As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 2021

Registration No. 333-          

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   81-4424170

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5204 Tennyson Parkway, Suite 500

Plano, TX 75024

(833) 528-2785

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Cognical, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan

Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full titles of the plans)

 

Karissa Cupito

Chief Financial Officer

5204 Tennyson Parkway, Suite 500

Plano, TX 75024

(833) 528-2785

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

 

Copies to:

Nicole Brookshire

Rupa Briggs

Cooley LLP

55 Hudson Yards

New York, NY 10001

(212) 479-6000

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered  

Amount
to be
Registered(1)

   

Proposed

Maximum

Offering
Price per Share

   

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price

   

Amount of

Registration Fee

 
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share                        
– 2021 Equity Incentive Plan     8,932,162 (2)      3.74 (3)      33,406,285.88 (3)    $ 3,644.63 (3) 
– 2014 Stock Incentive Plan     9,140,107 (4)      0.31 (5)      2,833,433.17 (5)      309.13 (5) 
Total     18,072,269           $ 36,239,719.05       3,953.75  

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock that become issuable under the above-named plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or any other similar transaction effected that results in an increase to the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

(2) Represents 8,932,162 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock currently reserved for issuance under the Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). To the extent that awards outstanding under the 2021 Plan expire or are terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of common stock acquired pursuant to an award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Registrant for an amount not greater than the participant’s purchase price, the shares allocable to the terminated portion of such award or such forfeited or repurchased shares will be available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan.
   
(3) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of $3.74 per share, the average of the high and low sale prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 12, 2021.
   
(4) Represents 9,140,107 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock underlying awards previously granted under the Cognical, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), as assumed by the Registrant on June 9, 2021 pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 18, 2020 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among FinServ, Keys Merger Sub 1, Inc., Keys Merger Sub 2, LLC, Katapult Holdings, Inc., the Registrant, and Orlando Zayas, in his capacity as the representative of all Pre-Closing Holders (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
   
(5) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee and based on an average weighted exercise price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1. Plan Information.*

 

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*

 

* The information required by Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this registration statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act or 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to participants in the Cognical, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan and in the Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (together with the 2014 Plan, the “Plans”) as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. These document(s) and the documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this form, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents filed by Katapult Holdings, Inc. (the “Registrant”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

 

(a) The Registrant’s proxy statement/prospectus relating to its Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended (File No. 333-252558), filed with the SEC under Rule 424(b) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on May 18, 2021, which contains the Registrant’s audited financial statements for the latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed;

 

(b) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 filed with the SEC on May 24, 2021;

 

(c) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 5, 2021, April 30, 2021, May 28, 2021 and June 8, 2021, and the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Form 8-K/A filed on June 30, 2021;

 

(d) The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock which is contained in a registration statement on Form 8-A filed on October 30, 2019 (File No. 001-39116) under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as updated in the section titled “Description of Securities” beginning on page 89 of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 originally filed by the Registrant with the SEC on June 30, 2021 (File No. 333-257583), as well as any additional amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

(e) All other reports and documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits furnished on such form that relate to such items) on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

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Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions.

 

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

 

In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of the Registrant’s stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate Registrant’s rights and those of Registrant’s stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on Registrant’s behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate the Registrant’s rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.

 

If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the liability of the Registrant’s directors to the Registrant or the Registrant’s stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by the Registrant’s stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.

 

The Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the Registrant will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify the Registrant’s current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of the Registrant’s corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by Registrant’s board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.

 

The right to indemnification which is conferred by the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by the Registrant’s officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of the Registrant’s corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.

 

3

 

 

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Registrant’s bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by the Registrant’s stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. The Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation also permits us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

 

The Registrant’s bylaws include the provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those which will be set forth in the Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, the Registrant’s bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. The Registrant’s bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at the Registrant’s expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant’s corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the Registrant’s bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by the Registrant’s board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its officers and directors. These agreements require the Registrant to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

The Registrant maintains standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to the Registrant with respect to indemnification payments that it may make to such directors and officers.

 

The Registrant has purchased and intends to maintain insurance on behalf of the Registrant and any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in that capacity, subject to certain exclusions and limits of the amount of coverage.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

4

 

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
4.1   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated June 9, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021).
     
4.2   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, dated June 9, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021).
     
4.3   Form of Common Stock Certificate of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021).
     
5.1*   Opinion of Cooley LLP.
     
23.1*   Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
     
23.2*   Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC.
     
23.3*   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
     
24.1*   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Form S-8).
     
99.1*   Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
     
99.2*   Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
     
99.3*   Cognical, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan.
     
99.4*   Forms of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

 

* Filed herewith.

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

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

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

 

5

 

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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

 

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

 

6

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on this 16th day of August, 2021.

 

  KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Orlando Zayas
    Orlando Zayas
    Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Orlando Zayas, Karissa Cupito, Derek Medlin, Tahmineh Maloney, each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with the full power of substitution, for him or her and in their name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Orlando Zayas   Chief Executive Officer   August 16, 2021
Orlando Zayas   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Karissa Cupito   Chief Financial Officer   August 16, 2021
Karissa Cupito   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Chris Masto   Director   August 16, 2021
Chris Masto        
         
/s/ Joanne Bradford   Director   August 16, 2021
Joanne Bradford        
         
/s/ Bruce Taragin   Director   August 16, 2021
Bruce Taragin        
         
/s/ Lee Einbinder   Director   August 16, 2021
Lee Einbinder        
         

/s/ Brian Hirsch

  Director   August 16, 2021

Brian Hirsch

       
         

/s/ Don Gayhardt

  Director   August 16, 2021
Don Gayhardt        

 

7

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

Nicole Brookshire

+1 212 479 6157

nbrookshire@cooley.com  

 

August 16, 2021

 

Katapult Holdings, Inc.

5204 Tennyson Parkway, Suite 500

Plano, TX 75024

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Katapult Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the offering of up to 18,072,269 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), consisting of (a) 9,140,107 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and (b) 8,932,162 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) (together with the 2014 Plan, the “Plans”).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

*****

 

Sincerely,

 

Cooley LLP  
   
By: /s/ Nicole Brookshire  
  Nicole Brookshire  

 

Cooley LLP 500 Boylston Street, 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02116-3736

T: 212 479 6157 F: 617 937 2400 COOLEY.COM

Exhibit 23.2

 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated May 5, 2021, which contains an explanatory paragraph about FinServ Acquisition Corp.’s ability to continue as a going concern, relating to the consolidated financial statements of FinServ Acquisition Corp. (as restated) appearing in Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-252558.

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC  
   
New York, New York  
August 16, 2021  

 

Exhibit 23.3

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated April 2, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Katapult Holdings, Inc., appearing in the Registration Statement No. 333-252558 on Form S-4 of Katapult Holdings, Inc.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

New York, New York

August 16, 2021

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katapult Holdings, Inc.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
1. Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan.   1
  1.1 Establishment   1
  1.2 Purpose   1
  1.3 Term of Plan   1
         
2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.   1
  2.1 Definitions   1
  2.2 Construction   7
         
3. Administration.   7
  3.1 Administration by the Committee   7
  3.2 Authority of Officers   7
  3.3 Administration with Respect to Insiders   7
  3.4 Powers of the Committee   7
  3.5 Option or SAR Repricing   8
  3.6 Indemnification   8
         
4. Shares Subject to Plan.   9
  4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable   9
  4.2 Share Counting   9
  4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure   9
  4.4 Assumption or Substitution of Awards   10
         
5. Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations.   10
  5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards   10
  5.2 Participation in the Plan   10
  5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations   10
  5.4 Nonemployee Director Award Limit   10
         
6. Stock Options.   11
  6.1 Exercise Price   11
  6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options   11
  6.3 Payment of Exercise Price.   11
  6.4 Effect of Termination of Service   12
  6.5 Transferability of Options   13
         
7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.   13
  7.1 Types of SARs Authorized   13
  7.2 Exercise Price   13
  7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs   13
  7.4 Exercise of SARs   14

 

-i-

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

        Page
  7.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs   14
  7.6 Effect of Termination of Service   14
  7.7 Transferability of SARs   14
         
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   15
  8.5 Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer   15
  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.   16
  9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards   16
  9.2 Purchase Price   16
  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
         
10. PERFORMANCE AWARDS.   18
  10.1 Types of Performance Awards Authorized   18
  10.2 Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units   18
  10.3 Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula   18
  10.4 Measurement of Performance Goals   18
  10.5 Settlement of Performance Awards   20
  10.6 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions   21
  10.7 Effect of Termination of Service   21
  10.8 Nontransferability of Performance Awards   22
         
11. Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.   22
  11.1 Grant of Cash-Based Awards   22
  11.2 Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards   22
  11.3 Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards   22
  11.4 Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards   22

 

-ii-

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

        Page
  11.5 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions   23
  11.6 Effect of Termination of Service   23
  11.7 Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards   23
         
12. Standard Forms of Award Agreement.   23
  12.1 Award Agreements   23
  12.2 Authority to Vary Terms   23
         
13. CHANGE IN CONTROL.   23
  13.1 Effect of Change in Control on Awards   23
  13.2 Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards   25
  13.3 Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code   25
         
14. Compliance with Securities Law.   25
         
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   27
         
16. Tax Withholding.   28
  16.1 Tax Withholding in General   28
  16.2 Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares   29
         
17. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan.   29
         
18. Miscellaneous Provisions.   29
  18.1 Repurchase Rights   29
  18.2 Forfeiture Events   29
  18.3 Provision of Information   30
  18.4 Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director   30
  18.5 Rights as a Stockholder   30
  18.6 Delivery of Title to Shares   30
  18.7 Fractional Shares   30
  18.8 Retirement and Welfare Plans   30
  18.9 Beneficiary Designation   30
  18.10 Severability   31
  18.11 No Constraint on Corporate Action   31
  18.12 Unfunded Obligation   31
  18.13 Choice of Law   31

 

-iii-

 

 

Katapult Holdings, Inc.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan

 

1. Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan.

 

1.1 Establishment. The Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby established effective as of June 9, 2021, the date of the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain merger agreement dated as of December 18, 2020, entered into by and between Katapult Holdings, Inc., FinServ Acquisition Corp., and certain other parties, following the Plan’s 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 earlier of the date that the Plan was approved by the Board or the stockholders of the Company.

 

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 to 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).

 

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(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 or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (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 (except with respect to a disclosure protected by applicable law); 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(dd)(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.

 

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(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 and, in such instances, references herein to the Committee shall mean the Board. Unless the Board specifically determines otherwise, each member of the Committee shall, at the time it takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan, be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and an “independent director” under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Stock is listed. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as “non-employee director” or an “independent director” shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

 

(k) Company” means Katapult Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation thereto.

 

(l) 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.

 

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

 

(n) Disability” means 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 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.

 

(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:

 

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(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) 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 or Section 422 of the Code to the extent applicable.

 

(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) 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.

 

(u) 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).

 

(v) Insider” means an Officer, a Director or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(w) Net Exercise” means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(iii).

 

(x) Nonemployee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

 

(y) Nonemployee Director Award” means any Award granted to a Nonemployee Director.

 

(z) 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.

 

(aa) Officer” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.

 

(bb) Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(cc) Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.

 

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(dd) 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).

 

(ee) Parent Corporation” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(ff) Participant” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.

 

(gg) Participating Company” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.

 

(hh) Participating Company Group” means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.

 

(ii) Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

 

(jj) 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.

 

(kk) Performance Goal” means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.

 

(ll) 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.

 

(mm) 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).

 

(nn) 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).

 

(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.

 

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(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 common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.

 

(zz) Stock Tender Exercise” means a Stock Tender Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).

 

(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.

 

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(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.

 

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 any, 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;

 

(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, (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;

 

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(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. Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, the Committee shall not 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 therefor of new Options or SARs having a lower exercise price, Full Value Awards or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof. This Section shall not be construed to apply to (i) “issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) applies,” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, (ii) adjustments pursuant to the assumption of or substitution for an Option or SAR in a manner that would comply with Section 409A, or (iii) an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.

 

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 8,932,162 shares.

 

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. 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 by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised. 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 only by the net number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares purchased in the open market with proceeds from the exercise of Options shall not be added to the limit set forth in Section 4.1. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the exercise or settlement of Options or SARs pursuant to Section 16.2 and Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the vesting or settlement of Full Value Awards pursuant to Section 16.2 shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Section 409A and Section 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 and in accordance with Section 409A and Section 424 of the Code to the extent applicable. 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 equity awards 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, without reducing the number of shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan. In addition, subject to compliance with applicable laws, and listing requirements, shares available for grant under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for awards under the Plan to individuals who were not Employees or Directors of the Participating Company Group prior to the transaction and shall not reduce the number of shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan.

 

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 not exceed 8,932,162 shares. 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 Nonemployee Director Award Limit. Annual compensation awarded to any Nonemployee Director during each calendar year, including both shares of Stock subject to Awards and any cash fees paid to such Nonemployee Director (but excluding any cash retainer fees, including cash retainer fees converted into equity awards at the election of the Nonemployee Director, expense reimbursements or distributions from any deferred compensation program applicable to the Nonemployee Director), may not exceed $1,000,000 in total value, or $2,000,000 in the calendar year in which any Nonemployee Director is initially elected to the Board (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes).

 

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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 (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the 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, 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. 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 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) if permitted by the Committee, 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 or in an Award Agreement, 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 for any reason other than Cause.

 

(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.

 

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(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.

 

(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) or an Award Agreement 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.

 

6.5 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 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.

 

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.

 

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(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 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 and set forth in the Award Agreement, 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. The Company may elect to discontinue the deemed exercise of SARs pursuant to this Section 7.5 at any time upon notice to a Participant or to apply the deemed exercise feature only to certain groups of Participants. The deemed exercise of a SAR pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall apply only to a SAR that has been timely accepted by a Participant under procedures specified by the Company from time to time.

 

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 or in an Award Agreement, 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.

 

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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 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.

 

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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.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

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 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 15th 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 or an Election (as defined in Section 15.2). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement 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.

 

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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.

 

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.

 

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 business or financial performance or other criteria established by the Committee (each, a “Performance Measure”), subject to the following:

 

(a) Performance Measures. Performance Measures based on objective criteria shall be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, or, if such measures are not reported in the Company’s financial statements, they shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, a method used generally in the Company’s industry, or in accordance with a methodology established by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award. Performance Measures based on subjective criteria shall be determined on the basis established by the Committee in granting the Award. As specified by the Committee, Performance Measures may be calculated with respect to the Company and each Subsidiary Corporation consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes, one or more Subsidiary Corporations or such division or other business unit of any of them selected by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award, the Performance Measures applicable to the Performance Award shall be calculated prior to the accrual of expense for any Performance Award for the same Performance Period and excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) on the Performance Measures of any change in accounting standards or any unusual or infrequently occurring event or transaction, as determined by the Committee, occurring after the establishment of the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of Performance Measures in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect to a Performance Award. Performance Measures may be based upon one or more of the following, without limitation, as determined by the Committee:

 

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(i) revenue;

 

(ii) sales;

 

(iii) expenses;

 

(iv) operating income;

 

(v) gross margin;

 

(vi) operating margin;

 

(vii) earnings before any one or more of: stock-based compensation expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;

 

(viii) pre-tax profit;

 

(ix) net operating income;

 

(x) net income;

 

(xi) economic value added;

 

(xii) free cash flow;

 

(xiii) operating cash flow;

 

(xiv) balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities;

 

(xv) stock price;

 

(xvi) earnings per share;

 

(xvii) return on stockholder equity;

 

(xviii) return on capital;

 

(xix) return on assets;

 

(xx) return on investment;

 

(xxi) total stockholder return;

 

(xxii) employee satisfaction;

 

(xxiii) employee retention;

 

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(xxiv) market share;

 

(xxv) customer satisfaction;

 

(xxvi) product development;

 

(xxvii) research and development expenses;

 

(xxviii) completion of an identified special project;

 

(xxix) completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction; and

 

(xxx) personal performance objectives established for an individual Participant or group of Participants.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee retains discretion to select any other Performance Measures whether or not listed herein.

 

(b) Performance Targets. Performance Targets may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the Performance Target level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value, an increase or decrease in a value, or as a value determined relative to an index, budget or other standard selected by the Committee.

 

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 determine 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 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 in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.

 

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(e) Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination 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 and set forth in the Award Agreement. 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 or an Election. 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.

 

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.

 

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(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.

 

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 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.

 

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 and set forth in the Award Agreement. 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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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.

 

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 Company-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. In the event of a Change in Control, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the definitive agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the Change in Control. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee may provide in an Award Agreement or otherwise for any one or more of the following:

 

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(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. 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, with appropriate adjustments in accordance with Section 4.3. 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 notice or 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 or, if determined by the Committee and in compliance with Section 409A, as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control.

 

(d) Adjustments and Earnouts. In making any determination pursuant to this Section 13.1 in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that an Award shall or shall not be subject to the same post-closing purchase price adjustments, escrow terms, offset rights, holdback terms, earnouts and similar conditions as the other holders of the Company’s Stock, subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Section 409A or Section 424 of the Code.

 

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13.2 Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, including as provided by Section 15.4(f), in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Nonemployee Director Award shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full and, except to the extent assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 13.1(b) or otherwise restricted by Section 409A, shall be settled effective immediately prior to the time of consummation of the Change in Control.

 

13.3 Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code.

 

(a) Excess Parachute Payment. If any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, then, provided such election would not subject the Participant to taxation under Section 409A, the Participant may elect to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization.

 

(b) Determination by Tax Firm. To aid the Participant in making any election called for under Section 13.3(a), no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an “excess parachute payment” to the Participant as described in Section 13.3(a), the Company shall request a determination in writing by the professional firm engaged by the Company for general tax purposes, or, if the tax firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the Acquiror, the Company will appoint a nationally recognized tax firm to make the determinations required by this Section (the “Tax Firm”). As soon as practicable thereafter, the Tax Firm shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant. For the purposes of such determination, the Tax Firm may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Tax Firm such information and documents as the Tax Firm may reasonably request in order to make its required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Tax Firm charges in connection with its services contemplated by this Section.

 

14. Compliance with Securities Law.

 

The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock 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:

 

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(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.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period” means the 2 1/2 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 and the Company, 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)(vi) 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 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;

 

(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 or commence upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.

 

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(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 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.

 

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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.

 

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. In addition, to the extent that claw-back or similar provisions applicable to Awards are required by applicable law, listing standards and/or policies adopted by the Company, Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to such provisions.

 

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(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 stockholders.

 

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 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.

 

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. In addition, unless a written employment agreement or other service agreement specifically references Awards, a general reference to “benefits” or a similar term in such agreement shall not be deemed to refer to Awards granted hereunder.

 

18.9 Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.

 

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18.10 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.

 

18.11 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.

 

18.12 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.

 

18.13 Choice of Law. Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

 

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In Witness Whereof, the undersigned Officer of the Company certifies that the foregoing sets forth the Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as duly adopted by the Board on April 1, 2021.

 

  /s/ Derek Medlin
  Derek Medlin, Chief Operating Officer

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.

NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION

(U.S. Participants)

 

Katapult Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company) has granted to the Participant an option (the Option) to purchase certain shares of Stock pursuant to the Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan), as follows:

 

Participant:   _______________ Employee ID:  _______________  
           
Date of Grant:   _______________  
       
Number of Option Shares:   _______________, subject to adjustment as provided by the Option Agreement.  
       
Exercise Price:   $______________  
       
Vesting Start Date:   _______________  
       
Option Expiration Date:   The tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant  
       
Tax Status of Option:   _______________ Stock Option. (Enter “Incentive” or “Nonstatutory.”If blank, this Option will be a Nonstatutory Stock Option.)  
       
Vested Shares:   Except as provided in the Option Agreement and provided the Participant’s Service has not terminated prior to the applicable date, the number of Vested Shares (disregarding any resulting fractional share) as of any date is determined by multiplying the Number of Option Shares by the “Vested Ratio” determined as of such date, as follows:  

 

        Vested Ratio  
    Prior to first anniversary of Vesting Start Date   0  
           
    On first anniversary of Vesting Start Date (the “Initial Vesting Date”)   1/4  
           
    Plus      
    For each additional full month of the Participant’s Service from the Initial Vesting Date until the Vested Ratio equals 1/1, an additional   1/48  

 

Exercisability Limitation:   Notwithstanding the vested status of any Option shares, and notwithstanding anything in this Grant Notice or in the Option Agreement to the contrary, the vested Option shall not be exercisable and cannot be exercised until after the date that a registration statement on Form S-8 becomes effective under the Securities Act.  
       
Superseding Agreement:   None.    

 

By their signatures below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, the Company and the Participant agree that the Option is governed by this Grant Notice and by the provisions of the Option Agreement and the Plan, both of which are made a part of this document, and by the Superseding Agreement, if any. The Participant acknowledges that copies of the Plan, the Option Agreement and the prospectus for the Plan are available on the Company’s internal web site and may be viewed and printed by the Participant for attachment to the Participant’s copy of this Grant Notice. The Participant represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with the provisions of the Option Agreement and the Plan, and hereby accepts the Option subject to all of their terms and conditions.

 

KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.   PARTICIPANT
     
By:    
  [Officer Name]   Signature
  [Officer Title]  
       
    Date
       
ATTACHMENTS: 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, Stock Option Agreement, Exercise Notice and Plan Prospectus

 

 

 

 

KATAPULT HOLDINGS, INC.

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

(U.S. Participants)

 

Katapult Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), has granted to the Participant named in the Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the Grant Notice) to which this Stock Option Agreement (the Option Agreement) is attached an option (the Option) to purchase a number of shares of Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Option Agreement. The Option has been granted pursuant to and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions of the Katapult Holdings, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan), as amended, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. By signing the Grant Notice, the Participant: (a) acknowledges receipt of, and represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with, the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement, the Plan and a prospectus for the Plan prepared in connection with the registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of shares issuable pursuant to the Option (the Plan Prospectus), (b) accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan and (c) agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement or the Plan.

 

1. Definitions and Construction.

 

1.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Grant Notice or the Plan.

 

1.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Option Agreement. 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.

 

2. Tax Consequences.

 

2.1 Tax Status of Option. This Option is intended to have the tax status designated in the Grant Notice.

 

(a) Incentive Stock Option. If the Grant Notice so designates, this Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code, but the Company does not represent or warrant that this Option qualifies as such. The Participant should consult with the Participant’s own tax advisor regarding the tax effects of this Option and the requirements necessary to obtain favorable income tax treatment under Section 422 of the Code, including, but not limited to, holding period requirements. (NOTE TO PARTICIPANT: If the Option is exercised more than three (3) months after the date on which you cease to be an Employee (other than by reason of your death or permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), the Option will be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option and not as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code.)

 

(b) Nonstatutory Stock Option. If the Grant Notice so designates, this Option is intended to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option and shall not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

 

 

 

 

2.2 ISO Fair Market Value Limitation. If the Grant Notice designates this Option as an Incentive Stock Option, then to the extent that the Option (together with all Incentive Stock Options granted to the Participant under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) becomes exercisable for the first time during any calendar year for shares having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 2.2, options designated as Incentive Stock Options are taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock is determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a different limitation from that set forth in this Section 2.2, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If the 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 2.2, 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. Separate certificates representing each such portion shall be issued upon the exercise of the Option. (NOTE TO PARTICIPANT: If the aggregate Exercise Price of the Option (that is, the Exercise Price multiplied by the Number of Option Shares) plus the aggregate exercise price of any other Incentive Stock Options you hold (whether granted pursuant to the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Participating Company Group) is greater than $100,000, you should contact the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to ascertain whether the entire Option qualifies as an Incentive Stock Option.)

 

3. Administration.

 

All questions of interpretation concerning the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement, the Plan or any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or the Option shall be determined by the Committee. All such determinations by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Option, 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 the Option 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 in the Option. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, or election.

 

4. Exercise of the Option.

 

4.1 Right to Exercise. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Option shall be exercisable on and after the Initial Vesting Date and prior to the termination of the Option (as provided in Section 6) in an amount not to exceed the number of Vested Shares less the number of shares previously acquired upon exercise of the Option. In no event shall the Option be exercisable for more shares than the Number of Option Shares, as adjusted pursuant to Section 9.

 

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4.2 Method of Exercise. Exercise of the Option shall be by means of electronic or written notice (the Exercise Notice) in a form authorized by the Company. An electronic Exercise Notice must be digitally signed or authenticated by the Participant in such manner as required by the notice and transmitted to the Company or an authorized representative of the Company (including a third-party administrator designated by the Company). In the event that the Participant is not authorized or is unable to provide an electronic Exercise Notice, the Option shall be exercised by a written Exercise Notice addressed to the Company, which shall be signed by the Participant and delivered in person, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by confirmed facsimile transmission, or by such other means as the Company may permit, to the Company, or an authorized representative of the Company (including a third-party administrator designated by the Company). Each Exercise Notice, whether electronic or written, must state the Participant’s election to exercise the Option, the number of whole shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised and such other representations and agreements as to the Participant’s investment intent with respect to such shares as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this Option Agreement. Further, each Exercise Notice must be received by the Company prior to the termination of the Option as set forth in Section 6 and must be accompanied by full payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such electronic or written Exercise Notice and the aggregate Exercise Price.

 

4.3 Payment of Exercise Price.

 

(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Company and subject to the limitations contained in Section 4.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, (2) a Net-Exercise, or (3) a Stock Tender Exercise; or (iii) by any combination of the foregoing.

 

(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration. 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 procedure providing for payment of the Exercise Price through any of the means described below, including with respect to the Participant notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to others. Any determination by the Company with respect to whether to permit the withholding or tendering of shares of Stock to satisfy the Exercise Price shall be made by the Committee if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(i) Cashless Exercise. A Cashless Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed Exercise Notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker in a form acceptable to the Company providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to shares of Stock acquired upon the exercise of the Option in an amount not less than the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares (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).

 

(ii) Net-Exercise. A Net-Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed Exercise Notice electing a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the 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. Following a Net-Exercise, the number of shares remaining subject to the Option, if any, shall be reduced by the sum of (1) the net number of shares issued to the Participant upon such exercise, and (2) the number of shares deducted by the Company for payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.

 

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(iii) Stock Tender Exercise. A Stock Tender Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed Exercise Notice accompanied by (1) the Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock 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’s payment to the Company in cash of the remaining balance of such aggregate Exercise Price not satisfied by such shares’ Fair Market Value. 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, the 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.

 

4.4 Tax Withholding.

 

(a) In General. At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by a Participating Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for (including by means of a Cashless Exercise to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax (including any social insurance) withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group, if any, which arise in connection with the Option. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock until the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group have been satisfied by the Participant.

 

(b) Withholding in Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Participant to satisfy all or any portion of a Participating Company’s tax withholding obligations upon exercise of the Option by deducting from the shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon such exercise a number of whole shares having a fair market value, as determined by the Company as of the date of exercise, not in excess of the amount of such tax withholding obligations determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates if required to avoid liability classification of the Option under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Any determination by the Company with respect to whether to permit the withholding of shares of Stock to satisfy the tax withholding obligations shall be made by the Committee if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

4.5 Beneficial Ownership of Shares; Certificate Registration. The Participant hereby authorizes the Company, in its sole discretion, to deposit for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship of which the Company has notice any or all shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to the exercise of the Option. Except as provided by the preceding sentence, a certificate for the shares as to which the Option is exercised shall be registered in the name of the Participant, or, if applicable, in the names of the heirs of the Participant.

 

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4.6 Restrictions on Grant of the Option and Issuance of Shares. The grant of the Option and the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities. The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, the Option may not be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. THE PARTICIPANT IS CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE PARTICIPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. 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 subject to the Option 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 the exercise of the Option, 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.

 

4.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise of the Option.

 

5. Nontransferability of the Option.

 

During the lifetime of the Participant, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. The 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. Following the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent provided in Section 7, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

6. Termination of the Option.

 

The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised after the first to occur of (a) the close of business on the Option Expiration Date, (b) the close of business on the last date for exercising the Option following termination of the Participant’s Service as described in Section 7, or (c) a Change in Control to the extent provided in Section 8.

 

7. Effect of Termination of Service.

 

7.1 Option Exercisability. The 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 as determined below and thereafter shall terminate.

 

(a) 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 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) 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 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 after the Participant’s termination of Service other than for Cause.

 

(c) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Option Agreement 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.

 

(d) 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 by the Participant 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 after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

 

7.2 Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of the Participant’s Service for Cause, if the exercise of the Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 7.1 is prevented by the provisions of Section 4.6, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (a) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions, or (b) the end of the applicable time period under Section 7.1, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

 

8. Effect of Change in Control.

 

In the event of a Change in Control, the Option shall be subject to and treated as set forth in Section 13 of the Plan.

 

9. Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure.

 

The Option shall be subject to and treated as set forth in Section 4.3 of the Plan.

 

10. Rights as a Stockholder, Director, Employee or Consultant.

 

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of the shares for which the Option has been exercised (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 the shares are issued, except as provided in Section 9. If the Participant is an Employee, the Participant understands and acknowledges that, except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between a Participating Company and the Participant, the Participant’s employment is “at will” and is for no specified term. Nothing in this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the Service of a Participating Company or interfere in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the Participant’s Service as a Director, an Employee or Consultant, as the case may be, at any time.

 

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11. Notice of Sales Upon Disqualifying Disposition.

 

The Participant shall dispose of the shares acquired pursuant to the Option only in accordance with the provisions of this Option Agreement. In addition, if the Grant Notice designates this Option as an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant shall (a) promptly notify the Chief Financial Officer of the Company if the Participant disposes of any of the shares acquired pursuant to the Option within one (1) year after the date the Participant exercises all or part of the Option or within two (2) years after the Date of Grant and (b) provide the Company with a description of the circumstances of such disposition. Until such time as the Participant disposes of such shares in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Option Agreement, unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Company, the Participant shall hold all shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the Participant’s name (and not in the name of any nominee) for the one-year period immediately after the exercise of the Option and the two-year period immediately after Date of Grant. At any time during the one-year or two-year periods set forth above, the Company may place a legend on any certificate representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option requesting the transfer agent for the Company’s stock to notify the Company of any such transfers. The obligation of the Participant to notify the Company of any such transfer shall continue notwithstanding that a legend has been placed on the certificate pursuant to the preceding sentence.

 

12. Legends.

 

The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of stock subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, legends placed on such certificates may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

 

“THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED BY THE CORPORATION TO THE REGISTERED HOLDER UPON EXERCISE OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 422 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (“ISO). IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PREFERENTIAL TAX TREATMENT AFFORDED TO ISOs, THE SHARES SHOULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO EITHER THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF GRANT OR THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF EXERCISE. SHOULD THE REGISTERED HOLDER ELECT TO TRANSFER ANY OF THE SHARES PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND FOREGO ISO TAX TREATMENT, THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE SHARES SHALL NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IMMEDIATELY. THE REGISTERED HOLDER SHALL HOLD ALL SHARES PURCHASED UNDER THE INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION IN THE REGISTERED HOLDER’S NAME (AND NOT IN THE NAME OF ANY NOMINEE) PRIOR TO THIS DATE OR UNTIL TRANSFERRED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.”

 

13. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

13.1 Termination or Amendment. The Committee may terminate or amend the Plan or the Option at any time; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 8 in connection with a Change in Control, no such termination or amendment may have a materially adverse effect on the Option or any unexercised portion thereof without the consent of the Participant unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law or government regulation. No amendment or addition to this Option Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.

 

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13.2 Further Instruments. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Option Agreement.

 

13.3 Binding Effect. This Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

13.4 Delivery of Documents and Notices. Any document relating to participation in the Plan or any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this Option Agreement provides for effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such notice) upon personal delivery, electronic delivery at the e-mail address, if any, provided for the Participant by a Participating Company, or upon deposit in the U.S. Post Office or foreign postal service, by registered or certified mail, or with a nationally recognized overnight courier service, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address of such party set forth in the Grant Notice or at such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party.

 

(a) Description of Electronic Delivery and Signature. The Plan documents, which may include but do not necessarily include: the Plan, the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement, the Plan Prospectus, and any reports of the Company provided generally to the Company’s stockholders, may be delivered to the Participant electronically. In addition, if permitted by the Company, the Participant may deliver electronically the Grant Notice and Exercise Notice called for by Section 4.2 to the Company or to such third party involved in administering the Plan as the Company may designate from time to time. Such means of electronic delivery may include but do not necessarily include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the Internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other means of electronic delivery specified by the Company. Any and all such documents and notices may be electronically signed.

 

(b) Consent to Electronic Delivery and Signature. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has read Section 13.4(a) of this Option Agreement and consents to the electronic delivery of the Plan documents and, if permitted by the Company, the delivery of the Grant Notice and Exercise Notice, as described in Section 13.4(a). The Participant agrees that any and all such documents requiring a signature may be electronically signed and that such electronic signature shall have the same effect as handwritten signature for the purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility. The Participant acknowledges that he or she may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost to the Participant by contacting the Company by telephone or in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that the Participant will be provided with a paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. Similarly, the Participant understands that the Participant must provide the Company or any designated third party administrator with a paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. The Participant may revoke his or her consent to the electronic delivery of documents described in Section 13.4(a) or may change the electronic mail address to which such documents are to be delivered (if the Participant has provided an electronic mail address) at any time by notifying the Company of such revoked consent or revised e-mail address by telephone, postal service or electronic mail. Finally, the Participant understands that he or she is not required to consent to electronic delivery of documents described in Section 13.4(a).

 

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13.5 Integrated Agreement. The Grant Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan, together with the Superseding Agreement, if any, shall constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersede any prior agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties among the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to such subject matter. To the extent contemplated herein, the provisions of the Grant Notice, the Option Agreement and the Plan shall survive any exercise of the Option and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

13.6 Applicable Law. This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware as such laws are applied to agreements between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware.

 

13.7 Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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Exhibit 99.3

 

COGNICAL, INC.

 

2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Section 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

 

The name of the plan is the Cognical, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees or directors of, and consultants (whether individuals or entities) to, Cognical, Inc. (including any successor entity, the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

 

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Affiliate” of any Person means a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the first mentioned Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses directly or indirectly the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of the second Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards or any combination of the foregoing.

 

Bankruptcy” shall mean (i) the filing of a voluntary petition under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, or a petition for the appointment of a receiver or the making of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, with respect to the Holder, (ii) the Holder being subjected involuntarily to such a petition or assignment or to an attachment or other legal or equitable interest with respect to the Holder’s assets, which involuntary petition or assignment or attachment is not discharged within 60 days after its date, or (iii) the Holder being subject to a transfer of its Issued Shares by operation of law, except by reason of death or divorce.

 

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Cause” means, except as otherwise defined in an Award agreement, dismissal as a result of (i) the commission of any act by a Grantee constituting financial dishonesty against the Company or its Subsidiaries (which act would be chargeable as a crime under applicable law); (ii) a Grantee’s engaging in any other act of dishonesty, fraud, intentional misrepresentation, moral turpitude, illegality or harassment which, as determined in good faith by the Board, would: (A) materially adversely affect the business or the reputation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with their respective current or prospective customers, suppliers, lenders and/or other third parties with whom such entity does or might do business; or (B) expose the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a risk of civil or criminal legal damages, liabilities or penalties; (iii) the repeated failure by a Grantee to follow the lawful directives of the chief executive officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Board; or (iv) any material misconduct, violation of the Company’s or Subsidiaries’ policies, or willful and deliberate non-performance of duty by the Grantee in connection with the business affairs of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

 

Committee” means the Committee of the Board referred to in Section 2.

 

Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company, as set forth at the end of this Plan.

 

Eligible Person” means any Person who is a full- or part-time officer, employee or director of, or a consultant (including an entity) to, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Fair Market Value “ of a Share means (i) if the Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the closing price on the date of determination reported in the table entitled “New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions” contained in The Wall Street Journal (or an equivalent successor table) (or, if no sale of Shares was reported for such date, on the most recent trading day prior to such date on which a sale of Shares was reported); (ii) if there is a public market for the Shares but they are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the closing sales price of the Shares on such other national exchange on which the Shares are principally traded, or as reported by the National Market System, or similar organization, as reported in the appropriate table or listing contained in The Wall Street Journal, or if no such quotations are available, the average of the high bid and low asked quotations in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated or similar organizations; or (iii) in the event that there is no public market for the Shares, the fair market value of the Shares as determined (which determination shall be conclusive) in good faith by the Committee.

 

Grantee” means any Person who has received an Award hereunder.

 

Holder” means, with respect to an Award or any Issued Shares, the Grantee of the Award or Issued Shares and Permitted Transferee of such Award or Issued Shares. The term “Holder” shall not include any transferee of Issued Shares who is not a Permitted Transferee.

 

Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

Issued Shares” means, collectively, all outstanding Shares issued pursuant to Restricted Stock Awards, all outstanding Shares issued pursuant to Unrestricted Stock Awards, and all Option Shares.

 

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

 

Option” or “Stock Option” means any option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 6.

 

Option Shares” means outstanding Shares that were issued to a Holder upon the exercise of a Stock Option.

 

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Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of the corporations owns stock possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

Permitted Transferees” shall mean Grantee’s spouse, former spouse, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, parent, grandparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, including adoptive relationships (“family members”), a trust in which the Grantee and the Grantee’s family members have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interests or any other entity in which the Grantee and Grantee’s family members own more than 50 percent of the voting interests. Upon the death of the Grantee, the term Permitted Transferees shall also include such deceased Grantee’s estate, executives, administrators, personal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees, as the case may be.

 

Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership (limited or general), limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization or any similar entity.

 

Repurchase Event” means (i) a Termination of Service, (ii) the Holder’s Bankruptcy, (iii) the consummation of a Sale Event, or (iv) a Restrictive Covenant Breach.

 

Restricted Stock Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7 and “Restricted Stock” means Shares granted pursuant to such Awards.

 

Restrictive Covenant Breach” means a breach by the Grantee of an Award of any written non-competition covenant, non-solicitation covenant or confidentiality covenant owing to the Company, determined in each such case by the Board in its good faith judgment. The date of a Restrictive Covenant Breach shall be deemed to be the date upon which the Board or chief executive officer of the Company first learns of such Restrictive Covenant Breach.

 

Sale Event” means the consummation of (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated Person, (iii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the outstanding Shares are converted into or exchanged for securities of the successor entity and the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the successor entity immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iv) the sale of all or a majority of the outstanding Stock of the Company to an unrelated Person, or (v) any other transaction (but excluding any equity financing by the Company) in which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or a successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction.

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Shares” means shares of Stock, and such other securities of the Company or successor entity as may be substituted for Shares pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof.

 

Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

 

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Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

Termination of Service” means the termination of the Grantee’s employment or service relationship with the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries for any reason whatsoever, regardless of the circumstances thereof, and including, without limitation, upon death, disability, retirement, discharge or resignation for any reason, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. A Termination of Service will also occur if a Grantee’s employment or service relationship with the Company and its Parents or Subsidiaries terminates as a result of one or more transactions causing the Grantee’s employer (or the Person for whom such Grantee performs services) to cease to be a Subsidiary or Parent with respect to the Company. The following shall not constitute a Termination of Service: (i) a transfer to the employment or service of the Company from a Subsidiary or Parent or from the Company to a Subsidiary or Parent, or from one Subsidiary or Parent to another Subsidiary or Parent or (ii) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Committee, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing.

 

Unrestricted Stock Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 8 and “Unrestricted Stock” means Shares granted pursuant to such Awards.

 

Section 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; COMMITTEE AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

 

(a) Administration of Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, or at the discretion of the Board, by a committee of the Board, composed of not less than two directors. All references herein to the Committee shall be deemed to refer to the group then responsible for administration of the Plan at the relevant time (i.e., either the Board or a committee or committees of the Board, as applicable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of Awards to non-employee directors, “Committee” shall mean the full Board. In the event that the Company has a class of securities that is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall be composed of two or more directors of the Company, each of whom shall qualify as a “non-employee director” under Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act.

 

(b) Powers of Committee. The Committee shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

 

(i) to select the individuals and/or entities to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

 

(ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more Grantees;

 

(iii) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by any Award;

 

(iv) to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and Grantees, and to approve the form of written instruments evidencing the Awards;

 

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(v) to amend, with the consent of the Grantee, the terms of any outstanding Award at any time, among other things, to change the exercise price of any Stock Option or to permit transfers of such Awards to the extent permitted by the Plan; provided that the consent of the Grantee shall not be required for any amendment (i) that does not adversely affect the rights of the Grantee, (ii) that is necessary or advisable (as determined by the Committee) to carry out the purpose of the Award as a result of any new applicable law or change in an existing applicable law, or (iii) to the extent the Plan or Award specifically permits amendment without consent;

 

(vi) to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;

 

(vii) to impose any limitations on Awards granted under the Plan, including limitations on transfers, repurchase provisions and the like and to exercise repurchase rights or obligations;

 

(viii) subject to any restrictions applicable to Incentive Stock Options, to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised;

 

(ix) to appoint such agents as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

 

(x) at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

 

All decisions and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding on all Persons, including the Company and Grantees.

 

(c) Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Committee, nor any member of either or any delegatee thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Committee (and any delegatee thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time.

 

Section 3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; CHANGES IN STOCK; SUBSTITUTION

 

(a) Stock Issuable. The maximum number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 1,539,290 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b). For purposes of this limitation, the Shares underlying any Awards that are forfeited, canceled, reacquired by the Company, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitation, Shares may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award. The Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares reacquired by the Company and held in its treasury.

 

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(b) Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 4 hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split spin-off or split-up or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of Shares or other securities of the Company, or additional Shares or new or different Shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such Shares or other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding Shares are converted into or exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Committee shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the repurchase price per Share subject to each outstanding Award, if any, and (iv) the exercise price and/or exchange price for each Share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options) or the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which such Stock Options remain exercisable. Any such adjustment shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v)(D) and 1.424-1(a)(5) as determined by the Committee in good-faith and any such adjustment by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive on all Persons. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Committee in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional Shares.

 

The Committee may also adjust the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration material changes in accounting practices or principles, extraordinary dividends, acquisitions or dispositions of stock or property or any other event if it is determined by the Committee that such adjustment is appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan; provided, however, that no such adjustment shall be made if it would constitute a modification, extension or renewal of a Stock Option within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v) or Section 1.424-1(e).

 

(c) Substitute Awards. The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock based awards held by officers, employees or directors of, or consultants to, another corporation (the “employing corporation”) in connection with a merger or consolidation of such employing corporation with the Company or a Subsidiary or upon such employer corporation becoming a Subsidiary hereunder in connection with a merger, consolidation, or stock purchase of such employer corporation or its parent corporation by the Company or any Subsidiary or upon such officer, employee or director of, or consultant to, such employer corporation in connection with an acquisition property of the employing corporation by the Company or a Subsidiary. The Committee may direct that the substitute Awards be granted on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances; provided, however, that the terms of any substitute Option granted pursuant to this Section 3(c) must comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and 424 such that any Options granted in substitution of incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code shall qualify as Incentive Stock Options and any other Options granted pursuant to this Section 3(c) in substitution of non-qualified options granted shall not cause the Grantee of such substitute Options to be subject to taxation under Code Section 409A with respect to such Options. Any substitute Awards granted under the Plan shall not count against the Share limitation set forth in Section 3(a).

 

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Section 4. TREATMENT UPON SALE EVENT OR OTHER EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTION

 

(a) Options.

 

(i) In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the Committee shall have the right (but not the obligation) to accelerate the vesting with respect to any or all of the outstanding Options. Upon the consummation of a Sale Event, the Plan and all Options issued hereunder (both vested and unvested) shall terminate upon the effective time of any such Sale Event unless provision is made in connection with the Sale Event in the sole discretion of the parties thereto for the assumption or continuation of Options theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Options with new Options of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of Shares and, if appropriate, the per Share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree (after taking into account any acceleration hereunder).

 

(ii) In the event of the termination of the Plan and all Options issued hereunder pursuant to a Sale Event, each Holder of Options shall be permitted, within a specified period prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Committee, to exercise all such Options that are then exercisable or that will become exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event; provided, however, that the exercise of any Options not exercisable prior to the Sale Event shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Sale Event.

 

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4(a)(i), in the event of a Sale Event pursuant to which holders of the Stock of the Company immediately prior to the consummation of such Sale Event will receive upon consummation thereof, a cash payment for each Share surrendered in the Sale Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make or provide for a cash payment to the Grantees holding vested Options (including Options (if any) that vest as a result of such Sale Event) in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the value, as determined by the Committee, of the consideration payable per Share pursuant to the Sale Event (the “Sale Price”) times the number of Shares subject to outstanding vested Options (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding vested Options.

 

(b) Option Shares and Restricted Stock Awards. Unless otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, Option Shares and Shares of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the repurchase right set forth in Section 9(c)(i) and 9(c)(ii), respectively.

 

(c) Unrestricted Stock Awards. Unless otherwise provided herein or in an Award agreement, any Shares of Unrestricted Stock shall be treated in a Sale Event the same as all other Shares then outstanding.

 

Section 5. ELIGIBILITY

 

The Committee may in its discretion grant Awards to any Person who is an Eligible Person at the time such Award is granted, whether or not such Person has previously received an Award.

 

Section 6. STOCK OPTIONS

 

(a) Nature of Stock Options. A Stock Option is an Award entitling the Grantee to acquire, upon payment of the exercise price per Share, as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Option Agreement, Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The grant of a Stock Option is contingent on the Grantee executing the Stock Option agreement. The terms and conditions of each such agreement shall be determined by the Committee, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and Grantees.

 

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Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. To the extent that any Option is not designated as an Incentive Stock Option or does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(b) Grants of Stock Options. The Committee in its discretion may grant Stock Options to any Person who is an Eligible Person on the date the Stock Option is granted. Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable. If the Committee so determines, Stock Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the Grantee’s advance written election delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Committee, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish.

 

(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of Stock covered by a Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (a “Ten Percent Owner”), the exercise price per Share of Stock covered by any Incentive Stock Option granted to such employee shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the grant date.

 

(ii) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the Stock Option is granted. If an employee is a Ten Percent Owner on the grant date of an Incentive Stock Option granted to such employee, the term of such Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

 

(iii) Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Stock Option agreement. The Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. A Grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to Shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options. A Grantee shall not be deemed to have acquired any such Shares unless and until a Stock Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company shall have issued and delivered the Shares to the Grantee, and the Grantee’s name shall have been entered on the books of the Company as a stockholder.

 

(iv) Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods or as otherwise provided by the Committee:

 

(A) in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Committee in U.S. funds payable to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the applicable exercise price for each Option Share purchased;

 

(B) by the Grantee delivering to the Company a promissory note if the Board has expressly authorized the loan of funds to the Grantee for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Grantee to effect the exercise of his or her Stock Option; provided that at least so much of the exercise price as represents the par value of the Stock shall be paid other than with a promissory note if otherwise required by state law; or

 

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(C) if permitted by the Committee, through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of Shares beneficially owned by the Grantee which are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. Such surrendered Shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date.

 

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. No certificates for Shares so purchased will be issued to the Grantee until the Company has completed all steps required by law to be taken in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares, including, without limitation, (i) receipt of a representation from the Grantee at the time of exercise of the Option that the Grantee is purchasing the Shares for the Grantee’s own account and not with a view to any sale or distribution thereof, (ii) the legending of any certificate representing the Shares to evidence the foregoing representations and restrictions, and (iii) obtaining from Grantee payment or provision for all withholding taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Option. The delivery of certificates representing the Shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the Grantee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such Shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Option Award agreement or applicable provisions of laws. In the event a Grantee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously owned Shares through the attestation method, the number of Shares transferred to the Grantee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of Shares attested to.

 

(c) Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan or under any other plan maintained by the Company, any of its Parents or any of its Subsidiaries become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(d) Exercisability of Incentive Stock Option Following Termination of Employment. An Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder shall not qualify for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code unless the Grantee is an employee of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company at all times during the period commencing on the date of grant and ending (i) on the day three (3) months prior to the date the Option is exercised, or (ii) if the Grantee is disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), on the day that is one year prior to the date the Option is exercised.

 

Section 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award is an Award pursuant to which the Company may, in its sole discretion, grant or sell, at such purchase price as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time of grant, which purchase price shall be payable in cash or other form of consideration acceptable to the Committee. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The grant of a Restricted Stock Award is contingent on the Grantee executing the Restricted Stock Award agreement. The terms and conditions of each such agreement shall be determined by the Committee, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and Grantees.

 

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(b) Rights as a Stockholder. Upon execution of a written instrument setting forth the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a Grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Stock, subject to such conditions contained in the written instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award.

 

(c) Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Committee at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of preestablished performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which Restricted Stock shall become vested, subject to such further rights of the Company or its assigns as may be specified in the instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award.

 

(d) Record Owner; Dividends. The Holders of Restricted Stock shall be considered the record owners of and shall be entitled to vote the Shares of Restricted Stock if and to the extent such Shares are entitled to voting rights. At the time of a grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require the payment of cash dividends thereon, if any, to be deferred and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in additional Restricted Stock. Stock dividends and deferred cash dividends issued with respect to Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same restrictions and other terms as apply to the Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividends are issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is under no obligation to declare any such dividends or to make any such distribution.

 

(e) Effect of Forfeiture. If Restricted Stock is forfeited pursuant to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award agreement and the Grantee did not pay for such Restricted Stock, such Shares shall be immediately transferred to the Company and cancelled upon the occurrence of a forfeiture event as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award agreement. If Restricted Stock is not vested and the Grantee purchased such Restricted Stock from the Company, the Company or its assigns shall have the right and option to repurchase some or all of such non-vested Shares (as determined by the Company) upon the occurrence of an event causing the Grantee or Holder to forfeit his or her right to such Restricted Stock (the “Forfeiture Date”) at a repurchase price equal to the lesser of (x) the amount paid by the Grantee for such Shares, or (y) the Fair Market Value per Share on the date the Company exercises its repurchase right. This repurchase right may be exercised by the Company at any time during the period commencing on the date the forfeiture event occurs and ending on the date that is six months following the date of such forfeiture event occurs (the “Repurchase Period”) upon payment by the Company of the repurchase price to the Holder of the repurchased Shares. Any Shares of Restricted Stock that the Company does not repurchase during the Repurchase Period shall become vested and nonforfeitable at the expiration of the Repurchase Period.

 

Section 8. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

 

(a) Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such higher purchase price determined by the Committee) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any Grantee, pursuant to which such Grantee may receive Shares free of any vesting restrictions under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of any cash compensation due to such individual or entity.

 

(b) Elections to Receive Unrestricted Stock In Lieu of Compensation. Upon the request of a Grantee and with the consent of the Committee, each such Grantee may, pursuant to an advance written election delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Committee, receive a portion of the cash compensation otherwise due to such Grantee in the form of Shares of Unrestricted Stock.

 

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Section 9. TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS; COMPANY RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL; COMPANY REPURCHASE RIGHTS

 

(a) Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(i) Options. No Stock Option shall be transferable by the Grantee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Grantee’s lifetime, only by the Grantee, or by the Grantee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the Grantee’s incapacity. The Grantee may elect to designate a beneficiary by providing written notice of the name of such beneficiary to the Company, and may revoke or change such designation at any time by filing written notice of revocation or change with the Company, and any such beneficiary may exercise the Grantee’s Stock Option in the event of the Grantee’s death to the extent provided herein. If the Grantee does not designate a beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary predeceases the Grantee, the legal representative of the Grantee may exercise this Stock Option in the event of the Grantee’s death to the extent provided herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in the Award agreement regarding a given Option that the Grantee may transfer, without consideration for the transfer, his or her NonQualified Stock Options to a Permitted Transferee, provided that the Permitted Transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Option.

 

(ii) Issued Shares. No Issued Shares shall be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, given away or in any other manner disposed of or encumbered, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, unless (i) such transfer is in compliance with the terms of the applicable Award, all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, the Act), and with the terms and conditions of this Section 9, (ii) such transfer does not cause the Company to become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and (iii) the transferee consents in writing to be bound by the provisions of the Plan, including this Section 9. In connection with any proposed transfer, the Committee may require the transferor to provide at the transferor’s own expense an opinion of counsel to the transferor, satisfactory to the Committee, that such transfer is in compliance with all foreign, federal and state securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act). Any attempted disposition of Issued Shares not in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 9 shall be null and void, and the Company shall not reflect on its records any change in record ownership of any Issued Shares as a result of any such disposition, shall otherwise refuse to recognize any such disposition and shall not in any way give effect to any such disposition of Issued Shares. Subject to the foregoing general provisions, and unless otherwise provided in the agreement with respect to a particular Award, Issued Shares may be transferred pursuant to the following specific terms and conditions (provided that with respect to any transfer of Restricted Stock, all vesting and forfeiture provisions shall continue to apply only with respect to the Grantee):

 

(A) Transfers to Permitted Transferees. The Holder may sell, assign, transfer or give away any or all of the Issued Shares to Permitted Transferees; provided, however, that following such sale, assignment, or other transfer, such Issued Shares shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Plan (including this Section 9) and such Permitted Transferee(s) must, as a condition to any such transfer, deliver a written acknowledgment to that effect to the Company.

 

(B) Transfers Upon Death. Upon the death of the Holder, any Issued Shares then held by the Holder at the time of such death and any Issued Shares acquired thereafter by the Holder’s estate, executors, administrators, personal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees shall be subject to the provisions of this Plan (including this Section 9).

 

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(b) Right of First Refusal. In the event that a Holder desires at any time to sell or otherwise transfer all or any part of such Holder’s Issued Shares to any Person, the Holder shall comply with Article VI of the Company’s Bylaws.

 

(c) Company’s Right of Repurchase.

 

(i) Right of Repurchase for Option Shares. The Company or its assigns shall have the right and option upon the occurrence of a Repurchase Event with respect to a Holder of Option Shares to repurchase from such Holder some or all (as determined by the Company) of the Option Shares held or subsequently acquired upon exercise of a Stock Option by such Holder at the price per Share specified below. Such repurchase right may be exercised by the Company at any time during the period commencing on the date the Repurchase Event occurs and ending on the later of (A) the date that is six months following the date of such Repurchase Event or (B) the date that is seven months after the acquisition of such Option Shares upon exercise of a Stock Option (the “Option Shares Repurchase Period”). The “Option Shares Repurchase Price” shall be the Fair Market Value of the Option Shares; provided, however, that in the case of a Restrictive Covenant Breach, the Option Shares Repurchase Price shall be the lesser of Fair Market Value of the Option Shares or the purchase price paid by the Grantee (or Holder) for the Option Shares upon exercise of Options by the Grantee (or Holder). Fair Market Value of the Option Shares shall be determined as of the date the Committee elects to exercise its repurchase rights in connection with such Repurchase Event.

 

(ii) Right of Repurchase With Respect to Restricted Stock. Unless otherwise set forth in the agreement entered into by the Grantee and the Company in connection with a Restricted Stock Award, the Company or its assigns shall have the right and option upon a Repurchase Event to repurchase from a Holder of Issued Shares received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award some or all (as determined by the Company) of such Issued Shares at the price per Share specified below. Such repurchase right may be exercised by the Company at any time during the period commencing on the date the Repurchase Event occurs and ending on the date that is six months following the date of such Repurchase Event (the “Non-Option Shares Repurchase Period”). The “Non-Option Shares Repurchase Price” shall be the Fair Market Value of such Issued Shares; provided, however, that in the case of a Restrictive Covenant Breach, the Non-Option Shares Repurchase Price shall be the lesser of Fair Market Value of the Issued Shares or the original purchase price paid by the Grantee for the Issued Shares received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award. Fair Market Value of the Option Shares shall be determined as of the date the Committee elects to exercise its repurchase rights in connection with such Repurchase Event.

 

(iii) Procedure. Any repurchase right of the Company shall be exercised by the Company or its assigns by giving the Holder written notice on or before the last day of the Option Shares Repurchase Period or Non-Option Shares Repurchase Period, as applicable, of its intention to exercise such repurchase right. Upon such notification, the Holder shall promptly surrender to the Company, free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, any certificates representing the Shares being purchased, together with a duly executed stock power for the transfer of such Shares to the Company or the Company’s assignee or assignees. Upon the Company’s or its assignee’s receipt of the certificates from the Holder, the Company or its assignee or assignees shall deliver to him, her or them a check for the Option Shares Repurchase Price or the Non-Option Shares Repurchase Price, as applicable; provided, however, that the Company may pay the Option Shares Repurchase Price or Non-Option Shares Repurchase Price, as applicable, by offsetting and canceling any indebtedness then owed by the Holder to the Company.

 

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(d) Drag Along Right. In the event the holders of a majority of the Company’s voting capital stock then outstanding (the “Majority Shareholders”) determine to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or all or fifty percent (50%) or more of the capital stock of the Company, in each case in a transaction constituting a change in control of the Company, to any nonAffiliate(s) of the Company or any of the Majority Shareholders, or to cause the Company to merge with or into or consolidate with any non-Affiliate(s) of the Company or any of the Majority Shareholders (in each case, the “Buyer”) in a bona fide negotiated transaction (a “Sale”), each Holder of Issued Shares, including any Permitted Transferees, shall be obligated to and shall upon the written request of the Majority Shareholders: (a) sell, transfer and deliver, or cause to be sold, transferred and delivered, to the Buyer, his or her Issued Shares (including for this purpose all of such Holder’s or his or her Permitted Transferee’s Issued Shares that presently or as a result of any such transaction may be acquired upon the exercise of an Option (following the payment of the exercise price therefor)) on substantially the same terms applicable to the Majority Shareholders (with appropriate adjustments to reflect the conversion of convertible securities, the redemption of redeemable securities and the exercise of exercisable securities as well as the relative preferences and priorities of preferred stock); and (b) execute and deliver such instruments of conveyance and transfer and take such other action, including voting such Issued Shares in favor of any Sale proposed by the Majority Shareholders and executing any purchase agreements, merger agreements, indemnity agreements, escrow agreements or related documents as the Majority Shareholders or the Buyer may reasonably require in order to carry out the terms and provisions of this Section 9(d).

 

(e) Escrow Arrangement.

 

(i) Escrow. In order to carry out the provisions of Sections 7(e) and 9(b), (c), and (d) of this Agreement more effectively, the Company shall hold any Issued Shares in escrow together with separate stock powers executed by the Holder in blank for transfer, and any Permitted Transferee shall, as an additional condition to any transfer of Issued Shares, execute a like stock power as to such Issued Shares. The Company shall not dispose of the Issued Shares except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. In the event of any repurchase by the Company (or any of its assigns), the Company is hereby authorized by the Holder and any Permitted Transferee, as the Holder’s and each such Permitted Transferee’s attorney-in-fact, to date and complete the stock powers necessary for the transfer of the Issued Shares being purchased and to transfer such Issued Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. At such time as any Issued Shares are no longer subject to the Company’s repurchase, first refusal and drag along rights, the Company shall, at the written request of the Holder, deliver to the Holder (or the relevant Permitted Transferee) a certificate representing such Issued Shares with the balance of the Issued Shares to be held in escrow pursuant to this Section 9(e).

 

(ii) Remedy. Without limitation of any other provision of this Agreement or other rights, in the event that a Holder, any Permitted Transferees or any other Person is required to sell a Holder’s Issued Shares pursuant to the provisions of Sections 7(e) or 9(b), (c), or (d) hereof and in the further event that he or she refuses or for any reason fails to deliver to the Company or its designated purchaser of such Issued Shares the certificate or certificates evidencing such Issued Shares together with a related stock power, the Company or such designated purchaser may deposit the applicable purchase price for such Issued Shares with a bank designated by the Company, or with the Company’s independent public accounting firm, as agent or trustee, or in escrow, for such Holder, any Permitted Transferees or other Person, to be held by such bank or accounting firm for the benefit of and for delivery to him, her, them or it, and/or, in its discretion, pay such purchase price by offsetting any indebtedness then owed by such Holder as provided above. Upon any such deposit and/or offset by the Company or its designated purchaser of such amount and upon notice to the Person who was required to sell the Issued Shares to be sold pursuant to the provisions of Sections 7(e) or 9(b), (c), or (d), such Issued Shares shall at such time be deemed to have been sold, assigned, transferred and conveyed to such purchaser, such Holder shall have no further rights thereto (other than the right to withdraw the payment thereof held in escrow, if applicable), and the Company shall record such transfer in its stock transfer book or in any appropriate manner.

 

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(f) Lockup Provision. Each Holder shall agree, if requested by the Company and any underwriter engaged by the Company, not to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Issued Shares (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) held by him or her for such period following the effective date of any registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act as the Company or such underwriter shall specify reasonably and in good faith, not to exceed 180 days in the case of the Company’s initial public offering or 90 days in the case of any other public offering.

 

(g) Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. If, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, split-up or other similar change in the Common Stock, the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of security of the Company, the restrictions contained in this Section 9 shall apply with equal force to additional and/or substitute securities, if any, received by Holder in exchange for, or by virtue of his or her ownership of, Issued Shares.

 

(h) Transfers to Competitors. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Issued Shares may be sold or otherwise transferred to a party that is a competitor of the Company without the prior written approval of the Board. Any sale or other purported sale of Issued Shares in violation of this Section 9(h) shall be null and void.

 

(i) Termination. The terms and provisions of Section 9(b), Section 9(c), Section 9(d) and Section 9(h) shall terminate upon the closing of the Company’s initial public offering or upon consummation of any Sale Event, in either case as a result of which Shares of the same class as the Issued Shares are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and publicly traded on NASDAQ/NMS or any national security exchange.

 

Section 10. TAX WITHHOLDING

 

(a) Payment by Grantee. Each Grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the Grantee for federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of, any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Grantee. The Company’s obligation to deliver stock certificates to any Grantee is subject to and conditioned on any such tax obligations being satisfied by the Grantee.

 

(b) Payment in Stock. Subject to approval by the Committee, a Grantee may elect to have the minimum required tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) authorizing the Company to withhold from Shares to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due, or (ii) transferring to the Company Shares owned by the Grantee with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the minimum withholding amount due.

 

14

 

 

Section 11. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

 

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Committee may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award (or provide substitute Awards at the same or a reduced exercise or purchase price or with no exercise or purchase price) in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, provided that such price, if any, must satisfy the requirements that would apply to the substitute or amended Award if it were then initially granted under this Plan for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent. In addition, to the extent determined by the Committee to be required by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders who are entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Nothing in this Section 11 shall limit the Committee’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(c).

 

Section 12. STATUS OF PLAN

 

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a Grantee, a Grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.

 

Section 13. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

(a) No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Committee may require each Person acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such Person is acquiring the Shares without a view to distribution thereof. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities law and other legal requirements have been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing of restrictive legends (in addition to the legend set forth in Section 13(b)) on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate.

 

(b) Legend. Any certificate(s) representing the Issued Shares shall carry substantially the following legend:

 

“THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING REPURCHASE AND RESTRICTIONS AGAINST TRANSFERS) CONTAINED IN THE COGNICAL, INC. 2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND ANY AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO THEREUNDER BY AND BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE (A COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICES OF THE COMPANY FOR EXAMINATION).”

 

(c) Delivery of Stock Certificates. Stock certificates to Grantees under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Grantee, at the Grantee’s last known address on file with the Company.

 

(d) Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any Grantee or Eligible Person the right to employment by the Company or any Subsidiary or the right to remain in any other service relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

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(e) Loans to Award Recipients. The Company shall have the authority to make loans to Grantees hereunder (including to facilitate the purchase of Shares) and shall further have the authority to issue Shares for promissory notes hereunder.

 

(f) Designation of Beneficiary. Each Grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the Grantee’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Committee and shall not be effective until received by the Committee. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased Grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the Grantee, the beneficiary shall be the Grantee’s estate.

 

Section 14. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN

 

This Plan shall become effective upon approval by the stockholders in accordance with applicable law. Subject to such approval by the stockholders and to the requirement that no Stock may be issued hereunder prior to such approval, Stock Options and other Awards may be granted hereunder on and after adoption of this Plan by the Board.

 

The Plan shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Section 11 hereof, until the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date of the Plan. The termination of the Plan shall not affect the terms of any Awards outstanding on the date of termination.

 

Section 15. GOVERNING LAW

 

This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, applied without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

Section 16. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

(a) Except as provided below, any dispute arising out of or relating to this Plan or any Award made hereunder, or any agreement executed in connection herewith, or the breach, termination or validity of this Plan, any such Award or any such agreement, shall be finally settled by binding arbitration conducted expeditiously in accordance with the J.A.M.S./Endispute Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures (the “J.A.M.S. Rules”). The arbitration shall be governed by the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 116, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of arbitration shall be within the State of New York.

 

(b) The arbitration shall commence within 60 days of the date on which a written demand for arbitration is filed by any party hereto. In connection with the arbitration proceeding, the arbitrator shall have the power to order the production of documents by each party and any third-party witnesses. In addition, each party may take up to three (3) depositions as of right, and the arbitrator may in his or her discretion allow additional depositions upon good cause shown by the moving party. However, the arbitrator shall not have the power to order the answering of interrogatories or the response to requests for admission. In connection with any arbitration, each party to the arbitration shall provide to the other, no later than seven (7) business days before the date of the arbitration, the identity of all individuals who may testify at the arbitration and a copy of all documents that may be introduced at the arbitration or considered or used by a party’s witness or expert. The arbitrator’s decision and award shall be made and delivered within six (6) months of the selection of the arbitrator. The arbitrator’s decision shall set forth a reasoned basis for any award of damages or finding of liability. The arbitrator shall not have power to award damages in excess of actual compensatory damages and shall not multiply actual damages or award punitive damages, and each party hereby irrevocably waives any claim to such damages.

 

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(c) The Company, each Grantee hereunder, each party to an agreement governed hereby and any other Holder of Stock issued under this Plan (each, a “Party”) covenants and agrees that such Party will participate in the arbitration in good faith. This Section 16 applies equally to requests for temporary, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief, except that in the case of temporary or preliminary injunctive relief any party may proceed in court without prior arbitration for the limited purpose of avoiding immediate and irreparable harm.

 

(d) Each Party (i) hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any United States District Court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing the award or decision in any such proceeding, (ii) hereby waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the abovenamed courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution (except as protected by applicable law), that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court, and (iii) hereby waives and agrees not to seek any review by any court of any other jurisdiction which may be called upon to grant an enforcement of the judgment of any such court. Each Party hereby consents to service of process by registered mail at the address to which notices are to be given. Each Party agrees that its, his or her submission to jurisdiction and its, his or her consent to service of process by mail is made for the express benefit of each other Party. Final judgment against any Party in any such action, suit or proceeding may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit, action or proceeding on the judgment, or in any other manner provided by or pursuant to the laws of such other jurisdiction.

 

DATE APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: June ___, 2014

 

DATE APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: June ___, 2014

 

17

Exhibit 99.4

 

Incentive Stock Option Agreement

under the Cognical Holdings, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan

 

(Previously the Cognical, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan)

 

Name of Optionee: [As provided in eShares] (the “Optionee”)

 

No. of Underlying Shares: [As provided in eShares] Shares of Common Stock

 

Grant Date: [As provided in eShares] (the “Grant Date”)

 

Expiration Date: [As provided in eShares] (the “Expiration Date”)

 

Option Exercise Price/Share: [As provided in eShares] (the “Option Exercise Price”)

 

Pursuant to the Cognical Holdings, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), Cognical Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with all successors thereto, the “Company”), hereby grants to the Optionee, who is an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, an Option to purchase, on or prior to the Expiration Date (or such earlier date as provided in Section 3 below), all or any part of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company indicated above (the “Underlying Shares,” with such shares once issued being referred to herein and in the Plan as “Option Shares”) at the Option Exercise Price per share indicated above.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Incentive Stock Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) to the contrary, this Stock Option and any Option Shares issued to the Optionee upon the exercise hereof shall be subject to, and governed by, all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including, without limitation, Section 9 thereof concerning certain restrictions on transfer of Option Shares and related matters. To the extent there is any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and of this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given such terms in the Plan.

 

1. Vesting and Exercisability.

 

(a) No portion of this Stock Option may be exercised until such portion shall have vested and become exercisable. Except as set forth in Section 1(b) below, this Stock Option shall vest and become exercisable with respect to the Underlying Shares in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in eShares.

 

(b) In the case of a Sale Event, this Stock Option shall be treated as provided in Section 4(a) of the Plan.

 

 

 

 

2. Exercise of Stock Option. Prior to the Expiration Date (or such earlier date provided in Section 3 below), the Optionee may exercise this Stock Option by delivering a Stock Option exercise notice (an “Exercise Notice”) in the form of Appendix A hereto or in another form offered by the Company via eShares indicating his or her election to purchase some or all of the Underlying Shares with respect to which this Stock Option is exercisable at the time of such notice.

 

3. Termination of Service Relationship. Upon the Optionee’s Termination of Service (as defined in the Plan), the period within which the Optionee may exercise this Stock Option shall be subject to earlier termination as set forth below:

 

(a) Termination of Service Due to Death or Disability. If the Optionee has a Termination of Service due to such Optionee’s death or disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), this Stock Option may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of such Termination of Service, by the Optionee or by the Optionee’s beneficiary, legal representative or legatee for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of such Termination of Service or until the Expiration Date, if earlier.

 

(b) Termination for Cause. If the Optionee’s Termination of Service is initiated by the Company (or by any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) for Cause, all Options (whether unvested or vested) shall terminate immediately.

 

(c) Other Termination. If the Optionee has a Termination of Service for any reason other than death or disability or for Cause, this Stock Option may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of such Termination of Service, by the Optionee for a period of three (3) months from the date of such Termination of Service or until the Expiration Date, if earlier.

 

(d) Treatment of Unvested Options on Termination of Service. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of such Optionee’s Termination of Service, for any reason, shall terminate immediately and be null and void and of no further force and effect.

 

4. Status of Stock Option. This Stock Option is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422(b) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Stock Option shall cease to qualify for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code unless the Optionee is an employee of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company at all times during the period commencing on the date of Grant Date and ending (i) on the day three (3) months prior to the date the Option is exercised or (ii) if the Optionee is disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), on the day that is one year prior to the date the Option is exercised.

 

5. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a) Change and Modifications. This Agreement may not be orally changed, modified or terminated, nor shall any oral waiver of any of its terms be effective. This Agreement may be changed, modified or terminated only by an agreement in writing signed by the Company and the Optionee; provided, however, that the consent of the Optionee to an amendment or modification to this Agreement shall not be required for any amendment (i) that does not adversely affect the rights of the Optionee, or (ii) that is necessary or advisable (as determined by the Committee) to carry out the purpose of this Agreement as a result of any new applicable law or change in an existing applicable law.

 

(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of Delaware without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

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(c) Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be in writing and be deemed given when delivered personally, by facsimile transmission or when received if mailed by first class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. Notices to the Company or the Optionee shall be addressed as set forth underneath their signatures below, or to such other address or addresses as may have been furnished by such party in writing to the other.

 

(d) Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. For the convenience of the parties and to facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed (i) in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which shall constitute one and the same document or (ii) electronically pursuant to the Company’s eShares portal.

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned as of the date first above written.

 

  Cognical Holdings, Inc.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
       
    Address:

 

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receiving and reviewing a copy of the Plan, including, without limitation, Section 9 thereof, and understands that the Stock Option granted hereby is subject to the terms of the Plan and of this Agreement. This Agreement is hereby accepted, and the terms and conditions thereof and of the Plan hereby agreed to, by the undersigned as of the date first above written.

 

 

  OPTIONEE:
   
   
  Name:
     
  Address:
     
     

 

 

DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY:    

 

Beneficiary’s Address:

 

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Appendix A

 

STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

 

Cognical Holdings, Inc.

Attention: Stock Administration

151 W 25th St., Floor 9

New York, NY 10001

 

Pursuant to the terms of the stock option agreement between myself and Cognical Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) dated __________ (the “Agreement”), under the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, I, [Insert Name] _____________________, hereby [Circle One] partially/fully exercise such Stock Option by including herein payment in the amount of $______ representing the purchase price for [Fill in number of Underlying Shares] _______ Option Shares. I have chosen the following form(s) of payment:

 

  [ ] 1. Cash
  [ ] 2. Certified or bank check payable to “Cognical Holdings, Inc.”
  [ ] 3. Other (as described in the Plan (please describe))
      __________________________________________________________________________.

 

In connection with my exercise of the Stock Option as set forth above, I hereby represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

 

(i) I am purchasing the Option Shares for my own account for investment only, and not for resale or with a view to the distribution thereof.

 

(ii) I have had such an opportunity as I have deemed adequate to obtain from the Company such information as is necessary to permit me to evaluate the merits and risks of my investment in the Company and have consulted with my own advisers with respect to my investment in the Company.

 

(iii) I have sufficient experience in business, financial and investment matters to be able to evaluate the risks involved in the purchase of the Option Shares and to make an informed investment decision with respect to such purchase.

 

(iv) I can afford a complete loss of the value of the Option Shares and am able to bear the economic risk of holding such Option Shares for an indefinite period.

 

(v) I understand that the Option Shares may not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (it being understood that the Option Shares are being issued and sold in reliance on the exemption provided in Rule 701 thereunder) or any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws and may not be sold or otherwise transferred or disposed of in the absence of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and under any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws (or exemptions from the registration requirements thereof). I further acknowledge that certificates representing Option Shares will bear restrictive legends reflecting the foregoing.

 

(vi) I understand and agree that the Option Shares when issued will continue to be subject to the Plan, including Section 9 thereof.

 

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  Sincerely yours,
     
   
  Name:  
     
  Address:  
     
   
     
   
     
   

 

 

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