the Company and/or the Employer may deem necessary to obtain under the data privacy laws in Participants country, either now or in the future. Participant understands that he or she will not be able to participate in the Plan if Participant fails to execute any such acknowledgement, agreement or consent requested by the Company and/or the Employer.
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2. | For Participants Outside the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom |
(a) Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Participants personal Data as described herein by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their respective payroll and Plan administrators), wherever they may be located, (collectively, the Data Recipients) for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan. Participant understands that the Data Recipients will collect, hold, and process certain personal information about Participant (which Data includes, without limitation, Participants name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, nationality and job detail and details of the Award granted hereunder and any other Awards granted to Participant).
(b) The Data Recipients will treat Participants personal Data as private and confidential and will not disclose such Data for purposes other than the management and administration of Participants participation in the Plan and will take reasonable measures to keep such personal Data private, confidential, accurate and current.
(c) Where the transfer is to a destination outside the jurisdiction in which Participant resides, the Company and its Affiliates (including any of their Data Recipients) shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such personal data continues to be adequately protected and securely held. Nonetheless, by accepting the Award granted hereunder, Participant acknowledges that personal Data about Participant may be transferred to a jurisdiction that does not offer the same level of protection as the jurisdiction in which Participant resides. Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative. Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing Participants participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom he or she may elect to deposit any Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan. Participant understands that his or her personal Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participants participation in the Plan or to comply with legal or regulatory obligations, including under tax and securities laws.
(d) Participant may, at any time, view his or her personal Data, require any necessary corrections to it or withdraw Participants consent by contacting the Secretary of the Company. Participant understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the processing of personal Data, including the consequences of Participants refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant understands that he or she may contact his or her local human resources representative.
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(e) Participant understands that data subject rights vary depending on the applicable law and that, depending on where Participant is based and subject to the conditions set out in the applicable law, Participant may have, without limitation, the rights to (i) request access or copies of Data the Company processes, (ii) rectification of incorrect Data, (iii) anonymization, blocking or deletion of Data, (iv) restrictions on processing of Data, (v) portability of Data, and/or (vi) lodge complaints with competent authorities in Participants jurisdiction. To receive clarification regarding these rights or to exercise these rights, Participant understands that he or she can contact Participants local human resources representative.
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Appendix B to the
Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Country-Specific Terms
These country-specific terms govern the Agreement and the RSUs granted to Participant under the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan and/or in the Agreement.
AUSTRALIA
There are no country-specific provisions.
BELGIUM
There are no country-specific provisions.
CHINA
There are no country-specific provisions.
FRANCE
RSUs Not Tax-Qualified. The RSUs are not intended to be French tax-qualified.
Language Consent. In accepting the RSUs, Participant confirms having read and understood the documents relating to the RSUs (the Plan and the Award Agreement including this Appendix), which were provided in English. Participant accepts the terms of those documents accordingly.
Consentement Relatif à la Langue Utilisée. En acceptant cette Attribution, le Participant confirme avoir lu et compris les documents relatifs à cette Attribution (le Plan, le Contrat dAttribution incluant cette Annexe), qui ont été remis en langue anglaise. Le Participant accepte les termes de ces documents en conséquence.
GERMANY
There are no country-specific provisions.
INDIA
There are no country-specific provisions.
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INDONESIA
Language Consent. By accepting the RSUs, Participant (i) confirms having read and understood the documents relating to the grant (i.e., the Plan and the Agreement) which were provided in the English language, (ii) accepts the terms of those documents accordingly, and (iii) agrees not to challenge the validity of this document based on Law No. 24 of 2009 on National Flag, Language, Coat of Arms and National Anthem or the implementing Presidential Regulation (when issued).
Dengan menerima pemberian Unit Saham Terbatas ini, Peserta (i) memberikan konfirmasi bahwa dirinya telah membaca dan memahami dokumen-dokumen berkaitan dengan pemberian ini (yaitu, Perjanjian Penghargaan dan Program) yang disediakan dalam Bahasa Inggris, (ii) menerima persyaratan di dalam dokumen-dokumen tersebut, dan (iii) setuju untuk tidak mengajukan keberatan atas keberlakuan dari dokumen ini berdasarkan Undang-Undang No. 24 Tahun 2009 tentang Bendera, Bahasa dan Lambang Negara serta Lagu Kebangsaan ataupun Peraturan Presiden sebagai pelaksanaannya (ketika diterbitkan).
ITALY
Plan Document Acknowledgment. By accepting the RSUs, Participant acknowledges that he or she has received a copy of the Plan and the Agreement and has reviewed the Plan and the Agreement, including Appendix A and Appendix B, in their entirety and fully understands and accepts all provisions thereof.
Participant further acknowledges that he or she has read, understands and specifically and expressly accepts the following sections of the Agreement: Section 1: Vesting; Section 3: Cash Settlement of RSUs; Section 4: Tax Withholding; Section 5: Restrictions on Transfer; Section 7: No Employment/Service Rights; Section 8: Nature of the Grant; Section 13: Governing Law; and Section 1 of Appendix A: Data Privacy Terms For Participants in the European Union / European Economic Area and the United Kingdom.
KOREA
There are no country-specific provisions.
NETHERLANDS
There are no country-specific provisions.
SOUTH AFRICA
There are no country-specific provisions.
SPAIN
Acknowledgment and Waiver. The following provision supplements Section 8 of the Agreement:
By accepting the grant of RSUs, Participant acknowledges that Participant consents to participation in the Plan and has received a copy of the Plan.
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Participant understands that the Company has unilaterally, gratuitously and discretionally decided to grant RSUs under the Plan to individuals who may be employees of the Company or its Affiliates throughout the world. The decision is a limited decision that is entered into upon the express assumption and condition that:
(a) | any grant will not economically or otherwise bind the Company or any of its Affiliates on an ongoing basis except as provided in the Plan; |
(b) | the RSUs or the cash acquired upon vesting shall not become a part of any employment contract (either with the Company or any of its Affiliates) and shall not be considered a mandatory benefit, salary for any purposes (including severance compensation) or any other right whatsoever; and |
(c) | unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, the RSUs will be forfeited upon Participants termination of employment or service for any reason, as detailed below. |
In addition, Participant understands that this grant would not be made to Participant but for the assumptions and conditions referred to above; thus, Participant acknowledges and freely accepts that should any or all of the assumptions be mistaken or should any of the conditions not be met for any reason, then the RSUs shall be null and void.
Further, Participant understands that the RSUs are a conditional right to receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Number of a corresponding number of Shares and can be forfeited in the case of, or affected by, Participants termination of employment or service. This will be the case, for example, even if (i) Participant is considered to be unfairly dismissed without good cause; (ii) Participant is dismissed for disciplinary or objective reasons or due to a collective dismissal; (iii) Participant terminates employment or service due to a change of work location, duties or any other employment or contractual condition; (iv) Participant terminates employment or service due to unilateral breach of contract of the Company, the Employer, or any other Affiliate; or (v) Participants employment or service terminates for any other reason whatsoever. Consequently, upon termination of Participants employment or service for any of the reasons set forth above, Participant may automatically lose any rights to the unvested RSUs granted to him or her as of the date of Participants termination of employment, as described in the Plan and the Agreement.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
There are no country-specific provisions.
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Exhibit 99.8
Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan
Notice of Grant
Date of Grant: | [xx/xx/xxxx] | |
Name of Participant: | [First Name Last Name] | |
Target Number of Units: | [xx,xxx] | |
Performance Period: | [] through [], subject to Addendum A |
Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby grants to the above-named participant (Participant), as of the date of grant set forth above (the Grant Date), the target number of performance stock units set forth above (the PSUs), with each PSU representing the right to receive a share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.03 per share (a Share), subject to the terms of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) and the restrictions, including service and performance conditions, described below in this Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement, including Addendum A attached hereto, (this Agreement). The provisions of Addendum A are incorporated by reference herein and made a part of the Agreement; to the extent any provision in Addendum A conflicts with any provision set forth elsewhere in the Agreement, the provision set forth in Addendum A shall control.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning set forth in the Plan.
1. Vesting. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Award shall vest with respect to the number of PSUs, if any, as determined pursuant to the terms of Addendum A, subject to the satisfaction of the following service and performance conditions (together, the Vesting Conditions):
(a) Service Condition. Participant must continue employment through the Certification Date (the Service Condition).
(b) Performance Condition. The Companys total stockholder return during the Performance Period relative to that of the median company in the Russell 2000 Index must equal or exceed the applicable threshold level of performance set forth in Addendum A, as determined by the Committee. To the extent that the Vesting Conditions are met, the PSUs shall vest in a single lump sum at the close of business on the day that the Compensation Committee (the Committee) certifies the achievement of the Performance Goal set forth in Addendum A (the Certification Date). Such Certification Date shall occur as soon as reasonably practicable following the last day of the Performance Period. Until the Committee has made such a determination, none of the Vesting Conditions will be considered to have been satisfied. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 2(b) below, the PSUs may be subject to other vesting terms to the extent expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant, if the terms of such Employment Agreement have been approved by the Committee.
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(c) Fractional PSU Vesting. In the event Participant would vest in a fractional portion of a PSU based on attainment of the Performance Goal, such fractional portion will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
2. Termination of Employment; Change in Control.
(a) Forfeiture of Unvested Performance Stock Units upon Termination. Except as provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant or any amendment thereto, the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, immediately upon termination of Participants employment for any reason (including Participants death or disability), any PSUs which have not vested shall be forfeited without consideration. The Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine the date of termination of Participants employment for purposes of the forfeiture of unvested PSUs pursuant to this Section 2(a), including whether Participant may still be considered to be in employment while on a leave of absence or during any applicable notice period.
(b) Treatment of Performance Stock Units upon a Change in Control. Notwithstanding Section 1 above or any terms in Participants Employment Agreement, (i) upon a Change in Control that occurs on or before the first anniversary of the Grant Date, the Performance Goal applicable to the PSUs shall be deemed to be satisfied at the target performance level and the Target Number of Units (as designated in Notice of Grant and Addendum A) shall immediately vest as of the date of the Change in Control; and (ii) upon a Change in Control that occurs more than one year following the Grant Date, the number of PSUs (if any) that vest as of the date of the Change in Control will be determined based on actual performance during the Performance Period through the date of the Change in Control, as determined by the Committee pursuant to the terms of Addendum A. Any PSUs that do not vest upon a Change in Control or otherwise shall be forfeited without consideration.
(c) Treatment of Forfeited Shares. Any Shares forfeited pursuant to this Section 2 or otherwise, shall be returned to the Plan and made available for re-grant.
3. Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be issued on, or as soon as practicable following, the Certification Date, or if applicable, the date of the Change in Control where the PSUs vest pursuant to Section 2(b) notwithstanding any payment timing terms to the contrary in any Employment Agreement. As a condition to such issuance, Participant shall have satisfied his or her obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items as specified in Section 4 of this Agreement and shall have completed, signed and returned any documents and taken any additional action that the Company deems appropriate to enable it to accomplish the delivery of the Shares. In no event will the Company be obligated to issue a fractional Share, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares during any period when the Company determines that the conversion of a PSU or the delivery of Shares hereunder would violate any federal, state or other applicable laws and/or may issue Shares subject to any restrictive legends that, as determined by the Companys counsel, is necessary to comply with securities or other regulatory requirements, and (ii) the date on which Shares are issued may include a delay in order to provide the Company such time as it determines appropriate to address tax withholding and other administrative matters (but in no event later than the deadline required to comply with the short-term deferral exemption under Section 409A of the Code).
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of Shares issued upon the vesting and settlement of the PSUs does not violate the Securities Act, and may issue stop-transfer orders covering such Shares.
4. Tax Withholding.
(a) Regardless of any action the Company or, if different, any Affiliate that employs Participant (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding items related to Participants participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (Tax-Related Items), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participants responsibility and may exceed the amount (if any) actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the PSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the PSUs, the issuance of the Shares pursuant to such settlement, the subsequent sale of Shares and the receipt of any dividends, and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Agreement, the grant or any aspect of the PSUs to reduce or eliminate Participants liability for Tax-Related Items or to achieve a particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
(b) Except as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) below, any withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the PSUs shall be satisfied in one or more of the following manners: (i) if the Shares are publicly traded at the time of the Tax-Related Items withholding event, by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the PSUs (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities, or (ii) if and only to the extent permitted by the Company in its sole discretion: (A) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the vested PSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law); (B) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company); or (C) unless prohibited by applicable law, by the Company or the Employer withholding such Tax-Related Items from wages or other amounts otherwise owed to Participant.
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) above, in the event that the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the PSUs arise on a date on which the sale of Shares would otherwise be prohibited by the Companys insider trading policy, then provided that the PSUs do not vest prior to the expiration of the applicable cooling-off period in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(B) under the Exchange Act, measured from the Grant Date (the Cooling-Off Period), any such Tax-Related Items withholding obligations shall be satisfied by the automatic and mandatory sale by or on behalf of Participant of sufficient Shares that are issued under the PSUs to pay the Tax-Related Items obligations (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities. It is the Companys intent that the mandatory sale of Shares to cover withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall constitute an eligible sell-to-cover transaction (as described in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(D)(3) under the Exchange Act) and shall satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. In this regard, Participant certifies that Participant is not aware of any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company as of the Grant Date; provided that if Participant is in possession of such material nonpublic information as of the Grant Date, then the mandatory sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall become a binding contract as of the first date thereafter on which Participant is not in possession of material nonpublic information and as of the date any sales are effected pursuant to this Section 4(c), Participant will not effect such sales on the basis of material nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company of which Participant was aware at the Grant Date. Further, Participant certifies that he or she is entering into the sell-to-cover arrangement in this Section 4(c) in good faith and not as a part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5 under the Exchange Act. If the sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) is prohibited by a legal, contractual or regulatory restriction applicable to Participant or to the broker effecting the sale, or is prevented by a market disruption or similar issue, or if the Tax-Related Items withholding obligation arises at a time other than the vesting and associated settlement of the PSUs or prior to the expiration of the Cooling-Off Period or at a time when the Shares are not publicly traded, then the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items may be satisfied in one or more of the following manners, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion: (i) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the PSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law); (ii) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company); or (iii) unless prohibited by applicable law, by the Company or the Employer withholding such Tax-Related Items from wages or other amounts otherwise owed to Participant.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) and Section 4(c) above, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items will be satisfied by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the PSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law), and not by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the PSUs.
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(e) The Company or the Employer may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participants jurisdiction. In the event of over-withholding, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the equivalent in Shares), or if not refunded, Participant may need to seek a refund from the applicable tax authority. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding Shares, for tax purposes, Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested PSUs, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds from the sale of Shares, if Participant fails to comply with Participants obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
5. Lock-up Period. Participant agrees that the Company (or a representative of the underwriter(s)) may, in connection with any underwritten registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, require that Participant 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 Participant, for a period of time specified by the underwriter(s) (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) following the effective date of the registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided that transactions pursuant to Section 4 hereof shall be exempt from any such lock-up request. Participant further agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the underwriter(s) that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Participants Shares until the end of such period. The underwriters of the Companys shares are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 5 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.
6. Restrictions on Transfer. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Participant understands and agrees that the PSUs may not be sold, given, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise hypothecated and any attempt to sell, give, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise hypothecate all or any portion of the PSUs will be void and wholly without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transfer of the PSUs will be effective if and to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in response to a written Participant request, subject to compliance with applicable law.
7. Certificates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, any Shares due to Participant under this Agreement shall be maintained in uncertificated form through book-entry registration with the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator) or otherwise as permitted by applicable law. Any such book-entry records, or certificates if issued, shall carry such appropriate legends, and such written instructions shall be given to the Company transfer agent, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by counsel to the Company in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, any state securities laws or any other applicable laws.
8. Stockholder Rights. Participant will have no voting or other rights as the Companys other stockholders with respect to the Shares until issuance of the Shares to Participant.
9. No Employment/Service Rights. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the PSUs shall (a) create a right to, or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company or any Affiliate, or a right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate; or (b) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to determine the terms of Participants employment or service and to terminate Participants employment or service.
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10. Nature of the Grant. In accepting the grant of the PSUs, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees as follows:
(a) The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and, to the extent permitted by the Plan, it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b) The grant of the PSUs is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of performance stock units, or other awards or benefits in lieu of performance stock units;
(c) All decisions with respect to future performance share grants or other awards or benefits, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee;
(d) Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(e) The PSUs and Shares subject to the PSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or pension compensation;
(f) The PSUs and Shares subject to the PSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not part or normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, payment in lieu of notice, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, non-U.S. pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments;
(g) The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;
(h) No claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of PSUs resulting from the termination of Participants employment or service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or provides services or the terms of Participants Employment Agreement, if any); and
(i) Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the PSUs and the Shares subject to the PSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an Affiliate.
11. Terms of Plan, Interpretations. This Agreement and the terms and conditions herein set forth are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which shall be controlling; provided that in the event of a conflict between Section 4 hereof and Section 15(g) of the Plan regarding the satisfaction of withholding tax liabilities, the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall control. All interpretations or determinations of the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon Participant and Participants legal representatives on any question arising hereunder. Participant acknowledges that Participant has received and reviewed a copy of the Plan.
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12. Notices. The Company may require any notice hereunder to be transmitted, submitted or received, by the Company or Participant, electronically in accordance with the procedures established by the Company for such notice. Otherwise, all notices hereunder to the party shall be delivered or mailed to the following addresses:
If to the Company:
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Attn: Stock Plan Administrator
39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, California 94560
If to Participant:
At the last address for Participant in the Companys records.
Such addresses for the service of notices may be changed at any time provided notice of such change is furnished in advance to the other party.
13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement together with the Plan supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from or relates to the PSUs granted under the Plan and/or this Agreement, the Company and Participant submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the federal courts located in Delaware, and no other courts.
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15. Code Section 409A. The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided hereunder be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, Section 409A) to the maximum extent possible. However, to the extent that the PSUs (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the parties intend that this Agreement and such benefits comply with the deferral, payout, and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A and this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate either for the PSUs to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, to the extent necessary to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of settlement of any portion of the PSUs unless such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. Each amount to be paid under this Agreement shall be construed as a separately identified payment for purposes of Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if upon termination of employment, a Participant is deemed to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A, then, to the extent the settlement of the PSUs following such termination of employment is considered the payment of non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service that is not exempt from Section 409A, such settlement shall be delayed until the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service or (ii) the date of Participants death.
16. Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. Participant acknowledges that, depending on Participants country, the Plan brokers country, or the country in which Shares are listed, Participant may be subject to insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect Participants ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of Shares, rights to such Shares (e.g., PSUs) or rights linked to the value of Shares under the Plan during such times as Participant is considered to have material nonpublic information or inside information regarding the Company (or similar type matters as defined by the laws or regulations in the relevant jurisdiction). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders Participant places before he or she possessed inside information. Furthermore, Participant could be prohibited from (i) disclosing inside information to any third party (other than on a need to know basis) and (ii) tipping third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities (including fellow employees or service providers). Any restrictions under these or similar laws or regulations are separate from, in addition to, and may differ from, any restrictions that may be imposed under the Companys insider trading policy. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, and that Participant should speak to his or her personal advisor on this matter.
17. Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participants participation in the Plan, on the PSUs and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
18. Foreign Asset/Account Reporting. Participant acknowledges that there may be foreign asset and/or account reporting requirements which may affect Participants ability to acquire or hold Shares acquired under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on Shares acquired under the Plan) in a brokerage or bank account outside Participants country. Participant may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in Participants country. Participant also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds from the sale of Shares or other funds received as a result of participation in the Plan to Participants country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time after receipt. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to be compliant with any such requirements, and should consult his or her personal legal advisor for any details.
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19. No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participants participation in the Plan or his or her acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participants participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
20. Electronic Delivery and Participation. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan by electronic means or to request Participants consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By participating in the Plan, Participant consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
21. Language. If Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
22. Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Person who holds outstanding PSUs or other Awards under the Plan.
23. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
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ADDENDUM A
PERFORMANCE GOAL SCHEDULE
This Addendum A is attached to and made a part of the Agreement. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined in this Addendum A will have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement or the Plan.
1. Performance Goal. Subject to satisfaction of the Service Condition and other terms of the Agreement, the number of PSUs awarded hereunder that shall be eligible to vest will range from 0% to 200% of Participants Target Number of Units based on the Companys TSR relative to that of the Median Company in the Index Group over the Performance Period (the Performance Goal), as set forth below:
Company TSR (Relative to Median Company in Index Group) (1) |
Percentage of Target Units Eligible to Vest |
|||
+25% |
200 | % | ||
+12.5% |
150 | % | ||
Median Company (Target Performance Level) |
100 | % | ||
-12.5% |
75 | % | ||
-25% |
50 | % | ||
Less than -25% |
0 | % |
(1) | If Company TSR performance falls between the levels indicated above, the number of PSUs that shall be eligible to vest will be determined on a straight-line basis (i.e., linearly interpolated) between the two nearest vesting percentages indicated above. The PSUs that do not vest shall be forfeited without consideration. |
2. Definitions. For purposes of the Performance Goal, the following definitions will apply:
Beginning Share Price means, with respect to the Company and each of the other companies comprising the Index Group, the average of the closing market prices of such companys stock on the principal exchange on which such stock is traded for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days ending on and including the first day of the Performance Period.
Ending Share Price means, with respect to the Company and each of the other companies comprising the Index Group, the average of the closing market prices of such companys stock on the principal exchange on which such stock is traded for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days ending on and including the last trading day of the Performance Period; provided, however, that in the event of a Change in Control, the Ending Share Price with respect to the Company shall be the per share consideration paid to stockholders of the Company in the Change in Control.
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Index Group means the Company and each other company included in the Russell 2000 Index as of the first day of the Performance Period; provided, however:
i. | in the event that a member of the Index Group is delisted or is merged with or acquired by another company during the Performance Period, it shall be excluded from the Index Group; and |
ii. | notwithstanding (i) above, in the event that a member of the Index Group files for bankruptcy or liquidates due to an insolvency, such company shall continue to be treated as an Index Group member and shall be placed at the bottom of the Index Group for purposes of determining the Median Company. |
Median Company means the Index Group member with a TSR for the Performance Period that is at the median of the TSR for all companies comprising the Index Group, as identified at the end of the Performance Period.
Performance Period means the period from [] through [] over which the TSR of the Index Group will be measured; provided, however, that in the event of a Change in Control, the Performance Period shall be the period from [] through the date of the Change in Control.
Target Number of Units or Target Units means the target number of PSUs subject to the Award as specified in the Notice of Grant, which corresponds to attainment of the Performance Goal at the Median Company level.
TSR means total stockholder return, which shall be determined with respect to the Company and each of the other companies comprising the Index Group pursuant to the formula below and assuming that any dividends are reinvested in additional shares of the issuing companys stock on the ex-dividend date:
TSR = (Ending Share Price - Beginning Share Price) Beginning Share Price |
Each component of the above formula shall be equitably adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and other similar events affecting the shares in question without the issuing companys receipt of consideration.
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Exhibit 99.9
Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement
Under the
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan
Notice of Grant
Date of Grant: | [xx/xx/xxxx] | |
Name of Participant: | [First Name Last Name] | |
Target Number of Units: | [xx,xxx] | |
Performance Period: | [] through [], subject to Addendum A |
Penguin Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby grants to the above-named participant (Participant), as of the date of grant set forth above (the Grant Date), the target number of performance stock units set forth above (the PSUs), with each PSU representing the right to receive a share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.03 per share (a Share), subject to the terms of the Penguin Solutions, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan (the Plan) and the restrictions, including service and performance conditions, described below in this Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement, including Addendum A attached hereto, (this Agreement). The provisions of Addendum A are incorporated by reference herein and made a part of the Agreement; to the extent any provision in Addendum A conflicts with any provision set forth elsewhere in the Agreement, the provision set forth in Addendum A shall control.
The PSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement are intended to comply with the inducement award exception from the Nasdaq Marketplace (Nasdaq) rules requiring stockholder approval for the issuance of equity-based compensation. The Company will take such actions as may be necessary to comply with such Inducement Award Rules (as defined in the Plan), including notification to Nasdaq and disclosure of the material terms of the PSUs in a press release.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning set forth in the Plan.
1. Vesting. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Award shall vest with respect to the number of PSUs, if any, as determined pursuant to the terms of Addendum A, subject to the satisfaction of the following service and performance conditions (together, the Vesting Conditions):
(a) Service Condition. Participant must continue employment through the Certification Date (the Service Condition).
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(b) Performance Condition. The Companys total stockholder return during the Performance Period relative to that of the median company in the Russell 2000 Index must equal or exceed the applicable threshold level of performance set forth in Addendum A, as determined by the Committee. To the extent that the Vesting Conditions are met, the PSUs shall vest in a single lump sum at the close of business on the day that the Compensation Committee (the Committee) certifies the achievement of the Performance Goal set forth in Addendum A (the Certification Date). Such Certification Date shall occur as soon as reasonably practicable following the last day of the Performance Period. Until the Committee has made such a determination, none of the Vesting Conditions will be considered to have been satisfied. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 2(b) below, the PSUs may be subject to other vesting terms to the extent expressly provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant, if the terms of such Employment Agreement have been approved by the Committee.
(c) Fractional PSU Vesting. In the event Participant would vest in a fractional portion of a PSU based on attainment of the Performance Goal, such fractional portion will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
2. Termination of Employment; Change in Control.
(a) Forfeiture of Unvested Performance Stock Units upon Termination. Except as provided in a written Employment Agreement with Participant or any amendment thereto, the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, immediately upon termination of Participants employment for any reason (including Participants death or disability), any PSUs which have not vested shall be forfeited without consideration. The Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine the date of termination of Participants employment for purposes of the forfeiture of unvested PSUs pursuant to this Section 2(a), including whether Participant may still be considered to be in employment while on a leave of absence or during any applicable notice period.
(b) Treatment of Performance Stock Units upon a Change in Control. Notwithstanding Section 1 above or any terms in Participants Employment Agreement, (i) upon a Change in Control that occurs on or before the first anniversary of the Grant Date, the Performance Goal applicable to the PSUs shall be deemed to be satisfied at the target performance level and the Target Number of Units (as designated in Notice of Grant and Addendum A) shall immediately vest as of the date of the Change in Control; and (ii) upon a Change in Control that occurs more than one year following the Grant Date, the number of PSUs (if any) that vest as of the date of the Change in Control will be determined based on actual performance during the Performance Period through the date of the Change in Control, as determined by the Committee pursuant to the terms of Addendum A. Any PSUs that do not vest upon a Change in Control or otherwise shall be forfeited without consideration.
(c) Treatment of Forfeited Shares. Any Shares forfeited pursuant to this Section 2 or otherwise, shall be returned to the Plan and made available for re-grant.
3. Conversion into Shares of Common Stock. Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be issued on, or as soon as practicable following, the Certification Date, or if applicable, the date of the Change in Control where the PSUs vest pursuant to Section 2(b) notwithstanding any payment timing terms to the contrary in any Employment Agreement. As a condition to such issuance, Participant shall have satisfied his or her obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items as specified in Section 4 of this Agreement and shall have completed, signed and returned any documents and taken any additional action that the Company deems appropriate to enable it to accomplish the delivery of the Shares. In no event will the Company be obligated to issue a fractional Share, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares during any period when the Company determines that the conversion of a PSU or the delivery of Shares hereunder would violate any federal, state or other applicable laws and/or may issue Shares subject to any restrictive legends that, as determined by the Companys counsel, is necessary to comply with securities or other regulatory requirements, and (ii) the date on which Shares are issued may include a delay in order to provide the Company such time as it determines appropriate to address tax withholding and other administrative matters (but in no event later than the deadline required to comply with the short-term deferral exemption under Section 409A of the Code).
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may require an opinion of counsel acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of Shares issued upon the vesting and settlement of the PSUs does not violate the Securities Act, and may issue stop-transfer orders covering such Shares.
4. Tax Withholding.
(a) Regardless of any action the Company or, if different, any Affiliate that employs Participant (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding items related to Participants participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant (Tax-Related Items), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains Participants responsibility and may exceed the amount (if any) actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. Participant further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the PSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the PSUs, the issuance of the Shares pursuant to such settlement, the subsequent sale of Shares and the receipt of any dividends, and (ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this Agreement, the grant or any aspect of the PSUs to reduce or eliminate Participants liability for Tax-Related Items or to achieve a particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
(b) Except as provided in Section 4(c) and Section 4(d) below, any withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the PSUs shall be satisfied in one or more of the following manners: (i) if the Shares are publicly traded at the time of the Tax-Related Items withholding event, by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the PSUs (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities, or (ii) if and only to the extent permitted by the Company in its sole discretion: (A) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the vested PSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law); (B) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company); or (C) unless prohibited by applicable law, by the Company or the Employer withholding such Tax-Related Items from wages or other amounts otherwise owed to Participant.
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) above, in the event that the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items incurred in connection with the PSUs arise on a date on which the sale of Shares would otherwise be prohibited by the Companys insider trading policy, then provided that the PSUs do not vest prior to the expiration of the applicable cooling-off period in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(B) under the Exchange Act, measured from the Grant Date (the Cooling-Off Period), any such Tax-Related Items withholding obligations shall be satisfied by the automatic and mandatory sale by or on behalf of Participant of sufficient Shares that are issued under the PSUs to pay the Tax-Related Items obligations (in which case the Company may permit or require such Shares to be sold as part of a block trade with other Plan participants) with the proceeds paid to the Company for remittance to the appropriate taxing authorities. It is the Companys intent that the mandatory sale of Shares to cover withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall constitute an eligible sell-to-cover transaction (as described in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(D)(3) under the Exchange Act) and shall satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. In this regard, Participant certifies that Participant is not aware of any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company as of the Grant Date; provided that if Participant is in possession of such material nonpublic information as of the Grant Date, then the mandatory sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall become a binding contract as of the first date thereafter on which Participant is not in possession of material nonpublic information and as of the date any sales are effected pursuant to this Section 4(c), Participant will not effect such sales on the basis of material nonpublic information regarding the Company or any securities of the Company of which Participant was aware at the Grant Date. Further, Participant certifies that he or she is entering into the sell-to-cover arrangement in this Section 4(c) in good faith and not as a part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5 under the Exchange Act. If the sale of Shares pursuant to this Section 4(c) is prohibited by a legal, contractual or regulatory restriction applicable to Participant or to the broker effecting the sale, or is prevented by a market disruption or similar issue, or if the Tax-Related Items withholding obligation arises at a time other than the vesting and associated settlement of the PSUs or prior to the expiration of the Cooling-Off Period or at a time when the Shares are not publicly traded, then the withholding obligations with respect to Tax-Related Items may be satisfied in one or more of the following manners, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion: (i) by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the PSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law); (ii) by payment by Participant to the Company by wire or by check (which amount shall be due within two (2) business days following the day the applicable taxable event arises, unless otherwise determined by the Company); or (iii) unless prohibited by applicable law, by the Company or the Employer withholding such Tax-Related Items from wages or other amounts otherwise owed to Participant.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) and Section 4(c) above, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items will be satisfied by the Company withholding Shares that would otherwise be issued under the PSUs (with a value up to but not in excess of the statutory maximum amount of Tax-Related Items required to be withheld by law), and not by the automatic sale by or on behalf of Participant of Shares that are issued under the PSUs.
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(e) The Company or the Employer may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum rates applicable in Participants jurisdiction. In the event of over-withholding, Participant may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash (with no entitlement to the equivalent in Shares), or if not refunded, Participant may need to seek a refund from the applicable tax authority. In the event of under-withholding, Participant may be required to pay any additional Tax-Related Items directly to the applicable tax authority or to the Company and/or the Employer. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding Shares, for tax purposes, Participant is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested PSUs, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds from the sale of Shares, if Participant fails to comply with Participants obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
5. Lock-up Period. Participant agrees that the Company (or a representative of the underwriter(s)) may, in connection with any underwritten registration of the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, require that Participant 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 Participant, for a period of time specified by the underwriter(s) (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) following the effective date of the registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided that transactions pursuant to Section 4 hereof shall be exempt from any such lock-up request. Participant further agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the underwriter(s) that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to Participants Shares until the end of such period. The underwriters of the Companys shares are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 5 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.
6. Restrictions on Transfer. Except as expressly required by applicable law, Participant understands and agrees that the PSUs may not be sold, given, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise hypothecated and any attempt to sell, give, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise hypothecate all or any portion of the PSUs will be void and wholly without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transfer of the PSUs will be effective if and to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in response to a written Participant request, subject to compliance with applicable law.
7. Certificates. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, any Shares due to Participant under this Agreement shall be maintained in uncertificated form through book-entry registration with the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator) or otherwise as permitted by applicable law. Any such book-entry records, or certificates if issued, shall carry such appropriate legends, and such written instructions shall be given to the Company transfer agent, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by counsel to the Company in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, any state securities laws or any other applicable laws.
8. Stockholder Rights. Participant will have no voting or other rights as the Companys other stockholders with respect to the Shares until issuance of the Shares to Participant.
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9. No Employment/Service Rights. Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the PSUs shall (a) create a right to, or be interpreted as forming an employment or service contract with the Company or any Affiliate, or a right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate; or (b) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to determine the terms of Participants employment or service and to terminate Participants employment or service.
10. Nature of the Grant. In accepting the grant of the PSUs, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees as follows:
(a) The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and, to the extent permitted by the Plan, it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b) The grant of the PSUs is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of performance stock units, or other awards or benefits in lieu of performance stock units;
(c) All decisions with respect to future performance share grants or other awards or benefits, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee;
(d) Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(e) The PSUs and Shares subject to the PSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or pension compensation;
(f) The PSUs and Shares subject to the PSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not part or normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, payment in lieu of notice, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, leave-related payments, non-U.S. pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments;
(g) The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted with certainty;
(h) No claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of PSUs resulting from the termination of Participants employment or service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or provides services or the terms of Participants Employment Agreement, if any); and
(i) Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the PSUs and the Shares subject to the PSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, the service Participant may provide as a director of an Affiliate.
11. Terms of Plan, Interpretations. This Agreement and the terms and conditions herein set forth are subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which shall be controlling; provided, that in the event of a conflict between Section 4 hereof and Section 14(g) of the Plan regarding the satisfaction of withholding tax liabilities, the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall control. All interpretations or determinations of the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon Participant and Participants legal representatives on any question arising hereunder. Participant acknowledges that Participant has received and reviewed a copy of the Plan.
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12. Notices. The Company may require any notice hereunder to be transmitted, submitted or received, by the Company or Participant, electronically in accordance with the procedures established by the Company for such notice. Otherwise, all notices hereunder to the party shall be delivered or mailed to the following addresses:
If to the Company:
Penguin Solutions, Inc.
Attn: Stock Plan Administrator
39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, California 94560
If to Participant:
At the last address for Participant in the Companys records.
Such addresses for the service of notices may be changed at any time provided notice of such change is furnished in advance to the other party.
13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement together with the Plan supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from or relates to the PSUs granted under the Plan and/or this Agreement, the Company and Participant submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of the State of Delaware or the federal courts located in Delaware, and no other courts.
15. Code Section 409A. The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided hereunder be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, Section 409A) to the maximum extent possible. However, to the extent that the PSUs (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the parties intend that this Agreement and such benefits comply with the deferral, payout, and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A and this Agreement shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, the Committee shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate either for the PSUs to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of the Plan and this Agreement, to the extent necessary to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of settlement of any portion of the PSUs unless such termination constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A. Each amount to be paid under this Agreement shall be construed as a separately identified payment for purposes of Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if upon termination of employment, a Participant is deemed to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A, then, to the extent the settlement of the PSUs following such termination of employment is considered the payment of non-qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A payable on account of a separation from service that is not exempt from Section 409A, such settlement shall be delayed until the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service or (ii) the date of Participants death.
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16. Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws. Participant acknowledges that, depending on Participants country, the Plan brokers country, or the country in which Shares are listed, Participant may be subject to insider trading and/or market abuse laws which may affect Participants ability to accept, acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of Shares, rights to such Shares (e.g., PSUs) or rights linked to the value of Shares under the Plan during such times as Participant is considered to have material nonpublic information or inside information regarding the Company (or similar type matters as defined by the laws or regulations in the relevant jurisdiction). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders Participant places before he or she possessed inside information. Furthermore, Participant could be prohibited from (i) disclosing inside information to any third party (other than on a need to know basis) and (ii) tipping third parties or causing them otherwise to buy or sell securities (including fellow employees or service providers). Any restrictions under these or similar laws or regulations are separate from, in addition to, and may differ from, any restrictions that may be imposed under the Companys insider trading policy. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, and that Participant should speak to his or her personal advisor on this matter.
17. Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participants participation in the Plan, on the PSUs and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
18. Foreign Asset/Account Reporting. Participant acknowledges that there may be foreign asset and/or account reporting requirements which may affect Participants ability to acquire or hold Shares acquired under the Plan or cash received from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on Shares acquired under the Plan) in a brokerage or bank account outside Participants country. Participant may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in Participants country. Participant also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds from the sale of Shares or other funds received as a result of participation in the Plan to Participants country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time after receipt. Participant acknowledges that it is his or her responsibility to be compliant with any such requirements, and should consult his or her personal legal advisor for any details.
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19. No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participants participation in the Plan or his or her acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. Participant should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participants participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
20. Electronic Delivery and Participation. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan by electronic means or to request Participants consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By participating in the Plan, Participant consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
21. Language. If Participant has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
22. Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement or the Plan shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other Person who holds outstanding PSUs or other Awards under the Plan.
23. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
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ADDENDUM A
PERFORMANCE GOAL SCHEDULE
This Addendum A is attached to and made a part of the Agreement. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined in this Addendum A will have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement or the Plan.
1. Performance Goal. Subject to satisfaction of the Service Condition and other terms of the Agreement, the number of PSUs awarded hereunder that shall be eligible to vest will range from 0% to 200% of Participants Target Number of Units based on the Companys TSR relative to that of the Median Company in the Index Group over the Performance Period (the Performance Goal), as set forth below:
Company TSR (Relative to Median Company in Index Group) (1) |
Percentage of Target Units Eligible to Vest |
|||
+25% |
200 | % | ||
+12.5% |
150 | % | ||
Median Company (Target Performance Level) |
100 | % | ||
-12.5% |
75 | % | ||
-25% |
50 | % | ||
Less than -25% |
0 | % |
(1) | If Company TSR performance falls between the levels indicated above, the number of PSUs that shall be eligible to vest will be determined on a straight-line basis (i.e., linearly interpolated) between the two nearest vesting percentages indicated above. The PSUs that do not vest shall be forfeited without consideration. |
2. Definitions. For purposes of the Performance Goal, the following definitions will apply:
Beginning Share Price means, with respect to the Company and each of the other companies comprising the Index Group, the average of the closing market prices of such companys stock on the principal exchange on which such stock is traded for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days ending on and including the first day of the Performance Period.
Ending Share Price means, with respect to the Company and each of the other companies comprising the Index Group, the average of the closing market prices of such companys stock on the principal exchange on which such stock is traded for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days ending on and including the last trading day of the Performance Period; provided, however, that in the event of a Change in Control, the Ending Share Price with respect to the Company shall be the per share consideration paid to stockholders of the Company in the Change in Control.
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Index Group means the Company and each other company included in the Russell 2000 Index as of the first day of the Performance Period; provided, however:
i. | in the event that a member of the Index Group is delisted or is merged with or acquired by another company during the Performance Period, it shall be excluded from the Index Group; and |
ii. | notwithstanding (i) above, in the event that a member of the Index Group files for bankruptcy or liquidates due to an insolvency, such company shall continue to be treated as an Index Group member and shall be placed at the bottom of the Index Group for purposes of determining the Median Company. |
Median Company means the Index Group member with a TSR for the Performance Period that is at the median of the TSR for all companies comprising the Index Group, as identified at the end of the Performance Period.
Performance Period means the period from [] through [] over which the TSR of the Index Group will be measured; provided, however, that in the event of a Change in Control, the Performance Period shall be the period from [] through the date of the Change in Control.
Target Number of Units or Target Units means the target number of PSUs subject to the Award as specified in the Notice of Grant, which corresponds to attainment of the Performance Goal at the Median Company level.
TSR means total stockholder return, which shall be determined with respect to the Company and each of the other companies comprising the Index Group pursuant to the formula below and assuming that any dividends are reinvested in additional shares of the issuing companys stock on the ex-dividend date:
TSR = |
(Ending Share Price - Beginning Share Price) | |
Beginning Share Price |
Each component of the above formula shall be equitably adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and other similar events affecting the shares in question without the issuing companys receipt of consideration.
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