Registration No. 333-

 


 

United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

CEVA, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)

77-0556376
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

   

1174 Castro Street, Suite 210, Mountain View, California
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

94040
(Zip Code)

 

CEVA, INC.

 

Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan

 (Full Title of the Plan)

 

Gideon Wertheizer

Chief Executive Officer

CEVA, Inc.

1174 Castro Street, Suite 210,
Mountain View, California, 9404
0

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

(650) 417-7900

(Telephone Number, Including Area Code,

of Agent for Service)

 

With a copy to:

Jaclyn Liu, Esq.

Morrison & Foerster llp

425 Market Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐      Accelerated filer ☒     Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging Growth Company☐

 

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

 


Calculation of Registration Fee

 

Title of Securities to be

Registered

Number of Shares to be

Registered

Proposed Maximum Offering

Price per Share

Proposed Maximum Aggregate

Offering Price

Amount of Registration

Fee

Common Stock

1,200,000 (1)

$37.11(2)

$44,532,000

$5,780.25

 

(1) This Registration Statement on Form S-8 registers 1,200,000 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issuable under the Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Amended and Restated 2011 Equity Incentive Plan. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable under the Registrant’s above referenced plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration, which results in an increase in the number of the Registrant’s outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

(2) Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933 on the basis of the average of the high and low price per share of the Registrant’s Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on July 6, 2020.

 

 

 

Part I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

 

Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement is filed for the purpose of registering (i) 350,000 shares of the Common Stock (the “Common Stock”) of CEVA, Inc. (the “Company”) issuable under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and (ii) 850,000 shares of Common Stock issuable under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan. The Common Stock registered hereunder are the same class as those previously registered on Form S-8 on November 27, 2002 (File No. 333-101553), March 16, 2007 (File No. 333-141355), July 29, 2009 (File No. 333-160866), August 10, 2011 (File No. 333-176207), August 10, 2015 (File No. 333-206274) and August 10, 2017 (File No. 333-219868). The contents of the aforementioned Registration Statements, including any amendments thereto or filings incorporated therein, are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Part II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

 

The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”):

 

 

(a)

The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020.

 

 

(b)

All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K described in (a) above, which are the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 11, 2020, Registrant’s Proxy Statement for the June 8, 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 11, 2020

 

 

(c)

The Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-49842) filed with the SEC on October 18, 2002, in which there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the Common Stock.

 

All reports and other documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 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 part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

 

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

 

 

 

Item 8.

Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.     Description

 

4.1(1)

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

4.2(2)

Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

4.3(3)

Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

4.4(4)

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant

 

4.5

Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan.*

 

4.6

Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.*

 

5.1

Opinion of Morrison & Foerster llp as to the legality of the securities being registered.*

 

23.1

Consent of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, independent registered public accounting firm.*

 

23.2

Consent of Morrison & Foerster llp (contained in the opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).*

 

24.1

Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this Registration Statement).*

 


 

(1)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s registration statement on Form 10, as amended, initially filed with the Commission on June 3, 2002 (registration number 000-49842), and incorporated herein by reference.

 

(2)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2005, and incorporated hereby by reference.

 

(3)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on February 28, 2020, and incorporated hereby by reference.

 

(4)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 31, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

2

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Mountain View, State of California, on July 10, 2020.

 

  CEVA, INC.  
       
  By: /s/ Yaniv Arieli  
    Yaniv Arieli  
    Chief Financial Officer  


 

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Gideon Wertheizer and Yaniv Arieli, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do so and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

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

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

         

/s/ Gideon Wertheizer

Gideon Wertheizer

 

Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director

 

July 10, 2020

         

/s/ Yaniv Arieli

Yaniv Arieli

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

July 10, 2020

         

/s/ Peter McManamon

Peter McManamon

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

July 10, 2020

 

         
/s/ Bernadette Andrietti   Director   July 10, 2020
Bernadette Andrietti        
         

/s/ Eliyahu Ayalon

Eliyahu Ayalon

 

Director

 

July 10, 2020

         

/s/ Zvi Limon

Zvi Limon

 

Director

 

July 10, 2020

         

/s/ Bruce Mann

Bruce Mann

 

Director

 

July 10, 2020

         

/s/ Maria Marced

Maria Marced

 

Director

 

July 10, 2020

         

/s/ Sven-Christer Nilsson

Sven-Christer Nilsson

 

Director

 

July 10, 2020

         

/s/ Louis Silver

Louis Silver

 

Director

 

July 10, 2020

 

3

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.     Description

 

4.1(1)

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

4.2(2)

Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

4.3(3)

Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

4.4(4)

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant

 

4.5

Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan.*

 

4.6

Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.*

 

5.1

Opinion of Morrison & Foerster llp as to the legality of the securities being registered.*

 

23.1

Consent of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, independent registered public accounting firm.*

 

23.2

Consent of Morrison & Foerster llp (contained in the opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).*

 

24.1

Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this Registration Statement).*

 


 

(1)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s registration statement on Form 10, as amended, initially filed with the Commission on June 3, 2002 (registration number 000-49842), and incorporated herein by reference.

 

(2)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 22, 2005, and incorporated hereby by reference.

 

(3)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on February 28, 2020, and incorporated hereby by reference.

 

(4)

Filed as an exhibit to CEVA’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on October 31, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

4

Exhibit 4.5

 

CEVA, INC.

 

2011 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

(as amended and restated effective June 2020)

 

1.           Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentives to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business. This Plan is intended to replace the Prior Plan, which Prior Plan was automatically terminated and replaced and superseded by this Plan on the date on which this Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders. Any awards granted under the Prior Plan remain in effect pursuant to their terms.

 

2.           Definitions. The following definitions shall apply as used herein and in the individual Award Agreements except as defined otherwise in an individual Award Agreement. In the event a term is separately defined in an individual Award Agreement, such definition shall supersede the definition contained in this Section 2.

 

(a)     “Administrator” means the Board or any of the Committees appointed to administer the Plan.

 

(b)     “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

(c)     “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards, including under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.

 

(d)     “Assumed” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly affirmed by the Company or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed (and not simply by operation of law) by the successor entity or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities of the successor entity or its Parent subject to the Award and the exercise or purchase price thereof which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to assume the Award.

 

(e)     “Award” means the grant of an Option, SAR, Dividend Equivalent Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or other right or benefit under the Plan.

 

(f)     “Award Agreement” means the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Grantee, including any amendments thereto.

 

(g)     “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(h)     “Cause” means willful misconduct by the Grantee or willful failure by the Grantee to perform his or her responsibilities to the Company (including, without limitation, breach by the Grantee of any provision of any employment, consulting, advisory, nondisclosure, non-competition or other similar agreement between the Grantee and the Company), as determined by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive. The Grantee shall be considered to have been discharged for Cause if the Company determines, within 30 days after the Grantee’s resignation, that discharge for Cause was warranted.

 

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(i)     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(j)     “Committee” means any committee composed of members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

(k)     “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(l)     “Company” means CEVA, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor entity that adopts the Plan in connection with a Corporate Transaction.

 

(m)     “Consultant” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.

 

(n)     “Continuing Directors” means members of the Board who either (i) have been Board members continuously for a period of at least twelve (12) months or (ii) have been Board members for less than twelve (12) months and were elected or nominated for election as Board members by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (i) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board.

 

(o)     “Continuous Service” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service shall be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective under Applicable Laws. A Grantee’s Continuous Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Continuous Service or upon the entity for which the Grantee provides services ceasing to be a Related Entity. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, in the event of any spin-off of a Related Entity, service as an Employee, Director or Consultant for such Related Entity following such spin-off shall be deemed to be Continuous Service for purposes of the Plan and any Award under the Plan. An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave. For purposes of each Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan, if such leave exceeds three (3) months, and reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then the Incentive Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the day three (3) months and one (1) day following the expiration of such three (3) month period.

 

2

 

(p)     “Corporate Transaction” means any of the following transactions, provided, however, that the Administrator shall determine under parts (iv) and (v) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive:

 

(i)     a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;

 

(ii)     the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

(iii)     the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(iv)     any reverse merger or series of related transactions culminating in a reverse merger (including, but not limited to, a tender offer followed by a reverse merger) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such merger are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or (B) in which securities possessing more than forty percent (40%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger or the initial transaction culminating in such merger; or

 

(v)     acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities.

 

(q)     “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is a “covered employee” under Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

 

(r)     “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.

 

(s)     “Disability” means as defined under the long-term disability policy of the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides services regardless of whether the Grantee is covered by such policy. If the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Grantee is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Grantee by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days. A Grantee will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Administrator in its discretion.

 

3

 

(t)     “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right entitling the Grantee to compensation measured by dividends paid with respect to Common Stock.

 

(u)     “Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity, subject to the control and direction of the Company or any Related Entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

(v)     “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(w)     “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)     If the Common Stock is listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market or The NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Common Stock is listed (as determined by the Administrator) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(ii)     If the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), 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 Common Stock of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith and in a manner consistent with Applicable Laws.

 

(x)     “Grantee” means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives an Award under the Plan.

 

(y)     “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

4

 

(z)     “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(aa)    “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(bb)   “Option” means an option to purchase Shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the Plan.

 

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

 

(dd)   “Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation qualifying as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(ee)    “Plan” means this 2011 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

(ff)     “Prior Plan” means the Parthusceva, Inc. (subsequently known as CEVA, Inc.) 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended and restated on May 15, 2007).

 

(gg)   “Related Entity” means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(hh)   “Replaced” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction the Award is replaced with a comparable stock award or a cash incentive program of the Company, the successor entity (if applicable) or Parent of either of them which preserves the compensation element of such Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same (or a more favorable) vesting schedule applicable to such Award. The determination of Award comparability shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

(ii)     “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued under the Plan to the Grantee for such consideration, if any, and subject to such restrictions on transfer, rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, and other terms and conditions as established by the Administrator.

 

(jj)     “Restricted Stock Units” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon the passage of time or the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of cash, Shares or other securities as established by the Administrator.

 

(kk)   “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto.

 

(ll)     “SAR” means a stock appreciation right entitling the Grantee to Shares or cash compensation, as established by the Administrator, measured by appreciation in the value of Common Stock.

 

(mm)  “Share” means a share of the Common Stock.

 

5

 

(nn)     “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

3.           Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

(a)     Subject to the provisions of Section 10, below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards is 3,200,000 Shares, plus any Shares that would otherwise return to the Prior Plan as a result of forfeiture, termination or expiration of awards previously granted under the Prior Plan (ignoring the termination or expiration of the Prior Plan for the purpose of determining the number of Shares available for the Plan); provided, however, that the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options is 1,467,256 Shares. The Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

 

(b)     Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are forfeited, or repurchased by the Company at the lower of their original purchase price or their Fair Market Value at the time of repurchase, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (i) Shares tendered or withheld in payment of an Option exercise price shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan; (ii) Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan; and (iii) all Shares covered by the portion of an SAR that is exercised (whether or not Shares are actually issued to the Grantee upon exercise of the SAR) shall be considered issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

4.           Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)     Plan Administrator.

 

(i)     Administration with Respect to Directors and Officers. With respect to grants of Awards to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws and to permit such grants and related transactions under the Plan to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.

 

(ii)    Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees. With respect to grants of Awards to Employees or Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. The Board may authorize one or more Officers to grant such Awards and may limit such authority as the Board determines from time to time.

 

6

 

(iii)   Administration With Respect to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of Awards to any Covered Employee intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made only by a Committee (or subcommittee of a Committee) which is comprised solely of two or more Directors eligible to serve on a committee making Awards qualifying as Performance-Based Compensation. In the case of such Awards granted to Covered Employees, references to the “Administrator” or to a “Committee” shall be deemed to be references to such Committee or subcommittee.

 

(iv)   Administration Errors. In the event an Award is granted in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection (a), such Award shall be presumptively valid as of its grant date to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.

 

(b)     Powers of the Administrator. Subject to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), and except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i)     to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder;

 

(ii)    to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;

 

(iii)   to determine the number of Shares or the amount of other consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

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

 

(v)    to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder;

 

(vi)   to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that (A) any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee’s written consent, provided, however, that an amendment or modification that may cause an Incentive Stock Option to become a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be treated as adversely affecting the rights of the Grantee, (B) the reduction of the exercise price of any Option awarded under the Plan and the base appreciation amount of any SAR awarded under the Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval and (C) canceling an Option or SAR at a time when its exercise price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, in exchange for another Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, or other Award or for cash shall be subject to stockholder approval, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a Corporate Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, canceling an Option or SAR in exchange for another Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, or other Award with an exercise price, purchase price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) that is equal to or greater than the exercise price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) of the original Option or SAR shall not be subject to stockholder approval;

 

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(vii)   to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards, including without limitation, any notice of award or Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

(viii)  to grant Awards to Employees, Directors and Consultants employed outside the United States on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Plan, and to set forth such terms and conditions in Award Agreements, and to adopt related sub-plans under the Plan; and

 

(ix)    to take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Administrator shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Administrator; provided that the Administrator may not exercise any right or power reserved to the Board. Any decision made, or action taken, by the Administrator or in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan.

 

(c)     Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity, members of the Board and any Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity to whom authority to act for the Board, the Administrator or the Company is delegated shall be defended and indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law on an after-tax basis against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct; provided, however, that within thirty (30) days after the institution of such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at the Company’s expense to defend the same.

 

5.           Eligibility. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company. An Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards. Awards may be granted to such Employees, Directors or Consultants who are residing in non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Administrator may determine from time to time.

 

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6.           Terms and Conditions of Awards.

 

(a)     Types of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award any type of arrangement to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) an Option, a SAR, or similar right with a fixed or variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares and with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions. Such awards include, without limitation, Options, SARs, sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Dividend Equivalent Rights, and an Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two (2) or more of them in any combination or alternative.

 

(b)     Designation of Award. Each Award shall be designated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Option, the Option shall be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, an Option will qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 dollar limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded. The $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is calculated based on the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company). For purposes of this calculation, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the grant date of the relevant Option. In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the date the Plan becomes effective to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to Incentive Stock Options, then such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.

 

(c)     Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. The performance criteria established by the Administrator may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following: (i) increase in share price, (ii) earnings per share, (iii) total stockholder return, (iv) operating margin, (v) gross margin, (vi) return on equity, (vii) return on assets, (viii) return on investment, (ix) operating income, (x) net operating income, (xi) pre-tax profit, (xii) cash flow, (xiii) revenue, (xiv) expenses, (xv) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation, (xvi) economic value added and (xvii) market share. The performance criteria may be applicable to the Company, Related Entities and/or any individual business units of the Company or any Related Entity. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Award Agreement. In addition, the performance criteria shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) of any change in accounting standards and any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item, as determined by the Administrator, occurring after the establishment of the performance criteria applicable to the Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of performance criteria in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Grantee’s rights with respect to an Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation.

 

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(d)     Acquisitions and Other Transactions. The Administrator may issue Awards under the Plan in settlement, assumption or substitution for, outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards in connection with the Company or a Related Entity acquiring another entity, an interest in another entity or an additional interest in a Related Entity whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or other form of transaction.

 

(e)     Deferral of Award Payment. The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Grantees the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Grantee to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.

 

(f)     Separate Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.

 

(g)     Individual Limitations on Awards.

 

(i)     Individual Limit for Options and SARs. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be 500,000 Shares. In connection with a Grantee’s commencement of Continuous Service, a Grantee may be granted Options and SARs for up to an additional 250,000 Shares which shall not count against the limit set forth in the previous sentence. The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section 10, below. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code or the regulations thereunder, in applying the foregoing limitations with respect to a Grantee, if any Option or SAR is canceled, the canceled Option or SAR shall continue to count against the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to the Grantee. For this purpose, the repricing of an Option (or in the case of a SAR, the base amount on which the stock appreciation is calculated is reduced to reflect a reduction in the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock) shall be treated as the cancellation of the existing Option or SAR and the grant of a new Option or SAR.

 

(ii)    Individual Limit for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. For awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units that are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which such Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be 500,000. The foregoing limitation shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section 10, below.

 

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(h)     Deferral. If the vesting or receipt of Shares under an Award is deferred to a later date, any amount (whether denominated in Shares or cash) paid in addition to the original number of Shares subject to such Award will not be treated as an increase in the number of Shares subject to the Award if the additional amount is based either on a reasonable rate of interest or on one or more predetermined actual investments such that the amount payable by the Company at the later date will be based on the actual rate of return of a specific investment (including any decrease as well as any increase in the value of an investment).

 

(i)     Early Exercise. The Award Agreement may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Grantee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or Consultant to exercise any part or all of the Award prior to full vesting of the Award. Any unvested Shares received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or a Related Entity or to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate.

 

(j)     Term of Award. The term of each Award shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. However, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Grantee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the specified term of any Award shall not include any period for which the Grantee has elected to defer the receipt of the Shares or cash issuable pursuant to the Award.

 

(k)     Transferability of Awards. Incentive Stock Options 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 Grantee, only by the Grantee. Other Awards shall be transferable (i) by will and by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) during the lifetime of the Grantee, to the extent and in the manner authorized by the Administrator but only to the extent such transfers are made to family members, to family trusts, to family controlled entities, to charitable organizations, and pursuant to domestic relations orders or agreements, in all cases without payment for such transfers to the Grantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee may designate one or more beneficiaries of the Grantee’s Award in the event of the Grantee’s death on a beneficiary designation form provided by the Administrator.

 

(l)     Time of Granting Awards. The date of grant of an Award shall for all purposes be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator.

 

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7.           Award Exercise or Purchase Price, Consideration and Taxes.

 

(a)     Exercise or Purchase Price. The exercise or purchase price, if any, for an Award shall be as follows:

 

(i)     In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:

 

(A)     granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or

 

(B)     granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(ii)    In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(iii)   In the case of Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the exercise or purchase price, if any, shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(iv)   In the case of SARs, the base appreciation amount shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(v)    In the case of other Awards, such price as is determined by the Administrator.

 

(vi)   Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), in the case of an Award issued pursuant to Section 6(d), above, the exercise or purchase price for the Award shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the relevant instrument evidencing the agreement to issue such Award.

 

(b)     Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise or purchase of an Award including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator. In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for Shares issued under the Plan the following, provided that the portion of the consideration equal to the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash or other legal consideration permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law:

 

(i)     cash;

 

(ii)    check;

 

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(iii)   surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Administrator may require which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award shall be exercised;

 

(iv)   with respect to Options, payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Grantee (A) shall provide written instructions to a Company designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of some or all of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares and (B) shall provide written directives to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction;

 

(v)    with respect to Options, payment through a “net exercise” such that, without the payment of any funds, the Grantee may exercise the Option and receive the net number of Shares equal to (i) the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Fair Market Value per Share (on such date as is determined by the Administrator) less the exercise price per Share, and the denominator of which is such Fair Market Value per Share (the number of net Shares to be received shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Shares); or

 

(vi)   any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

 

The Administrator may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by amendment to the standard forms of Award Agreement described in Section 4(b)(iv), or by other means, grant Awards which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment for the Shares or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

 

(c)     Taxes. No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Grantee or other person until such Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any non-U.S., federal, state, or local income and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt of Shares. Upon exercise or vesting of an Award the Company shall withhold or collect from the Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, including, but not limited to, by surrender of the whole number of Shares covered by the Award sufficient to satisfy the minimum applicable tax withholding obligations incident to the exercise or vesting of an Award (reduced to the lowest whole number of Shares if such number of Shares withheld would result in withholding a fractional Share with any remaining tax withholding settled in cash).

 

8.           Exercise of Award.

 

(a)     Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.

 

(i)     Any Award granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the terms of the Plan and specified in the Award Agreement.

 

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(ii)     An Award shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been made, including, to the extent selected, use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the purchase price as provided in Section 7(b)(iv).

 

(b)     Exercise of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service.

 

(i)     An Award may not be exercised after the termination date of such Award set forth in the Award Agreement and may be exercised following the termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement.

 

(ii)    Where the Award Agreement permits a Grantee to exercise an Award following the termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service for a specified period, the Award shall terminate to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the Award, whichever occurs first.

 

(iii)   Any Award designated as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent not exercised within the time permitted by law for the exercise of Incentive Stock Options following the termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service shall convert automatically to a Non-Qualified Stock Option and thereafter shall be exercisable as such to the extent exercisable by its terms for the period specified in the Award Agreement.

 

9.           Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

(a)     If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Shares pursuant to the exercise, vesting or any other provision of an Award is or may be unlawful under Applicable Laws, the vesting or right to exercise an Award or to otherwise receive Shares pursuant to the terms of an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Shares under federal or state laws.

 

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

 

10.         Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and Section 11 hereof, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment shall be proportionately adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or similar transaction affecting the Shares, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (iii)  any other transaction with respect to Common Stock including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” In the event of any distribution of cash or other assets to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, the Administrator shall also make such adjustments as provided in this Section 10 or substitute, exchange or grant Awards to effect such adjustments (collectively “adjustments”). Any such adjustments to outstanding Awards will be effected in a manner that precludes the enlargement of rights and benefits under such Awards. In connection with the foregoing adjustments, the Administrator may, in its discretion, prohibit the exercise of Awards or other issuance of Shares, cash or other consideration pursuant to Awards during certain periods of time. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award.

 

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11.         Corporate Transactions.

 

(a)     Termination of Award to Extent Not Assumed in Corporate Transaction. Effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding Awards under the Plan shall terminate. However, all such Awards shall not terminate to the extent they are Assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction.

 

(b)     Acceleration of Award Upon Corporate Transaction. Except as provided otherwise in an individual Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, for the portion of each Award that is neither Assumed nor Replaced, such portion of the Award shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value) for all of the Shares (or other consideration) at the time represented by such portion of the Award, immediately prior to the specified effective date of such Corporate Transaction, provided that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has not terminated prior to such date.

 

(c)     Effect of Acceleration on Incentive Stock Options. Any Incentive Stock Option the vesting of which is accelerated under this Section 10 in connection with a Corporate Transaction shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 dollar limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded.

 

12.         Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan is effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company and shall remain effective until April 5, 2030 unless sooner terminated. Subject to Section 17, below, and Applicable Laws, Awards may be granted under the Plan upon its becoming effective.

 

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13.         Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.

 

(a)     The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent such approval is required by Applicable Laws.

 

(b)     No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.

 

(c)     No suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan under Section 10, above) shall adversely affect any rights under Awards already granted to a Grantee.

 

14.         Reservation of Shares.

 

(a)     The Company, during the term of the Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

(b)     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 Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

15.         No Effect on Terms of Employment/Consulting Relationship. The Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the Grantee’s Continuous Service, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the right of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the Grantee’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without cause, including, but not limited to, Cause, and with or without notice. The ability of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the employment of a Grantee who is employed at will is in no way affected by its determination that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has been terminated for Cause for the purposes of this Plan.

 

16.         No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans. Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity, Awards shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Related Entity, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. The Plan is not a “Pension Plan” or “Welfare Plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

17.         Stockholder Approval. The grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted excluding Incentive Stock Options issued in substitution for outstanding Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code. Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws. The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan prior to approval by the stockholders, but until such approval is obtained, no such Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable. In the event that stockholder approval is not obtained within the twelve (12) month period provided above, all Incentive Stock Options previously granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

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18.         Unfunded Obligation. Grantees shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Grantees pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Neither the Company nor any Related Entity shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Grantee account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Administrator, the Company or any Related Entity and a Grantee, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Grantee or the Grantee’s creditors in any assets of the Company or a Related Entity. The Grantees shall have no claim against the Company or any Related Entity for any changes in the value of any assets that may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

 

19.         Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

 

20.         Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of the Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of Awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

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Exhibit 4.6

 

CEVA, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2002 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

(Amended and Restated Effective June 2020)

 

The following constitute the provisions of the Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of CEVA, Inc.

 

1.            Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide Employees of the Company and its Designated Parents or Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” under Section 423 of the Code and the applicable regulations thereunder. The provisions of the Plan, accordingly, shall be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of the Code.

 

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

 

(a)     “Administrator” means either the Board or a committee of the Board that is responsible for the administration of the Plan as is designated from time to time by resolution of the Board.

 

(b)     “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the administration of employee stock purchase plans, if any, under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code and the applicable regulations thereunder, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any foreign jurisdiction applicable to participation in the Plan by residents therein.

 

(c)     “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(e)     “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(f)     “Company” means CEVA, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(g)     “Compensation” means an Employee’s base salary from the Company or one or more Designated Parents or Subsidiaries (as reported on the Employee’s Federal Income Tax Withholding Statement (Form W-2) or equivalent thereof), including (A) such amounts of base salary as are deferred by the Employee (i) under a qualified cash or deferred arrangement described in Section 401(k) of the Code, or (ii) to a plan qualified under Sections 125 or 129 of the Code and (B) sales commissions. Compensation does not include overtime, bonuses, annual awards, other incentive payments, reimbursements or other expense allowances, fringe benefits (cash or noncash), moving expenses, deferred compensation, third party sick or disability pay, income or gains attributable to restricted stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights or other similar equity-based compensation, imputed income or other non-cash items, such as life insurance premiums and similar items, contributions (other than contributions described in the first sentence) made on the Employee’s behalf by the Company or one or more Designated Parents or Subsidiaries under any employee benefit or welfare plan now or hereafter established, and any other payments not specifically referenced in the first sentence.

 

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(h)     “Corporate Transaction” means any of the following transactions:

 

(1)     a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;

 

(2)     the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the capital stock of the Company’s subsidiary corporations);

 

(3)     the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(4)     any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger; or

 

(5)     acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities, but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Administrator determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.

 

(i)     “Designated Parents or Subsidiaries” means the Parents or Subsidiaries of the Company which have been designated by the Administrator from time to time as eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

(j)     “Effective Date” means a date selected by the Board in its sole discretion. However, should any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company become a Designated Parent or Subsidiary after such date, then the Administrator, in its discretion, shall designate a separate Effective Date with respect to the employee-participants of such Designated Parent or Subsidiary.

 

(k)     “Employee” means any individual, including an officer or director, who is an employee of the Company or a Designated Parent or Subsidiary for purposes of Section 423 of the Code. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the individual’s employer. Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the day three (3) months and one (1) day following the expiration of such three (3) month period, for purposes of determining eligibility to participate in the Plan.

 

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(l)     “Enrollment Date” means the first day of each Offer Period.

 

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

 

(n)     “Exercise Date” means the last day of each Purchase Period.

 

(o)     “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(1)     If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation The Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(2)     If the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

(3)     In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in (1) and (2), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith.

 

(p)     “Offer Period” means an Offer Period established pursuant to Section 4 hereof.

 

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

 

(r)     “Participant” means an Employee of the Company or Designated Parent or Subsidiary who has completed a subscription agreement as set forth in Section 5(a) and is thereby enrolled in the Plan.

 

(s)     “Plan” means this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

(t)     RESERVED

 

(u)     “Purchase Period” means a period of approximately six months, commencing on February 1 and August 1 of each year and terminating on the next following July 31 or January 31, respectively; provided, however, that the first Purchase Period shall commence on the Effective Date and shall end on a date determined by the Administrator that shall be no later than twenty-seven (27) months after the Effective Date. The duration and timing of Purchase Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Plan.

 

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(v)     “Purchase Price” shall mean an amount equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date or on the Exercise Date, whichever is lower.

 

(w)     “Reserves” means, as of any date, the sum of (1) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each then outstanding option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised and (2) the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not then subject to an outstanding option.

 

(x)     RESERVED

 

(y)     “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

3.            Eligibility.

 

(a)     General. Any individual who is an Employee on a given Enrollment Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan for the Offer Period commencing with such Enrollment Date. No individual who is not an Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

(b)     Limitations on Grant and Accrual. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after the grant, such Employee (taking into account stock owned by any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own stock and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) which permits the Employee’s rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Parents or Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the Fair Market Value of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time. The determination of the accrual of the right to purchase stock shall be made in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. In the event that an Employee may not be granted an option under the Plan because of the foregoing restrictions, the Employee shall be granted an option to purchase the maximum number of shares that would not violate the foregoing restrictions.

 

(c)     Other Limits on Eligibility. Notwithstanding Subsection (a), above, the following Employees shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan for any relevant Offer Period: (i) Employees whose customary employment is less than 20 hours per week; (ii) Employees whose customary employment is for not more than 5 months in any calendar year; and (iii) Employees who are subject to rules or laws of a foreign jurisdiction that prohibit or make impractical the participation of such Employees in the Plan.

 

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4.            Offer Periods.

 

(a)     The Plan shall be implemented through overlapping or consecutive Offer Periods until such time as (i) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall have been purchased or (ii) the Plan shall have been sooner amended or terminated in accordance with Section 19 hereof. The maximum duration of an Offer Period shall be twenty-seven (27) months. Initially, the Plan shall be implemented through overlapping Offer Periods of twenty-four (24) months’ duration commencing each February 1 and August 1 following the Effective Date (except that the initial Offer Period shall commence on the Effective Date and shall end on a date determined by the Administrator that shall be no later than twenty-seven (27) months after the Effective Date).

 

(b)     A Participant shall be granted a separate option for each Offer Period in which he or she participates. The option shall be granted on the Enrollment Date and shall be automatically exercised in successive installments on the Exercise Dates ending within the Offer Period.

 

(c)     If on the first day of any Purchase Period in an Offer Period in which an Employee is a Participant, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock is less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Enrollment Date of the Offer Period (after taking into account any adjustment during the Offer Period pursuant to Section 18(a)), the Offer Period shall be terminated automatically and the Participant shall be enrolled automatically in the new Offer Period which has its first Purchase Period commencing on that date, provided the Employee is eligible to participate in the Plan on that date and has not elected to terminate participation in the Plan.

 

(d)     Except as specifically provided herein, the acquisition of Common Stock through participation in the Plan for any Offer Period shall neither limit nor require the acquisition of Common Stock by a Participant in any subsequent Offer Period.

 

5.            Participation.

 

(a)     An eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan by completing a subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form of Exhibit A to this Plan (or such other form or method (including electronic forms) as the Administrator may designate from time to time) and filing it with the designated payroll office of the Company at least five (5) business days prior to the Enrollment Date for the Offer Period in which such participation will commence, unless a later time for filing the subscription agreement is set by the Administrator for all eligible Employees with respect to a given Offer Period.

 

(b)     Payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence with the first partial or full payroll period beginning on the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last complete payroll period during the Offer Period, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10.

 

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6.            Payroll Deductions.

 

(a)     At the time a Participant files a subscription agreement, the Participant shall elect to have payroll deductions made during the Offer Period in amounts equal to or greater than one percent (1%) but not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the Compensation which the Participant receives during the Offer Period. Prior to April 1, 2006, a Participant could elect to have payroll deductions made during the Offer Period in amounts up to twenty percent (20%) of the Compensation which the Participant receives during the Offer Period. Such payroll deductions shall be in whole percentages only.

 

(b)     All payroll deductions made for a Participant shall be credited to the Participant’s account under the Plan and will be withheld in whole percentages only. A Participant may not make any additional payments into such account.

 

(c)     A Participant may discontinue participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10, or may increase or decrease the rate of payroll deductions during the Offer Period by completing and filing with the Company a change of status notice in the form of Exhibit B to this Plan (or such other form or method (including electronic forms) as the Administrator may designate from time to time) authorizing an increase or decrease in the payroll deduction rate. Any increase or decrease in the rate of a Participant’s payroll deductions shall be effective with the first full payroll period commencing five (5) business days after the Company’s receipt of the change of status notice unless the Company elects to process a given change in participation more quickly. A Participant’s subscription agreement (as modified by any change of status notice) shall remain in effect for successive Offer Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10. The Administrator shall be authorized to limit the number of payroll deduction rate changes during any Offer Period.

 

(d)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) herein, a Participant’s payroll deductions shall be decreased to 0%. Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate provided in such Participant’s subscription agreement, as amended, at the time when permitted under Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) herein, unless such participation is sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10.

 

(e)     At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time any of the Company’s Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company’s federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the participant’s compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or other disposition of Common Stock by the Employee.

 

7.            Grant of Option. On the Enrollment Date of each Offer Period, each Participant shall be granted an option to purchase (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a whole number of shares of Common Stock (the “Option Shares”) determined by dividing $50,000 by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 18), and provided that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b), 6 and 12 hereof. The option shall be exercisable as to 25% of the Option Shares on each Exercise Date during the Offer Period. Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 8, unless the Participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10, and the option, to the extent not exercised, shall expire on the last day of the Offer Period with respect to which such option was granted.

 

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8.            Exercise of Option. Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10, below, the Participant’s option for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be exercised automatically on each Exercise Date, by applying the accumulated payroll deductions in the Participant’s account to purchase the number of full shares subject to the option by dividing such Participant’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant’s account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price. No fractional shares will be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a Participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be carried over to the next Purchase Period or Offer Period, whichever applies, or returned to the Participant, if the Participant withdraws from the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amount remaining in a Participant’s account following the purchase of shares on the Exercise Date due to the application of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code or Section 7, above, shall be returned to the Participant and shall not be carried over to the next Offer Period or Purchase Period. During a Participant’s lifetime, a Participant’s option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by the Participant.

 

9.            Delivery. Upon receipt of a request from a Participant after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to such Participant, as promptly as practicable, of a certificate representing the shares purchased upon exercise of the Participant’s option. The Company may, in its sole discretion, and in compliance with applicable laws, authorize the book entry registration of shares in lieu of issuing certificates.

 

10.          Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.

 

(a)     A Participant may either (i) withdraw all but not less than all the payroll deductions credited to the Participant’s account and not yet used to exercise the Participant’s option under the Plan or (ii) terminate future payroll deductions, but allow accumulated payroll deductions to be used to exercise the Participant’s option under the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Company in the form of Exhibit B to this Plan (or such other form or method (including electronic forms) as the Administrator may designate from time to time). If the Participant elects withdrawal alternative (i) described above, all of the Participant’s payroll deductions credited to the Participant’s account will be paid to such Participant as promptly as practicable after receipt of notice of withdrawal, such Participant’s option for the Offer Period will be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will be made during the Offer Period. If the Participant elects withdrawal alternative (ii) described above, no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will be made during the Offer Period, all of the Participant’s payroll deductions credited to the Participant’s account will be applied to the exercise of the Participant’s option on the next Exercise Date (subject to Sections 3(b), 6, 7 and 12), and after such Exercise Date, such Participant’s option for the Offer Period will be automatically terminated and all remaining accumulated payroll deduction amounts shall be returned to the Participant. If a Participant withdraws from an Offer Period, payroll deductions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offer Period unless the Participant delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement. A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offer Period shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan that may be hereafter adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offer Periods.

 

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(b)     With respect to the termination of employment of a Participant whose new Offer Period does not begin until either August 1, 2007 or February 1, 2008, upon termination of such Participant’s employment relationship (as described in Section 2(k)) at a time more than three (3) months from July 31, 2007 or January 31, 2008, as the case may be, the payroll deductions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offer Period ending on July 31, 2007 or January 31, 2008, as the case may be, but not yet used to exercise the option will be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his/her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 14, and such Participant’s option will be automatically terminated without exercise of any portion of such option. With respect to the termination of employment of a Participant whose new Offer Period does not begin until either August 1, 2007 or February 1, 2008, upon termination of such Participant’s employment relationship (as described in Section 2(k)) within three (3) months of July 31, 2007 or January 31, 2008, as the case may be, the payroll deductions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offer Period ending on July 31, 2007 or January 31, 2008, as the case may be, but not yet used to exercise the option will be applied to the purchase of Common Stock on July 31, 2007 or January 31, 2008, as the case may be, unless the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, the person or persons entitled to the Participant’s account balance under Section 14) withdraws from the Plan by submitting a change of status notice in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 10. In such a case, no further payroll deductions will be credited to the Participant’s account following the Participant’s termination of employment and the Participant’s option under the Plan will be automatically terminated after the purchase of Common Stock on July 31, 2007 or January 31, 2008, as the case may be. If, prior to July 31, 2007 or January 31, 2008, as the case may be, the Designated Parent or Subsidiary by which the Employee is employed shall cease to be a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or if the Employee is transferred to a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Designated Parent or Subsidiary, the Employee shall be deemed to have been terminated for purposes of the Plan.

 

(c)     With respect to the termination of employment of a Participant whose new Offering Period begins on or after August 1, 2006, upon termination of such Participant’s employment relationship (as described in Section 2(k)), the payroll deductions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offer Period but not yet used to exercise the option will be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his/her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 14, and such Participant’s option will be automatically terminated without exercise of any portion of such option. If, prior to the last day of the Offer Period, the Designated Parent or Subsidiary by which the Employee is employed shall cease to be a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or if the Employee is transferred to a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Designated Parent or Subsidiary, the Employee shall be deemed to have been terminated for purposes of the Plan.

 

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11.          Interest. No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s account under the Plan.

 

12.          Stock.

 

(a)     The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be two million eight hundred fifty thousand (2,850,000) shares, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 18. With respect to any amendment to increase the total number of shares of Common Stock under the Plan, the Administrator shall have discretion to disallow the purchase of any increased shares of Common Stock for Offer Periods in existence prior to such increase. If the Administrator determines that on a given Exercise Date the number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (x) the number of shares then available for sale under the Plan or (y) the number of shares available for sale under the Plan on the Enrollment Date(s) of one or more of the Offer Periods in which such Exercise Date is to occur, the Administrator may make a pro rata allocation of the shares remaining available for purchase on such Enrollment Dates or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable, and shall either continue all Offer Periods then in effect or terminate any one or more Offer Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 19, below. Any amount remaining in a Participant’s payroll account following such pro rata allocation shall be returned to the Participant and shall not be carried over to any future Purchase Period or Offer Period, as determined by the Administrator.

 

(b)     A Participant will have no interest or voting right in shares covered by the Participant’s option until such shares are actually purchased on the Participant’s behalf in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Plan. No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such purchase.

 

(c)     Shares to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant or in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse as designated in the Participant’s subscription agreement.

 

13.          Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator which shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Administrator shall, to the full extent permitted by Applicable Law, be final and binding upon all persons.

 

14.          Designation of Beneficiary.

 

(a)     Each Participant will file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death. If a Participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective.

 

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(b)     Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant (and the Participant’s spouse, if any) at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living (or in existence) at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Administrator), the Administrator shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse (or domestic partner, as determined by the Administrator) of the Participant, or if no spouse (or domestic partner) is known to the Administrator, then to the issue of the Participant, such distribution to be made per stirpes (by right of representation), or if no issue are known to the Administrator, then to the heirs at law of the Participant determined in accordance with Section 27.

 

15.          Transferability. No payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s account, options granted hereunder, or any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 14 hereof) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offer Period in accordance with Section 10.

 

16.          Use of Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions or hold them exclusively for the benefit of Participants. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company are subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors, and no Participant shall have rights greater than those of any unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

17.          Reports. Individual accounts will be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to Participants at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

 

18.          Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization; Corporate Transactions.

 

(a)     Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the Reserves, the Purchase Price, the maximum number of shares that may be purchased in any Offer Period or Purchase Period, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment shall be proportionately adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (iii) as the Administrator may determine in its discretion, any other transaction with respect to Common Stock to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the Reserves and the Purchase Price.

 

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(b)     Corporate Transactions. In the event of a proposed Corporate Transaction, each option under the Plan shall be assumed by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Administrator, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption, determines to shorten the Offer Period then in progress by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”). If the Administrator shortens the Offer Period then in progress in lieu of assumption in the event of a Corporate Transaction, the Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that either:

 

(1)     the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offer Period as provided in Section 10; or

 

(2)     the Company shall pay to the Participant on the New Exercise Date an amount in cash, cash equivalents, or property as determined by the Administrator that is equal to the difference in the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to the option and the Purchase Price due had the Participant’s option been exercised automatically under Subsection (b)(i) above.

 

For purposes of this Subsection, an option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed if, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, the option is replaced with a comparable option with respect to shares of capital stock of the successor corporation or Parent thereof. The determination of option comparability shall be made by the Administrator prior to the Corporate Transaction and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

 

19.          Amendment or Termination.

 

(a)     The Administrator may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 18, no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that the Plan or any one or more Offer Periods may be terminated by the Administrator on any Exercise Date or by the Administrator establishing a new Exercise Date with respect to any Offer Period and/or any Purchase Period then in progress if the Administrator determines that the termination of the Plan or such one or more Offer Periods is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Except as provided in Section 18 and this Section 19, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participant without the consent of affected Participants. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other Applicable Law), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

 

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(b)     Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Administrator shall be entitled to limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during Offer Periods, change the length of Purchase Periods within any Offer Period, determine the length of any future Offer Period, determine whether future Offer Periods shall be consecutive or overlapping, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, establish additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures to accommodate the rules or laws of applicable foreign jurisdictions, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable and which are consistent with the Plan.

 

20.          Notices. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Administrator at the location, or by the person, designated by the Administrator for the receipt thereof.

 

21.          Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all Applicable Laws and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned Applicable Laws.

 

22.          Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of twenty (20) years unless sooner terminated under Section 19.

 

23.          Stockholder Approval. The Plan is effective as of the date it is adopted by the Board. The Plan shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted for approval to obtain the benefits of Section 423 of the Code. However, the Plan shall not be conditioned upon such approval.

 

24.          No Employment Rights. The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create any right for the benefit of any employee or class of employees to purchase any shares under the Plan, or create in any employee or class of employees any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company or a Designated Parent or Subsidiary, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with such employer’s right to terminate, or otherwise modify, an employee’s employment at any time.

 

25.          No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans. Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Designated Parent or Subsidiary, participation in the Plan shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Designated Parent or Subsidiary, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. The Plan is not a “Retirement Plan” or “Welfare Plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

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26.          Effect of Plan. The provisions of the Plan shall, in accordance with its terms, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, all successors of each Participant, including, without limitation, such Participant’s estate and the executors, administrators or trustees thereof, heirs and legatees, and any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or representative of creditors of such Participant.

 

27.          Governmental Regulations. The Company’s obligation to sell and deliver Common Stock under this Plan is subject to listing on an established stock exchange or quotation on a national market system or an over the counter market (to the extent the Common Stock is then so listed or quoted) and the approval of all governmental authorities required in connection with the authorization, issuance, or sale of such stock.

 

28.          Source of Shares. Shares may be issued upon exercise of an option from authorized but unissued Common Stock, from shares held in the treasury of the Company, or from any other proper source.

 

29.          Notification Upon Sale of Shares. Each employee agrees, by participating in the Plan, to promptly give notice to the Company of any disposition of shares purchased under the Plan where such disposition occurs within two years after the date of the grant of the option pursuant to which such shares were purchased or within one year of the date of exercise of such option pursuant to which such shares were purchased.

 

30.          Governing Law. The Plan is to be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice of law rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the internal laws of the State of Delaware to the rights and duties of the parties, except to the extent the internal laws of the State of Delaware are superseded by the laws of the United States. Should any provision of the Plan be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.

 

31.          Dispute Resolution. The provisions of this Section 31 (and as restated in the Subscription Agreement) shall be the exclusive means of resolving disputes arising out of or relating to the Plan. The Company and the Participant, or their respective successors (the “parties”), shall attempt in good faith to resolve any disputes arising out of or relating to the Plan by negotiation between individuals who have authority to settle the controversy. Negotiations shall be commenced by either party by notice of a written statement of the party’s position and the name and title of the individual who will represent the party. Within thirty (30) days of the written notification, the parties shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to resolve the dispute. If the dispute has not been resolved by negotiation, the parties agree that any suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Plan shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (or should such court lack jurisdiction to hear such action, suit or proceeding, in a California state court in the County of San Francisco) and that the parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of such court. The parties irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection the party may have to the laying of venue for any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court. THE PARTIES ALSO EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT THEY HAVE OR MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. If any one or more provisions of this Section 31 shall for any reason be held invalid or unenforceable, it is the specific intent of the parties that such provisions shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it or its application valid and enforceable.

 

13

 

Exhibit A

 

CEVA, Inc. 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

Effective with the Offer Period beginning on:

☐ <February 1, 20_> or ☐ <August 1, 20_>

 

1.

Personal Information. <modify data requested as appropriate>

 

Legal Name (Please Print)          
  (Last)                                 (First)                                    (MI)   Location   Department

 

Street Address      
      Daytime Telephone
       
City, State/Country, Zip      
      E-Mail Address

 

Social Security No.     Employee I.D. No.          
            Manager   Mgr Location

 

2.

Eligibility. Any Employee whose customary employment is 20 hours or more per week and more than 5 months per calendar year, and who does not hold (directly or indirectly) five percent (5%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company, a parent or a subsidiary, whether in stock or options to acquire stock is eligible to participate in the CEVA, Inc. 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”); provided, however, that Employees who are subject to the rules or laws of a foreign jurisdiction that prohibit or make impractical the participation of such Employees in the ESPP are not eligible to participate.

 

3.

Definitions. Each capitalized term in this Subscription Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the ESPP.

 

4.

Subscription. I hereby elect to participate in the ESPP and subscribe to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock in accordance with this Subscription Agreement and the ESPP. I have received a complete copy of the ESPP and a prospectus describing the ESPP and understand that my participation in the ESPP is in all respects subject to the terms of the ESPP. The effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is dependent on my eligibility to participate in the ESPP.

 

5.

Payroll Deduction Authorization. I hereby authorize payroll deductions from my Compensation during the Offer Period in the percentage specified below (payroll reductions may not exceed 10% of Compensation nor $____ per calendar year):

 


 

Percentage to be Deducted (circle one) 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%

 


 

6.

ESPP Accounts and Purchase Price. I understand that all payroll deductions will be credited to my account under the ESPP. No additional payments may be made to my account. No interest will be credited on funds held in the account at any time including any refund of the account caused by withdrawal from the ESPP. All payroll deductions shall be accumulated for the purchase of Company Common Stock at the applicable Purchase Price determined in accordance with the ESPP.

 

7.

Withdrawal and Changes in Payroll Deduction. I understand that I may discontinue my participation in the ESPP at any time prior to an Exercise Date as provided in Section 10 of the ESPP, but if I do not withdraw from the ESPP, any accumulated payroll deductions will be applied automatically to purchase Company Common Stock. I may increase or decrease the rate of my payroll deductions in whole percentage increments to not less than one percent (1%) on one occasion during any Purchase Period by completing and timely filing a Change of Status Notice. Any increase or decrease will be effective for the full payroll period occurring after five (5) business days from the Company’s receipt of the Change of Status Notice.

 

8.

Perpetual Subscription. I understand that this Subscription Agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offer Periods until I withdraw from participation in the ESPP, or termination of the ESPP.

 

A-1

 

9.

Taxes. I have reviewed the ESPP prospectus discussion of the federal tax consequences of participation in the ESPP and consulted with tax consultants as I deemed advisable prior to my participation in the ESPP. I hereby agree to notify the Company in writing within thirty (30) days of any disposition (transfer or sale) of any shares purchased under the ESPP if such disposition occurs within two (2) years of the Enrollment Date (the first day of the Offer Period during which the shares were purchased) or within one (1) year of the Exercise Date (the date I purchased such shares), and I will make adequate provision to the Company for foreign, federal, state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the disposition of the shares. In addition, the Company may withhold from my Compensation any amount necessary to meet applicable tax withholding obligations incident to my participation in the ESPP, including any withholding necessary to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits contingent on such withholding.

 

10.

Dispute Resolution. The provisions of this Section 10 and Section 31 of the ESPP shall be the exclusive means of resolving disputes arising out of or relating to the Plan. The Company and I, or our respective successors (the “parties”), shall attempt in good faith to resolve any disputes arising out of or relating to the Plan by negotiation between individuals who have authority to settle the controversy. Negotiations shall be commenced by either party by notice of a written statement of the party’s position and the name and title of the individual who will represent the party. Within thirty (30) days of the written notification, the parties shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to resolve the dispute. If the dispute has not been resolved by negotiation, the Company and I agree that any suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Plan shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (or should such court lack jurisdiction to hear such action, suit or proceeding, in a California state court in the County of San Francisco) and that we shall submit to the jurisdiction of such court. The Company and I irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection we may have to the laying of venue for any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court. THE COMPANY AND I ALSO EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT WE HAVE OR MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. If any one or more provisions of this Section 10 or Section 28 of the ESPP shall for any reason be held invalid or unenforceable, it is the specific intent of the Company and I that such provisions shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it or its application valid and enforceable.

 

11.

Designation of Beneficiary. In the event of my death, I hereby designate the following person or trust as my beneficiary to receive all payments and shares due to me under the ESPP: ☐ I am single ☐ I am married

 

Beneficiary (please print)     Relationship to Beneficiary (if any)
  (Last)                                        (First)                                        (MI)    
       
Street Address      
       
City, State/Country, Zip      

 

12.

Termination of ESPP. I understand that the Company has the right, exercisable in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the ESPP at any time, and a termination may be effective as early as an Exercise Date, including the establishment of an alternative date for an Exercise Date within each outstanding Offer Period.

 

Date:     Employee Signature:  
         
         
        spouse’s signature (if beneficiary is other than spouse)

 

A-2

 

Exhibit B

 

CEVA, Inc. 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

CHANGE OF STATUS NOTICE

 

Participant Name (Please Print)  
   
Social Security Number  
   

 

Withdrawal From ESPP

 

I hereby withdraw from the CEVA, Inc. 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) and agree that my option under the applicable Offer Period will be automatically terminated and all accumulated payroll deductions credited to my account will be refunded to me or applied to the purchase of Common Stock depending on the alternative indicated below. No further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in the applicable Offer Period and I shall be eligible to participate in a future Offer Period only by timely delivery to the Company of a new Subscription Agreement.

 

☐     Withdrawal and Purchase of Common Stock

 

Payroll deductions will terminate, but your account balance will be applied to purchase Common Stock on the next Exercise Date. Any remaining balance will be refunded.

 

☐     Withdrawal Without Purchase of Common Stock

 

Entire account balance will be refunded to me and no Common Stock will be purchased on the next Exercise Date provided this notice is submitted to the Company ten (10) business days prior to the next Exercise Date.

 


 

☐     Change in Payroll Deduction

 

I hereby elect to change my rate of payroll deduction under the ESPP as follows (select one):

 


 

Percentage to be Deducted (circle one) 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%

 


 

An increase or a decrease in payroll deduction will be effective for the first full payroll period commencing no fewer than five (5) business days following the Company’s receipt of this notice, unless this change is processed more quickly.

 

B-1

 


 

☐     Change of Beneficiary                          ☐ I am married   ☐ I am single

 

This change of beneficiary shall terminate my previous beneficiary designation under the ESPP. In the event of my death, I hereby designate the following person or trust as my beneficiary to receive all payments and shares due to me under the ESPP:

 

Beneficiary (please print)     Relationship to Beneficiary (if any)
  (Last)                              (First)                              (MI)    
Street Address      
       
City, State/Country, Zip      

 


 

Date:     Employee Signature:  
         
         
        spouse’s signature (if beneficiary is other than spouse)

 

 

B-2

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

July 10, 2020

 

CEVA, Inc.

1174 Castro Street, Suite 210
Mountain View, California, 94040

 

Re:

Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by CEVA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 10, 2020 (the “Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 1,200,000 shares of the common stock (the “Common Stock”) of the Company, $0.001 par value (collectively, the “Shares”), reserved for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2002 Plan”) and the Company’s Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan” and together with the 2002 Plan, the “Plans”).

 

As counsel to the Company, we have examined the proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the reservation of the Shares pursuant to the Plans.

 

It is our opinion that the Shares which may be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the Plans, when issued and sold in the manner referenced in the Registration Statement, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. For the purpose of the opinion rendered above, we have assumed that in connection with the issuance of the Shares under the Plans, the Company will receive consideration in an amount not less than the aggregate par value of the Common Stock covered by each such issuance.

 

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to all references to us in the Registration Statement and any further amendments thereto.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP

 

Morrison & Foerster LLP

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Amended and Restated 2002 Employees' Stock Purchase Plan and the Amended and Restated 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, of CEVA Inc. of our report dated February 28, 2020, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of CEVA Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of CEVA Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 

 

  /s/ Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer                
Tel-Aviv, Israel Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer

July 10, 2020

A Member of Ernst & Young Global