As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2025

Registration No. 333-_______

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

MEGA MATRIX INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Cayman Islands   Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

Level 21, 88 Market Street

CapitaSpring

Singapore

  048948
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Mega Matrix Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

 

COGENCY GLOBAL INC.

122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor

New York, NY 10168

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

+1 (212) 947-7200

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

 

Please send copies of all communications to:

 

John P. Yung, Esq.

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP

2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 700

Sacramento, CA 95833

916-646-8288

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This registration statement on Form S-8 (“Registration Statement”) is being filed by Registrant to register a total of 8,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, US$0.001 par value per share (“Class A Shares”) under the Mega Matrix Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The documents containing the information specified in “Item 1. Plan Information” and “Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information” of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of Form S-8, 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 Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents and information previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”):

 

  The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Commission on March 28, 2025;
     
  The description of the securities contained in Registrant’s current report on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on August 15, 2025 (with respect to Exhibit 4.(vi)); and
     
  The Registrant’s Form 6-K filed with the Commission on February 18, 2025, May 1, 2025 (with respect to Exhibit 99.1), June 3, 2025, June 24, 2025, June 25, 2025, June 30, 2025, July 2, 2025, July 25, 2025, August 5, 2025, and August 15, 2025.

 

All documents, reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents, reports and definitive proxy or information statement, or portions thereof, which are furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or superseded.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.

 

Company’s current effective articles of association provide that its directors and officers shall be indemnified against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages and liabilities incurred or sustained by such director or officer, other than by reason of such person’s own dishonesty , in or about the conduct of Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning Company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

 

Not applicable.

 

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Item 8. Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number   Description
4.1*   Mega Matrix Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan
4.2   Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s current report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on August 15, 2025).
4.3*   Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement.
4.4*   Form of Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement.
5.1*   Opinion of Ogier, Cayman Islands counsel to the Registrant, regarding the legality of the Class A Shares being registered.
23.1*   Consent of Ogier (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2*   Consent of Audit Alliance LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1*   Powers of Attorney (included in signature page hereto).
107*   Filing Fee Table.

 

*Filed herewith

  

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

A.The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

(i)To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(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; and

 

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

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) herein 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 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

C.Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the 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.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Singapore.

 

  Mega Matrix Inc.,
a Cayman Islands exempted company
     
Dated: August 19, 2025 By: /s/ Yucheng Hu
  Name:  Yucheng Hu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURE

 

Know All Persons By These Presents, that each person whose signature appears below appoints Yucheng Hu and Carol Wang, and each of them individually, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, to sign any amendment (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, 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 may do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or of his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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

 

Signature   Capacity   Date
         
/s/ Yucheng Hu   Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
  August 19, 2025
Yucheng Hu   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Carol Wang    Chief Financial Officer   August 19, 2025

Carol Wang 

 

   Principal Financial Officer, and
Principal Accounting Officer
   
         
/s/ Junyi Dai   Director   August 19, 2025
Junyi Dai        
         
/s/ Qin Yao   Director   August 19, 2025
Qin Yao        
         
/s/ Siyuan Zhu   Director   August 19, 2025
Siyuan Zhu        
         
/s/ Yaman Demir   Director   August 19, 2025
Yaman Demir        

 

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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Mega Matrix Inc., has signed this registration statement on August 19, 2025.

 

  /s/ Colleen A. De Vries
  Colleen A. De Vries,
  Senior Vice-President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

MEGA MATRIX INC.
2025 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.  Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Mega Matrix Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan”) are:

 

  to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,
     
  to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and
     
  to promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Share Options, Restricted Shares, Share Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares, and Other Share Based Awards.

 

2.  Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:

 

(a) “Administrator” means the Board or the Committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

 

(b) “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of the corporate, securities, tax and other laws, rules, regulations and government orders, and the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, of any jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.

 

(c) “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Units, Performance Shares or Other Share Based Awards.

 

(d) “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Agreement entered into hereunder shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

(e) “Awarded Shares” means the Ordinary Shares subject to an Award.

 

(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, from time to time.

 

(g) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i) An acquisition (whether directly from the Company or otherwise) of any voting securities of the Company by any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), immediately after which such person becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then issued and outstanding voting securities;

 

(ii) The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;

 

(iii) A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are 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 will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or

 

 

 

 

(iv) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other company or corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining issued and outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent issued and outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.

 

(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rulings issued and regulations promulgated thereunder. Any reference to a section of the Code herein will be a reference to any successor or amended section of the Code.

 

(i) “Committee” means the compensation committee of the Board, or such other committee of at least two persons as the Board shall designate.

 

(j) “Company” means Mega Matrix Inc., an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, or any successor thereto.

 

(k) “Consultant” means any consultant or adviser if: (a) the consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary; (b) the services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (c) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary.

 

(l) “Director” means a director of the Company.

 

(m) “Disability” means a total and permanent disability incurred by a Participant whereby the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.

 

(n) “Dividend Equivalent” means a credit, made at the discretion of the Administrator, for the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the value of dividends paid on one Share for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant.

 

(o) “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

(p) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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(q) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Ordinary Shares determined as follows:

 

(i) If the Ordinary Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation, the NASDAQ, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(ii) If the Ordinary Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Ordinary Shares for the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Ordinary Shares, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator by such other methodology as the Administrator determines in good faith to be reasonable and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(r) “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

(s) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Plan.

 

(t) “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board.

 

(u) “Nonstatutory Share Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(v) “Ordinary Shares” means Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.001, and any shares or other securities into which such ordinary shares may be substituted, converted or into which they may be exchanged.

 

(w) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(x) “Option” means a share option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(y) “Other Share Based Awards” means any other awards not specifically described in the Plan that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, Ordinary Shares and are created by the Administrator pursuant to Section 12.

 

(z) “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

 

(aa) “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(bb) “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award granted under the Plan.

 

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(cc) “Performance Share” means an Award granted to a Service Provider pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan.

 

(dd) “Performance Unit” means an Award granted to a Service Provider pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan.

 

(ee) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Restricted Shares is subject to restrictions and a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.

 

(ff) “Plan” means this 2025 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

(gg) “Restricted Shares” means Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to an Award under Section 8 or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.

 

(hh) “Restricted Share Unit” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to issue Ordinary Shares, cash, other securities or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a Period of Restriction requiring that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 11 of the Plan.

 

(ii) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.

 

(jj) “Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

(kk) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

 

(ll) “Share” means an Ordinary Share, as adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.

 

(mm) “Share Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award that, pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan, is designated as an SAR and which meets all of the requirements of Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(B) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

(nn) “Subsidiary” means any entities Controlled by the Company, provided, however, for the purpose of Incentive Stock Options, “subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424 (f) of the Code. “Control” means, with respect to any entities, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of an entity whether through the ownership of the voting securities of such entity or by contract or otherwise. For purposes of the Plan, any “variable interest entity” that is consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the Company under applicable accounting principles or standards as may apply to the consolidated financial statements of the Company shall be deemed a Subsidiary.”

 

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3.  Ordinary Shares Subject to the Plan.

 

(a)  Ordinary Shares Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 15 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Ordinary Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall equal eight million (8,000,000) Ordinary Shares (“Plan Share Limits”); provided that the maximum number of Ordinary Shares that may be issued through Incentive Stock Options under the Plan is set at eight million (8,000,000). The Ordinary Shares subject to the Plan may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Ordinary Shares. Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise or settlement of an Award, the number of Ordinary Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the number of Ordinary Shares actually issued in such payment. The allotment and issuance of Shares pursuant to the terms of this Plan following the exercise of an Award shall be subject to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended and in effect from time to time.

  

(b) Annual Increase in Available Ordinary Shares. On the first day of each calendar year during the term of the Plan, commencing on January 1, 2026, and continuing until (and including) January 1, 2035, the number of Ordinary Shares available under the Plan Share Limits shall automatically increase by a number equal to the lesser of (i) ten percent (10%) of the total number of Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding on December 31 of the calendar year immediately preceding the date of such increase, and (ii) a number of Ordinary Shares determined by the Board.

 

(c)  Lapsed Awards. If any outstanding Award expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if the Ordinary Shares acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company, the Ordinary Shares allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased Ordinary Shares shall again be available for grant under the Plan.

 

(d)  Share Certificates.

 

(i)  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates evidencing the Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded. All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with all Applicable Laws, and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Share certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.

 

(ii)  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by Applicable Laws, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded on the register of members of the Company.

 

(e)  Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of the Plan, shall at all times keep available such number of Ordinary Shares authorized for issuance as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

(f)  Annual Non-Employee Director Compensation Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event will any individual Director who is not an Employee in any Fiscal Year be granted compensation for service having an aggregate maximum value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) exceeding $1,000,000.

 

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4.  Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)  Procedure.

 

(i)  Administrative Bodies. The Board or the Committee shall administer the Plan.

 

(ii)  Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.

 

(iii)  Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.

 

(iv)  Delegation of Authority for Day-to-Day Administration. The Administrator may, by resolution, expressly delegate to a special committee, consisting of one (1) or more directors who may but need not be Officers, the authority, within specified parameters as to the number and types of Awards, (A) to designate Officers and/or Employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be recipients of Awards under the Plan, and (B) to determine the number of such Awards to be received by any such Participants; provided, however, that such delegation of duties and responsibilities may not be made with respect to grants of Awards to persons subject to Section 16(b). The acts of such delegates shall be treated as acts of the Administrator, and such delegates shall report regularly to the Administrator regarding the delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards granted.

 

(b)  Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion and subject to the requirements of Applicable Laws:

 

(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;

 

(ii) to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;

 

(iii) to determine the number of the Ordinary Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(iv) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

 

(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting, acceleration or waiver of forfeiture or repurchase restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Ordinary Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine;

 

(vi) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

(vii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws and/or qualifying for preferred tax treatment under applicable foreign tax laws;

 

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(viii) to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 18(c) of the Plan), including (A) the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards longer than is otherwise provided for in the Plan and (B) accelerate the satisfaction of any vesting criteria or waiver of forfeiture or repurchase restrictions;

 

(ix) to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations by electing to have the Company withhold from the Ordinary Shares or cash to be issued upon exercise or vesting of an Award that number of the Ordinary Shares or cash having a Fair Market Value equal to the maximum amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of any Ordinary Shares to be withheld will be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Ordinary Shares or cash withheld for this purpose will be made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;

 

(x) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator, to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the issue of the Ordinary Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award;

 

(xi) to determine whether Awards will be settled in Ordinary Shares, cash or in any combination thereof;

 

(xii) to determine whether Awards will be adjusted for Dividend Equivalents;

 

(xiii) to create Other Share Based Awards for issuance under the Plan;

 

(xiv) to establish a program whereby Service Providers designated by the Administrator can reduce compensation otherwise payable in cash in exchange for Awards under the Plan;

 

(xv) to impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Ordinary Shares issued as a result of or under an Award, including without limitation, restrictions under an insider trading policy, and

 

(xvi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.

 

(c)  Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Administrator under the Plan

 

5.  Eligibility. Nonstatutory Share Options, Restricted Shares, Share Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares, Restricted Share Units and Other Share Based Awards may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

 

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6.  Limitations.

 

(a)  ISO $100,000 Rule. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Share Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Ordinary Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Share Options. For purposes of this Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Ordinary Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Ordinary Shares is granted.

 

(b)  No Rights as a Service Provider. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing his or her relationship as a Service Provider, nor shall they interfere in any way with the right of the Participant or the right of the Company or its Parent or Subsidiaries to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause.

 

7.  Share Options.

 

(a)  Number and Term of Option. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options under the Plan. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Options granted to any Service Provider. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term will be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)  Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

(i)  Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:

 

(1) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

 

(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Ordinary Share on the date of grant.

 

(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (A) immediately above, the per share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Ordinary Share on the date of grant.

 

(2) In the case of a Nonstatutory Share Option, the per share exercise price will be determined by the Administrator, provided that such per share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Ordinary Share on the date of grant.

 

(ii)  Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the satisfaction of such conditions at any time.

 

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(c)  Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, may consist entirely of:

 

(i) cash;

 

(ii) check, subject to collection;

 

(iii) promissory note;

 

(iv) other Ordinary Shares which meet the conditions established by the Administrator to avoid adverse accounting consequences (as determined by the Administrator);

 

(v) consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan;

 

(vi) a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the Participant;

 

(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or

 

(viii) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Ordinary Shares to the extent approved by the Board and permitted by Applicable Laws.

 

(d)  Exercise of Option.

 

(i)  Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of an Ordinary Share.

 

An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (x) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Award Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (y) full payment for the Ordinary Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (including provision for any applicable tax withholding). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant. Until the Ordinary Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder will exist with respect to the Awarded Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Ordinary Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Ordinary Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 15 of the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Ordinary Shares thereafter available for sale under the Option, by the number of Ordinary Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

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(ii)  Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Ordinary Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will be forfeited and will revert to the Plan and again will become available for grant under the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option as to all of the vested Ordinary Shares within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will be forfeited and will revert to the Plan and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

(iii)  Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Ordinary Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will be forfeited and will revert to the Plan and again will become available for grant under the Plan.. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option as to all of the vested Ordinary Shares within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the remaining Ordinary Shares covered by such Option will be forfeited and will revert to the Plan and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

(iv)  Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the Option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to the Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the persons to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Ordinary Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will be forfeited and will revert to the Plan and again will become available for grant under the Plan. If the Option is not exercised as to all of the vested Ordinary Shares within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the remaining Ordinary Shares covered by such Option will be forfeited and will revert to the Plan and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

8.  Restricted Shares.

 

(a)  Grant of Restricted Shares. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Shares to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(b)  Restricted Share Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction and the applicable restrictions, the number of Ordinary Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Restricted Shares will be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Restricted Shares have lapsed.

 

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(c)  Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 8, Restricted Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.

 

(d)  Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Restricted Shares as it may deem advisable or appropriate.

 

(e)  Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, Restricted Shares covered by each Restricted Shares grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction. The Board, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

  

(f)  Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Restricted Shares granted hereunder may exercise the voting rights applicable to those Restricted Shares, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise.

 

(g)  Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Restricted Shares will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Restricted Shares unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement; provided that any such dividends and other distributions will be subject to the same restrictions and risk of forfeiture as the Restricted Shares. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Ordinary Shares, the Ordinary Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they were paid.

 

(h)  Return of Restricted Shares to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Shares for which the Period of Restriction has not lapsed will be forfeited and will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

9.  Share Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)  Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, an SAR may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

(b)  Number of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of SARs granted to any Service Provider.

 

(c)  Exercise Price and Other Terms. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the per-Share exercise price and other terms and conditions of SARs granted under the Plan; provided that such exercise price of each SAR shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of grant.

 

(d)  Exercise of SARs. SARs will be exercisable on such terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate exercisability at any time.

 

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(e)  SAR Agreement. Each SAR grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(f)  Expiration of SARs. An SAR granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Sections 7(d)(ii), 7(d)(iii) and 7(d)(iv) also will apply to SARs.

  

(g)  Payment of SAR Amount. Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(i) The difference between the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times

 

(ii) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

 

At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.

 

10.  Performance Units and Performance Shares.

 

(a)  Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.

 

(b)  Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of grant.

 

(c)  Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Participant. The time period during which the performance objectives must be met will be called the “Performance Period.” Each Award of Performance Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, or individual goals, applicable securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

(d)  Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives have been achieved, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Board, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives for such Performance Unit/Share.

 

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(e)  Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares will be made after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period at the time determined by the Administrator. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination of cash and Shares.

 

(f)  Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Units/Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and again will be available for grant under the Plan.

 

11.  Restricted Share Units. Restricted Share Units shall consist of a Restricted Share, Performance Share or Performance Unit Award that the Administrator, in its sole discretion permits to be paid out in installments or on a deferred basis, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator, subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

  

12.  Other Share Based Awards. Other Share Based Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, other Awards granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. The Administrator shall have authority to determine the Service Providers to whom and the time or times at which Other Share Based Awards shall be made, the amount of such Other Share Based Awards, and all other conditions of the Other Share Based Awards including any dividend and/or voting rights.

 

13.  Leaves of Absence. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence and will resume on the date the Participant returns to work on a regular schedule as determined by the Company; provided, however, that no vesting credit will be awarded for the time vesting has been suspended during such leave of absence. A Service Provider will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no leave of absence may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then three (3) months following the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for U.S. federal tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Share Option.

 

14.  Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

15.  Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Change in Control.

 

(a)  Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Ordinary Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, share capitalization, share subdivision, share consolidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Ordinary Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Ordinary Shares occurs such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator (in its sole discretion) to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust the number and class of Ordinary Shares which may be issued under the Plan, the number, class and price of Ordinary Shares subject to outstanding Awards, and the numerical limits in Section 6. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of Ordinary Shares subject to any Award always shall be a whole number.

 

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(b)  Winding-Up, Liquidation and Dissolution. In the event of the proposed winding up, liquidation and dissolution of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for a Participant to have the right to exercise his or her Award, to the extent applicable, until ten (10) days prior to such transaction as to all of the Awarded Shares covered thereby, including Ordinary Shares as to which the Award would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase Option or forfeiture rights applicable to any Award shall lapse, and that any Award vesting shall accelerate, provided the proposed winding up, liquidation and dissolution n takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously vested and, if applicable, exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

 

(c)  Change in Control.

 

(i)  Share Options and SARs. In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Option and SAR shall be assumed or an equivalent Option or SAR substituted by the acquiring or successor company or corporation or a Parent of the acquiring or successor company or corporation. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, in the event that the successor company or corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option or SAR, the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option or SAR as to all of the Awarded Shares, including those as to which it would not otherwise be vested or exercisable; provided, that any Option or SAR for which the exercise price is equal to or less than the consideration offered by the acquiring or successor company or corporation, shall terminate as of the effective date of the Change in Control. If an Option or SAR is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or SAR shall be exercisable, to the extent vested, for a period of up to fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option or SAR shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option or SAR shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Option or SAR confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Awarded Share subject to the Option or SAR immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether shares, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of the Ordinary Shares for each Ordinary Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely Ordinary Shares of the acquiring or successor company or corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the acquiring or successor company or corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option or SAR, for each Awarded Share subject to the Option or SAR, to be solely Ordinary Shares of the acquiring or successor company or corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Ordinary Shares in the Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned, or is paid out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or the acquiring or successor company or corporation modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, that a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the acquiring or successor company or corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

 

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(ii)  Restricted Shares, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Share Units and Other Share Based Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award of Restricted Shares, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Restricted Share Unit or Other Share Based Award shall be assumed or an equivalent Restricted Share, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Restricted Share Unit or Other Share Based Award substituted by the acquiring or successor company or corporation or a Parent of the acquiring or successor company or corporation. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, in the event that the acquiring or successor company or corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Award, the Participant shall fully vest in the Award including as to Shares/Units that would not otherwise be vested, all applicable restrictions will lapse, and all performance objectives and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at targeted levels. For the purposes of this paragraph, an Award of Restricted Shares, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Other Share Based Awards and Restricted Share Units shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Ordinary Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control (and if a Restricted Share Unit or Performance Unit, for each Share as determined based on the then current value of the unit), the consideration (whether shares, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of the Ordinary Shares for each Ordinary Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely Ordinary Shares of the successor company or corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the acquiring or successor company or corporation, provide that the consideration to be received for each Ordinary Share (and if a Restricted Share Unit or Performance Unit, for each Ordinary Share as determined based on the then current value of the unit) be solely Ordinary Shares of the acquiring or successor company or corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Ordinary Shares in the Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned, or is paid out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or the acquiring or successor company or corporation modifies any of the performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, that a modification to the performance goals only to reflect the acquiring or successor company or corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

 

(iii)  Outside Director Awards. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 15(c)(i) or 15(c)(ii) to the contrary, with respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director that are assumed or substituted for, if on the date of or following the assumption or substitution the Participant’s status as a Director or a director of the acquiring or successor company or corporation, as applicable, is terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the Participant, then the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise his or her Options and Share Appreciation Rights as to all of the Awarded Shares, including those as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units, as applicable, will lapse, and, with respect to Performance Shares, Performance Units, and Other Share Based Awards, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target levels and all other terms and conditions met; provided, that any Option or SAR for which the exercise price is equal to or less than the consideration offered by the acquiring or successor company or corporation shall terminate as of the effective date of the Change in Control.

 

(d) Outstanding Awards – Other Changes. In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those specifically referred to in this Section 15, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.

 

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16.  Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such later date as is determined by the Administrator, consistent with applicable laws; provided that with respect to the grant of an Option, such date is determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

 

17.  Term of Plan. Subject to Section 22 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective pursuant to the resolution adopting the Plan by the Board. It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless terminated earlier under Section 18 of the Plan.

 

18.  Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

(a)  Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.

 

(b)  Shareholder Approval. The Company will obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary or, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

  

(c)  Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant with respect to outstanding Awards, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

19.  Conditions Upon Issuance of Ordinary Shares.

 

(a)  Legal Compliance. Ordinary Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

 

(b)  Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise or receipt of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising or receiving such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that the Ordinary Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Ordinary Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

 

20.  Severability. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan or an Award to the contrary, if any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan or the Awards 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 or Award, as applicable, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

21.  Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Ordinary Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Ordinary Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.

 

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22.  Section 409AThe Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and all Awards granted under this Plan shall be administered, interpreted, and construed in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Administrator exercise its discretion to accelerate the payment or settlement of an Award where such payment or settlement constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code unless, and solely to the extent that, such accelerated payment or settlement is permissible under Section 1.409A-3(j)(4) of the Treasury Regulations. If a Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations) at any time during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of his or her termination of employment, and any Award hereunder subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code is to be satisfied on account of the Participant’s termination of employment, satisfaction of such Award shall be suspended until the date that is six (6) months after the date of such termination of employment.

 

23.  Shareholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

 

24.  Interpretation. In this Plan:

 

(a) any forfeiture of Shares described herein will take effect as a surrender of shares for no consideration of such Shares as a matter of Cayman Islands law;

 

(b) any share dividends described herein will take effect as share capitalizations as a matter of Cayman Islands law;

 

(c) any share splits described herein will take effect as share sub-divisions as a matter of Cayman Islands law;

 

(d) the allotment and issuance of Shares pursuant to the terms of this Plan following the exercise of an Option or Award shall be subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as amended and in effect from time to time; and

 

(e) as a matter of Cayman Islands law, Shares shall not in fact be legally issued, transferred, redeemed, repurchased or forfeited until the time at which the appropriate entries are made in the Register of Members of the Company (the Register of Members being prima facie evidence of legal title to shares).

 

25.  Choice of Law. The Plan will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

 

As approved by the Board of the Company on August 4, 2025.

 

As approved by the shareholders of the Company on August 15, 2025.

 

17

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

MEGA MATRIX INC.

 

RESTRICTED SHARE GRANT NOTICE

 

Mega Matrix Inc., a Cayman Islands exempt company (together with any successor thereof, the “Company”), pursuant to its 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“Participant”), the number of the Company’s class A ordinary shares, par value $0.001, as set forth below (individually and collectively referred to as the “Restricted Shares”). The Restricted Shares are subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Restricted Share Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Restricted Share Agreement”) and the Plan, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Grant Notice and the Restricted Share Agreement.  

 

Participant: [NAME]
   
Grant Date: [DATE]
   
Total Number of Restricted Shares: [NUMBER] 
   
Period of Restrictions:

The Restricted Shares shall initially be unvested. The Restricted Shares shall vest and the restrictions thereon shall lapse according to the following schedule, subject to Participant’s continuous service with the Company through and including the applicable vesting date:

 

[VESTING PERIOD]

Subject to Section 3.1 of the Restricted Share Agreement, in no event shall any unvested portion of the Restricted Shares vest after Participant’s termination of service.

 

As a condition to the grant of the Restricted Shares, Participant represents and warrants that Participant is purchasing the Restricted Shares solely for investment purposes and not with an intention to transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of such Restricted Shares, except as permitted pursuant to the Plan and in compliance with applicable securities laws. [Participant also acknowledges that Participant understands that the Restricted Shares are subject to the transfer restrictions as the Participate is an affiliate of the Company.]

 

By signing below, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Restricted Share Agreement and this Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Restricted Share Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice, the Restricted Share Agreement and the Plan. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, this Grant Notice or the Restricted Share Agreement.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHERE, the undersigned have executed this Grant Notice effective as of the Grant Date:

 

Participant   Company
     
[NAME]   MEGA MATRIX INC.
     
     
Name:  [NAME]   Yucheng Hu, Chief Executive Officer

 

2

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

RESTRICTED SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT

 

Pursuant to the Restricted Share Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) to which this Restricted Share Agreement (this “Agreement”) is attached, Mega Matrix Inc., a Cayman Islands exempt company (together with any successor thereof, the “Company”), has granted to Participant restricted class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.001 (the “Restricted Shares”) under the Company’s 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as indicated in the Grant Notice.

 

1. General.

 

1.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan and the Grant Notice, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

 

1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The Restricted Shares are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

2. Grant of Restricted Shares.

 

2.1 Grant of Restricted Shares. In consideration of Participant’s employment with or service to the Company or a subsidiary and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”), the Company grants to Participant the Restricted Shares, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustments as provided in the Plan.

 

2.2 Consideration to the Company. In consideration of the grant of the Restricted Shares by the Company, Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a subsidiary and Participant.

 

3

 

 

3. Vesting of Restricted Shares.

 

3.1 In General. Restricted Shares that have not vested at the date that Participant’s ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason (“Termination of Services”) shall remain unvested, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and Participant.

 

3.2 Restrictions. Unless and until the Restricted Shares vest, Participant shall have no right to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber Restricted Shares in any manner. Any purported attempt to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber any Restricted Shares under this Agreement shall be void and shall result in the forfeiture and cancellation of such Restricted Shares. Upon Participant’s Termination of Services, any Restricted Shares that are unvested as of the date of such Termination of Service (and whose vesting is not accelerated pursuant to the Plan) shall be forfeited, and Participant shall have no further rights with respect to such Restricted Shares under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

3.3 Delivery of Shares. The Restricted Shares shall be registered in book entry in the name of Participant and shall be transferred to Participant until the Restricted Shares have vested in accordance with this Agreement. Upon vesting of any of the Restricted Shares, such Restricted Shares shall be transferred or delivered via email to Participant as soon as practicable thereafter. Upon such transfer or delivery to Participant, the vested Restricted Shares will not be subject to any restrictions other than those that may arise under the securities laws or the Company’s policies.

 

3.4 Tax Withholding. The vesting of the Restricted Shares under this Agreement will result in Participant’s recognition of income for U.S. and federal tax purposes (and/or foreign tax purposes, if applicable) and shall be subject to tax and tax withholdings as appropriate. The Company or any subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including Participant’s FICA or employment tax obligations) required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of the Restricted Shares. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, withhold, or allow Participant to elect to have the Company withhold, Restricted Shares otherwise issuable upon the vesting of any of the Restricted Shares (or allow the surrender of Shares). The number of Restricted Shares so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Restricted Shares that have a fair market value on the date of withholding or repurchase no greater than the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to supplemental taxable income.

 

Participant agrees to consult with any tax advisors that Participant thinks necessary in connection with its receipt of the Restricted Shares and Participant acknowledges that it is not relying, and will not rely, on the Company or any of its affiliates for any tax advice.

 

3.5 Section 83(b) Election. If Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Shares as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Shares rather than as of the date or dates upon which Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83 of the Code, Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

4

 

 

3.6 Rights as Shareholder. Upon issuance of the Restricted Shares and until the forfeiture or cancellation of the Restricted Shares, Participant shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, subject to the transferability and other restrictions set forth in this Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Restricted Shares.

 

4. Clawback. The award and any Restricted Shares issuable hereunder shall be subject to any clawback or recoupment policy in effect on the Grant Date or adopted by the Company thereafter, including, without limitation, the Company’s policy for the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation, or any other equivalent policy then in effect.

 

5. Other Provisions.

 

5.1 Administration. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final, binding and conclusive upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee or the Board, or any employee or officer of the Company, shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the Restricted Shares.

 

5.2 Adjustments Upon Specified Events. The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the Restricted Shares in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events, the Administrator shall make such adjustments as the Administrator deems appropriate to the Restricted Shares in order to preserve the benefits intended to be made available to Participant under this Agreement. Participant acknowledges that the Restricted Shares are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement.

 

5.3 Limitation on Rights; No Right to Future Grants; Extraordinary Item. By entering into this Agreement and accepting the Award, Participates acknowledges that: (a) the Plan is discretionary and may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time as provided in the Plan; (b) the grant of the Award is a one-time benefit and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of awards or benefits in lieu of awards; (c) all determinations with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when awards will be granted, the number of shares subject to each award, the award price, if any, and the time or times when each award will be settled, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (d) participation in the Plan is voluntary; (e) the value of the Award is an extraordinary item which is outside the scope of Participant’s service contract, if any; (f) the Award is not part of normal or expected compensation for any purpose, including without limitation for calculating any benefits, severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments; (g) the future value of the Restricted Shares subject to the Award is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty, (h) neither the Plan, the Award nor the issuance of the Restricted Shares confers upon Participant any right to continue in the service of (or any other relationship with) the Company, and (i) the grant of the Award will not be interpreted to form an employment relationship with the Company.

 

5

 

 

5.4 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company (or any other person or entity as designated by the Administrator) at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.3, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. A notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

 

5.5 Titles and Headings. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

5.6 Governing Law. The laws of the Cayman Islands shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement.

 

5.7 Conformity to Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act and the Code, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations and all other Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Restricted Shares are granted and shall be administered only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.

 

5.8 Amendments, Suspension and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Committee or the Board; provided, that except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the Restricted Shares in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.

 

5.9 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 3.2 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

5.10 Not a Contract of Employment. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

5.11 Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

 

6

 

 

Exhibit 4.4

 

MEGA MATRIX INC.

 

RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT UNDER THE

MEGA MATRIX INC. 2025 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

TO:[NAME]

 

To encourage your service as an officer, director, employee and/or consultant to Mega Matrix Inc. (the “Company”) and/or its subsidiaries, you have been granted this restricted share unit award (the “Award”) pursuant to the Company’s 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Award represents the right to receive class A ordinary Share (the “Shares”), par value $0.001 per share, of the Company subject to the fulfillment of the vesting conditions set forth in this agreement (this “Agreement”).

 

The terms of the Award are as set forth in this Agreement and in the Plan. The Plan is incorporated into this Agreement by reference, which means that this Agreement is limited by and subject to the express terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control. Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them in the Plan. The most important terms of the Award are summarized as follows:

 

1.Award Date: [DATE]

 

2.Number of Restricted Share Units Subject to this Award: [NUMBER]

 

3.Vesting Schedule: The Award shall become vested in installments on the dates indicated in the following table:

 

  Vesting Date Number of RSU Vested  
       
       

 

4. Conversion of Restricted Share Units and Issuance of Shares. Upon vesting of the Award (each, a “Vest Date”), one Share shall be issuable for each restricted share unit that vests on such Vest Date, subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement. Thereafter, the Company will transfer such Shares to you upon satisfaction of any required tax withholding obligations. No fractional shares shall be issued under this Agreement.

 

5. Termination of Service. The unvested portion of the Award will terminate automatically and be forfeited to the Company immediately and without further notice upon termination of your service to the Company for any reason (including as a result of death or disability). No Shares shall be issued or issuable with respect to any portion of the Award that terminates unvested and is forfeited.

 

6. Right to Shares. You shall not have any right in, to or with respect to any of the Shares (including any voting rights or rights with respect to dividends paid on the Shares) issuable under the Award until the Award is settled by the issuance of such Shares to you.

 

 

 

 

7. Withholding of Taxes.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, no Shares will be issued to you, unless and until satisfactory arrangements (as determined by the Administrator) will have been made by you with respect to the payment of income (including federal, state, foreign and local taxes), employment, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account and other taxes which the Company determines must be withheld with respect to such Shares so issuable (the “Withholding Taxes”). You acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Withholding Taxes legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Withholding Taxes in connection with any aspect of the Award, including the grant of the Award, the vesting of Award, the settlement of the Award in Shares or the receipt of an equivalent cash payment, the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired at vesting and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) does not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Award to reduce or eliminate your liability for Withholding Taxes.

 

(b) To satisfy the Withholding Taxes, the Company may withhold otherwise deliverable Shares upon vesting of the Award, according to the vesting schedule, having a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld for the payment of the Withholding Taxes pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may specify from time to time. The Company will not retain fractional Shares to satisfy any portion of the Withholding Taxes. If the Administrator determines that the withholding of whole Shares results in an over-withholding to meet the minimum tax withholding requirements, a reimbursement will be made to you as soon as administratively possible.

 

(c) If the Company does not withhold the Shares as described above, prior to the issuance of Shares upon vesting of the Award or the receipt of an equivalent cash payment, you shall pay, or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company (in its sole discretion) to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company. In this regard, you authorize the Company to withhold all applicable Withholding Taxes legally payable by you from your wages or other cash compensation payable to you by the Company or from any equivalent cash payment received upon vesting of the Award. Alternatively, or in addition, if permissible under local and applicable law, you may instruct and authorize the Administrator to pay Withholding Taxes, in whole or in part, by one of the additional following alternatives:

 

(i) You providing irrevocable instructions to a Company-designated broker to deliver cash to the Company from your previously established account with such broker equal to the Withholding Taxes; or

 

(ii) You providing irrevocable instructions to a Company-designated broker to sell a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to you having a Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes provided that such sale does not violate Company policy or Applicable Laws.

 

(d) The Company may refuse to issue any Shares to you until you satisfy your Withholding Taxes. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company has the right to retain without notice from Shares issuable under the Award or from salary payable to you, Shares or cash having a value sufficient to satisfy the Withholding Taxes.

 

8. Restricted Shares. The Company will not be obligated to issue any Shares with respect to this Award unless such Shares are at that time effectively registered or exempt from registration under federal securities laws and the offer and sale of the Shares are otherwise in compliance with all applicable state securities laws.

 

2

 

 

9. Limitation on Rights; No Right to Future Grants; Extraordinary Item. By entering into this Agreement and accepting the Award, you acknowledge that: (a) the Plan is discretionary and may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time as provided in the Plan; (b) the grant of the Award is a one-time benefit and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of awards or benefits in lieu of awards; (c) all determinations with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when awards will be granted, the number of shares subject to each award, the award price, if any, and the time or times when each award will be settled, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (d) your participation in the Plan is voluntary; (e) the value of the Award is an extraordinary item which is outside the scope of your service contract, if any; (f) the Award is not part of normal or expected compensation for any purpose, including without limitation for calculating any benefits, severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments; (g) the future value of the Shares subject to the Award is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty, (h) neither the Plan, the Award nor the issuance of the Shares confers upon you any right to continue in the service of (or any other relationship with) the Company, and (i) the grant of the Award will not be interpreted to form an employment relationship with the Company.

 

10. Clawback. The award and any Restricted Shares issuable hereunder shall be subject to any clawback or recoupment policy in effect on the Grant Date or adopted by the Company thereafter, including, without limitation, the Company’s policy for the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation, or any other equivalent policy then in effect.

 

11. Governing Law. The laws of the Cayman Islands shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement.

 

12. Compliance With Section 409A Of The Code. This Award is intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), including but not limited to by reason of complying with the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it is determined that the Award fails to satisfy the requirements of the short-term deferral rule and is otherwise not exempt from, and determined to be deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, this Award shall comply with Section 409A to the extent necessary to avoid adverse personal tax consequences and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly. If it is determined that the Award is deferred compensation subject to Section 409A and you are a “Specified Employee” (within the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) as of the date of your “Separation from Service” (as defined in Section 409A), then the issuance of any shares that would otherwise be made upon the date of your Separation from Service or within the first six (6) months thereafter will not be made on the originally scheduled date(s) and will instead be issued in a lump sum on the date that is six (6) months and one day after the date of the Separation from Service, with the balance of the shares issued thereafter in accordance with the original vesting and issuance schedule set forth above, but if and only if such delay in the issuance of the shares is necessary to avoid the imposition of adverse taxation on you in respect of the shares under Section 409A of the Code. Each installment of shares that vests is intended to constitute a “separate payment” for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).

 

13. Execution of Award Agreement. Please acknowledge your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Award by signing the original of this Agreement and returning it to the Company.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  Mega Matrix Inc.
   
   
  Yucheng Hu, Chief Executive Officer

 

3

 

 

ACCEPTANCE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

I, [NAME], accept the Restricted Share Unit Award described in this Agreement and in the Plan, and acknowledge receipt of a copy of this Agreement and the Plan, and acknowledge that I have read them carefully and that I fully understand their contents.

 

 
Dated: [DATE] Name: [NAME]
     
  Address: [ADD.]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

Mega Matrix Inc.   D  +852 3656 6054
  E  nathan.powell@ogier.com
   
  Reference: NMP/CLE/503979.00002

 

19 August 2025

 

Dear Sirs

 

Mega Matrix Inc. (the Company)

 

We have acted as Cayman Islands counsel to the Company in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the Form S-8), as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Form S-8 relates to the Company’s adoption of the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan which was approved by the board of directors of the Company on 4 August 2025 (the Plan).

 

We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 23.1 to the Form S-8.

 

Unless a contrary intention appears, all capitalised terms used in this opinion have the respective meanings set forth in the Documents (as defined below). A reference to a Schedule is a reference to a schedule to this opinion and the headings herein are for convenience only and do not affect the construction of this opinion.

 

1Documents examined

 

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined originals, copies, or drafts of the following documents (the Documents):

 

(a)the certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 11 October 2022 and the certificate of incorporation on change of name in respect of the Company dated 20 September 2023 issued by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands (the Registrar);

 

(b)the third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted by special resolution passed on 15 August 2025 (respectively, the Memorandum and the Articles);

 

(c)a certificate of good standing dated 3 April 2025 (the Good Standing Certificate) issued by the Registrar in respect of the Company;

 

(d)the register of directors of the Company as provided to us on 23 July 2025 (the Register of Directors);

 

(e)the written resolutions of the directors of the Company dated 4 August 2025 approving the Company’s filing of the Form S-8 and the adoption of the Plan (the Board Resolutions) and the minutes of the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on 15 August 2025 (the EGM Minutes);

 

(f)a certificate from a director of the Company dated 19 August 2025 as to certain matters of facts (the Director’s Certificate);

 

(g)the Form S-8; and

 

(h)the Plan.

 

Ogier

Providing advice on British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Guernsey laws

 

Floor 11 Central Tower

28 Queen’s Road Central

Central

Hong Kong

 

T +852 3656 6000

F +852 3656 6001

ogier.com

Partners

Nicholas Plowman

Nathan Powell

Anthony Oakes

Oliver Payne

Kate Hodson

David Nelson

Justin Davis

Joanne Collett

Dennis Li

Cecilia Li

Rachel Huang**

Yuki Yan**

Florence Chan*

Richard Bennett**

James Bergstrom

 

 

 

* admitted in New Zealand

** admitted in England and Wales

not ordinarily resident in Hong Kong

 

 

 

Page 2 of 4

 

2Assumptions

 

In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set forth in this paragraph 2 without having carried out any independent investigation or verification in respect of those assumptions:

 

(a)all original documents examined by us are authentic and complete;

 

(b)all copy documents examined by us (whether in facsimile, electronic or other form) conform to the originals and those originals are authentic and complete;

 

(c)all signatures, seals, dates, stamps and markings (whether on original or copy documents) are genuine;

 

(d)each of the Good Standing Certificate, the Register of Directors, the Plan and the Director’s Certificate is accurate, complete and up-to-date (as the case may be) as at the date of this opinion;

 

(e)the Memorandum and Articles provided to us are in full force and effect and have not been amended, varied, supplemented or revoked in any respect;

 

(f)all copies of the Form S-8 are true and correct copies and the Form S-8 conforms in every material respect to the latest drafts of the same produced to us and, where the Form S-8 has been provided to us in successive drafts marked-up to indicate changes to such documents, all such changes have been so indicated;

 

(g)the Board Resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been, and will not be, rescinded or amended, and each of the directors of the Company has acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and has exercised the standard of care, diligence and skill that is required of him or her in approving the Plan and no director has a financial interest in or other relationship to a party of the transactions contemplated by the Plan which has not been properly disclosed in the Board Resolutions;

 

(h)the Company will have sufficient authorized but unissued shares to effect the issuance of ESOP Shares (as defined below) at the time of issuance;

 

(i)upon the issue of any ESOP Shares, the Company will receive consideration for the full exercise price thereof which shall be equal to at least the par value thereof;

 

(j)the Company is, and after the allotment and issuance of the ESOP Shares will be, able to pay its liabilities as they fall due; and

 

(k)there is no provision of the law of any jurisdiction, other than the Cayman Islands, which would have any implication in relation to the opinions expressed herein.

 

 

 

Page 3 of 4

 

3Opinions

 

On the basis of the examinations and assumptions referred to above and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in paragraph 4 below, we are of the opinion that:

 

Corporate status

 

(a)The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar.

 

Authorised share capital

 

(b)The authorised share capital of the Company is USD1,110,000, divided into: (i) 1,000,000,000 class A ordinary shares of par value USD0.001 each (the Class A Ordinary Shares), (ii) 50,000,000 class B ordinary shares of par value USD0.001 each (the Class B Ordinary Shares), (iii) 50,000,000 class C ordinary shares of par value USD0.001 each, and (iv) 10,000,000 preferred shares of par value USD0.001 each.

 

Corporate authorisation

 

(c)The Company has taken all requisite corporate action to authorise the issuance of the ESOP Shares under the Plan and the Form S-8.

 

Valid issuance of ESOP Shares

 

(d)The Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued by the Company in accordance with the Plan (the ESOP Shares) have been duly authorised for issue and when:

 

(i)all provisions of the memorandum and articles of association of the Company then in effect, the Plan, the applicable award agreement and the Board Resolutions have been satisfied;

 

(ii)full payment of exercise price, which is not less than the par value per ESOP Share, has been received by the Company; and

 

(iii)such issuance of ESOP Shares have been duly registered in the Company’s register of members as fully paid shares,

 

will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

 

 

Page 4 of 4

 

4Limitations and Qualifications

 

4.1We offer no opinion:

 

(a)as to any laws other than the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we have not, for the purposes of this opinion, made any investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction, and we express no opinion as to the meaning, validity, or effect of references in the Form S-8 and the Plan to statutes, rules, regulations, codes or judicial authority of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands; or

 

(b)except to the extent that this opinion expressly provides otherwise, as to the commercial terms of, or the validity, enforceability or effect of the Form S-8 and the Plan, the accuracy of representations, the fulfilment of warranties or conditions, the occurrence of events of default or terminating events or the existence of any conflicts or inconsistencies among the Form S-8 and the Plan and any other agreements into which the Company may have entered or any other documents.

 

4.2Under the Companies Act (Revised) (Companies Act) of the Cayman Islands annual returns in respect of the Company must be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands, together with payment of annual filing fees. A failure to file annual returns and pay annual filing fees may result in the Company being struck off the Register of Companies, following which its assets will vest in the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands and will be subject to disposition or retention for the benefit of the public of the Cayman Islands.

 

4.3In good standing means only that as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate the Company is up-to-date with the filing of its annual returns and payment of annual fees with the Registrar. We have made no enquiries into the Company’s good standing with respect to any filings or payment of fees, or both, that it may be required to make under the laws of the Cayman Islands other than the Companies Act.

 

5Governing law of this opinion

 

5.1This opinion is:

 

(a)governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands;

 

(b)limited to the matters expressly stated in it; and

 

(c)confined to, and given on the basis of, the laws and practice in the Cayman Islands at the date of this opinion.

 

5.2Unless otherwise indicated, a reference to any specific Cayman Islands legislation is a reference to that legislation as amended to, and as in force at, the date of this opinion.

 

6Reliance

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form S-8.

 

This opinion may be used only in connection with the Form S-8 while the Plan is effective.

 

Yours faithfully  
   
/s/ Ogier  
Ogier  

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

A Top 18 Audit Firm 

10 Anson Road, #20-16 International Plaza, Singapore 079903.

 

UEN: T12LL1223B GST Reg No : M90367663E   Tel: (65) 6227 5428  

Website : www.allianceaudit.com

 

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 March 28, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Mega Matrix Inc., appearing in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

/s/ Audit Alliance LLP

 

Singapore

August 18, 2025

 

S-8 EX-FILING FEES 0001953021 0001953021 1 2025-08-15 2025-08-15 0001953021 2025-08-15 2025-08-15 iso4217:USD xbrli:pure xbrli:shares

Ex-Filing Fees

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLES

S-8

Mega Matrix Inc

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

                                           
Line Item Type   Security Type   Security Class Title   Notes   Fee Calculation
Rule
  Amount Registered   Proposed Maximum Offering
Price Per Unit
  Maximum Aggregate Offering Price   Fee Rate   Amount of Registration Fee
                                           
Newly Registered Securities
Fees to be Paid   Equity   Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.001 per share   (1)   Other   8,000,000   $ 2.17   $ 17,360,000.00   0.0001531   $ 2,657.82
                                           
Total Offering Amounts:   $ 17,360,000.00         2,657.82
Total Fees Previously Paid:                
Total Fee Offsets:               0.00
Net Fee Due:             $ 2,657.82

 

__________________________________________
Offering Note(s)

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.

Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement shall also cover an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.

Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based on the average the high and low sale price of the Registrant’s Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Shares”) as reported on the NYSE American on August 15, 2025 which date is within five business days prior to the filing of this Registration Statement.

Represents the maximum of 8,000,000 Class A Shares currently reserved for issuance pursuant to Mega Matrix Inc. 2025 Equity Incentive Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided for therein.