EXHIBIT 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
FIRST AMENDMENT TO TERM LOAN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
FIRST AMENDMENT TO TERM LOAN CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated as of November 4, 2021 (this “Agreement”), by and among 2U, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), certain subsidiaries of the Borrower party hereto, as guarantors (the “Guarantors”), ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC (“Alter Domus”), as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and the lenders party hereto which constitute Required Lenders.
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein having the meaning provided in the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, as Guarantors, the several lenders from time to time parties thereto (each, a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”) and Alter Domus, as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent; and
WHEREAS, the Borrower, Administrative Agent and Lenders party thereto (which constitute Required Lenders) each desire to amend the Credit Agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.Amendment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Section 2.22(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by: (x) replacing the clause “(i) the greater of (x) $50,000,000” in its entirety with the clause “(i) the greater of (x) $100,000,000” and (y) replacing the second proviso therein in its entirety with the proviso “provided that the Borrower may redesignate any such Indebtedness (in an amount not to exceed at any time the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) 75% of Consolidated EBITDA on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period for which financial statements have been delivered under Section 5.1(a) or (b)) originally designated as incurred pursuant to clause (i) above if, at the time of such redesignation, the Borrower would be permitted to incur under clause (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness being so redesignated (for purposes of clarity, with any such redesignation having the effect of increasing the Borrower’s ability to incur indebtedness under clause (i) above as of the date of such redesignation by the amount of such Indebtedness so redesignated);”.
2.Borrower Certifications. By its execution of this Agreement, the undersigned officer of the Borrower hereby certifies, solely in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in his or her individual capacity, that:
a.each of the representations and warranties made by any Credit Party in or pursuant to the Credit Documents is true and correct in all material respects (unless qualified by materiality, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date all conditions set forth in Section 3 below are satisfied (such date, the “Amendment Date”) as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (unless qualified by materiality, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such specific date); and
b.no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the execution of this Agreement.
3.Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Agreement will become effective on the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied:
a.The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower, Guarantors and Required Lenders a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party;
b.The Borrower shall have paid (i) to the Administrative Agent all costs and expenses required to be paid pursuant to the Credit Agreement and (ii) to Shearman & Sterling LLP all reasonable fees and reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement; and
c.The certifications set forth in Section 2 above shall be true and correct.
4.Amendment, Modification and Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed and delivered on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
5.Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, among the parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.
6.Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement and the Credit Documents.
a.Each reference in the Credit Agreement and the Credit Documents to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the other Credit Documents to “the Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, is considered to have included a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended by this Agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”).
b.The Credit Agreement, as specifically amended by this Agreement, and each other Credit Document is and shall continue to be in full force and effect and is hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Documents and all of the Collateral described therein do and shall continue to secure the payment of all Obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents, in each case, as amended by this Agreement.
c.The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Agreement shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or any Administrative Agent under any of the Credit Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Credit Documents. On and after the effectiveness of this Agreement, this Agreement shall for all purposes constitute a Credit Document.
d.By its execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) each Guarantor hereby consents to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, including the effectiveness of the Amended Credit Agreement, and agrees that each reference to the Credit Agreement in the Credit Documents shall, on and after the Amendment Date, be deemed to be a
reference to the Amended Credit Agreement; (ii) each Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that, after giving effect to this Agreement and the Amended Credit Agreement, all of its respective obligations and liabilities under the Credit Documents to which it is a party, as such obligations and liabilities have been amended by this Agreement and the Amended Credit Agreement, are reaffirmed, and remain in full force and effect; and (iii) after giving effect to this Agreement, each Guarantor reaffirms (A) that each Collateral Document will remain in full force and effect and will continue to constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the relevant Guarantors enforceable in accordance with their terms, and (B) each Lien granted by it to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties under each of the Credit Documents to which it is a party, which Liens shall continue in full force and effect during the term of the Amended Credit Agreement and shall continue to secure the Secured Obligations (after giving effect to this Agreement and the Amended Credit Agreement), in each case, on and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Amended Credit Agreement, and the other Credit Documents. This Agreement and the Amended Credit Agreement shall not constitute a novation of the Credit Agreement or any of the Credit Documents.
7.GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
8.WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
9.Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. The terms of Section 10.15 of the Credit Agreement with respect to submission to jurisdiction and consent to service of process are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the parties hereto agree to such terms.
10.Severability. In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
11.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic
signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.
12.Credit Document. This Agreement is a Credit Document.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused its duly authorized officer to execute and deliver this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
2U, INC., as Borrower
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Chief Financial Officer
TRILOGY EDUCATION SERVICES, LLC, as Guarantor
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CRITIQUEIT, INC., as Guarantor
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Treasurer
2U HARKINS ROAD LLC, as Guarantor
By: 2U, Inc., its sole member
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Chief Financial Officer
2U NYC, LLC, as Guarantor
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Treasurer
2U GETSMARTER, LLC, as Guarantor
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Treasurer
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
2U GETSMARTER (US), LLC, as Guarantor
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Treasurer
2U KEIH HOLDCO, LLC, as Guarantor
By: 2U, Inc., its sole member
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Chief Financial Officer
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC,
as the Administrative Agent
By: /s/ Matthew Trybula
Name: Matthew Trybula
Title: Associate Counsel
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
Ares Capital Corporation,
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
CADEX Credit Financing, LLC,
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
ARES CENTRE STREET PARTNERSHIP, L.P,
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Centre Street GP, Inc., as general partner
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Jasper Fund Holdings, LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares ND CSF Holdings LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
Ares CSIDF Holdings, LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Senior Direct Lending Master Fund Designated
Activity Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Senior Direct Lending Parallel Fund (L), L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Senior Direct Lending Parallel Fund (U), L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares SDL Holdings (U) Inc.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
Ares Senior Direct Lending Parallel Fund (U) II, L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares SDL II Capital Management LLC, its
Manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
SDL II Finance 1 LP
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares SDL II Capital Management LLC, its
servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
SDL II Finance 2 LP
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares SDL II Capital Management LLC, its
servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares SFERS Holdings LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
Chimney Tops Loan Fund, LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its Account
Manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
ADF I Holdings LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
AC AMERICAN FIXED INCOME IV, L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
AO MIDDLE MARKET CREDIT FINANCING L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: AO Middle Market Credit Financing GP Ltd., its
general partner
By: /s/ K. Patel
Name: K. Patel
Title: Director
By: /s/ Jeremy Ehrlich
Name: Jeremy Ehrlich
Title: Director
Federal Insurance Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
SC ACM Private Debt Fund L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Nationwide Life Insurance Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Bowhead IMC LP
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
VG ACM Private Debt Fund L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
ARES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC,
as a Required Lender
By: /s/ David Schwartz
Name: David Schwartz
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC,
as a Required Lender
By: /s/ Vali Shokrgozar
Name: Vali Shokrgozar
Title: Managing Director
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
JLK PORTFOLIO, LTD.,
as a Required Lender
By: HG Vora Capital Management, LLC, as Collateral
Manager
By: /s/ Mandy Lam
Name: Mandy Lam
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
GEM1 LOAN FUNDING LLC,
By: Citibank N.A.,
as a Required Lender
By: /s/ Mitesh Bhakta
Name: Mitesh Bhakta
Title: Director
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1]
EXHIBIT 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
JOINDER AGREEMENT
JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of November 4, 2021 (this “Agreement”), by and among the lenders listed on Exhibit A hereto (each a “2021 New Term Loan Lender” and collectively the “2021 New Term Loan Lenders”), 2U, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”) and ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC (“Alter Domus”), as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, reference is hereby made to the Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2021, as amended by the First Amendment to Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2021 (as so amended and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not defined herein having the meaning provided in the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, as Guarantors, the several lenders from time to time parties thereto (each, a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”) and Alter Domus, as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower may establish Incremental Term Loan Commitments by, among other things, entering into an Incremental Term Joinder with Incremental Lenders; and
WHEREAS, the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent that under Section 2.22 of the Credit Agreement it is requesting the 2021 Incremental Term Loan Commitments (as defined below), under which the Borrower intends to incur Incremental Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (the “2021 Incremental Term Loans”) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
The 2021 New Term Loan Lender hereby agrees to commit to provide the Incremental Term Loan Commitments (the “2021 Incremental Term Loan Commitments”) as set forth on Schedule A annexed hereto, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below.
The 2021 New Term Loan Lender (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the schedules and exhibits attached thereto, together with copies of the financial statements referred to therein and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any other Lender or Agent and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (iv) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as an Incremental Lender.
The 2021 New Term Loan Lender hereby agrees to provide its 2021 Incremental Term Loan Commitments on the following terms and conditions:
1.2021 Incremental Term Loans: Upon the funding of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans (the date of such funding, the “2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date”), the 2021 Incremental Term Loans shall constitute an increase to and a part of the Initial Term Loans, shall be designated as part of the same Term Loan Tranche as the Initial Term Loans and the 2021 New Term Loan Lender will be a “Term Loan Lender” for all purposes under the Credit Agreement. After the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “Initial Term Loans”, and each reference in the Credit Agreement to the “Term Loan Lenders” shall include, respectively, the 2021 Incremental Term Loans and the 2021 New Term Loan Lender. The Administrative Agent shall take any and all action as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that the 2021 Incremental Term Loans are included in each Borrowing and repayment of Initial Term Loans on a pro rata basis. In furtherance of the foregoing, on the 2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date, there shall commence an initial Interest Period with respect to the 2021 Incremental Term Loans, which Interest Period shall end on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Initial Term Loans as in effect immediately prior to the 2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the 2021 Incremental Term Loans are incurred under clause (a)(i)(x) of Section 2.22 of the Credit Agreement until such time as otherwise permitted to be incurred under another subclause under Section 2.22(a) of the Credit Agreement.
2.Applicable Margin. The Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans or for Eurodollar Loans, as applicable, that are 2021 Incremental Term Loans shall be the applicable percentage per annum as set forth in the Credit Agreement for the Initial Term Loans.
3.Principal Payments. Subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 2.12 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall make principal payments on the 2021 Incremental Term Loans (i) on the last Business Day of each of March, June, September and December, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on December 31, 2021, in a principal amount equal to (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of 2021 Incremental Term Loans immediately after the funding thereof on the 2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date multiplied by (b) 0.25% and (ii) on the Term Loan Maturity Date, any remaining outstanding amount of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 2.12 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall make principal payments in respect of the Initial Term Loans (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the 2021 Incremental Term Loans) (A) on the last Business Day of each of March, June, September and December, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on December 31, 2021, in a principal amount for each such payment equal to $1,438,127 and (B) on the Term Loan Maturity Date, with respect to any remaining outstanding amount of the Initial Term Loans.
4.Proposed Borrowing. This Agreement represents a request by the Borrower to borrow 2021 Incremental Term Loans from the 2021 New Term Loan Lender as follows (the “Proposed Borrowing”):
(a)Business Day of Proposed Borrowing: November 4, 2021
(b)Amount of Proposed Borrowing: $100,000,000
(c)Interest rate option: The initial interest rate contract on the 2021 Incremental Term Loans shall be subject to the same Adjusted Eurodollar Rate contract applicable to the Initial Term Loans for the interest period commencing on June 29, 2021.
5.Credit Agreement Governs. This Agreement constitutes an amendment to the Credit Agreement to the extent necessary to reflect the terms hereof in accordance with Section 2.22 of the Credit Agreement. Except as set forth in this Agreement, the 2021 Incremental Term Loans shall otherwise be subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents.
6.Borrower Certifications. By its execution of this Agreement, the undersigned officer of the Borrower hereby certifies, solely in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower and not in his or her individual capacity, that:
(a)each of the representations and warranties made by any Credit Party in or pursuant to the Credit Documents is true and correct in all material respects (unless qualified by materiality, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the 2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (unless qualified by materiality, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such specific date); provided that, if the primary purpose of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans is to finance a Permitted Acquisition or an Investment permitted under Section 6.6 of the Credit Agreement, the foregoing shall be limited to the Specified Representations (other than Section 4.21 of the Credit Agreement with respect to the target in such Permitted Acquisition and its Restricted Subsidiaries); and
(b)no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the borrowings to be made on the 2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date); provided that, if the primary purpose of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans is to finance a Permitted Acquisition or an Investment permitted under Section 6.6 of the Credit Agreement, the foregoing shall be limited to no Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) of the Credit Agreement.
7.Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Agreement will become effective on the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied:
(a)The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and the 2021 New Term Loan Lender a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party;
(b)The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed First Amendment to Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2021, by and among the Lenders party thereto, the Borrower and Administrative Agent;
(c)The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed legal opinion of Paul Hastings LLP, counsel to the Borrower;
(d)The Borrower shall have paid (i) to the Debt Advisor (as defined in the Debt Advisory Engagement Letter dated as of October 11, 2021 by and between Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and the Borrower, the “Engagement Letter”) the fees and expenses specified in the Engagement Letter to be paid on the 2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date and (ii) to
the Administrative Agent and the 2021 New Term Loan Lender all costs and expenses required to be paid pursuant to the Credit Agreement;
(e)The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of each Credit Party, dated as of the 2021 Term Loan Increase Effective Date, substantially in the form provided to the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.1(j) of the Credit Agreement, with appropriate attachments;
(f)The Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed Solvency Certificate to the effect that after giving effect to the funding of the 2021 Incremental Term Loans and the contemplated use of proceeds thereof, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are Solvent; and
(g)The certifications set forth in Section 6 above shall be true and correct.
8.Notice. For purposes of the Credit Agreement, the initial notice address of the New Term Loan Lender shall be as set forth below its signature below.
9.Recordation of the New Loans. Upon execution and delivery hereof, the Administrative Agent will record the 2021 Incremental Term Loans in the Register.
10.Amendment, Modification and Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed and delivered on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
11.Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, among the parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.
12.GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
13.Severability. In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
14.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other state laws based on the Uniform Electronic
Transactions Act, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.
15.Credit Document. This Agreement is a Credit Document.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused its duly authorized officer to execute and deliver this Joinder Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
2U, INC.,
as the Borrower
By: /s/ Paul S. Lalljie
Name: Paul S. Lalljie
Title: Chief Financial Officer
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
MACQUARIE US TRADING LLC,
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: /s/ Joshua Karlin /s/Michael Greenblatt
Name: Joshua Karlin Michael Greenblatt
Title: Authorized Signatory Authorized Signatory
Notice Address:
Attention:
Telephone:
Facsimile:
Email:
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
Ares Capital Corporation,
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
CADEX Credit Financing, LLC,
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
ARES CENTRE STREET PARTNERSHIP, L.P,
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Centre Street GP, Inc., as general partner
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Jasper Fund Holdings, LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares ND CSF Holdings LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
Ares CSIDF Holdings, LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Senior Direct Lending Master Fund Designated
Activity Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Senior Direct Lending Parallel Fund (L), L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares Senior Direct Lending Parallel Fund (U), L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares SDL Holdings (U) Inc.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
Ares Senior Direct Lending Parallel Fund (U) II, L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares SDL II Capital Management LLC, its
Manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
SDL II Finance 1 LP
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares SDL II Capital Management LLC, its
servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
SDL II Finance 2 LP
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares SDL II Capital Management LLC, its
servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Ares SFERS Holdings LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Chimney Tops Loan Fund, LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its Account
Manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
ADF I Holdings LLC
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, as servicer
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
AC AMERICAN FIXED INCOME IV, L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
AO MIDDLE MARKET CREDIT FINANCING L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: AO Middle Market Credit Financing GP Ltd., its
general partner
By: /s/ K. Patel
Name: K. Patel
Title: Director
By: /s/ Jeremy Ehrlich
Name: Jeremy Ehrlich
Title: Director
Federal Insurance Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
SC ACM Private Debt Fund L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
Nationwide Life Insurance Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Bowhead IMC LP
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
VG ACM Private Debt Fund L.P.
as 2021 New Term Lender
By: Ares Capital Management LLC, its investment
manager
By: /s/ Penni Roll
Name: Penni Roll
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
Consented to by:
ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC,
as the Administrative Agent
By: /s/ Matthew Trybula
Name: Matthew Trybula
Title: Associate Counsel
[Signature Page to Joinder Agreement]
EXHIBIT 10.3
2U, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: JANUARY 30, 2014
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS: FEBRUARY 11, 2014
EFFECTIVE DATE: FEBRUARY 11, 2014
AMENDED AND RESTATED: JUNE 27, 2018 AND OCTOBER 14, 2021
1.GENERAL.
(a)Successor to and Continuation of Prior Plan. The Plan is intended as the successor to and continuation of the 2U, Inc. 2008 Fourth Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Prior Plan”). From and after 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on the Effective Date, no additional stock awards will be granted under the Prior Plan. All Awards granted on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date will be granted under this Plan. All stock awards granted under the Prior Plan will remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plan.
(i)Any shares that would otherwise remain available for future grants under the Prior Plan as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date (the “Prior Plan’s Available Reserve”) will cease to be available under the Prior Plan at such time. Instead, that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Prior Plan’s Available Reserve will be added to the Share Reserve (as further described in Section 3(a) below) and be then immediately available for grants and issuance pursuant to Stock Awards hereunder, up to the maximum number set forth in Section 3(a) below.
(ii)In addition, from and after 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on the Effective Date, with respect to the aggregate number of shares subject, at such time, to outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plan that (A) expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise or settlement; (B) are forfeited because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares or otherwise return to the Company; or (C) are reacquired, withheld (or not issued) to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with an award or to satisfy the purchase price or exercise price of a stock award (such shares the “Returning Shares”) will immediately be added to the Share Reserve (as further described in Section 3(a) below) as and when such a share becomes a Returning Share, up to the maximum number set forth in Section 3(a) below.
(b)Eligible Award Recipients. Employees, Directors and Consultants are eligible to receive Awards.
(c)Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iv) Restricted Stock Awards, (v) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, (vi) Performance Stock Awards, (vii) Performance Cash Awards, and (viii) Other Stock Awards.
(d)Purpose. The Plan, through the grant of Awards, is intended to help the Company secure and retain the services of eligible award recipients, provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate, and provide a means by which the eligible recipients may benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock.
2.ADMINISTRATION.
(a)Administration by Board. The Board will administer the Plan. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).
(b)Powers of Board. The Board will have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i)To determine: (A) who will be granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award will be granted; (C) what type of Award will be granted; (D) the provisions of each Award (which need not be identical), including when a person will be permitted to exercise or otherwise receive cash or Common Stock under the Award; (E) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to, or the cash value of, an Award; and (F) the Fair Market Value applicable to a Stock Award.
(ii)To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for administration of the Plan and Awards. The Board, in the exercise of these powers, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Agreement or in the written terms of a Performance Cash Award, in a manner and to the extent it will deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan or Award fully effective.
(iii)To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it.
(iv)To accelerate, in whole or in part, the time at which an Award may be exercised or vest (or the time at which cash or shares of Common Stock may be issued in settlement thereof).
(v)To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, suspension or termination of the Plan will not materially impair a Participant’s rights under the Participant’s then-outstanding Award without the Participant’s written consent, except as provided in subsection (viii) below.
(vi)To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, by adopting amendments relating to Incentive Stock Options and certain nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and/or bringing the Plan or Awards granted under the Plan into compliance with the requirements for Incentive Stock Options or ensuring that they are exempt from, or compliant with, the requirements for nonqualified deferred compensation under Section
409A of the Code, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law. If required by applicable law or listing requirements, and except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the Company will seek stockholder approval of any amendment of the Plan that (A) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, (B) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (C) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (D) materially reduces the price at which shares of Common Stock may be issued or purchased under the Plan, (E) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (F) materially expands the types of Awards available for issuance under the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no amendment of the Plan will materially impair a Participant’s rights under an outstanding Award without the Participant’s written consent.
(vii)To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of (A) Section 422 of the Code regarding “incentive stock options” or (B) Rule 16b-3.
(viii)To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more Awards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the Participant than previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided, however, that a Participant’s rights under any Award will not be impaired by any such amendment unless (A) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (B) such Participant consents in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) a Participant’s rights will not be deemed to have been impaired by any such amendment if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant’s rights, and (y) subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, the Board may amend the terms of any one or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent (1) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (2) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option, if such change results in impairment of the Award solely because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (3) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with, Section 409A of the Code; or (4) to comply with other applicable laws or listing requirements.
(ix)Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards.
(x)To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States (provided that Board approval will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or any Award Agreement that are required for compliance with the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).
(xi)To effect, with the consent of any adversely affected Participant, (A) the reduction of the exercise, purchase or strike price of any outstanding Stock Award; (B) the cancellation of any outstanding Stock Award and the grant in substitution therefor of a new (1) Option or SAR, (2) Restricted Stock Award, (3) Restricted Stock Unit Award, (4) Other Stock Award, (5) cash and/or (6) other valuable consideration determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, with any such substituted award (x) covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock as the cancelled Stock Award and (y) granted under the Plan or another equity or compensatory plan of the Company; or (C) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles.
(c)Delegation to Committee.
(i)General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee will have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board will thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee, as applicable). Any delegation of administrative powers will be reflected in resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, adopted from time to time by the Board or Committee (as applicable). The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.
(ii)Rule 16b-3 Compliance. The Committee shall consist solely of two or more individuals who are Non-Employee Directors to the extent required for compliance with Rule 16b-3.
(d)Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one (1) or more Officers the authority to do one or both of the following (i) designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Options and SARs (and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other Stock Awards) and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the terms of such Awards, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation will specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Any such Stock Awards will be granted on the form of Stock Award Agreement most recently approved for use by the Committee or the Board, unless otherwise provided in the resolutions approving the delegation authority. The Board may not delegate authority to an Officer who is acting solely in the capacity of an Officer (and not also as a Director) to determine the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 13(y)(iii) below.
(e)Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith will not be subject to review by any person and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.
3.SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a)Share Reserve. Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments after the Adoption Date, and the following sentence regarding the annual “evergreen” increase, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards will not exceed the sum of (i) 2,800,000 shares, plus, (ii) 256,130 shares subject to the Prior Plan’s Available Reserve, plus (iii) the number of shares that are Returning Shares, as such shares become available from time to time in an amount not to exceed 5,687,218 shares (such aggregate amount, the “Share Reserve”). In addition, the Share Reserve will automatically increase on January 1st of each year, for a period of not more than ten years, commencing on January 1, 2015, and ending on (and including) January 1, 2024, in an amount equal to 5% of the total number of shares of Capital Stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to January 1st of a given year to provide that there will be no January 1st increase in the Share Reserve for such year or that the increase in the Share Reserve for such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence. For clarity, the Share Reserve in this Section 3(a) is a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan. Accordingly, this Section 3(a) does not limit the granting of Stock Awards except as provided in Section 7(a). Any Shares may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) or, if applicable, NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, AMEX Company Guide Section 711 or any other applicable rule, and such issuance will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(b)Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If a Stock Award or any portion thereof (i) expires or otherwise terminates without all of the shares covered by such Stock Award having been issued or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather than stock), such expiration, termination or settlement will not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of shares of Common Stock that may be available for issuance under the Plan. If any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited back to or repurchased by the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares in the Participant, then the shares that are forfeited or repurchased will revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Any shares reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on a Stock Award or as consideration for the exercise or purchase price of a Stock Award will again become available for issuance under the Plan.
(c)Incentive Stock Option Limit. Subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments after the Adoption Date, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be 17,486,696 shares of Common Stock.
(d)Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise.
4.ELIGIBILITY.
(a)Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code). Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants; provided, however, that Stock Awards may not be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants who are providing Continuous Service only to any “parent” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, unless (i) the stock underlying such Stock Awards is treated as “service recipient stock” under Section 409A of the Code (for example, because the Stock Awards are granted pursuant to a corporate transaction such as a spin off transaction), (ii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that such Stock Awards are otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code, or (iii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that such Stock Awards comply with the distribution requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(b)Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder will not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.
5.PROVISIONS RELATING TO OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
Each Option or SAR will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board deems appropriate. All Options will be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. If an Option is not specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option, or if an Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but some portion or all of the Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the applicable rules, then the Option (or portion thereof) will be a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options or SARs need not be identical; provided, however, that each Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of provisions of this Plan by reference in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(a)Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option or SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Award Agreement.
(b)Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise or strike price of each Option or SAR will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR on the date the Award is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Award if such Award is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for another option or stock appreciation right pursuant to a Corporate Transaction and in a manner consistent
with the provisions of Section 409A and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code. Each SAR will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents.
(c)Purchase Price for Options. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment set forth below. The Board will have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to use a particular method of payment. The permitted methods of payment are as follows:
(i)by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;
(ii)pursuant to a program that, prior to the issuance of the stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;
(iii)by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;
(iv)if an Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company will accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be subject to an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (A) shares issuable upon exercise are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or
(v)in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board and specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
(d)Exercise and Payment of a SAR. To exercise any outstanding SAR, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such SAR. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a SAR will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the SAR) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such SAR, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date, over (B) the aggregate strike price of the number of Common Stock equivalents with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date. The appreciation distribution may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two
or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR.
(e)Transferability of Options and SARs. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options and SARs as the Board will determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options and SARs will apply:
(i)Restrictions on Transfer. An Option or SAR will not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or pursuant to subsections (ii) and (iii) below), and will be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant. The Board may permit transfer of the Option or SAR in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable tax and securities laws. Except as explicitly provided in the Plan, neither an Option nor a SAR may be transferred for consideration.
(ii)Domestic Relations Orders. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, an Option or SAR may be transferred pursuant to the terms of a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument as permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.421-1(b)(2). If an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.
(iii)Beneficiary Designation. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, a Participant may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form approved by the Company (or the designated broker), designate a third party who, on the death of the Participant, will thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, upon the death of the Participant, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate will be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. However, the Company may prohibit designation of a beneficiary at any time, including due to any conclusion by the Company that such designation would be inconsistent with the provisions of applicable laws.
(f)Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR may vest and become exercisable in periodic installments that may or may not be equal. The Option or SAR may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options or SARs may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(f) are subject to any Option or SAR provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option or SAR may be exercised.
(g)Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause and other than upon the
Participant’s death or Disability), the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Award as of the date of termination of Continuous Service) within the period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the applicable Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR (as applicable) within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR will terminate.
(h)Extension of Termination Date. If the exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a total period of time (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post termination exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of such registration requirements, and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, if the sale of any Common Stock received on exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would violate the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (x) the expiration of a period of months (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post-termination exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise of the Option or SAR would not be in violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, or (y) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
(i)Disability of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of termination of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date 12 months following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable) will terminate.
(j)Death of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company, if (i) a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the Participant dies within the period (if any) specified in the Award Agreement for exercisability after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option or SAR may be exercised (to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of death) by the Participant’s estate, by a person who acquired the
right to exercise the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option or SAR upon the Participant’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (x) the date 18 months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Award Agreement), and (y) the expiration of the term of such Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after the Participant’s death, the Option or SAR is not exercised within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable) will terminate.
(k)Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in a Participant’s Award Agreement or other individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, if a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the entire vested and unvested Option or SAR will terminate immediately upon such Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and the Participant will be prohibited from exercising his or her Option or SAR from and after the date of such termination of Continuous Service.
6.PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS AND SARS.
(a)Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board will deem appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s bylaws, at the Board’s election, shares of Common Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock Award lapse; or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate will be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions of this Plan by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i)Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company, (B) past services to the Company or an Affiliate, or (C) any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.
(ii)Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.
(iii)Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
(iv)Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be transferable by the Participant only upon
such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as the Board will determine in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
(v)Dividends. A Restricted Stock Award Agreement may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock will be subject to the same vesting and forfeiture restrictions as apply to the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award to which they relate.
(b)Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board will deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions of this Plan by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i)Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award, which may be paid in any form of legal consideration acceptable to the Board, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.
(ii)Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(iii)Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
(iv)Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.
(v)Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in such manner as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate.
(vi)Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, any portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested as of the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service will be forfeited at such time.
(c)Performance Awards.
(i)Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award that is payable (including that may be granted, may vest or may be exercised) contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award may, but need not, require the Participant’s completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Committee or the Board, in its sole discretion. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance Stock Awards.
(ii)Performance Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award that is payable contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Cash Award may also require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. At the time of grant of a Performance Cash Award, the length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Committee or the Board, in its sole discretion. The Board may specify the form of payment of Performance Cash Awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Performance Cash Award, or such portion thereof as the Board may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property.
(iii)Board Discretion. The Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for a Performance Period. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement or the written terms of a Performance Cash Award.
(d)Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including the appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or stock rights with an exercise price or strike price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant) may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock Awards provided for under Section 5 and the preceding provisions of this Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board will have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted
pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock Awards.
7.COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a)Availability of Shares. The Company will keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock reasonably required to satisfy then-outstanding Awards.
(b)Securities Law Compliance. The Company will seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking will not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts and at a reasonable cost, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company will be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. A Participant will not be eligible for the grant of an Award or the subsequent issuance of cash or Common Stock pursuant to the Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation of any applicable securities law.
(c)No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes. The Company will have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company will have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award.
8.MISCELLANEOUS.
(a)Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Awards will constitute general funds of the Company.
(b)Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that the corporate records (e.g., Board consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement or related grant documents as a result of a clerical error in the papering of the Award Agreement or related grant documents, the corporate records will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement or related grant documents.
(c)Stockholder Rights. No Participant will be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to
an Award unless and until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of, or the issuance of shares of Common Stock under, the Award pursuant to its terms, and (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock subject to such Award has been entered into the books and records of the Company.
(d)No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in connection with any Award granted pursuant thereto will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or will affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.
(e)Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the Company and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee or takes an extended leave of absence) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Board has the right in its sole discretion to (x) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares or cash amount subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (y) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.
(f)Incentive Stock Option Limitations. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Affiliates) exceeds $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code) or otherwise does not comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) or otherwise do not comply with such rules will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).
(g)Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of an Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to an Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Award; provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the statutory maximum rate of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to avoid classification of the Stock Award as a liability for financial accounting purposes); (iii) withholding cash from an Award settled in cash; (iv)
withholding payment from any amounts otherwise payable to the Participant; or (v) by such other method as may be set forth in the Award Agreement.
(h)Electronic Delivery. Any reference in this Plan to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access).
(i)Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Board may provide for distributions while a Participant is still an employee or otherwise providing services to the Company. The Board is authorized to make deferrals of Awards and determine when, and in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan and in accordance with applicable law.
(j)Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in an Award Agreement, the Plan and Award Agreements will be interpreted to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes the Plan and the Awards granted under this Plan exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and, to the extent not so exempt, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. If the Board determines that any Award granted under this Plan is not exempt from and is therefore subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the extent an Award Agreement is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such terms are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan (and unless the Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise), if a Participant holding an Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount that is due because of a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six months following the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day after such six month period elapses (or as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death, if applicable), with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule.
(k)Clawback/Recovery. All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In addition, the Board may
impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Board determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock or other cash or property upon the occurrence of an event constituting Cause. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company.
9.ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK; OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.
(a)Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board will appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c), and (iii) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board will make such adjustments, and its determination will be final, binding and conclusive.
(b)Dissolution or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to a forfeiture condition) will terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to a forfeiture condition may be reacquired by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous Service; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer subject to forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion.
(c)Corporate Transaction. The following provisions will apply to Stock Awards in the event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Stock Award or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board will take one or more of the following actions with respect to Stock Awards, contingent upon the closing or completion of the Corporate Transaction:
(i)arrange for the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) to assume or continue the Stock Award or to substitute a similar stock award for the Stock Award (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Corporate Transaction);
(ii)arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Stock Award to the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company);
(iii)accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the Stock Award (and, if applicable, the time at which the Stock Award may be exercised) to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board determines (or, if the Board does not determine such a date, to the date that is five days prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction), with such Stock Award terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction;
(iv)arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Stock Award;
(v)cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Stock Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any (and, for clarity, the cash consideration may be zero), as the Board, in its sole discretion, may consider appropriate; and
(vi)make a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the value of the property the Participant would have received upon the exercise of the Stock Award immediately prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, over (B) any exercise price payable by such holder in connection with such exercise.
The Board need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Stock Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Board may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of a Stock Award.
(d)Change in Control. A Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will occur.
10.PLAN TERM; EARLIER TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the Adoption Date. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
11.EXISTENCE OF THE PLAN.
The Plan came into existence on the Adoption Date. The stockholders of the Company approved the Plan on February 11, 2014. The Plan was amended and restated effective as of June 27, 2018 and October 14, 2021.
12.CHOICE OF LAW.
The law of the State of Delaware will govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to that state’s conflict of laws rules.
13.DEFINITIONS.
As used in the Plan, the following definitions will apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:
(a)“Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.
(b)“Adoption Date” means January 30, 2014.
(c)“Award” means a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award.
(d)“Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an Award.
(e)“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f)“Capital Stock” means each and every class of common stock of the Company, regardless of the number of votes per share.
(g)“Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Adoption Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.
(h)“Cause” will have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) such Participant’s attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iv) such Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Participant’s gross misconduct. The determination that a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause will be made by the Company, in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated with or without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Awards held by such Participant will have no effect upon any determination of the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.
(i)“Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i)any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company directly from the Company, (B) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person that acquires the Company’s securities in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities, (C) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by any individual who was, on March 28, 2014, either an executive officer or a Director (either, an “IPO Investor”) and/or any entity in which an IPO Investor has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting rights or participation in profits or capital contributions) of more than 50% (collectively, the “IPO Entities”) or on account of the IPO Entities continuing to hold shares that come to represent more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities as a result of the conversion of any class of the Company’s securities into another class of the Company’s securities having a different number of votes per share, or (D) solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control will be deemed to occur;
(ii)there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; provided, however, that a merger, consolidation or similar transaction will not constitute a Change in Control under this prong of the definition if the outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving Entity or its parent are owned by the IPO Entities;
(iii)there is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; provided, however, that a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries will not constitute a Change in Control under this prong of the definition if the outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the acquiring Entity or its parent are owned by the IPO Entities; or
(iv)individuals who, on the Adoption Date, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member will, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing definition or any other provision of the Plan, the term Change in Control will not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company and the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant will supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition will apply. To the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of adverse taxation under Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if such transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder). The Board may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s consent, amend the definition of “Change in Control” to conform to the definition of “Change in Control” under Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations thereunder.
(j)“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.
(k)“Committee” means a committee of one or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(c).
(l)“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, having one vote per share.
(m)“Company” means 2U, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(n)“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, will not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is treated as a Consultant under this Plan only if a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act is available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such person.
(o)“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, will not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided, however, that if the Entity for which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, such Participant’s Continuous Service will be considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate. To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service will be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or chief executive officer, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an Affiliate, or their successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in an Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s or Affiliate’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law. In addition, to the extent required for exemption from or compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the determination of whether there has been a termination of Continuous Service, will be made, and such term will be construed, in a manner that is consistent with the definition of “separation from service” as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).
(p)“Corporate Transaction” means the consummation, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i)a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(ii)a sale or other disposition of at least 50% of the outstanding securities of the Company;
(iii)a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or
(iv)a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.
To the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of adverse taxation under Section 409A of the Code, in no event will an event be deemed a Corporate Transaction if such transaction is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).
(q)“Director” means a member of the Board.
(r)“Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i) of the Code, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances.
(s)“Effective Date” means the Adoption Date.
(t)“Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.
(u)“Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.
(v)“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(w)“Exchange Act Person” means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” will not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to a registered public offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Effective Date, is the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.
(x)“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:
(i)If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock will be, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported in a source the Board deems reliable.
(ii)Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then the Fair Market Value will be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(iii)In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Board in good faith and in a manner that complies with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.
(y)“Good Reason” will have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to a Participant who is an Employee, the occurrence of any of the following events without the Participant’s express written consent: (i) the assignment to the Participant of any duties or responsibilities that results in a material diminution in the Participant’s function as in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control; provided, however, that a change in the Participant’s title or reporting relationships shall not provide the basis for a voluntary termination with Good Reason; (ii) a material reduction by the Company in the Participant’s annual base salary, as in effect on the effective date of the Change in Control or as increased thereafter; provided, however, that Good Reason shall not be deemed to have occurred in the event of a reduction in the Participant’s annual base salary that is pursuant to a salary reduction program affecting substantially all of the employees of the Company and that does not adversely affect the Participant to a greater extent than other similarly situated employees; (iii) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any benefit plan or program, including incentive plans or plans with respect to the receipt of securities of the Company, in which the Participant was participating immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control (hereinafter referred to as “Benefit Plans”), or the taking of any action by the Company that would adversely affect the Participant’s participation in or reduce his or her benefits under the Benefit Plans or deprive the Participant of any fringe benefit that they enjoyed immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control; provided, however, that Good Reason shall not be deemed to have occurred if the Company provides for the Participant’s participation in benefit plans and programs that, taken as a whole, are comparable to the Benefit Plans; (iv) a relocation of the Participant’s business office to a location more than fifty (50) miles from the location at which he or she performed their duties as of the effective date of the Change in Control, except for required travel by the Participant on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Participant’s business travel obligations prior to the effective date of the Change in Control; or (v) a material breach by the Company of any provision of the Plan or the Option Agreement or any other material agreement between the Participant and the Company concerning the terms and conditions of employment.
(z)“Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted pursuant to Section 5 that is intended to be, and qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(aa)“Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(bb) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any Option granted pursuant to Section 5 that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(cc) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(dd) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan.
(ee) “Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ff) “Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.
(gg) “Other Stock Award” means an award based in whole or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d).
(hh) “Other Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ii) “Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership” means a person or Entity will be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.
(jj) “Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock Award.
(kk) “Performance Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(c)(ii).
(ll) “Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board will select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish such Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following as determined by the Board: (i) earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); (ii) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (iv) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and legal settlements; (v) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements and other income (expense); (vi) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense) and stock-based compensation; (vii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlements, other income (expense), stock-based compensation and changes in deferred revenue; (viii) total stockholder return; (ix) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (x) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (xi) stock price; (xii) margin (including gross margin); (xiii) income (before or after taxes); (xiv) operating income; (xv) operating income after taxes; (xvi) pre-tax profit; (xvii) operating cash flow; (xviii) sales or revenue targets; (xix) increases in revenue or product revenue; (xx) expenses and cost reduction goals; (xxi) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (xxii) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (xxiii) market share; (xxiv) cash flow; (xxv) cash flow per share; (xxvi) share price performance; (xxvii) debt reduction; (xxviii) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (xxix) employee retention; (xxx) stockholders’ equity; (xxxi) capital expenditures; (xxxii) debt levels; (xxxiii) operating profit or net operating profit; (xxxiv) workforce diversity; (xxxv) growth of net income or operating income; (xxxvi) billings; (xxxvii) bookings; (xxxviii) the number of users, including but not limited to unique users; (xxxix) employee retention; (xxxx) user satisfaction; and (xxxxi) other measures of performance selected by the Board.
(mm) “Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise by the Board (i) in the Award Agreement at the time the Award is granted or (ii) in such other document setting forth the Performance Goals at the time the Performance Goals are established, the Board will appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of Performance Goals for a Performance Period as follows: (1) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; (5) to exclude the effects of any “extraordinary items” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (7) to assume that any business divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to
common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under the Company’s bonus plans; (10) to exclude costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting principles; (11) to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles; (12) to exclude the effect of any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss or other extraordinary item; and (13) other adjustments selected by the Board. In addition, the Board retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement or the written terms of a Performance Cash Award.
(nn) “Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Board over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion of the Board.
(oo) “Performance Stock Award” means a Stock Award granted under the terms and conditions of Section 6(c)(i).
(pp) “Plan” means this 2U, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.
(qq) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(a).
(rr) “Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ss) “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b).
(tt) “Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(uu) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
(vv) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(ww) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 5.
(xx) “Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(yy) “Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance Stock Award or any Other Stock Award.
(zz) “Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(aaa) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than 50%.
(bbb) “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.
2U, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ADDENDUM FOR U.K. PARTICIPANTS
The 2U, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to comply with the applicable laws of any country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted, and all provisions hereof shall be construed in a manner to so comply. The following provisions apply to Participants providing services to the Company or its Affiliates in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. Section references are to the Plan unless otherwise stated.
1.Section 1(b) (Eligible Award Recipients) shall be amended to replace the phrase “Employees, Directors and Consultants” with the phrase “Employees and Directors who are also Employees.”
2.Section 4(a) (Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards) shall be amended to replace the phrase “Employees, Directors and Consultants” with the phrase “Employees and Directors who are also Employees” in two places.
3.Section 8(d) (No Employment or Other Service Rights) shall be amended to add the following language to the end thereof:
The Plan and any Award Agreement do not form part of any Participant’s contract of employment. If any Participant ceases to be employed or engaged by the Company or any Affiliate for any reason (including as a result of a repudiatory breach of contract by the Company or its Affiliate), the Participant shall not be entitled, and by participating in the Plan the Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived any entitlement, by way of compensation for loss of employment, breach of contract or otherwise to any sum or other benefit to compensate the Participant for any rights or prospective rights under the Plan. This exclusion applies equally (and without limitation) to any loss arising from the way in which the discretion is (or is not) exercised under any Section of the Plan even if the exercise (or non-exercise) of such discretion is, or appears to be, irrational or perverse and/or breaches, or is claimed to breach any implied term of the Plan or any other contract between the Participant and the Participant’s employer. Participation in the Plan and any benefits provided under it shall not be pensionable nor will they count as pay or remuneration when calculating salary related benefits (including, but not limited to, pension).
4.A new Section 8(l) (Data Protection) shall be added with the following language:
Data Protection. By participating in the Plan, each Participant acknowledges that the Company and its Affiliates may hold and process data relating to them (including personal data) in relation to and as a consequence of their Awards including for the purpose of administering their Awards and that such data may be disclosed (even outside the European Union) to their employer, the Company or its Affiliates, to any possible purchaser of their employer or its business or of the Company or its business and its or their advisers in relation to the Plan and the Award.
5.A new Section 8(m) (CRS and FATCA) shall be added with the following language:
CRS and FATCA. By Participating in the Plan, each Participant agrees to give all such assistance and representations and supply or procure to be supplied (including by way of updates) all such information and execute and deliver (or procure the execution and delivery of) all such documents that the Company requests in writing for the purpose of enabling any member of the Group (or any external administrator of the Plan from time to time) to comply with the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), any exchange of information agreement (“IGA”), the OECD Common Reporting Standard (“CRS”), or any similar, equivalent or related applicable laws, rules or regulations in any jurisdiction. Each Participant further agrees and authorises any member of the Group to disclose such information to any governmental authorities (including, but not limited to, HMRC in the U.K. and the Internal Revenue Service in the U.S.) if it is required to be disclosed pursuant to FATCA, any IGA, CRS, or any similar, equivalent or related applicable laws, rules or regulations.
6.Section 13(h) (“Cause”) shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following language:
“Cause” will have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates defining such term and, in the absence thereof, such term means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or crime in the U.K. that is punishable by a custodial sentence; (ii) such Participant’s attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) such Participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates or of any statutory duty owed to the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iv) such Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s or any of its Affiliates’ confidential information or trade secrets; (v) such Participant’s gross misconduct; or (vi) any other circumstances in which the Company or its Affiliate that employs the Participant reasonably determines it has grounds to dismiss the Participant without notice in accordance with the Participant’s contract of employment. The determination that a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause will be made by the Company, in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated with or without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Awards held by such Participant will have no effect upon any determination of the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.
7.Section 13(o) (“Continuous Service”) shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following language:
“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee or Director who is also an Employee, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the
Company or an Affiliate as an Employee or Director who is also an Employee or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, will not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided, however, that if the Entity for which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, such Participant’s Continuous Service will be considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate and if the Participant is placed on garden leave in accordance with the Participant’s contract of employment, the Participant’s Continuous Service for the purpose of the Plan and any Award Agreement shall terminate on the date that such garden leave commences. To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service will be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or chief executive officer, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an Affiliate, or their successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in an Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s or Affiliate’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law. In addition, to the extent required for exemption from or compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the determination of whether there has been a termination of Continuous Service, will be made, and such term will be construed, in a manner that is consistent with the definition of “separation from service” as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).