UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 30, 2019
CYREN LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Israel | 000–26495 | Not applicable | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of | (Commission file number) | (I.R.S. Employer | ||
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
10 Ha-Menofim St., 5th Floor | ||
Herzliya, Israel | 4672561 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
011–972–9–863–6888
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||
Ordinary Shares, par value ILS 0.15 per share | CYRN | Nasdaq Capital Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Approval of the Compensation to the Company’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
Following the approval of the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of Cyren Ltd. (the “Company”) and the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), at the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of shareholders held on July 30, 2019 (the “Annual Meeting”), the Company’s shareholders approved the compensation to Lior Samuelson, the Company’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, who stepped down as the Company’s CEO on May 6, 2019. The terms of Mr. Samuelson’s compensation as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board include cash compensation in the amount of $15,000 per month, paid quarterly, a grant of 25,000 RSUs and modified vesting and expiration terms with respect to Mr. Samuelson’s existing equity grants. Further information regarding Mr. Samuelson’s compensation terms is set forth under Proposal Three of the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed on Schedule 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2019 (the “Proxy Statement”) and incorporated herein by reference.
Approval of Increase of Shares under the Employee Plan
Following the approval of the Compensation Committee and the Board, at the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved an increase in the number of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value ILS 0.15 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) reserved for issuance under the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and its respective Israeli Appendix (the “Employee Plan”) from a total of 4.2 million Ordinary Shares to a total of 11.2 million Ordinary Shares. A summary of the terms of the Employee Plan is set forth under Proposal Five of the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed on Schedule 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2019 and is incorporated herein by reference. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employee Plan, as amended and restated, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s shareholders voted on ten proposals, each of which is described in more detail in the Proxy Statement. The following is a brief description of each matter voted upon and the results of the votes.
Proposal One - The shareholders elected the following eight directors to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their respective successors are elected.
Director Nominee | For | Against | Abstain |
Broker
Non-Vote |
||||||||||||
Lior Samuelson | 37,374,657 | 647,101 | 2,671,296 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
Hila Karah | 37,983,288 | 40,120 | 2,669,646 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
Todd Thomson | 37,981,833 | 39,565 | 2,671,656 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
James Hamilton | 37,987,098 | 33,900 | 2,672,056 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
Cary Davis | 37,352,396 | 644,972 | 2,695,686 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
Brian Chang | 37,374,126 | 645,872 | 2,673,056 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
Lauren Zletz | 37,560,956 | 439,822 | 2,692,276 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
Rajveer Kushwaha | 37,557,906 | 440,872 | 2,694,276 | 3,914,719 |
Proposal Two - The shareholders elected the following two External Directors to each serve for a three-year term.
External Director Nominee | For | Against | Abstain |
Broker
Non-Vote |
||||||||||||
John Becker | 6,728,490 | 5,913,018 | 7,090 | 3,914,719 | ||||||||||||
David Earhart | 6,722,825 | 5,918,683 | 7,090 | 3,914,719 |
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Proposal Three - The shareholders approved the compensation to Lior Samuelson, the Company’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
9,526,302 | 457,727 | 2,689,553 | 3,914,719 |
Proposal Four - The shareholders approved amendments to the compensation terms for the Company’s non-executive directors.
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
9,503,967 | 451,729 | 2,692,886 | 3,914,719 |
Proposal Five - The shareholders approved an increase in the number of Ordinary Shares reserved for issuance under the Employee Plan from a total of 4.2 million Ordinary Shares to a total of 11.2 million Ordinary Shares.
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
36,578,359 | 1,443,142 | 2,671,553 | 3,914,719 |
Proposal Six - The shareholders approved an increase in the number of Ordinary Shares reserved for issuance under the Non-Employee Director Plan from a total of 0.4 million Ordinary Shares to a total of 1.15 million Ordinary Shares.
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
36,558,351 | 1,463,142 | 2,671,561 | 3,914,719 |
Proposal Seven - The shareholders approved an increase in the number of the Company’s authorized Ordinary Shares and authorized share capital to NIS 16,500,000 divided into 110,000,000 Ordinary Shares, and an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Association to reflect such increase.
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
37,960,317 | 68,850 | 2,663,887 | 3,914,719 |
Proposal Eight –- The shareholders approved the appointment of Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer (a member firm of Ernst & Young Global) as the Company’s independent public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2019 and for the year commencing January 1, 2020 and until the next annual meeting of shareholders and their compensation (as approved by the Audit Committee and the Board).
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
36,554,127 | 19,892 | 8,033,754 | 0 |
Proposal Nine – The shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement.
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Vote | |||
37,980,105 | 30,888 | 2,682,061 | 3,914,719 |
Proposal Ten - The shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the frequency of every year for future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
1 Year | 2 Year | 3 Year | Abstain | |||
38,409,165 | 517 | 14,014 | 2,269,358 |
As required by Israeli law, each of proposals 2, 3, 4 were approved by shareholders holding a majority of the Ordinary Shares voted on such proposals (excluding abstentions) who affirmatively confirmed that they were non-controlling shareholders or did not have a personal interest in such proposals.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) | Exhibits |
Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibits | |
3.1 | Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company, as amended and restated. | |
10.1 | 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated.* | |
10.2 | 2016 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan, as amended and restated.* |
* Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CYREN LTD. | |
Date: August 2, 2019 | /s/ J. Michael Myshrall |
J. Michael Myshrall | |
Chief Financial Officer |
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THE COMPANIES LAW
A COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
of
cyren LTD.
1. Preliminary
1.1. Construction . In these Articles, each of the following terms shall have the respective meaning appearing next to it, if not inconsistent with the subject or context:
1.1.1. “Articles” - These Articles of Association, as amended from time to time.
1.1.2. “Board” - the board of directors appointed under these Articles.
1.1.3. “Company” - Cyren Ltd.
1.1.4. “Companies Law” - The Companies Law, 5759 -1999 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.1.5. “General Meeting” - an Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting as defined in Article 9.2.1.
1.1.6. “Shareholder” -
(a) A holder of one or more of the shares of the Company; or
(b) a person registered as such in the Register of Shareholders; or
(c) a person who holds a share certificate.
1.1.7. “Register of Shareholders” - The Register of Shareholders pursuant to Article 12.
1.1.8. “Year and Month” - A Gregorian month or year.
1.2. Any capitalized term used but not otherwise defined in these Articles shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Companies Law.
2. Public Company
The Company is a Public Company as such term is defined in the Companies Law.
3. Share Capital
3.1. The authorized share capital of the Company is NIS 16,500,000 divided into one hundred and ten million (110,000,000) Ordinary Shares of nominal value NIS 0.15 per share (“Ordinary Shares”).
3.2. The holders of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares shall have all the rights, powers and authorities associated with the shares of the Company, including the power to appoint directors, to receive notice of, and to vote in, General Meetings of the Company, and to receive dividends and any surplus upon the liquidation of the Company.
3.3. If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, then, unless the conditions of allotment of such class provide otherwise, the rights, additional rights, advantages, restrictions and conditions attached or not attached to any class, at any given time, may be modified, enhanced, added or abrogated by the Company by resolution at a meeting of the holders of the shares of such class.
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4. Issuance of Securities
4.1. The unissued shares of the Company shall be under the control of the Board.
4.2. The Board shall have the power to allot, issue or otherwise dispose of shares to such persons, at such times, on such terms and conditions, and either at par or less than par, at a premium, for cash or other consideration, in whole or in part, at a discount or with payment of commission, with such preferred or deferred rights, restrictions or conditions, all in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law and as the Board shall deem fit from time to time, provided that such shares do not exceed the registered share capital of the Company. The Board of Directors shall also have the power to give any person the option to acquire from the Company any shares, either at par or less than par, at a premium, for cash or other consideration, in whole or in part, at a discount or with payment of commission, all in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law and as the Board shall deem fit from time to time.
4.3. The Board may resolve to issue one or more series of debentures; however, such borrowing power shall be limited to actions that do not unreasonably jeopardize the Company’s ability to pay its debt or to conduct its business as an entity that seeks to maximize profits.
4.4. The Company may, subject to applicable law, issue redeemable shares and redeem the same.
5. Reorganization of Capital
5.1. Increase of Capital
5.1.1. The Company may, from time to time, by resolution of the Shareholders, whether or not all the shares then authorized have been issued, and whether or not all the shares issued have been called for payment, increase its authorized share capital. Any such increase shall be in such amount and shall be divided into shares of such nominal amounts, with such rights and preferences and subject to such restrictions, as such resolution shall provide.
5.1.2. Except to the extent otherwise provided in such resolution, any new shares included in the authorized share capital increased under Article 5.1.1 shall be subject to all the provisions of these Articles which are applicable to shares included in the existing share capital, without regard to class (and, if such new shares are of the same class as a class of shares included in the existing share capital, to all of the provisions that are applicable to shares of such class included in the existing share capital).
5.2. Consolidation, Subdivision, Cancellation and Reduction of Capital.
The Company may, from time to time, by resolution of the Shareholders (subject to applicable law):
5.2.1. consolidate all or any part of its issued or unissued share capital into shares of a per share nominal value that is greater than the per share nominal value of its existing shares;
5.2.2. subdivide its shares (issued or unissued) or any of them into shares of lesser nominal value than is fixed by these Articles;
5.2.3. cancel any shares that have not been issued or subscribed for, and decrease the amount of its authorized share capital by the amount of the shares so canceled, subject to any commitment (including a conditional commitment) given by the Company in respect of such shares.
5.2.4. reduce its share capital in any manner, and with and subject to any consent required by law.
5.3. With respect to any action that may result in fractional shares, the Board may settle any difficulty that may arise with regard thereto as it deems fit, and in connection with any such consolidation or other action that may result in fractional shares may, without limitation:
5.3.1. determine, as to the holder of the shares so consolidated, which issued shares shall be consolidated into a share of a larger nominal value per share;
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5.3.2. allot, in contemplation of or subsequent to such consolidation or other action, shares or fractional shares sufficient to preclude or remove fractional share holdings;
5.3.3. redeem, in the case of redeemable shares and subject to the Companies Law, such shares or fractional shares sufficient to preclude or remove fractional share holdings; or
5.3.4. cause the transfer of fractional shares by certain Shareholders to other Shareholders so as most expediently to preclude or remove any fractional share holdings, and cause the transferees of such fractional shares to pay the transferors of such fractional shares the fair value thereof, and the Board is hereby authorized to act in connection with such transfer as agent for the transferors and transferees of any such fractional shares, with full power of substitution, for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Article 5.3.
6. Transfer of Shares
6.1. Registration of Transfer
6.1.1. No transfer of shares shall be registered in the Register of Shareholders unless one of the following conditions has been met:
6.1.1.1. a proper writing or instrument of transfer (in any customary form or any other form satisfactory to the Board) signed by the transferee and the transferor, together with the share certificate(s) and such other evidence of title as the Board may reasonably require, were submitted to the Company, and the relevant provisions in these Articles to effect a transfer of shares have been fully complied with. Until the transferee has been registered in the Register of Shareholders in respect of the shares so transferred, the Company may continue to regard the transferor as the owner thereof.
6.1.1.2. the Company received a court order requiring the change in the Register of Shareholders.
6.1.1.3. the Company received proof that the legal requirements for the assignment of rights to any Shares were fulfilled.
6.1.1.4. the occurrence of a condition that is sufficient, under these Articles, to effect the change in the Register of Shareholders.
6.2. Decedent’s Shares
6.2.1. In case of a share registered in the names of two or more holders, the Company may recognize the survivor(s) as the sole owner(s) thereof unless and until the provisions of Article 6.2.2 have been effectively invoked.
6.2.2. Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of any person, upon producing evidence of the grant of probate or letters of administration or order of inheritance (or such other evidence as the Board may reasonably deem sufficient), shall be registered as a Shareholder in respect of such share, or may, subject to the regulations as to transfer herein contained, transfer such share.
6.3. Receivers and Liquidators
6.3.1. The Company may recognize any receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed to wind up, dissolve or otherwise liquidate a corporate Shareholder, and a trustee, manager, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed in bankruptcy or in connection with the reorganization of, or similar proceeding with respect to a Shareholder or its properties, as being entitled to the shares registered in the name of such Shareholder.
6.3.2. Such receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed to wind up, dissolve or otherwise liquidate a corporate Shareholder, and such trustee, manager, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed in bankruptcy or in connection with the reorganization of, or similar proceeding with respect to,
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a Shareholder or its properties, upon producing such evidence as the Board may deem sufficient as to his authority to act in such capacity or under this Article, shall with the consent of the Board (which the Board may grant or refuse in its absolute discretion) be registered as a Shareholder in respect of such shares, or may, subject to the regulations as to transfer contained in these Articles, transfer such shares.
7. Limitation of Liability
The liability of each Shareholder shall be limited to the payment of the nominal value of its shares or the subscription price paid for such shares, if greater than the nominal value. If the Company issues shares for consideration that is less than the nominal value of such shares, in accordance with, the terms and conditions set forth in Section 304 of the Companies Law, then the liability of each such Shareholder shall be governed by the terms of Section 304 of the Companies Law.
8. Amendments to the Articles
The Company may amend these Articles by resolution adopted by the Shareholders by a regular majority of Shareholders present at the General or Special Meeting entitled to vote. The Company shall not amend the Articles in a manner that adversely affects the rights of a Shareholder without obtaining the consent of all Shareholders that are adversely affected by such modification. For the avoidance of doubt, any amendment that affects all the Shareholders in the same manner shall not be deemed to constitute a modification of rights associated with specific shares.
9. General Meetings
9.1. The Powers of the General Meeting
The following matters of the Company shall be decided in a General Meeting of Shareholders:
9.1.1. Amendment of these Articles.
9.1.2. Exercise of the powers vested in the Board in the event that the Board is unable to exercise such powers, as provided in Section 52(a) of the Companies Law.
9.1.3. Appointment and termination of the Company’s auditors.
9.1.4. Approval of actions and transactions that are required pursuant to Sections 254 and 255, and 270 through 275, of the Companies Law.
9.1.5. Increase and reduction of the authorized share capital of the Company in accordance with Sections 286 and 287 of the Companies Law.
9.1.6. Approval of a merger in accordance with Section 320(a) of the Companies Law.
9.1.7. Discussion of the financial statements at an Annual Meeting (as defined below).
9.1.8. Appointment of Outside Directors in accordance with Section 239(b) of the Companies Law.
9.2. Annual Meetings and Special Meetings
9.2.1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held at least once in every calendar year (within a period of not more than 15 months after the last preceding Annual General Meeting), at such time and at such place as determined by the Board. Such Annual General Meetings shall be referred to as “Annual Meetings”. Any other Shareholders meetings shall be referred to as “Special Meetings”.
9.2.2. The agenda at an Annual Meeting shall include a discussion of the annual financial statements of the Company and of the report submitted by the Board that shall include explanations concerning the various events that had an influence on the financial statements.
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9.3. Convening a General Meeting
9.3.1. The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, convene a Special Meeting, at such time and place as may be determined by the Board, and shall be obliged to do so upon the receipt of a written request from (i) either 2 directors or 25% of the directors then in office, (ii) a Shareholder or group of Shareholders that holds at least 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company and at least 1% of the voting rights in the Company, or a Shareholder or group of Shareholders that holds at least 5% of the voting rights in the Company, as provided in Section 63 of the Companies Law.
9.3.2. Notice of a General Meeting shall be delivered to Shareholders entitled to receive such notice in the manner and to the extent required by the Companies Law and any regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company shall make copies of its annual financial statements available for inspection by the Shareholders at the principal offices of the Company. The Company shall not be required to send copies of its annual financial statements to Shareholders, except upon request.
9.3.3. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to any Shareholder or Shareholders, or the non -receipt of notice sent to such Shareholder, shall not invalidate the proceedings at such meeting.
9.4. Proceedings at a General Meeting
9.4.1. The Agenda : The agenda for a General Meeting shall be determined by the Board, and shall include (i) in the case of a Special Meeting, the matters for which the Special Meeting was convened pursuant to Section 63 of the Companies Law, and (ii) matters requested by a Shareholder or Shareholders holding not less than (1%) of the voting rights in the General Meeting, provided that such proposed matter is appropriate for discussion in a General Meeting. Only resolutions on matters that are specified in the agenda shall be adopted at such Special Meeting.
9.4.2. Quorum:
9.4.2.1. No business shall be transacted at a General Meeting unless a legal quorum is present, and no resolution may be passed unless a legal quorum is present at the time such resolution is voted upon.
9.4.2.2. In the absence of a contrary provision in these Articles or in the Companies Law, two or more Shareholders, present in person or by proxy and holding shares conferring in the aggregate at least one third of the outstanding voting power of the Company shall constitute a legal quorum at General Meetings.
9.4.2.3. If within half an hour from the time scheduled for a General Meeting a legal quorum is not present, the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place, or to such other day and at such other time and other place as the Board may determine in a notice to the Shareholders. If within half an hour from the time scheduled for the adjourned meeting a legal quorum is not present, then any two Shareholders entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a legal quorum for such adjourned meeting and shall be entitled to resolve any matters on the agenda of the meeting.
9.4.3. Chairman : The Chairman of the Board shall preside at every General Meeting of the Company and shall be appointed as the Chairman of the General Meeting. If a Chairman of the Board was not appointed, or if the Chairman of the Board is not present within 15 minutes after the time scheduled for the meeting or is unwilling to take the chair, the Shareholders present shall choose someone of their number to be the chairman of such meeting. The office of Chairman of a General Meeting shall not, by itself, entitle the holder to vote at any General Meeting nor shall it grant him a second or casting vote (without derogating, however, from the right of such Chairman to vote as a shareholder or proxy of a shareholder if, in fact, he is also a shareholder or such proxy).
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9.4.4. Power to Adjourn : The Chairman of a General Meeting at which a quorum is present may, with the consent of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented in person or by proxy and voting on the question of adjournment, and shall if so directed by the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business that might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
9.4.5. Voting Power : Every matter submitted to the General Meeting shall be decided by a vote. Any vote in a General Meeting shall be conducted in accordance with the voting rights that each Shareholder is entitled to in accordance with the number of shares granting voting rights that are held by such Shareholder.
9.4.6. Adoption of Resolutions at General Meetings : Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and to Article 8 above, a resolution proposed at any General Meeting shall be deemed adopted if approved by a majority of the voting shares represented at such meeting in person or by proxy. A declaration by the Chairman of the General Meeting that a resolution has been carried unanimously, or carried by a particular majority, or defeated, and an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of or against such resolution.
9.5. Resolutions in Writing.
A resolution in writing signed by the Shareholders holding at such time all the issued shares having the right to vote at General Meetings, or to which all such Shareholders had agreed to in writing (by letter, telegram, email, telex, facsimile or otherwise), shall have the same force, for any purpose whatsoever, as if unanimously adopted by a General Meeting duly convened and held.
9.6. Voting Rights and Proxies
9.6.1. No Shareholder shall be entitled to vote in any General Meeting (or be counted as a part of the quorum) unless he fully paid any amounts due, whether with or without any demand for payment for his shares.
9.6.2. In the absence of contrary provisions in these Articles or in any condition or term annexed to any shares of any class, each Shareholder participating in a General Meeting shall have one vote for each share giving a right to vote in a General Meeting that is held by such Shareholder.
9.6.3. If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, the vote of the person first registered in the Register of Shareholders shall be accepted to the exclusion of the vote(s) of the other joint holder(s).
9.6.4. A company or other corporate body being a Shareholder of the Company may duly authorize any person to be its representative at any General Meeting or to authorize or deliver a proxy on its behalf. Any person so authorized shall be entitled to exercise on behalf of such Shareholder all the power that the latter could have exercised if it were a natural person. Upon the request of the Chairman of the meeting, written evidence of such authorization (in form acceptable to the Chairman of the meeting) shall be delivered to him.
9.6.5. Any Shareholder entitled to vote may vote either in person or by ballot, as provided in Sections 87 to 89 of the Companies Law or by proxy (and the proxy need not be a Shareholder) or, if the Shareholder is a company or other corporate body, by a representative authorized pursuant to Article 9.6.4. The Board of Directors may determine, in its discretion, the matters that may be voted upon by ballot, in accordance with Section 87(a)(4) of the Companies Law.
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9.6.6. Instrument of Appointment : An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be substantially in the following form:
“I_____________________ of ________________________
(Name of Shareholder) (Address of Shareholder)
being a Shareholder of Cyren Ltd. hereby appoint
_______________________of_________________________
(Name of Proxy) (Address of Proxy)
as my proxy to vote for me and on my behalf at the General Meeting of the Company to be held on the ____ day of _____________, ______ and at any adjournment(s) thereof.
Signed this ______ day of _______, _______,
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(Signature of Appointer)” |
or in any usual or common form or in such other form as may be approved by the Board. Such proxy shall be duly signed by the appointor or such person’s duly authorized attorney or, if such appointor is a company or other corporate body, under its common seal or stamp or the hand of its duly authorized agent(s) or attorney(s) in accordance with its constitutional documents.
9.6.7. The instrument appointing a proxy (and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which such instrument has been signed) shall either be delivered to the Company (at its principal place of business or at the offices of its registrar or transfer agent, or at such place as the Board may specify) not less than 24 hours before the time fixed for the meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote, or presented to the Chairman at such General Meeting. An instrument appointing a proxy that is not limited in time shall expire 12 months after the date of its execution. If the appointment shall be for a specified period, whether in excess of 12 months or not, the instrument shall be valid for the period stated therein.
9.6.8. A vote cast in accordance with an instrument appointing a proxy shall be valid despite the prior death or bankruptcy of the appointing Shareholder (or of his attorney -in-fact , if any, who signed such instrument), or the transfer of the share in respect of which the vote is cast, unless written notice of such matters shall have been received by the Company or by the Chairman of such General Meeting prior to such vote being cast.
9.6.9. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed revoked (i) upon receipt by the Company of an instrument or written notice signed by the person who signed such instrument or by the Shareholder appointing such proxy canceling the appointment thereunder (or the authority pursuant to which such instrument was signed) or of an instrument appointing a different proxy, provided such notice of cancellation or instrument appointing a different proxy were so received at the place and within the time for delivery of the instrument revoked thereby as referred to in Article 9.6.7, or (ii) if the appointing Shareholder is present in person at the meeting for which such instrument of proxy was delivered, upon receipt by the Chairman of such meeting of written notice from such Shareholder of the revocation of such appointment, or if and when such Shareholder votes at such meeting. A vote cast in accordance with an instrument appointing a proxy shall be valid despite the revocation or purported cancellation of the appointment, or the presence in person or vote of the appointing Shareholder at a meeting for which it was rendered, unless such instrument of appointment was deemed revoked in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Article 9.6.9 at or prior to the time such vote was cast.
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10. The Board of Directors
10.1. Number of Directors
The Board shall be comprised of up to eleven (11) directors, including the outside directors (to the extent applicable).
10.2. Election and Removal of Directors
Directors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented at such meeting in person or by proxy and voting on the election of directors, and each Director shall serve, subject to Article 10.8 hereof, and with respect to a Director appointed pursuant to Article 10.4 hereof subject to such Article, until the Annual General Meeting next following the Annual General Meeting or General Meeting at which such Director was elected pursuant to this Article or Article 10.4 hereof and until his successor is elected, or until his earlier removal pursuant to this Article 10.2. The holders of a majority of the voting power represented at a General Meeting in person or by proxy and voting thereon at such meeting shall be entitled to remove any Director(s) from office, to elect Directors instead of Directors so removed or to fill any vacancy, however created (including any position to which a director was not elected), in the Board. In the case of an outside director or any other director for whom the Companies Law prescribes a different method of election or removal from that specified above, the provisions of the Companies Law shall govern.
10.3. Qualification of Directors
No person or entity shall be disqualified to serve as a director or an Alternate Director by reason of his not holding shares in the Company or by reason of his having served as a director in the past.
10.4. Continuing Directors in the Event of Vacancies
In the event of one or more vacancies in the Board of Directors, the remaining Directors may continue to act in every matter and, pending the filling of any vacancy pursuant to the provisions of Article 10.2, may appoint Directors to fill any such vacancy temporarily; provided, however, that if they number less than a majority of the number determined pursuant to Article 10.1 of these Articles, they may act only in an emergency or to fill the office of Director that has become vacant up to the minimum number or in order to call a General Meeting of the Company for the purpose of electing Directors to fill any or all vacancies, so that at least a majority of the number of Directors determined pursuant to Article 10.1 are in office as a result of such meeting.
10.5. Remuneration of Directors
A Director shall be paid remuneration by the Company for his services as a Director, to the extent such remuneration shall have been approved by a General Meeting of the Company.
10.6. Conflict of Interests
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, no Director shall be disqualified by virtue of his office from holding any office or relationship of profit with the Company or with any company in which the Company shall be a shareholder or have another interest, or from contracting with the Company as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract, or any contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall in any way be interested, be avoided, nor, other than as required under the Companies Law, shall any Director be liable to account to the Company for any profit arising from any such office or relationship of profit or realized from such contract or arrangement by reason only of such Director’s holding that office or of the fiduciary relations thereby established, but the nature of his interest, as well as any material fact or document, must be disclosed by him at the meeting of the Board of Directors at which the contract or arrangement is first considered, if his interest then exists, or in any other case no later than the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the acquisition of his interest.
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10.7. Alternate Directors
10.7.1. A Director may, by written notice to the Company given in the manner set forth in Article 10.7.2 below, appoint any individual (whether or not such person is then a member of the Board of Directors) as an alternate for himself (in these Articles referred to as an “ Alternate Director ”), remove such Alternate Director and appoint another Alternate Director in place of any Alternate Director appointed by him whose office has been vacated for any reason. Unless the appointing Director, by the instrument appointing an Alternate Director or by written notice to the Company, limits such appointment to a specified period of time or restricts it to a specified meeting or action of the Board of Directors, or otherwise restricts its scope, the appointment shall be for all purposes, and for a period of time, concurrent with the term of the appointing Director.
10.7.2. Any notice to the Company pursuant to Article 10.7.1 shall be given in person to, or by sending the same by mail to the attention of, the Chairman of the Board of the Company at the principal office of the Company or to such other person or place as the Board shall have determined for such purpose, and shall become effective on the date fixed therein, or upon the receipt thereof by the Company at the place specified above, whichever is later.
10.7.3. An Alternate Director shall have all the rights and obligations of a director; provided, however, that (i) an Alternate Director shall have no standing at any meeting of the Board or any Committee of the Board while the director for whom such Alternate Director was appointed is present; (ii) he may not in turn appoint an alternate for himself (unless the instrument appointing him otherwise expressly provides); and (iii) the Alternate Director is not entitled to remuneration.
10.7.4. The office of an Alternate Director shall be vacated under the circumstances, mutatis mutandis, set forth in Article 10.8, and such office shall ipso facto be vacated if the director for whom the Alternate Director was appointed ceases to be a director.
10.8. Termination of Office
Without derogating from any law, the office of a director shall automatically be vacated, ipso facto, prior the end of the term of his appointment upon the following:
10.8.1. Upon resignation, which shall become effective on the date a written notice of such resignation is delivered to the Company, or a later date specified in the notice.
10.8.2. If convicted of a felony, as provided in Section 232 of the Companies Law.
10.8.3. Pursuant to a court’s decision, as provided in Section 233 of the Companies Law.
10.8.4. Upon death or when declared bankrupt.
10.8.5. If he be found lunatic or becomes of unsound mind.
10.8.6. At the time of giving notice pursuant to Section 227A or 245A of the Companies Law.
10.8.7. If he is removed from his office by way of a resolution, adopted by the General Meeting, even prior to the completion of his term of office.
10.8.8. If his term is terminated by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 231 of the Companies Law.
10.9. No Corporate Director
A corporation will not be qualified to act as a director.
10.10. Chairman of the Board of Directors
The Board may from time to time elect one of its members to be Chairman of the Board, remove such Chairman from office, and appoint another in his place. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at every
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meeting of the Board, but if there is no such Chairman, or if at any meeting the Chairman is not present within 15 minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as Chairman, the Directors present shall choose someone of their number to be chairman of such meeting. The Chairman will not have any casting or additional vote by reason of his position as Chairman of the Board.
10.11. Powers of the Board and Delegation of Powers
10.11.1. The determination of the policy of the business of the Company and the supervision on the performance of the General Manager of the Company shall be vested in the Board, which may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as the Company is authorized to exercise and do and which are not required by law or these Articles to be done by the Company by action of its Shareholders at a General Meeting. The authority conferred on the Board by this Article shall be subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, these Articles and any resolution consistent with these Articles adopted from time to time by the Company at a General Meeting; provided, however, that no such resolution shall invalidate any prior act done by or pursuant to a decision of the Board that would have been valid if such resolution had not been adopted.
10.11.2. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Board may from time to time, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person, company, firm or body of persons to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company at law or in fact for such purpose(s) and with such powers, authorities and discretions, and for such period and subject to such conditions, as it deems fit, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Board deems fit, and may also authorize any such attorney to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.
10.12. Proceedings of the Board
10.12.1. Meetings
10.12.1.1. The Board may meet and adjourn its meetings and otherwise regulate such meetings and proceedings in accordance with the Company’s needs; provided, however, that the Board must meet at least once every 3 months.
10.12.1.2. The Chairman of the Board may convene a meeting of the Board at any time, and shall be required to convene a meeting to be held not later than 14 days following a request by any Director of the Company; provided, that in the event that a meeting is convened under the circumstances described in Section 122(d), 169 or 257 of the Companies Law, the meeting of the Board shall be convened without delay.
Notice of any such meeting shall be given by telephone or by mail, email, telex, telegram or facsimile or other form of electronic communication, a reasonable time before the meeting.
10.12.2. Failure to Deliver Notices : Despite anything to the contrary in these Articles, failure to deliver notice to a Director of any such meeting may be waived by such Director, and a meeting shall be deemed to have been duly convened despite such defective notice if such failure or defect is waived prior to action being taken at such meeting by all Directors entitled to participate and vote in such meeting to whom notice was not duly given.
10.12.3. Board Meetings by Means of Telecommunication : A meeting of the Board may be conducted by using any communication device, provided that all directors participating in such meeting can simultaneously hear each other.
10.12.4. Quorum : No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the Board unless the requisite legal quorum is present (by means provided under Articles 10.12.3) when the meeting proceeds to business. Until otherwise decided by the Board, a legal quorum at a meeting of the Board shall be
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constituted by the presence (by means provided under Article 10.12.4) of a majority of the number of directors then in office.
10.12.5. Exercise of Powers of the Board : A resolution proposed at any meeting of the Board shall be deemed adopted if approved by a majority of the Directors present when such resolution is put to a vote and voting thereon.
10.12.6. The Agenda : The agenda for a meeting of the Board shall be determined by the Chairman of the Board, and shall include matters determined by the Chairman of the Board, matters for which a meeting of the Board was convened pursuant to Article 10.12.1.2, and any matter requested by a director or the General Manager at least 3 days before the meeting.
10.13. Resolutions in Writing
A resolution in writing signed all the directors then in office and lawfully entitled to vote thereon, or to which all the directors have given their written consent (by letter, email, telegram, telex, facsimile or otherwise) shall be deemed to have been unanimously adopted by a meeting of the Board duly convened and held.
10.14. Audit Committee
10.14.1. The Board shall appoint an Audit Committee that shall be composed of at least three members of the Board. All outside directors of the Company shall be members of the Audit Committee and the majority of the Audit Committee members will be independent directors (as such term is defined in the Companies Law). The Chairman of the Board, any director that is employed by the Company or who provides the Company with services on a regular basis, and any controlling shareholder (or a relative of a controlling shareholder) may not be members of the Audit Committee.
10.14.2. The Audit Committee shall have the duties set forth in Section 117 of the Companies Law.
10.14.3. Approval by the majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall be deemed approval of the Audit Committee.
10.15. Committees of the Board
10.15.1. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers to committees, each consisting of two or more persons who are directors, and it may from time to time revoke such delegation or alter the composition of any such committee. Any committee so formed (in these Articles referred to as a “Committee of the Board” ) shall, in the exercise of the powers so delegated, conform to any regulations imposed on it by the Board. The meetings and proceedings of any such Committee of the Board shall, mutatis mutandis, be governed by the provisions of these Articles that regulate the meetings of the Board. Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board in delegating powers to a Committee of the Board, such Committee shall not be empowered to further delegate such powers.
10.15.2. The Board may revoke any resolution of any Committee of the Board; provided, however, that any such revocation shall not detract from the validity of any transaction entered into with a person that did not know of such revocation.
10.16. Validity of Acts Despite Defects
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, all acts done bona fide at any meeting of the Board, or of a Committee of the Board, or by any person(s) acting as Director(s), shall, even if it is subsequently discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of the participants in such meeting or any of them or any person(s) acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if there were no such defect or disqualification.
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11. General Manager
11.1. The Board shall from time to time appoint one or more persons, whether or not Directors, as General Manager or General Managers, and may confer upon such person(s), and from time to time modify, or revoke such title(s) and such duties and authorities as the Board may deem fit, subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Board may from time to time prescribe. Such appointment(s) may be either for a fixed term or without any limitation of time, and the Board may from time to time (subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and of any contract between any such person and the Company) fix his, her or their salaries and emoluments, remove or dismiss such persons from office and appoint another or others in their place.
11.2. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the General Manager shall have the authority with respect to the day to day management of the Company in the ordinary course of business, in the framework of, and subject to, the policy, guidelines and instructions of the Board from time to time.
11.3. The General Manager shall have all the management and implementation authorities that are not expressly delegated in the Articles or by the Companies Law, to another organ of the Company, and will be subject to the supervision of the Board.
11.4. The General Manager may, with the consent of the Board, delegate certain of his duties to another person who is subject to his supervision.
11.5. The General Manager shall notify the Chairman of the Board of any unusual event that is material to the Company; if the office of Chairman of the Board is vacant, or the Chairman of the Board refuses or is unable to act, such notification shall be made to all the Directors then in office.
11.6. The General Manager shall periodically furnish the Board with reports in matters, times and format determined by the Board from time to time. When a notification or report of the General Manager require the performance of an action by the Board, then a Board meeting shall be convened without delay.
11.7. The remuneration payable to the General Manager for his services shall be fixed from time to time (subject to any contract between the General Manager and the Company) by the Board, and may be fixed as a regular salary, commission on dividends, profits or revenues of the Company or of any other company in which the Company has an interest, or by participation in the Company’s profits, combined or separately.
12. Register of Shareholders
The Company shall maintain a Register of Shareholders in which the following shall be recorded:
12.1. The name, identification card number (if any) and address of every Shareholder, as such details were provided to the Company;
12.2. The number of shares and the particular class of Shares owned by each Shareholder, noting the nominal value of such shares, if applicable, and in case the payment for any shares was not fully satisfied, the unpaid amount.
12.3. The date on which the shares were issued or transferred to any Shareholder, as the case may be.
12.4. If the shares were serially numbered, the Company will note next to the name of each Shareholder the serial numbers of the shares held by such Shareholder.
12.5. As for “Dormant Shares” (as defined in Section 308 of the Companies Law), if any, the Register of Shareholders shall state the exact number of Dormant Shares and the date on which such shares became “Dormant Shares”.
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12.6. A Shareholder holding shares as a trustee shall be recorded in the Register of Shareholder with a note of the trusteeship, and the Company shall be entitled to treat such person as the Shareholder in all respects.
12.7. The details of the Company’s nominee company ( hevra lerishumim ), to the extent the Company chooses to include it in the Register of Shareholders.
13. Auditors
13.1. The Company shall appoint one or more certified public accountants to audit, and provide a report on, the annual financial statements of the Company (the “Auditors” ).
13.2. The appointment, authorities, duties, responsibilities, rights, remuneration and powers of the Auditors shall be fixed by applicable law and under these Articles. The General Meeting shall have the power to appoint the Auditors for the maximum time period provided under the Companies Law.
13.3. The Board shall cause accurate books of account to be kept in accordance with the provisions of any applicable law. Such books of account shall be kept at the principal office of the Company, or at such other place or places as the Board may deem fit, and they shall always be open to inspection by all Directors.
14. Share Certificates
14.1. Share certificates shall be issued under the corporate seal of the Company (or facsimile thereof) and shall bear the signature (or facsimile thereof) of two Directors, or the signatures of a Director and the secretary of the Company, specifically authorized by the Board for this purpose.
14.2. Each Shareholder shall be entitled to one numbered certificate for all the shares of any class registered in his name, and if the Board so approves, to several certificates, each for one or more of such shares. Each certificate shall specify the serial numbers of the shares represented thereby and may also specify the amount paid up thereon.
14.3. A share certificate registered in the names of two or more persons shall be delivered to the person first named in the Register of Shareholders in respect of such co -ownership .
14.4. A share certificate that has been defaced, lost or destroyed may be replaced, and the Company shall issue a new certificate to replace such defaced, lost or destroyed certificate upon payment of such fee, and upon the furnishing of such evidence of ownership and such indemnity, as the Board in its discretion deems fit.
15. Registered Holder
Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, the Company shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of each share as the absolute owner thereof, and accordingly shall not, except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or as required by statute, be obligated to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person.
16. Calls on Shares
16.1. The Board may, from time to time, as it in its discretion deems fit, make calls for payment upon Shareholders in respect of any sum that has not been paid up in respect of shares held by such Shareholder and which is not, pursuant to the terms of allotment or issuance of such shares or otherwise, payable at a fixed time. Each Shareholder shall pay the amount of every call so made upon him (and of each installment thereof if the same is payable in installments), to the person(s) and at the time(s) designated by the Board, as any such time(s) may subsequently be extended or such person(s) or place(s) changed. Unless otherwise stipulated in the resolution of the Board (and in the notice referred to below), each payment in response to a call shall be deemed to constitute
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a pro rata payment on account of all the shares of the Shareholder making payment in respect of which such call was made.
16.2. Notice of any call for payment by a Shareholder shall be given in writing to such Shareholder not less than 14 days prior to the time of payment fixed in such notice, and shall specify the time and place of payment, and the person to whom such payment is to be made. Prior to the time for any such payment fixed in a notice of a call given to a member, the Board may in its absolute discretion, by notice in writing to such Shareholder, revoke such call in whole or in part, extend the time fixed for payment of such call or designate a different place of payment or person to whom payment is to be made. In the event of a call payable in installments, only one notice thereof need be given.
16.3. If pursuant to the terms of allotment or issuance of a share, or otherwise, an amount is made payable at a fixed time (whether on account of such share or by way of premium), such amount shall be payable at such time as if it were payable by virtue of a call made by the Board of Directors and for which notice was given in accordance with this Article, and the provisions of these Articles with regard to calls (and the non -payment thereof) shall be applicable to such amount (and the non -payment thereof).
16.4. Joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls for payment in respect of such share and all interest payable thereon.
16.5. Any amount called for payment that is not paid when due shall bear interest from the date fixed for payment until actual payment, at such rate (not exceeding the legal rate under any applicable law) and payable at such time(s) as the Board may prescribe. The Board may waive any payment of such interest under this Article.
16.6. With the consent of the Board, any Shareholder may pay to the Company any amount not yet payable in respect of his shares, and the Board may approve the payment by the Company of interest on any such amount until the same would be payable if it had not been paid in advance, at such rate and time(s) as may be approved by the Board. The Board may at any time cause the Company to repay all or any part of the money so advanced, without premium or penalty. Nothing in this Article shall derogate from the right of the Board to make any call for payment before or after receipt by the Company of any such advance.
17. Forfeiture and Surrender
17.1. If any Shareholder fails to pay an amount payable by virtue of a call, or interest thereon as provided for in accordance with these Articles, on or before the day fixed for payment of the same, the Board may at any time after the day fixed for such payment, so long as such amount or any portion thereof remains unpaid, forfeit all or any of the shares in respect of which such payment was called for. All expenses incurred by the Company in attempting to collect any such amount or interest thereon, including without limitation attorney’s fees and costs of legal proceedings, shall be added to, and shall for all purposes (including the accrual of interest thereon) constitute a part of, the amount payable to the Company in respect of such call.
17.2. Upon the adoption of a resolution as to the forfeiture of a Shareholder’s shares, the Board shall cause notice thereof to be given to such Shareholder, which notice shall state that, in the event of the failure to pay the entire amount so payable by a date specified in the notice (which date shall be not less than 14 days after the date such notice is given and which may be extended by the Board), such shares shall ipso facto be forfeited; provided, however that prior to such date the Board may nullify such resolution of forfeiture, but no such nullification shall estop the Board from adopting a further resolution of forfeiture in respect of the non -payment of the same amount.
17.3. Without derogating from any of the provisions of this Article 17, whenever shares are forfeited as herein provided, all dividends, if any, theretofore declared in respect thereof and not actually paid, shall be deemed to have been forfeited at the same time.
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17.4. Any share forfeited or surrendered as provided herein shall become the property of the Company, and the same, subject to the provisions of these Articles, may be sold, re -allotted or otherwise disposed of as the Board deems fit. From the date of forfeiture until the date such forfeited shares are sold, re -allotted or otherwise disposed of, such forfeited shares shall be deemed “Dormant Shares” as defined in Section 308 of the Companies Law.
17.5. Any Shareholder whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited or surrendered shares, but shall nonetheless be liable to pay, and shall promptly pay, to the Company all calls, interest and expenses owing upon or in respect of such shares at the time of forfeiture or surrender, together with interest thereon from the time of forfeiture or surrender until actual payment at the rate prescribed in this Article 17, and the Board, in its discretion, may enforce the payment of such moneys or any part thereof. In the event of such forfeiture or surrender, the Company, by resolution of the Board, may accelerate the date(s) of payment of any or all amounts then owing to the Company by the Shareholder in question (but not yet due) in respect of all shares owned by such Shareholder, solely or jointly with another.
17.6. The Board may at any time, before any share so forfeited or surrendered shall have been sold, re -allotted or otherwise disposed of, nullify the forfeiture or surrender on such conditions as it deems fit, but no such nullification shall estop the Board from re -exercising its powers of forfeiture pursuant to this Article 17.
17.7. If pursuant to the terms of allotment or issuance of a share, or otherwise, an amount is made payable at a fixed time (whether on account of such share or by way of premium), such amount shall be payable at such time as if it were payable by virtue of a call made by the Board and for which notice was given in accordance with this Article, and the provisions of these Article shall be applicable to such amount as if a call was given at the date fixed for payment.
17.8. Except to the extent that the same may be waived or subordinated in writing, the Company shall have a first and paramount lien upon all the shares registered in the name of each Shareholder (without regard to any equitable or other claim or interest in such shares on the part of any other person), and upon the proceeds of the sale thereof, for his debts, liabilities and obligations to the Company arising from any amount payable by such Shareholder in respect of any unpaid or partly paid share, whether or not such debt, liability or obligation has matured. Such lien shall extend to all dividends from time to time declared or paid in respect of such share. Unless otherwise provided, the registration by the Company of a transfer of shares shall be deemed to be a waiver on the part of the Company of any lien existing on such shares immediately prior to such transfer.
17.9. The Board may cause the Company to sell a share subject to such a lien when the debt, liability or obligation giving rise to such lien has matured, in such manner as the Board deems fit, but no such sale shall be made unless such debt, liability or obligation has not been satisfied within 14 days after written notice of the intention to sell shall have been served on such Shareholder, his executors or administrators.
17.10. The net proceeds of any such sale, after payment of the costs thereof, shall be applied in or toward satisfaction of the debts, liabilities or obligations of such Shareholder in respect of such share (whether or not the same have matured), and any residue shall be paid to the Shareholder, his executors, administrators or assigns.
17.11. Upon any sale of a share after forfeiture or surrender or for enforcing a lien, the Board may appoint any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the share so sold and cause the purchaser’s name to be entered in the Register of Shareholders in respect of such share. The purchaser shall be registered as the shareholder and shall not be bound to see to the regularity of the sale proceedings or to the application of the proceeds of such sale, and after his name has been entered in the Register of Shareholders in respect of such share, the validity of the sale shall not be
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impeached by any person, and the remedy of any person aggrieved by the sale shall be in damages only and against the Company exclusively.
18. Insurance, Indemnification and Exculpation
The Company may insure, indemnify and exculpate its Office Holders (as such term is defined in the Companies Law) to the fullest extent permitted by law, from time to time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
18.1. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company may enter into a contract for the insurance of its Office Holders, for actions or omissions done in their capacity as Office Holders, in whole or in part, against any of the following:
18.1.1. breach of the duty of care owed to the Company or a third party;
18.1.2. breach of the fiduciary duty owed to the Company, provided that the Office Holder acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to believe that his action would not harm the Company’s interests;
18.1.3. monetary liability imposed on the Office Holder in favor of a third party; and
18.1.4. reasonable litigation expenses, including attorney fees, incurred by the Office Holder as a result of an administrative enforcement proceeding instituted against him. Without derogating from the generality of the foregoing, such expenses will include a payment imposed on the Office Holder in favor of an injured party as set forth in Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Israel Securities Law, 5728 -1968 , as amended (the “Securities Law”), and expenses that the Office Holder incurred in connection with a proceeding under Chapters H’3, H’4 or I’1 of the Securities Law, including reasonable legal expenses, which term includes attorney fees.
18.2. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company is entitled retroactively to indemnify any Office Holder, or provide a prior undertaking to indemnify an Office Holder to the fullest extent permitted by law, where such prior undertaking is limited to categories of events that the Board believes are foreseeable in light of the Company’s activities on the date of grant of the undertaking to indemnify, and to an amount or in accordance with guidelines determined by the Board to be reasonable in the circumstances (and such undertaking includes the categories of events that the Board believes are foreseeable in light of the Company’s activities on the date of grant of the undertaking to indemnify and to an amount or in accordance with guidelines determined by the Board to be reasonable in the circumstances), for any of the following events:
18.2.1. monetary liability imposed on an Office Holder in favor of a third party in a judgment, including a settlement or an arbitral award confirmed by a court, for an act that such Office Holder performed by virtue of his being an Office Holder of the Company;
18.2.2. reasonable legal costs, including attorney’s fees, expended by an Office Holder as a result of i) an investigation or proceeding instituted against the Office Holder by a competent authority, provided that such investigation or proceeding concludes without the filing of an indictment against the Office Holder and either (A) no financial liability was imposed on the Office Holder in lieu of criminal proceedings, or (B) financial liability was imposed on the Office Holder in lieu of criminal proceedings but the alleged criminal offense does not require proof of criminal intent and ii) in connection with an administrative enforcement proceeding or a financial sanction. Without derogating from the generality of the foregoing, such expenses will include a payment imposed on the Office Holder in favor of an injured party as set forth in Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Securities Law, and expenses that the Office Holder incurred in connection with a proceeding under Chapters H’3, H’4 or I’1 of the Securities Law, including reasonable legal expenses, which term includes attorney fees; and
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18.2.3. reasonable costs of litigation, including attorney’s fees, expended by an Office Holder or for which an Office Holder has been charged by a court, in an action brought against the Office Holder by or on behalf of the Company or a third party, or in a criminal action in which an Office Holder was found innocent, or in a criminal offense in which an Office Holder was convicted and in which a proof of criminal intent is not required.
18.2.4. for any other liability, obligation or expense indemnifiable or which may from time to time be indemnifiable by law.
18.3. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company may exculpate an Office Holder in advance from liability, or any part of liability, for damages sustained by a breach of duty of care to the Company.
18.4. The provisions of Article 18 are not intended, and shall not be interpreted, to restrict the Company in any manner in respect of the procurement of insurance or in respect of indemnification (i) in connection with any person who is not an Office Holder, including, without limitation, any employee, agent, consultant or contractor of the Company who is not an Office Holder, or (ii) in connection with any Office Holder to the extent that such insurance and/or indemnification is not specifically prohibited under law; provided that the procurement of any such insurance or the provision of any such indemnification shall be approved by the Board and, to the extent required pursuant to the Companies Law, the Shareholders.
18.5. Any amendment to the Companies Law, the Securities Law or any other applicable law, statute or rule adversely affecting the right of any Office Holder to be indemnified or insured pursuant to Article 18 shall be prospective in effect, and shall not affect the Company’s obligation or ability to indemnify or insure an Office Holder for any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, unless otherwise provided by the Companies Law, the Securities Law or such other applicable law, statute or rule.
19. Dividends
19.1. No dividend shall be paid otherwise than in accordance with Chapter 2 of Part 7 of the Companies Law.
19.2. Subject to the rights of Shareholders as to dividends, any dividend paid by the Company shall be allocated among the Shareholders entitled thereto, in proportion to the sums paid up or credited as paid up on account of the nominal value of their respective holdings of the shares in respect of which such dividend is being paid without taking into account the premium paid up for the shares. The amount paid up on account of a share that has not yet been called for payment or fallen due for payment and upon which the Company pays interest to the shareholder shall not be deemed, for the purposes of this Article, to be a sum paid on account of the share.
19.3. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 of the Companies Law, no dividend shall be paid otherwise than out of the Profits of the Company, as defined in Section 302(b) of the Companies Law.
19.4. No dividend shall carry interest as against the Company.
19.5. Subject to the provisions of these Articles and the Companies Law, the Company may cause any moneys, investments or other assets forming part of the undivided distributable profits of the Company to be capitalized and distributed among such of the Shareholders as would be entitled to receive the same if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportion.
19.6. For the purpose of giving full effect to any resolution under this Article 19, the Board may settle any difficulty that may arise in regard to the distribution as it deems expedient, and in particular may issue fractional certificates, and may fix the value for distribution of any specific assets, and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Shareholders upon the basis of the value
17 |
so fixed, or that fractions of less value than the nominal value of one share may be disregarded in order to adjust the rights of all parties, and may vest any such cash, shares, debentures, debenture stock or specific assets in trustees upon such trusts for the persons entitled to the dividend or capitalized fund as may seem expedient to the Board.
19.7. Without derogating from this Article 19, the Board may give an instruction that shall prevent the distribution of a dividend to the holders of shares on which the full nominal amount has not been paid up.
19.8. The Board may retain any dividend or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of shares on which the Company has a lien, and may apply the same in or toward satisfaction of the debts, liabilities or obligations in respect of which the lien exists.
19.9. The Board may retain any dividend or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of a share in respect of which any person is, under Article 6.2 or Article 6.3, entitled to become a Shareholder, or which any person is, under such Articles, entitled to transfer, until such person shall become a Shareholder in respect of such share or shall transfer the same.
20. Minutes
20.1. Minutes of each General Meeting, of each meeting of the Board and of each meeting of a Committee of the Board shall be recorded and duly entered in books provided for that purpose, and shall be maintained by the Company at its principal office or such other place as shall be determined by the Board. Such minutes shall, in all events, set forth the name of the persons at the meeting and all resolutions adopted at the meeting.
20.2. Any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chairman of the meeting or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting, shall constitute prima facie evidence of the matters recorded therein.
21. Charitable Contributions
To the extent permitted by the Companies Law, the Company may elect to contribute reasonable amounts to worthy causes.
22. Notices
22.1. Any written notice or other document may be served by the Company upon any Shareholder either personally or by sending it by prepaid mail (airmail if sent internationally) addressed to such Shareholder’s address as it appears in the Register of Shareholders or such other address as he may have designated in writing for the receipt of notices and other documents, provided however that the Board may resolve that any such address must be located within the State of Israel.
22.2. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, notice by the Company of a General Meeting which is published in at least two daily newspapers in the State of Israel within the time otherwise required for giving notice of such meeting under Article 9.3.2 hereof and containing the information required to be set forth in such notice under such Article shall be deemed to be a notice of such meeting duly given, for purposes of these Articles, to any Shareholder whose address as registered in the Register of Shareholders is located in the State of Israel.
22.3. Any written notice or other document may be served by any Shareholder upon the Company by tendering the same in person to the Secretary or the General Manager of the Company at the principal office of the Company or by sending it by prepaid registered mail (airmail if posted internationally) to the Company at its principal office. Any such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been served when actually tendered if hand delivered, or 48 hours (7 business days if sent internationally) after it has been posted (or when actually received by the addressee if sooner). Notice sent by telegram, telex, facsimile or e -mail shall be deemed to have been served when actually received by the addressee. A notice that is defectively addressed or that otherwise
18 |
fails to comply with the provisions of this Article 22.3 shall nevertheless be deemed to have been served if and when actually received by the addressee.
22.4. All notices to be given to the Shareholders shall, with respect to any share to which such persons are jointly entitled, be given to whichever of such persons is named first in the Register of Shareholders, and any notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the holders of such share.
22.5. Any Shareholder whose address is not listed in the Register of Shareholders, and who shall not have designated in writing an address for the delivery of notices, shall not be entitled to receive any notice from the Company.
22.6. Notwithstanding any other contrary provision of these Articles, the Board may fix a date, not exceeding forty (40) days prior to the date of any General Meeting, as the date as of which shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such meetings shall be determined, and all persons who were holders of record of voting shares on such date shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting.
19 |
Exhibit 10.1
CYREN, LTD.
2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1 |
Table of Contents |
Page |
||||||
1. |
Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan |
5 |
||||
1.1 |
Establishment |
5 |
||||
1.2 |
Purpose |
5 |
||||
1.3 |
Term of Plan |
5 |
||||
2. |
Definitions and Construction |
5 |
||||
2.1 |
Definitions |
5 |
||||
2.2 |
Construction |
10 |
||||
3. |
Administration |
10 |
||||
3.1 |
Administration by the Committee |
10 |
||||
3.2 |
Authority of Officers |
10 |
||||
3.3 |
Administration with Respect to Insiders |
10 |
||||
3.4 |
Powers of the Committee |
10 |
||||
3.5 |
Option or SAR Repricing |
11 |
||||
3.6 |
Indemnification |
11 |
||||
4. |
Shares Subject to Plan |
12 |
||||
4.1 |
Maximum Number of Shares Issuable |
12 |
||||
4.2 |
Share Counting |
12 |
||||
4.3 |
Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure |
12 |
||||
4.4 |
Assumption or Substitution of Awards |
13 |
||||
5. |
Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations |
13 |
||||
5.1 |
Persons Eligible for Awards |
13 |
||||
5.2 |
Participation in the Plan |
13 |
||||
5.3 |
Incentive Stock Option Limitations |
13 |
||||
5.4 |
Awards Limit |
13 |
||||
6. |
Stock Options |
13 |
||||
6.1 |
Exercise Price |
13 |
||||
6.2 |
Exercisability and Term of Options Granted to Non-Officer and Non-Director Participant |
14 |
||||
6.3 |
Exercisability and Term of Options Granted to Officers and Directors |
14 |
||||
6.4 |
Payment of Exercise Price |
14 |
||||
6.5 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
15 |
||||
6.6 |
Transferability of Options |
16 |
||||
7. |
Stock Appreciation Rights |
16 |
||||
7.1 |
Types of SARs Authorized |
16 |
||||
7.2 |
Exercise Price |
16 |
||||
7.3 |
Exercisability and Term of SARs |
16 |
||||
7.4 |
Exercise of SARs |
17 |
||||
7.5 |
Deemed Exercise of SARs |
17 |
||||
7.6 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
17 |
||||
7.7 |
Transferability of SARs |
17 |
2 |
Table of Contents
|
Page |
||||||
8. |
Restricted Stock Awards |
17 |
||||
8.1 |
Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized |
17 |
||||
8.2 |
Purchase Price |
17 |
||||
8.3 |
Purchase Period |
18 |
||||
8.4 |
Payment of Purchase Price |
18 |
||||
8.5 |
Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer |
18 |
||||
8.6 |
Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions |
18 |
||||
8.7 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
18 |
||||
8.8 |
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights |
19 |
||||
9. |
Restricted Stock Units |
19 |
||||
9.1 |
Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards |
19 |
||||
9.2 |
Purchase Price |
19 |
||||
9.3 |
Vesting |
19 |
||||
9.4 |
Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions |
19 |
||||
9.5 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
20 |
||||
9.6 |
Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards |
20 |
||||
9.7 |
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards |
20 |
||||
9.8 |
Term of Restricted Stock Unit |
20 |
||||
10. |
Performance Awards |
20 |
||||
10.1 |
Types of Performance Awards Authorized |
20 |
||||
10.2 |
Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units |
20 |
||||
10.3 |
Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula |
21 |
||||
10.4 |
Measurement of Performance Goals |
21 |
||||
10.5 |
Settlement of Performance Awards |
21 |
||||
10.6 |
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions |
22 |
||||
10.7 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
22 |
||||
10.8 |
Nontransferability of Performance Awards |
22 |
||||
11. |
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards |
23 |
||||
11.1 |
Grant of Cash-Based Awards |
23 |
||||
11.2 |
Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards |
23 |
||||
11.3 |
Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards |
23 |
||||
11.4 |
Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards |
23 |
||||
11.5 |
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions |
23 |
||||
11.6 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
24 |
||||
11.7 |
Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards |
24 |
||||
12. |
Standard Forms of Award Agreement |
24 |
||||
12.1 |
Award Agreements |
24 |
||||
12.2 |
Authority to Vary Terms |
24 |
||||
13. |
Change in Control |
24 |
||||
13.1 |
Effect of Change in Control on Awards |
24 |
||||
14. |
Compliance with Securities Law |
25 |
3 |
Table of Contents
|
Page |
||||||
15. |
Compliance with Section 409A |
25 |
||||
15.1 |
Awards Subject to Section 409A |
25 |
||||
15.2 |
Deferral and/or Distribution Elections |
26 |
||||
15.3 |
Subsequent Elections |
26 |
||||
15.4 |
Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation |
26 |
||||
16. |
Tax Withholding |
28 |
||||
16.1 |
Tax Withholding in General |
28 |
||||
16.2 |
Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares |
28 |
||||
17. |
Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan |
28 |
||||
18. |
Miscellaneous Provisions |
29 |
||||
18.1 |
Repurchase Rights |
29 |
||||
18.2 |
Forfeiture Events |
29 |
||||
18.3 |
Provision of Information |
29 |
||||
18.4 |
Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director |
29 |
||||
18.5 |
Rights as a Stockholder |
29 |
||||
18.6 |
Delivery of Title to Shares |
29 |
||||
18.7 |
Fractional Shares |
30 |
||||
18.8 |
Retirement and Welfare Plans |
30 |
||||
18.9 |
Severability |
30 |
||||
18.10 |
No Constraint on Corporate Action |
30 |
||||
18.11 |
Unfunded Obligation |
30 |
||||
18.12 |
No Representations or Covenants with respect to Tax Qualification |
30 |
||||
Sub-Plan for Israeli Tax Payers |
32 |
4 |
Cyren, Ltd.
2016 Equity Incentive Plan
1. Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan .
1.1 Establishment . The Cyren, Ltd. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ” ) is hereby established effective as of December 22, 2016, the date of its approval by the stockholders of the Company (the “ Effective Date ”).
1.2 Purpose . The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards.
1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided , however , that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.
2. Definitions and Construction .
2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a) “ Affiliate ” means (i) a parent entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) a subsidiary entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the terms “parent,” “subsidiary,” “control” and “controlled by” shall have the meanings assigned such terms for the purposes of registration of securities on Form S -8 under the Securities Act.
(b) “ Award ” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award granted under the Plan.
(c) “ Award Agreement ” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to an Award.
(d) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “ Cash -Based Award ” means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 11.
(f) “ Cashless Exercise ” means a Cashless Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(i).
(g) “ Cause ” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non -disclosure , non -competition , non -solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s
5 |
conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere ) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company.
(h) “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any one or a combination of the following:
(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d -3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’s then -outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided , however , that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such voting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or
(ii) an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a “ Transaction ” ) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(bb)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the “ Transferee ” ), as the case may be; or
(iii) a date specified by the Committee following approval by the stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
provided , however , that a Change in Control shall be deemed not to include a transaction described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.1(h) in which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of Incumbent Directors.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Committee shall determine whether multiple events described in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.1(h) are related and to be treated in the aggregate as a single Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(i) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations and administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.
(j) “ Committee ” means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.
(k) “ Company ” means Cyren, Ltd., an Israeli company, and any successor corporation thereto.
(l) “ Compensation Policy ” means the Company’s executive compensation policy, as shall be in effect from time to time.
(m) “ Consultant ” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration on Form S -8 under the Securities Act.
6 |
(n) “ Director ” means a member of the Board.
(o) “ Disability ” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(p) “ Dividend Equivalent Right ” means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.
(q) “ Employee ” means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided , however , that neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual’s status as an Employee.
(r) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(s) “ Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the basis of the opening, closing, or average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Stock on such date or the preceding trading day, the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a Participant, any other reasonable basis using actual transactions in the Stock as reported on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, or on any other basis consistent with the requirements of Section 409A. The Committee may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this Section for different purposes under the Plan to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
(iii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
(t) “ Full Value Award ” means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, or (iii) a Restricted Stock Purchase Right or an Other Stock -Based Award under which the Company will receive monetary consideration equal to the Fair Market Value (determined on the effective date of grant) of the shares subject to such Award.
7 |
(u) “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(v) “ Incumbent Director ” means a director who either (i) is a member of the Board as of the Effective Date or (ii) is elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but excluding a director who was elected or nominated in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company).
(w) “ Insider ” means an Officer, a Director or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(x) “ Net Exercise ” means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(iii).
(y) “ Nonstatutory Stock Option ” means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or which does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(z) “ Officer ” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.
(aa) “ Option ” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(bb) “ Other Stock -Based Award ” means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.
(cc) “ Ownership Change Event ” means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).
(dd) “ Parent Corporation ” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(ee) “ Participant ” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
(ff) “ Participating Company ” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(gg) “ Participating Company Group ” means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(hh) “ Performance Award ” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
(ii) “ Performance Award Formula ” means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.
(jj) “ Performance Goal ” means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.
(kk) “ Performance Period ” means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.
8 |
(ll) “ Performance Share ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
(mm) “ Performance Unit ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
(nn) “ Predecessor Plans ” means the Company’s Israeli Share Option Plan, the Amended and Restated 1999 Non -Employee Directors Stock Option Plan and 2006 U.S. Stock Option Plan.
(oo) “ Restricted Stock Award ” means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
(pp) “ Restricted Stock Bonus ” means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
(qq) “ Restricted Stock Purchase Right ” means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
(rr) “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive on a future date or occurrence of a future event a share of Stock or cash in lieu thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(ss) “ Rule 16b -3 ” means Rule 16b -3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(tt) “ SAR ” or “ Stock Appreciation Right ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price thereof.
(uu) “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Code.
(vv) “ Section 409A Deferred Compensation ” means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
(ww) “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(xx) “ Service ” means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether as an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have been interrupted or terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. However, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds ninety (90) days, then on the ninety -first (91st) day following the commencement of such leave the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, an unpaid leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of and reason for such termination.
(yy) “ Stock ” means the ordinary shares of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.3.
(zz) “ Stock Tender Exercise ” means a Stock Tender Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).
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(aaa) “ Subsidiary Corporation ” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(bbb) “ Ten Percent Owner ” means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
(ccc) “ Trading Compliance Policy ” means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.
(ddd) “ Vesting Conditions ” mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which an Award or shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service or failure of a performance condition to be satisfied.
2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
3. Administration .
3.1 Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. All expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
3.2 Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Company herein, provided that the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to a committee comprised of one or more Officers the authority to grant one or more Awards, without further approval of the Committee, to any Employee, other than a person who, at the time of such grant, is an Insider, and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Committee may determine; provided , however , that (a) the Committee shall fix the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that may be granted by such Officers, (b) each such Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the appropriate standard form of Award Agreement approved by the Board or the Committee and shall conform to the provisions of the Plan, and (c) each such Award shall conform to such other limits and guidelines as may be established from time to time by the Committee.
3.3 Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if applicable, of Rule 16b -3 .
3.4 Powers of the Committee . In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;
(b) to determine the type of Award granted;
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(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, provided that Options and Restricted Stock Units granted to Officers or Directors shall vest over a period of three years or longer (or such other period as may be provided in the Compensation Policy), (v) the Performance Measures, Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of any Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e) to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;
(f) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
(g) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;
(h) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;
(i) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub -plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose residents may be granted Awards; and
(j) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
3.5 Option or SAR Repricing. The Committee shall have the authority, without additional approval by the stockholders of the Company, to approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock ( “ Underwater Awards ” ) and the grant in substitution therefore of new Options or SARs covering the same or a different number of shares but with an exercise price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share on the new grant date, Full Value Awards, or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof to the Fair Market Value per share on the date of amendment.
3.6 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided , however , that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
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4. Shares Subject to Plan .
4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of:
(a) eleven million two hundred thousand (11,200,000) shares of Stock;
(b) the number of shares of Stock subject to that portion of any option or other award outstanding pursuant to the Predecessor Plans as of the Effective Date which, on or after the Effective Date, expires or is terminated or canceled for any reason without having been exercised or settled in full; and
(c) the number of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Predecessor Plans subject to forfeiture or repurchase by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price which, on or after the Effective Date, is so forfeited or repurchased;
Shares of Stock issuable under the Plan shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.
4.2 Share Counting. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash or to the extent that shares are withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 16.2. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the number of shares actually issued in such payment. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, or by means of a Net Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the net number of shares for which the Option is exercised.
4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure . Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split -up , split -off , spin -off , combination of shares, exchange of shares or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting regular, periodic cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the “ New Shares ” ), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the exercise or purchase price per share shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. In no event may the exercise or purchase price, if any, under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Committee, in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.
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4.4 Assumption or Substitution of Awards. The Committee may, without affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code.
5. Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations .
5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors.
5.2 Participation in the Plan. Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.
5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations.
(a) Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall be 6,000,000. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to all Awards other than Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of shares determined in accordance with Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3.
(b) Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an “ ISO -Qualifying Corporation ” ). Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO -Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(c) Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise of the Option, shares issued pursuant to each such portion shall be separately identified.
5.4 Award Limit. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, Officers and Directors shall not be granted Awards within any fiscal year of the Company, if the value of such Awards, including any other equity -based compensation paid to such Officer or Director, per year, exceeds (at the time of grant) the permitted annual value set forth in the Compensation Policy for such Officer or Director.
6. Stock Options .
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
6.1 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee in accordance with the terms of the Compensation Policy; provided , however , that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the
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effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, provided the grant is made in accordance with the terms of the Compensation Policy, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price less than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A or Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options Granted to Non -Officer and Non -Director Participant. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided , however , that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (c) no Option granted to an Employee who is a non -exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such Option (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
6.3 Exercisability and Term of Options Granted to Officers and Directors. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided , however , that (a) no Option shall expire prior to the lapse of one (1) year following their vesting date and no Options shall be exercisable after the expiration of six (6) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (c) no Option granted to an Employee who is a non -exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such Option (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate six (6) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
6.4 Payment of Exercise Price.
(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Committee and subject to the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, (2) a Stock Tender Exercise or (3) a Net Exercise; (iii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iv) by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration .
(i) Cashless Exercise. A “ Cashless Exercise ” means the delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or
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terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.
(ii) Stock Tender Exercise. A “ Stock Tender Exercise ” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice accompanied by a Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. A Stock Tender Exercise shall not be permitted if it would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. If required by the Company, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for a period of time required by the Company (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.
(iii) Net Exercise. A “ Net Exercise ” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to a Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued.
6.5 Effect of Termination of Service.
(a) Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided by this Plan and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with this Section and thereafter shall terminate.
(i) Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (the “ Option Expiration Date ” ).
(ii) Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the Participant’s termination of Service.
(iii) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.
(iv) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
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(b) Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.4(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 14 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the applicable time period under Section 6.4(a), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
6.6 Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S -8 under the Securities Act or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, only as permitted by applicable regulations under Section 421 of the Code in a manner that does not disqualify such Option as an Incentive Stock Option.
7. Stock Appreciation Rights .
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
7.1 Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “ Tandem SAR ” ) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “ Freestanding SAR ” ). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.
7.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided , however , that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs .
(a) Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.
(b) Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided , however , that (i) no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR and (ii) no Freestanding SAR granted to an Employee who is a non -exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the
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date of grant of such SAR (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of a Freestanding SAR, each Freestanding SAR shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the SAR, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
7.4 Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 7.5.
7.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.
7.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.
7.7 Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S -8 under the Securities Act.
8. Restricted Stock Awards .
Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
8.1 Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of or satisfaction of Vesting Conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).
8.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its
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benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.
8.3 Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
8.4 Payment of Purchase Price. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.
8.5 Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
8.6 Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided , however , that if so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such dividends and distributions shall be subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid, and otherwise shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders (or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders). In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.
8.7 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then (a) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (b) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.
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8.8 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights. Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
9. Restricted Stock Units .
Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award or the Vesting Conditions with respect to such Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).
9.2 Purchase Price. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.
9.3 Vesting. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to the Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then the satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the first to occur of (a) the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy or (b) the last day of the calendar year in which the original vesting date occurred.
9.4 Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with a cash amount or with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. If so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such cash amount or additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s
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Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.
9.5 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.
9.6 Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee in compliance with Section 409A, if applicable, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.4) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) and amount(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide for settlement of any Restricted Stock Unit Award by payment to the Participant in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the payment date of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.
9.7 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
9.8 Term of Restricted Stock Unit. No Restricted Stock Units granted to Officers or Directors shall expire prior to the lapse of one (1) year following their vesting date and no such Restricted Stock Units shall be exercisable after the expiration of six (6) years after the effective date of grant of such Restricted Stock Units.
10. Performance Awards .
Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
10.1 Types of Performance Awards Authorized. Performance Awards may be granted in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.
10.2 Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial monetary value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial monetary value established by the Committee at the time of grant. The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.
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10.3 Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula. In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant. The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.
10.4 Measurement of Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained ( “ Performance Targets ” ) with respect to one or more measures of individual, market, business or financial performance (each, a “ Performance Measure ” ).
10.5 Settlement of Performance Awards .
(a) Determination of Final Value. As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.
(b) Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula. In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award granted to any Participant to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine.
(c) Effect of Leaves of Absence. Unless otherwise required by law or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days in unpaid leaves of absence during a Performance Period shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on an unpaid leave of absence.
(d) Notice to Participants. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.
(e) Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination and certification in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), but in any event within the Short -Term Deferral Period described in Section 15.1 (except as otherwise provided below or consistent with the requirements of Section 409A), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the payment to be made to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred payment date(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest.
(f) Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares. If payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of such shares shall be determined by dividing the final value of the Performance Award by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock determined by the method specified in the Award Agreement. Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5. Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.
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10.6 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or the date on which they are forfeited. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be credited to the Participant either in cash or in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Performance Shares (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be accumulated and paid to the extent that the related Performance Shares become nonforfeitable. Settlement of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 10.5. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.
10.7 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, the effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Performance Award shall be as follows:
(a) Death or Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death or Disability of the Participant before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award shall be determined by the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained with respect to the entire Performance Period and shall be prorated based on the number of months of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period. Payment shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.
(b) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, such Award shall be forfeited in its entirety; provided , however , that in the event of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s Service, the Committee, in its discretion, may waive the automatic forfeiture of all or any portion of any such Award and determine the final value of the Performance Award in the manner provided by Section 10.7(a). Payment of any amount pursuant to this Section shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.
10.8 Nontransferability of Performance Awards. Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
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11. Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards .
Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
11.1 Grant of Cash -Based Awards . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash -Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions, including the achievement of performance criteria, as the Committee may determine.
11.2 Grant of Other Stock -Based Awards . The Committee may grant other types of equity -based or equity -related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock -equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into ordinary shares or other forms determined by the Committee) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Stock -Based Awards may be made available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock -Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.
11.3 Value of Cash -Based and Other Stock -Based Awards . Each Cash -Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock -Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or units based on such shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance criteria, the final value of Cash -Based Awards or Other Stock -Based Awards that will be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance criteria are met.
11.4 Payment or Settlement of Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards . Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash -Based Award or an Other Stock -Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, shares of Stock or other securities or any combination thereof as the Committee determines. To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash -Based Award and Other Stock -Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.
11.5 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Other Stock -Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares of Stock (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award. However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock -Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 9.4. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash -Based Awards. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock -Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.
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11.6 Effect of Termination of Service . Each Award Agreement evidencing a Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain such Award following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash -Based Awards or Other Stock -Based Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, subject to the requirements of Section 409A, if applicable.
11.7 Nontransferability of Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards. Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may impose such additional restrictions on any shares of Stock issued in settlement of Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares of Stock are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such shares of Stock.
12. Standard Forms of Award Agreement .
12.1 Award Agreements . Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time. No Award or purported Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement, which execution may be evidenced by electronic means.
12.2 Authority to Vary Terms . The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided , however , that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
13. Change in Control .
13.1 Effect of Change in Control on Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee may provide for any one or more of the following in the event of a Change in Control:
(a) Accelerated Vesting. In its discretion, the Committee may provide in the grant of any Award or at any other time may take such action as it deems appropriate to provide for acceleration of the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement in connection with a Change in Control of each or any outstanding Award or portion thereof and shares acquired pursuant thereto upon such conditions, including termination of the Participant’s Service prior to, upon, or following the Change in Control, and to such extent as the Committee determines.
(b) Assumption, Continuation or Substitution. Subject to the terms of any grant in accordance with Section 13.1(a), in the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “ Acquiror ” ), may, without the consent of any Participant, assume or continue the Company’s rights and obligations under each or any Award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control or substitute for each or any such outstanding Award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to the Acquiror’s stock, as applicable. For purposes of this Section, if so determined by the Committee in its discretion, an Award denominated in shares of Stock shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided , however , that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Stock subject to the
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Award, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control. Any Award or portion thereof which is neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised or settled as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.
(c) Cash -Out of Outstanding Stock -Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant, determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Committee) of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control, reduced (but not below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award. In the event such determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control may be canceled without payment of consideration to the holder thereof. Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control and in respect of the unvested portions of their canceled Awards in accordance with the vesting schedules applicable to such Awards.
14. Compliance with Securities Law .
The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock or other property pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
15. Compliance with Section 409A .
15.1 Awards Subject to Section 409A. The Company intends that Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be so construed. The provisions of this Section 15 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that constitutes or provides for payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation. Such Awards may include, without limitation:
(a) A Nonstatutory Stock Option or SAR that includes any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of (i) the exercise or disposition of the Award or (ii) the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Award first becomes substantially vested.
(b) Any Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award at a time or upon an event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short -Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits the Participant granted the Award to elect one or more dates or events upon which the Award will be settled after the end of the Short -Term Deferral Period.
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Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “ Short -Term Deferral Period ” means the 2½ month period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning provided by Section 409A.
15.2 Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to any compensation deferral and/or payment elections (each, an “ Election ”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee pursuant to an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation:
(a) Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the payment in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of payment as permitted by this Plan.
(b) Elections shall be made by the end of the Participant’s taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to the Participant.
(c) Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 15.3.
15.3 Subsequent Elections . Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, any Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation which permits a subsequent Election to delay the payment or change the form of payment in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made.
(b) Each subsequent Election related to a payment in settlement of an Award not described in Section 15.4(a)(ii), 15.4(a)(iii) or 15.4(a)(vi) must result in a delay of the payment for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
(c) No subsequent Election related to a payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(iv) shall be made less than twelve (12) months before the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
(d) Subsequent Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in the subsequent Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in a subsequent Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the subsequent Election determined in accordance the preceding paragraphs of this Section 15.3.
15.4 Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation .
(a) Permissible Payments. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation must provide for payment in settlement of the Award only upon one or more of the following:
(i) The Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A);
(ii) The Participant’s becoming “disabled” (as defined by Section 409A);
(iii) The Participant’s death;
(iv) A time or fixed schedule that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 15.2 or 15.3, as applicable;
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(v) A change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with Section 409A; or
(vi) The occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency” (as defined by Section 409A).
(b) Installment Payments . It is the intent of this Plan that any right of a Participant to receive installment payments (within the meaning of Section 409A) shall, for all purposes of Section 409A, be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.
(c) Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee Pursuant to Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(i) in settlement of an Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (the “ Delayed Payment Date ” ) that is six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.
(d) Payment Upon Disability. All distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation payable pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(ii) by reason of a Participant becoming disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participant’s Election. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon becoming disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.
(e) Payment Upon Death . If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participant’s Election upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.
(f) Payment Upon Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Change in Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change in Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Any Award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control as a result of the failure of the Acquiror to assume, continue or substitute for such Award in accordance with Section 13.1(b) shall vest to the extent provided by such Award but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change in Control into a right to receive, in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or as required by Section 15.4(c)), an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the Award at the time of the Change in Control.
(g) Payment Upon Unforeseeable Emergency. The Committee shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation for payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(vi) in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Committee, the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency. In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such unforeseeable emergency cannot exceed the amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such emergency need is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by cessation of deferrals under the Award. All distributions with respect to an unforeseeable emergency shall be made in a lump sum upon the
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Committee’s determination that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred. The Committee’s decision with respect to whether an unforeseeable emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the payment in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.
(h) Prohibition of Acceleration of Payments. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation, except as permitted by Section 409A.
(i) No Representation Regarding Section 409A Compliance . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company makes no representation that Awards shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. No Participating Company shall be liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on a Participant by Section 409A.
16. Tax Withholding .
16.1 Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by any Participating Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.
16.2 Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates (or the maximum individual statutory withholding rates for the applicable jurisdiction if use of such rates would not result in adverse accounting consequences or cost). The Company may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to such Participating Company in cash.
17. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan .
The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Sections 4.2 and 4.3), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee. Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may have a materially adverse effect on any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.
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18. Miscellaneous Provisions .
18.1 Repurchase Rights . Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
18.2 Forfeiture Events .
(a) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service, or any accounting restatement due to material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirements of securities laws as a result of which, and to the extent that, such reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment is required by applicable securities laws.
(b) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, shall reimburse the Company for (i) the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award received by such Participant during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and (ii) any profits realized by such Participant from the sale of securities of the Company during such twelve- (12-) month period.
18.3 Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common shareholders.
18.4 Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Consultant or Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.
18.5 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.3 or another provision of the Plan.
18.6 Delivery of Title to Shares. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.
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18.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.
18.8 Retirement and Welfare Plans . Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any Participating Company’s retirement plans (both qualified and non -qualified ) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.
18.9 Severability . If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
18.10 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or another Participating Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.
18.11 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
18.12 No Representations or Covenants with respect to Tax Qualification. Although the Company may endeavor to (a) qualify an Award for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States (e.g., incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code) or (b) 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, anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 15 hereof, notwithstanding. The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on holders of Awards under the Plan.
* * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned officer of the Company certifies that the foregoing sets forth the Cyren Ltd. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan as duly adopted by the Board effective as of November 10, 2016 and as duly amended by the Board effective as of June 11, 2019.
/s/ J. Michael Myshrall |
||
J. Michael Myshrall |
||
Chief Financial Officer |
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CYREN, LTD.
2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
SUB
-PLAN
FOR ISRAELI TAXPAYERS
1. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ISRAELI TAXPAYERS
1.1 This Sub -Plan for Israeli Taxpayers (the “ Sub -Plan ”) to the Cyren Ltd. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) is made in accordance with Section 3.4(i) of the Plan. This Sub -Plan was approved by the Committee on November 10, 2016.
1.2 The provisions specified hereunder apply only to persons who are deemed to be residents of the State of Israel for tax purposes, or are otherwise subject to taxation in Israel with respect to Awards.
1.3 This Sub -Plan applies with respect to Awards granted under the Plan. The purpose of this Sub -Plan is to establish certain rules and limitations applicable to Awards that may be granted or issued under the Plan from time to time, in compliance with the tax, securities and other applicable laws currently in force in the State of Israel. Except as otherwise provided by this Sub -Plan , all grants made pursuant to this Sub -Plan shall be governed by the terms of the Plan. This Sub -Plan is applicable only to grants made after the date of its adoption. This Sub -Plan complies with, and is subject to the ITO and Section 102. An Option granted under this Sub -Plan will be deemed a Nonstatutory Stock Option for the purposes of U.S. taxation.
1.4 The Plan and this Sub -Plan shall be read together. In any case of contradiction, whether explicit or implied, between the provisions of this Sub -Plan and the Plan, the provisions of this Sub -Plan shall govern.
2. DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Plan. The following additional definitions will apply to grants made pursuant to this Sub -Plan :
“ 3(i) Award ” means an Award of Options, which is subject to taxation pursuant to Section 3(i) of the ITO, which has been granted to any person who is not an Eligible 102 Participant.
“ 102 Capital Gains Track ” means the tax alternative set forth in Section 102(b)(2) of the ITO pursuant to which all or a part of the income resulting from the sale of Shares is taxable as a capital gain.
“ 102 Capital Gains Track Grant ” means a 102 Trustee Grant qualifying for the special tax treatment under the 102 Capital Gains Track.
“ 102 Ordinary Income Track ” means the tax alternative set forth in Section 102(b)(1) of the ITO pursuant to which income resulting from the sale of Shares derived from Awards is taxed as ordinary income.
“ 102 Ordinary Income Track Grant ” means a 102 Trustee Grant qualifying for the ordinary income tax treatment under the 102 Ordinary Income Track.
“ 102 Trustee Grant ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 102(b) of the ITO and held in trust by a Trustee for the benefit of the Eligible 102 Participant, and includes both 102 Capital Gains Track Grants and 102 Ordinary Income Track Grants.
“ Affiliate ” for the purpose of grants made under this Sub -Plan , means any Affiliate, as defined in the Plan, that is an “employing company” within the meaning of Section 102(a) of the ITO.
“ Controlling Shareholder ” as defined in Section 32(9) of the ITO, currently defined as an individual who prior to the grant or as a result of the grant or exercise of any Award, holds or would hold, directly or indirectly, in his name or with a relative (as defined in the ITO) (i) 10% of the outstanding share capital of the Company, (ii) 10% of the voting power of the Company, (iii) the right to hold or purchase 10% of the outstanding equity or voting power, (iv) the right to obtain 10% of the “profit” of the Company (as defined in the ITO), or (v) the right to appoint a director of the Company.
“ Deposit Requirements ” shall mean with respect a 102 Trustee Grant, the requirement to evidence deposit of an Award with the Trustee, in accordance with Section 102, in order to qualify as a 102 Trustee Grant. As of the
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time of approval of this Sub -Plan , the ITA guidelines regarding Deposit Requirements for 102 Capital Gains Track Grants require that the Trustee be provided with (a) the resolutions approving Awards intended to qualify as 102 Capital Gains Track Grants within 45 days of the date of Committee’s approval of such Award, including full details of the terms of the Awards, and (b) a copy of the Award Agreement executed by the Eligible 102 Participant and/or Eligible 102 Participant’s consent to the requirements of the 102 Capital Gains Track Grant within 90 days of the Committee’s approval of such Award, and (c) with respect to Restricted Stock Awards, either a share certificate and copy of the Company’s share register evidencing issuance of the Shares underlying such Award in the name of the Trustee for the benefit of the Eligible 102 Participant, or deposit of the Shares with a financial institution in an account administered in the name of the Trustee, as applicable, in each case, within 90 days of the date of the Committee’s approval of such Award.
“ Election ” means the Company’s choice of the type of 102 Trustee Grants it will make under the Plan (as between capital gains track or ordinary income track), as filed with the ITA.
“ Eligible 102 Participant ” means a Participant who is a person employed by the Company or its Affiliates, including an individual who is serving as a director (as defined in the ITO) or an office holder (as defined in the ITO), who is not a Controlling Shareholder.
“ Israeli Fair Market Value ” shall mean with respect to 102 Capital Gains Track Grants only, for the sole purpose of determining tax liability pursuant to Section 102(b)(3) of the ITO, if at the date of grant the Company’s shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system or if the Company’s shares will be registered for trading within ninety (90) days following the date of grant, the fair market value of the Shares at the date of grant shall be determined in accordance with the average value of the Company’s shares on the thirty (30) trading days preceding the date of grant or on the thirty (30) trading days following the date of registration for trading, as the case may be.
“ ITA ” means the Israeli Tax Authority.
“ ITO ” means the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (New Version), 1961, and the rules, regulations, orders or procedures promulgated thereunder and any amendments thereto, including specifically the Rules, all as may be amended from time to time.
“ Non -Trustee Grant ” means an Award granted to an Eligible 102 Participant pursuant to Section 102(c) of the ITO and not held in trust by a Trustee.
“ Required Holding Period ” means the requisite period prescribed by the ITO and the Rules, or such other period as may be required by the ITA, with respect to 102 Trustee Grants, during which Awards granted by the Company must be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the person to whom it was granted. As of the date of the adoption of this Sub -Plan , the Required Holding Period for 102 Capital Gains Track Grants is 24 months from the date of grant of the Award.
“ Rules ” means the Income Tax Rules (Tax Benefits in Share Issuance to Employees), 2003.
“ Section 102 ” shall mean the provisions of Section 102 of the ITO, as amended from time to time, including by the Law Amending the Income Tax Ordinance (Number 132), 2002, effective as of January 1, 2003 and by the Law Amending the Income Tax Ordinance (Number 147), 2005.
“ Shares ” shall mean shares of Stock of the Company, as defined in the Plan.
“ Trustee ” means a person or entity designated by the Committee to serve as a trustee and approved by the ITA in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(a) of the ITO.
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3. TYPES OF AWARDS AND SECTION 102 ELECTION
3.1 Awards made as 102 Trustee Grants shall be made pursuant to either (a) Section 102(b)(2) of the ITO as 102 Capital Gains Track Grants or (b) Section 102(b)(1) of the ITO as 102 Ordinary Income Track Grants. The Company’s Election regarding the type of 102 Trustee Grant it chooses to make shall be filed with the ITA. Once the Company (or its Affiliate) has filed such Election, it may change the type of 102 Trustee Grant that it chooses to make only after the passage of at least 12 months from the end of the calendar year in which the first grant was made in accordance with the previous Election, in accordance with Section 102. For the avoidance of doubt, such Election shall not prevent the Company from granting Non -Trustee Grants to Eligible 102 Participants at any time.
3.2 Eligible 102 Participants may receive only 102 Trustee Grants or Non -Trustee Grants under this Sub -Plan . Participants who are not Eligible 102 Participants may be granted only 3(i) Awards under this Sub -Plan .
3.3 No 102 Trustee Grants may be made effective pursuant to this Sub -Plan until 30 days after the date the requisite filings required by the ITO and the Rules, including the filing of the Plan and Sub -Plan , have been made with the ITA.
3.4 The Award Agreement shall indicate whether the grant is a 102 Trustee Grant, a Non -Trustee Grant or a 3(i) Award; and, if the grant is a 102 Trustee Grant, whether it is a 102 Capital Gains Track Grant or a 102 Ordinary Income Track Grant.
4. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF 102 TRUSTEE GRANTS
4.1 Each 102 Trustee Grant will be deemed granted on the date approved by the Committee and stated in a written or electronic notice by the Company, provided that the Company and the Trustee have complied with any applicable requirements set forth by the ITA with regard to such grants.
4.2 Each 102 Trustee Grant granted to an Eligible 102 Participant and each certificate for Shares acquired pursuant to a 102 Trustee Grant shall be deposited with a Trustee in compliance with the Deposit Requirements and held in trust by the Trustee (or be subject to a supervisory trustee arrangement if approved by the ITA). After termination of the Required Holding Period, the Trustee may release such Awards and any Shares issued with respect to such Award, provided that (i) the Trustee has received an acknowledgment from the Israeli Income Tax Authority that the Eligible 102 Participant has paid any applicable tax due pursuant to the ITO or (ii) the Trustee and/or the Company or its Affiliate withholds any applicable tax due pursuant to the ITO. The Trustee shall not release any 102 Trustee Grants or shares issued with respect to the 102 Trustee Grants prior to the full payment of the Eligible 102 Participant’s tax liabilities.
4.3 Each 102 Trustee Grant shall be subject to the relevant terms of Section 102 and the ITO, which shall be deemed an integral part of the 102 Trustee Grant and shall prevail over any term contained in the Plan, this Sub -Plan or Award Agreement that is not consistent therewith. Any provision of the ITO and any approvals of the ITA not expressly specified in this Sub -Plan or any document evidencing an Award that are necessary to receive or maintain any tax benefit pursuant to the Section 102 shall be binding on the Eligible 102 Participant. The Trustee and the Eligible 102 Participant granted a 102 Trustee Grant shall comply with the ITO, and the terms and conditions of the Trust Agreement entered into between the Company and the Trustee. For avoidance of doubt, it is reiterated that compliance with the ITO specifically includes compliance with the Rules. Further, the Eligible 102 Participant agrees to execute any and all documents which the Company or the Trustee may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to comply with the provision of any applicable law, and, particularly, Section 102. With respect to 102 Capital Gain Track Grants, to the extent that the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, the provisions of Section 102(b)(3) of the ITO will apply with respect to the Israeli tax rate applicable to such Awards.
4.4 During the Required Holding Period, the Eligible 102 Participant shall not require the Trustee to release or sell the Awards and Shares received subsequently following any realization of rights derived from Awards or Shares (including stock dividends) to the Eligible 102 Participant or to a third party, unless permitted to do so by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee may, pursuant to a written request and subject to applicable law, release and transfer such Shares to a designated third party, provided that both of the
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following conditions have been fulfilled prior to such transfer: (i) all taxes required to be paid upon the release and transfer of the shares have been withheld for transfer to the tax authorities and (ii) the Trustee has received written confirmation from the Company that all requirements for such release and transfer have been fulfilled according to the terms of the Company’s corporate documents, the Plan, any applicable Award Agreement and applicable law. To avoid doubt, such sale or release during the Required Holding Period will result in different tax ramifications to the Eligible 102 Participant under Section 102 of the ITO and the Rules and/or any other regulations or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder, which shall apply to and shall be borne solely by such Eligible 102 Participant (including tax and mandatory payments otherwise payable by the Company or its Affiliates, which would not apply absent a sale or release during the Required Holding Period).
4.5 In the event a stock dividend is declared and/or additional rights are granted with respect to Shares which derive from Awards granted as 102 Trustee Grants, such dividend and/or rights shall also be subject to the provisions of this Section 4 and the Required Holding Period for such dividend shares and/or rights shall be measured from the commencement of the Required Holding Period for the Award with respect to which the dividend was declared and/or rights granted. In the event of a cash dividend on Shares, the Trustee shall transfer the dividend proceeds to the Eligible 102 Participant in accordance with the Plan after deduction of taxes and mandatory payments in compliance with applicable withholding requirements, and subject to any other requirements imposed by the ITA.
4.6 If an Award granted as a 102 Trustee Grant is exercised during the Required Holding Period, the Shares issued upon such exercise shall be issued in the name of the Trustee for the benefit of the Eligible 102 Participant (or be subject to a supervisory trustee arrangement if approved by the ITA). If such an Award is exercised or settled after the Required Holding Period ends, the Shares issued upon such exercise or settlement shall, at the election of the Eligible 102 Participant, either (i) be issued in the name of the Trustee (or be subject to a supervisory trustee arrangement if approved by the ITA), or (ii) be transferred to the Eligible 102 Participant directly, provided that the Eligible 102 Participant first complies with all applicable provisions of the Plan and this Sub -Plan .
4.7 To avoid doubt: (i) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Section 6.3 thereof, payment upon exercise or purchase of Awards granted as a 102 Trustee Grant, may only be paid by cash or check, and not by surrender or withholding of Shares, or by reduction of shares pursuant to a Cashless Exercise, Stock Tender Exercise or Net Exercise arrangement, or other forms of payment, unless and to the extent permitted under Section 102 or as expressly authorized by the ITA; (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Section 4.3 thereof, certain adjustments and amendments to the terms of Awards granted under the 102 Capital Gains Track, including an exchange program, recapitalization events, and so forth, may disqualify the Options from benefitting from the tax benefits under the 102 Capital Gains Track, unless the prior approval of the ITA is obtained; (iii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Section 18.1 thereof, repurchase rights with regard to Awards made as 102 Capital Gains Track Grants shall be subject to compliance with Section 102 requirements and/or the express approval of the ITA; (iv) Stock Appreciation Rights may not be granted under the 102 Capital Gains Track unless and to the extent expressly authorized by the ITA; (v) grants of Restricted Stock Units under the 102 Capital Gains Track require the prior approval of the ITA; (vi) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Sections 9.4, 10.6 and 11.5 thereof, Dividend Equivalents may not be settled in shares with respect to Awards granted under 102 Capital Gains Track Awards without the prior approval of the ITA; (vii) Performance Awards may require the approval of the ITA in order to qualify under the 102 Capital Gains Track; and (viii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Sections 3.5(e), 9.6, 10.5(e) and 11.4 thereof, Awards granted under the 102 Capital Gains Track may only be settled in shares and not in cash, and Cash -Based Awards will not qualify under the 102 Capital Gains Track.
5. ASSIGNABILITY
As long as Awards or Shares are held by the Trustee on behalf of the Eligible 102 Participant, all rights of the Eligible 102 Participant over the Shares are personal, cannot be transferred, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, other than by will or laws of descent and distribution.
35 |
6. TAX CONSEQUENCES
6.1 Any tax consequences arising from the grant or settlement of any Award, the exercise of any Option, the issuance, sale or transfer and payment for the Shares covered thereby, or from any other event or act (of the Company and/or its Affiliates and/or the Trustee and/or the Participant) relating to an Award or Shares issued thereupon shall be borne solely by the Participant. The Company and/or its Affiliates, and/or the Trustee shall withhold taxes according to the requirements under the applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including withholding taxes at source. Furthermore, the Participant shall agree to indemnify the Company and/or its Affiliates and/or the Trustee and hold them harmless against and from any and all liability for any such tax or interest or penalty thereon, including without limitation, liabilities relating to the necessity to withhold, or to have withheld, any such tax from any payment made to the Participant. The Company or any of its Affiliates, and the Trustee may make such provisions and take such steps as it/they may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of all taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to an Award granted under the Plan and the exercise, sale, transfer or other disposition thereof, including, but not limited, to (i) deducting the amount so required to be withheld from any other amount then or thereafter payable to a Participant, including by deducting any such amount from a Participant’s salary or other amounts payable to the Participant, to the maximum extent permitted under law; and/or (ii) requiring a Participant to pay to the Company or any of its Affiliates the amount so required to be withheld; and/or (iii) withholding otherwise deliverable Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount statutorily required to be withheld; and/or (iv) selling a sufficient number of such Shares otherwise deliverable to a Participant through such means as the Company may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on the Participant’s behalf pursuant to the Participant’s authorization as expressed by acceptance of the award under the terms herein), to the extent permitted by applicable law or pursuant to the approval of the ITA. In addition, the Participant will be required to pay any amount (including penalties) that exceeds the tax to be withheld and transferred to the tax authorities, pursuant to applicable tax laws, regulations and rules.
6.2 The Company does not represent or undertake that an Award will qualify for or comply with the requisites of any particular tax treatment (such as the “capital gains track” under Section 102), nor shall the Company, its assignees or successors be required to take any action for the qualification of any Award under such tax treatment. The Company shall have no liability of any kind or nature in the event that, as a result of application of applicable law, actions by the Trustee or any position or interpretation of the ITA, or for any other reason whatsoever, an Award shall be deemed to not qualify for any particular tax treatment.
6.3 With respect to Non -Trustee Grants, if the Eligible 102 Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any Affiliate, the Eligible 102 Participant shall extend to the Company and/or its Affiliate a security or guarantee for the payment of tax due at the time of sale of Shares to the satisfaction of the Company, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 of the ITO and the Rules.
7. SECURITIES LAWS
All awards hereunder shall be subject to compliance with the Israeli Securities Law, 1968, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
* * *
36 |
CYREN, LTD.
2016 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR EQUITY
INCENTIVE PLAN
1 |
Table of Contents |
Page |
||||||
1. |
Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan |
5 |
||||
1.1 |
Establishment |
5 |
||||
1.2 |
Purpose |
5 |
||||
1.3 |
Term of Plan |
5 |
||||
2. |
Definitions and Construction |
5 |
||||
2.1 |
Definitions |
5 |
||||
2.2 |
Construction |
9 |
||||
3. |
Administration |
9 |
||||
3.1 |
Administration by the Committee |
9 |
||||
3.2 |
Administration with Respect to Insiders |
9 |
||||
3.3 |
Powers of the Committee |
9 |
||||
3.4 |
Option or SAR Repricing |
10 |
||||
3.5 |
Indemnification |
10 |
||||
4. |
Shares Subject to Plan |
11 |
||||
4.1 |
Maximum Number of Shares Issuable |
11 |
||||
4.2 |
Share Counting |
11 |
||||
4.3 |
Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure |
11 |
||||
4.4 |
Assumption or Substitution of Awards |
11 |
||||
5. |
Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations |
12 |
||||
5.1 |
Persons Eligible for Awards |
12 |
||||
5.2 |
Participation in the Plan |
12 |
||||
5.3 |
Award Limit |
12 |
||||
6. |
Stock Options |
12 |
||||
6.1 |
Exercise Price |
12 |
||||
6.2 |
Exercisability and Term of Options |
12 |
||||
6.3 |
Payment of Exercise Price |
12 |
||||
6.4 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
13 |
||||
6.5 |
Transferability of Options |
14 |
||||
7. |
Stock Appreciation Rights |
14 |
||||
7.1 |
Types of SARs Authorized |
14 |
||||
7.2 |
Exercise Price |
14 |
||||
7.3 |
Exercisability and Term of SARs |
14 |
||||
7.4 |
Exercise of SARs |
15 |
||||
7.5 |
Deemed Exercise of SARs |
15 |
||||
7.6 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
15 |
||||
7.7 |
Transferability of SARs |
15 |
2 |
Table of Contents
|
Page |
||||||
8. |
Restricted Stock Awards |
15 |
||||
8.1 |
Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized |
15 |
||||
8.2 |
Purchase Price |
15 |
||||
8.3 |
Purchase Period |
15 |
||||
8.4 |
Payment of Purchase Price |
16 |
||||
8.5 |
Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer |
16 |
||||
8.6 |
Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions |
16 |
||||
8.7 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
16 |
||||
8.8 |
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights |
16 |
||||
9. |
Restricted Stock Units |
17 |
||||
9.1 |
Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards |
17 |
||||
9.2 |
Purchase Price |
17 |
||||
9.3 |
Vesting |
17 |
||||
9.4 |
Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions |
17 |
||||
9.5 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
17 |
||||
9.6 |
Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards |
17 |
||||
9.7 |
Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards |
18 |
||||
9.8 |
Term of Restricted Stock Unit |
18 |
||||
10. |
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards |
18 |
||||
10.1 |
Grant of Cash-Based Awards |
18 |
||||
10.2 |
Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards |
18 |
||||
10.3 |
Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards |
18 |
||||
10.4 |
Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards |
18 |
||||
10.5 |
Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions |
19 |
||||
10.6 |
Effect of Termination of Service |
19 |
||||
10.7 |
Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards |
19 |
||||
11. |
Standard Forms of Award Agreement |
19 |
||||
11.1 |
Award Agreements |
19 |
||||
11.2 |
Authority to Vary Terms |
19 |
||||
12. |
Change in Control |
19 |
||||
12.1 |
Effect of Change in Control on Awards |
19 |
||||
12.2 |
Accelerated Vesting Upon a Change in Control |
20 |
||||
13. |
Compliance with Securities Law |
20 |
||||
14. |
Compliance with Section 409A |
21 |
||||
14.1 |
Awards Subject to Section 409A |
21 |
||||
14.2 |
Deferral and/or Distribution Elections |
21 |
||||
14.3 |
Subsequent Elections |
21 |
||||
14.4 |
Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation |
22 |
3 |
Table of Contents
|
Page |
||||||
15. |
Tax Withholding |
23 |
||||
15.1 |
Tax Withholding in General |
23 |
||||
15.2 |
Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares |
23 |
||||
16. |
Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan |
24 |
||||
17. |
Miscellaneous Provisions |
24 |
||||
17.1 |
Repurchase Rights |
24 |
||||
17.2 |
Forfeiture Events |
24 |
||||
17.3 |
Provision of Information |
24 |
||||
17.4 |
Rights as a Director |
24 |
||||
17.5 |
Rights as a Stockholder |
25 |
||||
17.6 |
Delivery of Title to Shares |
25 |
||||
17.7 |
Fractional Shares |
25 |
||||
17.8 |
Retirement and Welfare Plans |
25 |
||||
17.9 |
Severability |
25 |
||||
17.10 |
No Constraint on Corporate Action |
25 |
||||
17.11 |
Unfunded Obligation |
25 |
||||
17.12 |
No Representations or Covenants with respect to Tax Qualification |
25 |
||||
Sub-Plan for Israeli Taxpayers |
27 |
4 |
Cyren, Ltd.
2016 Non
-Employee
Director Equity Incentive Plan
1. Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan .
1.1 Establishment. The Cyren, Ltd. 2016 Non -Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) is hereby established effective as of December 22, 2016, the date of its approval by the stockholders of the Company (the “ Effective Date ”).
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards.
1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided, however, that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.
2. Definitions and Construction .
2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a) “ Affiliate ” means (i) a parent entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) a subsidiary entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the terms “parent,” “subsidiary,” “control” and “controlled by” shall have the meanings assigned such terms for the purposes of registration of securities on Form S -8 under the Securities Act.
(b) “ Award ” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award granted under the Plan.
(c) “ Award Agreement ” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to an Award.
(d) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “ Cash -Based Award ” means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 10.
(f) “ Cashless Exercise ” means a Cashless Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(i).
(g) “ Cause ” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non -disclosure , non -competition , non -solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a
5 |
Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere ) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company
(h) “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any one or a combination of the following:
(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d -3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’s then -outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such voting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or
(ii) an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a “ Transaction ” ) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(aa)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the “ Transferee ” ), as the case may be; or
(iii) a date specified by the Committee following approval by the stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
provided, however, that a Change in Control shall be deemed not to include a transaction described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.1(g) in which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of Incumbent Directors.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Committee shall determine whether multiple events described in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.1(g) are related and to be treated in the aggregate as a single Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(i) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations and administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.
(j) “ Committee ” means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.
(k) “ Company ” means Cyren Ltd., an Israeli company, and any successor corporation thereto.
(l) “ Compensation Policy ” means the Company’s executive compensation policy, as shall be in effect from time to time.
(m) “ Director ” means a member of the Board.
6 |
(n) “ Disability ” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(o) “ Dividend Equivalent Right ” means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.
(p) “ Employee ” means any person treated as an employee (including a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan.
(q) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(r) “ Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the basis of the opening, closing, or average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Stock on such date or the preceding trading day, the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a Participant, any other reasonable basis using actual transactions in the Stock as reported on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, or on any other basis consistent with the requirements of Section 409A. The Committee may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this Section for different purposes under the Plan to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
(iii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.
(s) “ Full Value Award ” means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, or (iii) a Restricted Stock Purchase Right or an Other Stock -Based Award under which the Company will receive monetary consideration equal to the Fair Market Value (determined on the effective date of grant) of the shares subject to such Award.
(t) “ Incumbent Director ” means a director who either (i) is a member of the Board as of the Effective Date or (ii) is elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but excluding a director who was elected or nominated in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company).
(u) “ Insider ” means a person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(v) “ Net Exercise ” means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(iii).
7 |
(w) “ Nonemployee Director ” means a Director who is not an Employee.
(x) “ Nonstatutory Stock Option ” means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or which does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(y) “ Option ” means a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(z) “ Other Stock -Based Award ” means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 10.
(aa) “ Ownership Change Event ” means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).
(bb) “ Parent Corporation ” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(cc) “ Participant ” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
(dd) “ Participating Company ” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(ee) “ Participating Company Group ” means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(ff) “ Restricted Stock Award ” means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
(gg) “ Restricted Stock Bonus ” means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
(hh) “ Restricted Stock Purchase Right ” means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
(ii) “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive on a future date or occurrence of a future event a share of Stock or cash in lieu thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(jj) “ Rule 16b -3 ” means Rule 16b -3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(kk) “ SAR ” or “ Stock Appreciation Right ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price thereof.
(ll) “ Section 162(m) ” means Section 162(m) of the Code.
(mm) “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Code.
(nn) “ Section 409A Deferred Compensation ” means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
(oo) “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
8 |
(pp) “ Service ” means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of and reason for such termination.
(qq) “ Stock ” means the ordinary shares of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.3.
(rr) “ Stock Tender Exercise ” means a Stock Tender Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).
(ss) “ Subsidiary Corporation ” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(tt) “ Ten Percent Owner ” means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
(uu) “ Trading Compliance Policy ” means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.
(vv) “ Vesting Conditions ” mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which an Award or shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service or failure of a performance condition to be satisfied.
2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
3. Administration .
3.1 Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. All expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
3.2 Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if applicable, of Rule 16b -3 .
3.3 Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;
(b) to determine the type of Award granted;
9 |
(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, provided that Options and Restricted Stock Units shall vest over a period of three years or longer (or such other period as may be provided in the Compensation Policy), (v) the time of expiration of any Award, (vi) the effect of any Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e) to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;
(f) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
(g) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto
(h) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service
(i) prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub -plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose residents may be granted Awards; and
(j) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
3.4 Option or SAR Repricing. The Committee shall have the authority, without additional approval by the stockholders of the Company, to approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock ( “ Underwater Awards ” ) and the grant in substitution therefore of new Options or SARs covering the same or a different number of shares but with an exercise price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share on the new grant date, Full Value Awards, or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof to the Fair Market Value per share on the date of amendment.
3.5 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Committee, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
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4. Shares Subject to Plan .
4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be equal to 1.15 million (1,150,000) shares and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.
4.2 Share Counting. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash or to the extent that shares are withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 15.2. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the number of shares actually issued in such payment. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, or by means of a Net Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the net number of shares for which the Option is exercised.
4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split -up , split -off , spin -off , combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting regular, periodic cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the “ New Shares ”), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the exercise or purchase price per share shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. In no event may the exercise or purchase price, if any, under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Committee in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.
4.4 Assumption or Substitution of Awards. The Committee may, without affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code.
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5. Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations .
5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Nonemployee Directors.
5.2 Participation in the Plan. Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Nonemployee Directors may be granted more than one Award.
5.3 Award Limit. No Nonemployee Director shall be granted within any fiscal year of the Company one or more Awards pursuant to the Plan which, in the aggregate, are for more than the amount permitted under applicable law and the value of which, including any other equity -based compensation paid to such Nonemployee Director during such fiscal year exceeds (at the time of grant) the maximum value defined in the Compensation Policy for such Nonemployee Director.
6. Stock Options .
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
6.1 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that the exercise price per share shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with an exercise price less than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A or Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that no Option shall expire prior to the lapse of one (1) year following their vesting date and no Options shall be exercisable after the expiration of six (6) years after the effective date of grant of such Option. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate six (6) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
6.3 Payment of Exercise Price.
(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Committee and subject to the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, (2) a Stock Tender Exercise or (3) a Net Exercise; (iii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iv) by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration.
(i) Cashless Exercise. A “ Cashless Exercise ” means the delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.
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(ii) Stock Tender Exercise. A “ Stock Tender Exercise ” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice accompanied by a Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. A Stock Tender Exercise shall not be permitted if it would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. If required by the Company, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for a period of time required by the Company (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.
(iii) Net Exercise. A “ Net Exercise ” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to a Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued.
6.4 Effect of Termination of Service.
(a) Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided by this Plan and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with this Section and thereafter shall terminate.
(i) Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (the “ Option Expiration Date ” ).
(ii) Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the Participant’s termination of Service.
(iii) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.
(iv) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
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(b) Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.4(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 13 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the applicable time period under Section 6.4(a), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
6.5 Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S -8 under the Securities Act.
7. Stock Appreciation Rights .
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
7.1 Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “ Tandem SAR ” ) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “ Freestanding SAR ” ). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.
7.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs.
(a) Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.
(b) Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of a Freestanding SAR, each Freestanding SAR shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the SAR, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
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7.4 Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 7.5.
7.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.
7.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.
7.7 Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S -8 under the Securities Act.
8. Restricted Stock Awards .
Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
8.1 Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine.
8.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.
8.3 Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
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8.4 Payment of Purchase Price. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.
8.5 Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
8.6 Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided, however, that if so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such dividends and distributions shall be subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid, and otherwise shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders (or, if later, the 15 th day of the third month following the date such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders). In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.
8.7 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then (a) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (b) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.
8.8 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights. Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
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9. Restricted Stock Units .
Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine.
9.2 Purchase Price. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.
9.3 Vesting. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria.
9.4 Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with a cash amount or with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. If so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such cash amount or additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.
9.5 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.
9.6 Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee in compliance with Section 409A, if applicable, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.4) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any. The Committee, in its
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discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that if the settlement date with respect to any shares issuable upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then the settlement date shall be deferred until the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy but in any event no later than the 15 th day of the third calendar month following the year in which such Restricted Stock Units vest. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) and amount(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide for settlement of any Restricted Stock Unit Award by payment to the Participant in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the payment date of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.
9.7 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
9.8 Term of Restricted Stock Unit. No Restricted Stock Units shall expire prior to the lapse of one (1) year following their vesting date and no Restricted Stock Units shall be exercisable after the expiration of six (6) years after the effective date of grant of such Restricted Stock Units.
10. Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards .
Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
10.1 Grant of Cash -Based Awards . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash -Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine.
10.2 Grant of Other Stock -Based Awards . The Committee may grant other types of equity -based or equity -related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock -equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock or other forms determined by the Committee) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Stock -Based Awards may be made available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock -Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.
10.3 Value of Cash -Based and Other Stock -Based Awards . Each Cash -Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock -Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or units based on such shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria.
10.4 Payment or Settlement of Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards . Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash -Based Award or an Other Stock -Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, shares of Stock or other securities or any combination thereof as the Committee determines. To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash -Based Award and Other Stock -Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.
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10.5 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Other Stock -Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares of Stock (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award. However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock -Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 9.4. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash -Based Awards. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock -Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.
10.6 Effect of Termination of Service . Each Award Agreement evidencing a Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain such Award following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash -Based Awards or Other Stock -Based Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, subject to the requirements of Section 409A, if applicable.
10.7 Nontransferability of Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards. Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may impose such additional restrictions on any shares of Stock issued in settlement of Cash -Based Awards and Other Stock -Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares of Stock are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such shares of Stock.
11. Standard Forms of Award Agreement .
11.1 Award Agreements. Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time. No Award or purported Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement, which execution may be evidenced by electronic means.
11.2 Authority to Vary Terms. The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
12. Change in Control .
12.1 Effect of Change in Control on Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee may provide for any one or more of the following in the event of a Change in Control:
(a) Accelerated Vesting. In its discretion, the Committee may provide in the grant of any Award or at any other time may take such action as it deems appropriate to provide for acceleration of the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement in connection with a Change in Control of each or any outstanding Award or portion thereof and shares acquired pursuant thereto upon such conditions, including termination of the Participant’s Service prior to, upon, or following the Change in Control, and to such extent as the Committee determines.
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(b) Assumption, Continuation or Substitution. Subject to the terms of any grant in accordance with Section 13.1(a), in the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “ Acquiror ” ), may, without the consent of any Participant, assume or continue the Company’s rights and obligations under each or any Award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control or substitute for each or any such outstanding Award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to the Acquiror’s stock, as applicable. For purposes of this Section, if so determined by the Committee in its discretion, an Award denominated in shares of Stock shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Stock subject to the Award, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control. Any Award or portion thereof which is neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised or settled as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.
(c) Cash -Out of Outstanding Stock -Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant, determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Committee) of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control, reduced (but not below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award. In the event such determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control may be canceled without payment of consideration to the holder thereof. Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control and in respect of the unvested portions of their canceled Awards in accordance with the vesting schedules applicable to such Awards.
12.2 Accelerated Vesting Upon a Change in Control. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, including as provided by Section 14.4(f), in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full and, except to the extent assumed, continued or substituted for by any successor to the Company under Section 12.1(b), shall be settled effective immediately prior to the time of consummation of the Change in Control.
13. Compliance with Securities Law .
The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock or other property pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which
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such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
14. Compliance with Section 409A .
14.1 Awards Subject to Section 409A . The Company intends that Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be so construed. The provisions of this Section 14 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that constitutes or provides for payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation. Such Awards may include, without limitation:
(a) A Nonstatutory Stock Option or SAR that includes any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of (i) the exercise or disposition of the Award or (ii) the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Award first becomes substantially vested.
(b) Any Restricted Stock Unit Award, Cash -Based Award or Other Stock -Based Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award at a time or upon an event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short -Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits the Participant granted the Award to elect one or more dates or events upon which the Award will be settled after the end of the Short -Term Deferral Period.
Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “ Short -Term Deferral Period ” means the 2½ month period ending on the later of (i) the 15 th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15 th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning provided by Section 409A.
14.2 Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to any compensation deferral and/or payment elections (each, an “ Election ”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee pursuant to an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation:
(a) Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the payment in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of payment as permitted by this Plan.
(b) Elections shall be made by the end of the Participant’s taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to the Participant.
(c) Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 14.3.
14.3 Subsequent Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, any Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation which permits a subsequent Election to delay the payment or change the form of payment in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made.
(b) Each subsequent Election related to a payment in settlement of an Award not described in Section 14.4(a)(ii), 14.4(a)(iii) or 14.4(a)(vi) must result in a delay of the payment for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
(c) No subsequent Election related to a payment pursuant to Section 14.4(a)(iv) shall be made less than twelve (12) months before the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.
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(d) Subsequent Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in the subsequent Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in a subsequent Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the subsequent Election determined in accordance the preceding paragraphs of this Section 14.3.
14.4 Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation.
(a) Permissible Payments. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation must provide for payment in settlement of the Award only upon one or more of the following:
(i) The Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A);
(ii) The Participant’s becoming “disabled” (as defined by Section 409A);
(iii) The Participant’s death;
(iv) A time or fixed schedule that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 14.2 or 14.3, as applicable;
(v) A change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with Section 409A; or
(vi) The occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency” (as defined by Section 409A).
(b) Installment Payments . It is the intent of this Plan that any right of a Participant to receive installment payments (within the meaning of Section 409A) shall, for all purposes of Section 409A, be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.
(c) Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee Pursuant to Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment pursuant to Section 14.4(a)(i) in settlement of an Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (the “ Delayed Payment Date ” ) that is six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.
(d) Payment Upon Disability. All distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation payable pursuant to Section 14.4(a)(ii) by reason of a Participant becoming disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participant’s Election. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon becoming disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.
(e) Payment Upon Death . If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participant’s Election upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.
(f) Payment Upon Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Change in Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change in Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Any Award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and
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otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control as a result of the failure of the Acquiror to assume, continue or substitute for such Award in accordance with Section 12.1(b) shall vest to the extent provided by such Award but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change in Control into a right to receive, in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or as required by Section 14.4(c)), an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the Award at the time of the Change in Control.
(g) Payment Upon Unforeseeable Emergency. The Committee shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation for payment pursuant to Section 14.4(a)(vi) in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Committee, the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency. In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such unforeseeable emergency cannot exceed the amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such emergency need is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by cessation of deferrals under the Award. All distributions with respect to an unforeseeable emergency shall be made in a lump sum upon the Committee’s determination that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred. The Committee’s decision with respect to whether an unforeseeable emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the payment in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.
(h) Prohibition of Acceleration of Payments. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation, except as permitted by Section 409A.
(i) No Representation Regarding Section 409A Compliance . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company makes no representation that Awards shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. No Participating Company shall be liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on a Participant by Section 409A.
15. Tax Withholding .
15.1 Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by any Participating Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.
15.2 Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates (or the maximum individual statutory withholding rates for the applicable jurisdiction if use of such rates would not result in adverse accounting consequences or cost). The Company may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to such Participating Company in cash.
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16. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan .
The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Sections 4.2 and 4.3), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Awards, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee. Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may have a materially adverse effect on any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.
17. Miscellaneous Provisions .
17.1 Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
17.2 Forfeiture Events.
(a) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service, or any accounting restatement due to material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirements of securities laws as a result of which, and to the extent that, such reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment is required by applicable securities laws.
(b) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes -Oxley Act of 2002, shall reimburse the Company for (i) the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award received by such Participant during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and (ii) any profits realized by such Participant from the sale of securities of the Company during such twelve- (12-) month period.
17.3 Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.
17.4 Rights as a Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain a Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate a Director’s Service.
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17.5 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.3 or another provision of the Plan.
17.6 Delivery of Title to Shares. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.
17.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.
17.8 Retirement and Welfare Plans . Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any Participating Company’s retirement plans (both qualified and non -qualified ) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.
17.9 Severability . If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
17.10 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or another Participating Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.
17.11 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
17.12 No Representations or Covenants with respect to Tax Qualification. Although the Company may endeavor to (a) qualify an Award for favorable tax treatment under the laws of the United States or jurisdictions outside of the United States, or (b) 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, anything to the contrary in this Plan, including Section 14 hereof, notwithstanding. The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on holders of Awards under the Plan.
* * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned officer of the Company certifies that the foregoing sets forth the Cyren Ltd. 2016 Non -Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan as duly adopted by the Board effective as of November 10, 2016 and as duly amended by the Board effective as of June 11, 2019.
/s/ J. Michael Myshrall |
||
J. Michael Myshrall |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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CYREN, LTD.
2016 NON
-EMPLOYEE
DIRECTOR EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
SUB
-PLAN
FOR ISRAELI TAXPAYERS
1. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ISRAELI TAXPAYERS
1.1 This Sub -Plan for Israeli Taxpayers (the “ Sub -Plan ”) to the Cyren, Ltd. 2016 Non -Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) is made in accordance with Section 3.3(i) of the Plan. This Sub -Plan was approved by the Committee on November 10, 2016.
1.2 The provisions specified hereunder apply only to persons who are deemed to be residents of the State of Israel for tax purposes, or are otherwise subject to taxation in Israel with respect to Awards.
1.3 This Sub -Plan applies with respect to Awards granted under the Plan. The purpose of this Sub -Plan is to establish certain rules and limitations applicable to Awards that may be granted or issued under the Plan from time to time, in compliance with the tax, securities and other applicable laws currently in force in the State of Israel. Except as otherwise provided by this Sub -Plan , all grants made pursuant to this Sub -Plan shall be governed by the terms of the Plan. This Sub -Plan is applicable only to grants made after the date of its adoption. This Sub -Plan complies with, and is subject to the ITO and Section 102. An Option granted under this Sub -Plan will be deemed a Nonstatutory Stock Option for the purposes of U.S. taxation.
1.4 The Plan and this Sub -Plan shall be read together. In any case of contradiction, whether explicit or implied, between the provisions of this Sub -Plan and the Plan, the provisions of this Sub -Plan shall govern.
2. DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Plan. The following additional definitions will apply to grants made pursuant to this Sub -Plan :
“ 3(i) Award ” means an Award of Options, which is subject to taxation pursuant to Section 3(i) of the ITO, which has been granted to any person who is not an Eligible 102 Participant.
“ 102 Capital Gains Track ” means the tax alternative set forth in Section 102(b)(2) of the ITO pursuant to which all or a part of the income resulting from the sale of Shares is taxable as a capital gain.
“ 102 Capital Gains Track Grant ” means a 102 Trustee Grant qualifying for the special tax treatment under the 102 Capital Gains Track.
“ 102 Ordinary Income Track ” means the tax alternative set forth in Section 102(b)(1) of the ITO pursuant to which income resulting from the sale of Shares derived from Awards is taxed as ordinary income.
“ 102 Ordinary Income Track Grant ” means a 102 Trustee Grant qualifying for the ordinary income tax treatment under the 102 Ordinary Income Track.
“ 102 Trustee Grant ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 102(b) of the ITO and held in trust by a Trustee for the benefit of the Eligible 102 Participant, and includes both 102 Capital Gains Track Grants and 102 Ordinary Income Track Grants.
“ Affiliate ” for the purpose of grants made under this Sub -Plan , means any Affiliate, as defined in the Plan, that is an “employing company” within the meaning of Section 102(a) of the ITO.
“ Controlling Shareholder ” as defined in Section 32(9) of the ITO, currently defined as an individual who prior to the grant or as a result of the grant or exercise of any Award, holds or would hold, directly or indirectly, in his name or with a relative (as defined in the ITO) (i) 10% of the outstanding share capital of the Company, (ii) 10% of the voting power of the Company, (iii) the right to hold or purchase 10% of the outstanding equity or voting power, (iv) the right to obtain 10% of the “profit” of the Company (as defined in the ITO), or (v) the right to appoint a director of the Company.
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“ Deposit Requirements ” shall mean with respect a 102 Trustee Grant, the requirement to evidence deposit of an Award with the Trustee, in accordance with Section 102, in order to qualify as a 102 Trustee Grant. As of the time of approval of this Sub -Plan , the ITA guidelines regarding Deposit Requirements for 102 Capital Gains Track Grants require that the Trustee be provided with (a) the resolutions approving Awards intended to qualify as 102 Capital Gains Track Grants within 45 days of the date of Committee’s approval of such Award, including full details of the terms of the Awards, and (b) a copy of the Award Agreement executed by the Eligible 102 Participant and/or Eligible 102 Participant’s consent to the requirements of the 102 Capital Gains Track Grant within 90 days of the Committee’s approval of such Award, and (c) with respect to Restricted Stock Awards, either a share certificate and copy of the Company’s share register evidencing issuance of the Shares underlying such Award in the name of the Trustee for the benefit of the Eligible 102 Participant, or deposit of the Shares with a financial institution in an account administered in the name of the Trustee, as applicable, in each case, within 90 days of the date of the Committee’s approval of such Award.
“ Election ” means the Company’s choice of the type of 102 Trustee Grants it will make under the Plan (as between capital gains track or ordinary income track), as filed with the ITA.
“ Eligible 102 Participant ” means a Participant who is serving as a director (as defined in the ITO) or an office holder (as defined in the ITO), who is not a Controlling Shareholder.
“ Israeli Fair Market Value ” shall mean with respect to 102 Capital Gains Track Grants only, for the sole purpose of determining tax liability pursuant to Section 102(b)(3) of the ITO, if at the date of grant the Company’s shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system or if the Company’s shares will be registered for trading within ninety (90) days following the date of grant, the fair market value of the Shares at the date of grant shall be determined in accordance with the average value of the Company’s shares on the thirty (30) trading days preceding the date of grant or on the thirty (30) trading days following the date of registration for trading, as the case may be.
“ ITA ” means the Israeli Tax Authority.
“ ITO ” means the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (New Version), 1961, and the rules, regulations, orders or procedures promulgated thereunder and any amendments thereto, including specifically the Rules, all as may be amended from time to time.
“ Non -Trustee Grant ” means an Award granted to an Eligible 102 Participant pursuant to Section 102(c) of the ITO and not held in trust by a Trustee.
“ Required Holding Period ” means the requisite period prescribed by the ITO and the Rules, or such other period as may be required by the ITA, with respect to 102 Trustee Grants, during which Awards granted by the Company must be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the person to whom it was granted. As of the date of the adoption of this Sub -Plan , the Required Holding Period for 102 Capital Gains Track Grants is 24 months from the date of grant of the Award.
“ Rules ” means the Income Tax Rules (Tax Benefits in Share Issuance to Employees), 2003.
“ Section 102 ” shall mean the provisions of Section 102 of the ITO, as amended from time to time, including by the Law Amending the Income Tax Ordinance (Number 132), 2002, effective as of January 1, 2003 and by the Law Amending the Income Tax Ordinance (Number 147), 2005.
“ Shares ” shall mean shares of Stock of the Company, as defined in the Plan.
“ Trustee ” means a person or entity designated by the Committee to serve as a trustee and approved by the ITA in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(a) of the ITO.
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3. TYPES OF AWARDS AND SECTION 102 ELECTION
3.1 Awards made as 102 Trustee Grants shall be made pursuant to either (a) Section 102(b)(2) of the ITO as 102 Capital Gains Track Grants or (b) Section 102(b)(1) of the ITO as 102 Ordinary Income Track Grants. The Company’s Election regarding the type of 102 Trustee Grant it chooses to make shall be filed with the ITA. Once the Company (or its Affiliate) has filed such Election, it may change the type of 102 Trustee Grant that it chooses to make only after the passage of at least 12 months from the end of the calendar year in which the first grant was made in accordance with the previous Election, in accordance with Section 102. For the avoidance of doubt, such Election shall not prevent the Company from granting Non -Trustee Grants to Eligible 102 Participants at any time.
3.2 Eligible 102 Participants may receive only 102 Trustee Grants or Non -Trustee Grants under this Sub -Plan . Participants who are not Eligible 102 Participants may be granted only 3(i) Awards under this Sub -Plan .
3.3 No 102 Trustee Grants may be made effective pursuant to this Sub -Plan until 30 days after the date the requisite filings required by the ITO and the Rules, including the filing of the Plan and Sub -Plan , have been made with the ITA.
3.4 The Award Agreement shall indicate whether the grant is a 102 Trustee Grant, a Non -Trustee Grant or a 3(i) Award; and, if the grant is a 102 Trustee Grant, whether it is a 102 Capital Gains Track Grant or a 102 Ordinary Income Track Grant.
4. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF 102 TRUSTEE GRANTS
4.1 Each 102 Trustee Grant will be deemed granted on the date approved by the Committee and stated in a written or electronic notice by the Company, provided that the Company and the Trustee have complied with any applicable requirements set forth by the ITA with regard to such grants.
4.2 Each 102 Trustee Grant granted to an Eligible 102 Participant and each certificate for Shares acquired pursuant to a 102 Trustee Grant shall be deposited with a Trustee in compliance with the Deposit Requirements and held in trust by the Trustee (or be subject to a supervisory trustee arrangement if approved by the ITA). After termination of the Required Holding Period, the Trustee may release such Awards and any Shares issued with respect to such Award, provided that (i) the Trustee has received an acknowledgment from the Israeli Income Tax Authority that the Eligible 102 Participant has paid any applicable tax due pursuant to the ITO or (ii) the Trustee and/or the Company or its Affiliate withholds any applicable tax due pursuant to the ITO. The Trustee shall not release any 102 Trustee Grants or shares issued with respect to the 102 Trustee Grants prior to the full payment of the Eligible 102 Participant’s tax liabilities.
4.3 Each 102 Trustee Grant shall be subject to the relevant terms of Section 102 and the ITO, which shall be deemed an integral part of the 102 Trustee Grant and shall prevail over any term contained in the Plan, this Sub -Plan or Award Agreement that is not consistent therewith. Any provision of the ITO and any approvals of the ITA not expressly specified in this Sub -Plan or any document evidencing an Award that are necessary to receive or maintain any tax benefit pursuant to the Section 102 shall be binding on the Eligible 102 Participant. The Trustee and the Eligible 102 Participant granted a 102 Trustee Grant shall comply with the ITO, and the terms and conditions of the Trust Agreement entered into between the Company and the Trustee. For avoidance of doubt, it is reiterated that compliance with the ITO specifically includes compliance with the Rules. Further, the Eligible 102 Participant agrees to execute any and all documents which the Company or the Trustee may reasonably determine to be necessary in order to comply with the provision of any applicable law, and, particularly, Section 102. With respect to 102 Capital Gain Track Grants, to the extent that the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, the provisions of Section 102(b)(3) of the ITO will apply with respect to the Israeli tax rate applicable to such Awards.
4.4 During the Required Holding Period, the Eligible 102 Participant shall not require the Trustee to release or sell the Awards and Shares received subsequently following any realization of rights derived from Awards or Shares (including stock dividends) to the Eligible 102 Participant or to a third party, unless permitted to do so
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by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee may, pursuant to a written request and subject to applicable law, release and transfer such Shares to a designated third party, provided that both of the following conditions have been fulfilled prior to such transfer: (i) all taxes required to be paid upon the release and transfer of the shares have been withheld for transfer to the tax authorities and (ii) the Trustee has received written confirmation from the Company that all requirements for such release and transfer have been fulfilled according to the terms of the Company’s corporate documents, the Plan, any applicable Award Agreement and applicable law. To avoid doubt, such sale or release during the Required Holding Period will result in different tax ramifications to the Eligible 102 Participant under Section 102 of the ITO and the Rules and/or any other regulations or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder, which shall apply to and shall be borne solely by such Eligible 102 Participant (including tax and mandatory payments otherwise payable by the Company or its Affiliates, which would not apply absent a sale or release during the Required Holding Period).
4.5 In the event a stock dividend is declared and/or additional rights are granted with respect to Shares which derive from Awards granted as 102 Trustee Grants, such dividend and/or rights shall also be subject to the provisions of this Section 4 and the Required Holding Period for such dividend shares and/or rights shall be measured from the commencement of the Required Holding Period for the Award with respect to which the dividend was declared and/or rights granted. In the event of a cash dividend on Shares, the Trustee shall transfer the dividend proceeds to the Eligible 102 Participant in accordance with the Plan after deduction of taxes and mandatory payments in compliance with applicable withholding requirements, and subject to any other requirements imposed by the ITA.
4.6 If an Award granted as a 102 Trustee Grant is exercised during the Required Holding Period, the Shares issued upon such exercise shall be issued in the name of the Trustee for the benefit of the Eligible 102 Participant (or be subject to a supervisory trustee arrangement if approved by the ITA). If such an Award is exercised or settled after the Required Holding Period ends, the Shares issued upon such exercise or settlement shall, at the election of the Eligible 102 Participant, either (i) be issued in the name of the Trustee (or be subject to a supervisory trustee arrangement if approved by the ITA), or (ii) be transferred to the Eligible 102 Participant directly, provided that the Eligible 102 Participant first complies with all applicable provisions of the Plan and this Sub -Plan .
4.7 To avoid doubt: (i) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Section 6.3 thereof, payment upon exercise or purchase of Awards granted as a 102 Trustee Grant, may only be paid by cash or check, and not by surrender or withholding of Shares, or by reduction of shares pursuant to a Cashless Exercise, Stock Tender Exercise or Net Exercise arrangement, or other forms of payment, unless and to the extent permitted under Section 102 or as expressly authorized by the ITA; (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Section 4.3 thereof, certain adjustments and amendments to the terms of Awards granted under the 102 Capital Gains Track, including an exchange program, recapitalization events, and so forth, may disqualify the Options from benefitting from the tax benefits under the 102 Capital Gains Track, unless the prior approval of the ITA is obtained; (iii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Section 17.1 thereof, repurchase rights with regard to Awards made as 102 Capital Gains Track Grants shall be subject to compliance with Section 102 requirements and/or the express approval of the ITA; (iv) Stock Appreciation Rights may not be granted under the 102 Capital Gains Track unless and to the extent expressly authorized by the ITA; (v) grants of Restricted Stock Units under the 102 Capital Gains Track require the prior approval of the ITA; (vi) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Sections 9.4 and 10.5 thereof, Dividend Equivalents may not be settled in shares with respect to Awards granted under 102 Capital Gains Track Awards without the prior approval of the ITA; and (vii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, including without limitation Sections 3.3(e), 9.6 and 10.4 thereof, Awards granted under the 102 Capital Gains Track may only be settled in shares and not in cash, and Cash -Based Awards will not qualify under the 102 Capital Gains Track.
5. ASSIGNABILITY
As long as Awards or Shares are held by the Trustee on behalf of the Eligible 102 Participant, all rights of the Eligible 102 Participant over the Shares are personal, cannot be transferred, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, other than by will or laws of descent and distribution.
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6. TAX CONSEQUENCES
6.1 Any tax consequences arising from the grant or settlement of any Award, the exercise of any Option, the issuance, sale or transfer and payment for the Shares covered thereby, or from any other event or act (of the Company and/or its Affiliates and/or the Trustee and/or the Participant) relating to an Award or Shares issued thereupon shall be borne solely by the Participant. The Company and/or its Affiliates, and/or the Trustee shall withhold taxes according to the requirements under the applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including withholding taxes at source. Furthermore, the Participant shall agree to indemnify the Company and/or its Affiliates and/or the Trustee and hold them harmless against and from any and all liability for any such tax or interest or penalty thereon, including without limitation, liabilities relating to the necessity to withhold, or to have withheld, any such tax from any payment made to the Participant. The Company or any of its Affiliates, and the Trustee may make such provisions and take such steps as it/they may deem necessary or appropriate for the withholding of all taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to an Award granted under the Plan and the exercise, sale, transfer or other disposition thereof, including, but not limited, to (i) deducting the amount so required to be withheld from any other amount then or thereafter payable to a Participant, including by deducting any such amount payable to the Participant, to the maximum extent permitted under law; and/or (ii) requiring a Participant to pay to the Company or any of its Affiliates the amount so required to be withheld; and/or (iii) withholding otherwise deliverable Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount statutorily required to be withheld; and/or (iv) selling a sufficient number of such Shares otherwise deliverable to a Participant through such means as the Company may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on the Participant’s behalf pursuant to the Participant’s authorization as expressed by acceptance of the award under the terms herein), to the extent permitted by applicable law or pursuant to the approval of the ITA. In addition, the Participant will be required to pay any amount (including penalties) that exceeds the tax to be withheld and transferred to the tax authorities, pursuant to applicable tax laws, regulations and rules.
6.2 The Company does not represent or undertake that an Award will qualify for or comply with the requisites of any particular tax treatment (such as the “capital gains track” under Section 102), nor shall the Company, its assignees or successors be required to take any action for the qualification of any Award under such tax treatment. The Company shall have no liability of any kind or nature in the event that, as a result of application of applicable law, actions by the Trustee or any position or interpretation of the ITA, or for any other reason whatsoever, an Award shall be deemed to not qualify for any particular tax treatment.
6.3 With respect to Non -Trustee Grants, if the Eligible 102 Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any Affiliate, the Eligible 102 Participant shall extend to the Company and/or its Affiliate a security or guarantee for the payment of tax due at the time of sale of Shares to the satisfaction of the Company, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 of the ITO and the Rules.
7. SECURITIES LAWS
All awards hereunder shall be subject to compliance with the Israeli Securities Law, 1968, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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