As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2022

 

Registration No. 333-       

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

Netcapital Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Utah   87-0409951
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

1 Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)


 

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)


 

Cecilia Lenk

Chief Executive Officer

Netcapital Inc.

1 Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111

(781) 925-1700
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With copies to:

Richard Friedman, Esq.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

30 Rockefeller Plaza, 39th Floor

New York, New York 10112

(212) 653-8700

 

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

 

 

Large accelerated filer [ ]   Accelerated filer [ ]
Non-accelerated filer [X]   Smaller reporting company [X]

  

      Emerging growth company [ ]

 

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

 

 
 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

                                                     
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered  

Amount to be

Registered (1)

 

 Proposed

Maximum Offering Price Per Share (2)

  Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (2)  

Amount of

Registration Fee 

Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, pursuant to the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan of Netcapital Inc. (the “Plan”)   300,000
shares
  $ 10.00     $ 3,000,000.00      $ 278.10  

 

  (1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock which become issuable under the Plans being registered pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of common stock.

 

  (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the last sale of the Registrant’s common stock on January 20, 2022 as reported in the over-the-counter market.

 

 PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

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

 

PART II 
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents filed by Netcapital Inc. (the “Company”) with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

 

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 filed with the SEC on August 31, 2021;
all other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, since August 31, 2021; and
the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 10-12G filed with the Commission on September 3, 2013, including any amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purposes of updating such description.

 

All other reports and documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than Current Reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits furnished on such form that related to such items) on or after the date of this Registration Statement and  prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and are a part hereof from the date of filing such reports and documents.

 

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

 

 
 

Item 4. Description of Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

The Registrant is a Utah corporation. Section 16-10a-902 of the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (the “Revised Act”) provides that a corporation may indemnify any individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made, a named defendant or respondent (a “Party”) in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal (a “Proceeding”), because he or she is or was a director of the corporation or, while a director of the corporation, is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or other person or of an employee benefit plan (an “Indemnifiable Director”), against any obligation incurred with respect to a Proceeding, including any judgment, settlement, penalty or fine, or reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees), incurred in the Proceeding if his or her conduct was in good faith and he or she reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, in the case of any criminal Proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that pursuant to Subsection 902(4): (i) indemnification under Section 902 in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to payment of reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the Proceeding and (ii) the corporation may not indemnify an Indemnifiable Director in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the Indemnifiable Director was adjudged liable to the corporation, or in connection with any other Proceeding charging that the Indemnifiable Director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not involving action in his or her official capacity, in which Proceeding he or she was adjudged liable on the basis that he or she derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Section 16-10a-903 of the Revised Act provides that, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify an Indemnifiable Director who was successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any Proceeding, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, to which he or she was a Party because he or she is or was an Indemnifiable Director of the corporation, against reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the Proceeding or claim with respect to which he or she has been successful.

 

In addition to the indemnification provided by Sections 902 and 903, Section 16-10a-905 of the Revised Act provides that, unless otherwise limited by a corporation’s articles of incorporation, an Indemnifiable Director may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the Proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 16-10a-904 of the Revised Act provides that a corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnifiable Director who is a Party to a Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

 

Section 16-10a-907 of the Revised Act provides that, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, (i) an officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 903 and is entitled to apply for court-ordered indemnification under Section 905, in each case to the same extent as an Indemnifiable Director, (ii) the corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation to the same extent as an Indemnifiable Director, and (iii) a corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, fiduciary or agent who is not an Indemnifiable Director to a greater extent than the right of indemnification granted to an Indemnifiable Director, if not inconsistent with public policy, and if provided for by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors, or contract.

 

Utah law permits director liability to be eliminated in accordance with Section 16-10a-841 of the Revised Act, which provides that the liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action, as a director, may be limited or eliminated by the corporation except for liability for (i) the amount of financial benefit received by a director to which he or she is not entitled; (ii) an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders; (iii) a violation of Section 16-10a-842 of the Revised Act, which prohibits unlawful distributions by a corporation to its shareholders; or (iv) an intentional violation of criminal law. Such a provision may appear either in a corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws; however, to be effective, such a provision must be approved by the corporation’s shareholders.

 

 
 

The Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant provide that the personal liability of any director to the Registrant or to its shareholders for monetary damages for any action taken or the failure to take any action, as a director, is eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by Utah law.

 

The Registrant entered into an indemnification agreement (each, an “Indemnification Agreement”) with each of its directors and executive officers.  On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, each Indemnification Agreement provides, among other things, that the indemnified person shall have a contractual right (i) to indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by the Revised Act for losses suffered or expenses incurred in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any threatened, pending or completed litigation or other proceeding by reason of the fact that the indemnified person is or was claimed to be an agent of the Registrant or any of its subsidiaries or for other reasons relating to the that person’s service as an agent of the Registrant or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) to advancement of expenses paid or incurred in connection with such litigation or other proceeding, (iii) to coverage under the Registrant’s directors’ and officers’ insurance policies, to the extent that the Registrant maintains such insurance policies, in reasonable amounts as its Board of Directors shall determine from time to time.

 

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
4.1   Netcapital Inc. 2001 Equity Incentive Plan
     
5.1   Opinion of Codelaw LLC
     

23.1   Consent of Codelaw LLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)
     
23.2   Consent of Fruci & Associates II, PLLC
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (contained on page 7)

 


 

 
 

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
 
 

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

 

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Boston, Massachusetts on January 27, 2022.

 

  NETCAPITAL INC.
   
   
  By:  /s/ Cecilia Lenk
    Name Cecilia Lenk
    Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Cecilia Lenk and Coreen Kraysler, with full power of substitution, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact to act for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he or she could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact or substitutes, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by each of the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Cecilia Lenk   Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board   January 27, 2022
    (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Avi Liss   Director   January 27, 2022
         
         
/s/ Thomas Carmody   Director   January 27, 2022
         
         
/s/ Steven Geary   Director   January 27, 2022
         
         
/s/ Coreen Kraysler     Chief Financial Officer    January 27, 2022

 

 

 

 Exhibit 4.1

NETCAPITAL INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE I 

PURPOSES

This Netcapital Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”), has the following purposes:

(1) To further the growth, development and financial success of Netcapital Inc. (the “Company”) and the Subsidiaries (as defined herein), by providing additional incentives to employees, consultants and directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries by allowing them to become owners of Company Common Stock, thereby benefiting directly from the growth, development and financial success of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

(2) To enable the Company and the Subsidiaries to obtain and retain the services of the type of professional and managerial employees, consultants and directors considered essential to the long-range success of the Company and the Subsidiaries by providing and offering them an opportunity to become owners of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Awards granted hereunder.

ARTICLE II 

DEFINITIONS

Whenever the following terms are used in this Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

2.01.               Administrator” shall mean the Board or any committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Plan, in each case as further provided in Article III.

2.02.               Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such first Person where “control” shall have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

2.03.               Alternative Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.01.

2.04.               Applicable Laws” shall mean the requirements relating to stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance awards, and other equity-based compensation awards and plans under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.

2.05.               Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, SAR, Dividend Equivalent, Deferred Share Unit or other Stock-Based Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan, including an Award combining two or more types of Awards into a single grant.

2.06.               Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through an electronic medium. The Administrator may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the Participant’s acceptance of, or actions under, an Award Agreement, unless otherwise expressly specified herein.

2.07.               Base Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.52.

2.08.               Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.09.               Cause” with respect to any Participant, shall have the meaning set forth in an applicable Award Agreement.

2.10.               Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur of any of the following events after the Effective Date:

(a)           any transaction, whether by way of sales of capital stock, merger, consolidation or otherwise, that results in the direct or indirect beneficial ownership by any person, entity or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Affiliates of any of the foregoing, of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s (or, if applicable, the surviving company after such a merger) then outstanding voting securities;

 
 

(b)          within any 12-month period, the persons who were members of the Board at the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any director elected or nominated for election to the Board by the Incumbent Directors then still in office shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of this clause (b); or

(c)           the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to one or more Persons that are not immediately prior to such sale, transfer or other disposition, Affiliates of the Company;

in each case, provided that, as to Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, such event also constitutes a “change in control” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to occur if the Company files for bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code or as a result of any restructuring that occurs as a result of any such proceeding.

2.11.               Change in Control Price” shall mean the price per share of Company Common Stock paid in conjunction with any transaction resulting in a Change in Control. If any part of the price is payable other than in cash, the value of the non-cash portion of the Change in Control Price shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator as constituted immediately prior to the Change in Control.

2.12.               Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

2.13.               Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Article I and shall include any successor thereto.

2.14.               Company Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company and such other stock or securities into which such common stock is hereafter converted or for which such common stock is exchanged.

2.15.               Competitive Activity” with respect to a Participant means the Administrator’s determination, made reasonably and in good faith, that the Participant, directly or indirectly, has engaged in a material breach of any agreement to which the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates are parties (including, but not limited to, any Award Agreement) that prohibits or otherwise limits or conditions actions of the Participant related to competition; interference with key business relationships; solicitation of employees or physician practices, physicians, health plans or payors; disclosure of confidential information; ownership of intellectual property; disparagement; and other similar activities.

2.16.               Consultant” shall mean any natural person who is engaged by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to render consulting or advisory services to such entity.

2.17.               Corporate Event” shall mean, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, any transaction or event described in Section 4.03(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company, any Subsidiary, or the financial statements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or changes in Applicable Laws or accounting principles (including, without limitation, a recapitalization of the Company).

2.18.               Deferred Share Unit” shall mean a unit credited to a Participant’s account in the books of the Company under Article X, which represents the right to receive one Share of Company Common Stock or cash equal to the Fair Market Value thereof on settlement of the account.

2.19.               Director” shall mean a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of any Subsidiary.

2.20.               Disability” shall mean (x) for Awards that are not subject to Section 409A of the Code, “disability” as such term is defined in the long-term disability insurance plan or program of the Company or any Subsidiary then covering the Participant or, in the absence of such a plan or program, as determined by the Administrator, provided, that, with respect to Awards that are not subject to Section 409A, in the case of any Participant who, as of the date of determination, is a party to an effective employment, severance, consulting or other services agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary that employs such Participant, “Disability” shall have the meaning, if any, specified in such agreement, and (y) for Awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, “disability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(c) of the Code.

2.21.               Dividend Equivalent” shall mean the right to receive payments, in cash or in Shares, based on dividends paid with respect to Shares.

2.22.               Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.07.

 
 

2.23.               Eligible Representative” for a Participant shall mean such Participant’s personal representative or such other person as is empowered under the deceased Participant’s will or trust or the then applicable laws of descent and distribution to represent the Participant hereunder.

2.24.               Employee” shall mean any individual classified as an employee by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, whether such employee is so employed at the time this Plan is adopted or becomes so employed subsequent to the adoption of this Plan, including any person to whom an offer of employment has been extended (except that any Award granted to such person shall be conditioned on his or her commencement of service). A person shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (a) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (b) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any successor to the foregoing. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three (3)-month period, and such Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the first (1st) day immediately following a three (3)-month period from the date the employment relationship is deemed terminated.

2.25.               Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.26.               Executive Officer” shall mean each person who is an officer of the Company or any Subsidiary and who is subject to the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

2.27.               Fair Market Value” of a Share as of any date of determination shall be, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator:

(a)           If the Company Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, then the closing price on such date per Share as reported on such stock exchange or system shall be the Fair Market Value for the date of determination;

(b)          If there are no transactions in the Company Common Stock that are available to the Company on any date of determination pursuant to clause (a) but transactions are available to the Company as of the immediately preceding trading date, then the Fair Market Value determined as of the immediately preceding trading date shall be the Fair Market Value for the date of determination; or

(c)           If neither clause (a) nor clause (b) shall apply on any date of determination, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator with reference to (x) the most recent valuation of the Company Common Stock performed by an independent valuation consultant or appraiser of nationally recognized standing selected by the Administrator, if any, (y) sales prices of securities issued to investors in any recent arm’s length transactions, and (z) any other factors determined to be relevant by the Administrator.

2.28.               FICA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.11.

 
 

2.29.               Good Reason” with respect to any Participant, has the meaning, if any, set forth in an applicable Award Agreement (or, if there is no such definition in the Participant’s Award Agreement, this term shall not apply to the Participant).

2.30.               Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option which qualifies under Section 422 of the Code and is expressly designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the Award Agreement.

2.31.               Incumbent Directors” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Change in Control.”

2.32.               Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.33.               Option” shall mean an option to purchase Company Common Stock granted under the Plan. The term “Option” includes both an Incentive Stock Option and a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

2.34.               Option Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.

2.35.               Optionee” shall mean a Participant to whom an Option or SAR is granted under the Plan.

2.36.               Participant” shall mean any Service Provider who has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.

2.37.               Performance Award” shall mean Performance Shares, Performance Units and all other Awards that vest (in whole or in part) upon the achievement of specified Performance Goals.

2.38.               Performance Cycle” shall mean the period of time selected by the Administrator during which performance is measured for the purpose of determining the extent to which a Performance Award has been earned or vested.

2.39.               Performance Goals” means the objectives established by the Administrator for a Performance Cycle pursuant to Section 9.05 for the purpose of determining the extent to which a Performance Award has been earned or vested.

2.40.               Performance Share” means an Award granted pursuant to Article IX of the Plan of a contractual right to receive a Share (or the cash equivalent thereof) upon the achievement, in whole or in part, of the applicable Performance Goals.

2.41.               Performance Unit” means a U.S. Dollar-denominated unit (or a unit denominated in the Participant’s local currency) granted pursuant to Article IX of the Plan, payable upon the achievement, in whole or in part, of the applicable Performance Goals.

2.42.               Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or any other entity of whatever nature.

2.43.               Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Article I.

 
 

2.44.               “Replacement Awards” shall mean Shares or Awards, issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form or combination by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Administrator.

2.45.               Restricted Stock” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.01.

2.46.               Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.02.

2.47.               Retirement” shall mean, (i) with respect to a Participant that is an Employee, such Employee’s resignation after reaching the age of at least 65, together with the minimum service period, if any, required by the Administrator, or as otherwise determined by the Administrator, or (ii) with respect to a Participant that is a Consultant or Director, as determined by the Administrator.

2.48.               Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.49.               Service Provider” shall mean an Employee, Consultant or Director.

2.50.               Share” shall mean a share of Company Common Stock.

2.51.               Special Termination” shall mean a termination by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability.

2.52.               Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean the right to receive a payment from the Company in cash and/or Shares equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the exercise date over a specified price (the “Base Price”) fixed by the Administrator (which specified price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the grant date), multiplied by (ii) a stated number of Shares.

2.53.               Stock-Based Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Article XI.

2.54.               Stock Purchase Right” shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Section 5.04.

2.55.               Subsidiary” shall mean any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company directly or indirectly controls at least a 50% equity interest, provided that, to the extent required under Section 422 of the Code when granting an Incentive Stock Option, Subsidiary shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with such entity if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

2.56.               Termination of employment,” “termination of service” and any similar term or terms shall mean, with respect to an Employee, the date the Participant ceases to be an Employee (determined without regard to any statutory or deemed or express contractual notice period); with respect to a Director who is not an Employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the date upon which such Director ceases to be a member of the Board; and, with respect to a Consultant who is not an Employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the date upon which such Consultant ceases to provide consulting or advisory services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, such terms shall mean “separation from service,” as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

 
 

2.57.               Withholding Taxes” shall mean the federal, state, local or foreign income taxes, withholding taxes or employment taxes required to be withheld under Applicable Law, which shall be at a rate determined by the Company that is permitted under applicable IRS withholding rules and that does not to cause adverse accounting consequences.

ARTICLE III 

ADMINISTRATION

3.01.               Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board.

3.02.               Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have the authority to do the following:

(a)           determine the Fair Market Value;

(b)          determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

(c)           select the Service Providers to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;

(d)          determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;

(e)           approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan, which need not be identical for each Service Provider;

(f)            determine the terms and conditions of any Awards granted hereunder (including, without limitation, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions and any restriction or limitation regarding any Awards or the Company Common Stock relating thereto) based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine;

(g)          determine all matters and questions related to the termination of service of a Service Provider with respect to any Award, including, but not by way of limitation of, all questions of whether a particular Service Provider has taken a leave of absence, all questions of whether a leave of absence taken by a particular Service Provider constitutes a termination of service, and all questions of whether a termination of service of a particular Service Provider was for Cause;

(h)          prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan;

(i)            determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise or purchase price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Company Common Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited or surrendered;

 
 

(j)            suspend or accelerate the vesting of any Award or waive the forfeiture restrictions or any other restriction or limitation regarding any Awards or the Company Common Stock relating thereto;

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

(l)            interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan;

(m)        authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan; and

(n)          make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.

Any determination made by the Administrator under the Plan, including, without limitation, under Section 4.03, shall be final, binding and conclusive on all Participants and other persons having or claiming any right or interest under the Plan.

3.03.               Delegation by the Administrator. The Administrator may delegate, subject to such terms or conditions or guidelines as the Board or Administrator shall determine (in the case of a committee acting as the Administrator, to the extent of its authority under the committee’s charter or as otherwise approved by the Board), to any officer or group of officers, or Director or group of Directors of the Company or its Affiliates any portion of the Administrator’s authority and powers under the Plan with respect to Participants who are not the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Officers or non-employee directors of the Board. With respect to any Award intended to qualify for the exemption contained in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, it is intended that such Award be granted by a committee consisting of solely two or more “non-employee directors” within the meaning of such rule, or, in the alternative, the entire Board.

3.04.               Professional Assistance, Good Faith Actions. The Administrator may, in its discretion, elect to engage the services of attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Administrator, the Company and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations, decisions and determinations made by the Administrator, in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by the Administrator selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated. The Administrator (and its members) shall not be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan or the Awards, and the Administrator (and its members) shall be fully indemnified by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.

ARTICLE IV 

SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN

 
 

4.01.               Number of Shares Available for Awards.

(a)           Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in this Article 5 and Article 11 of the Plan, the maximum number of Shares available for issuance to Participants pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be 300,000. The Shares available for issuance under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares.

(b)          Additional Shares. In the event that any outstanding Award expires or is forfeited, cancelled or otherwise terminated without consideration (i.e., Shares or cash) therefor, the Shares subject to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, termination or settlement, shall again be available for Awards under this Plan; provided, that any Shares tendered to or withheld by the Company as part or full payment for the purchase price, Option Price or grant price of an Award or to satisfy all or part of the Company’s tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award shall not again be available for Awards. If the Committee authorizes the assumption under this Plan, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization, of awards granted under another plan, such assumption shall not reduce the maximum number of Shares available for issuance under this Plan.

4.02.               Changes in Company Common Stock; Disposition of Assets and Corporate Events.

(a)           If and to the extent necessary or appropriate to reflect any stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split or share combination or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange of shares, spin-off, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or other similar transaction affecting the Company Common Stock or other Corporate Event, the Administrator shall adjust the number of shares of Company Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan and the number, class and Option Price (if applicable) or Base Price (if applicable) of any outstanding Award, and/or make such substitution, revision or other provisions or take such other actions with respect to any outstanding Award or the holder or holders thereof, in each case as it determines to be equitable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, in the event of any Corporate Event, the Administrator shall have the power to make such changes as it deems appropriate in (i) the number and type of shares or other securities covered by outstanding Awards, (ii) the prices specified therein (if applicable), (iii) the securities, cash or other property to be received upon the exercise, settlement or conversion of such outstanding Awards or otherwise to be received in connection with such outstanding Awards, and (iv) and any applicable Performance Goals. After any adjustment made by the Administrator pursuant to this Section 4.03, the number of shares subject to each outstanding Award shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

(b)          Any adjustment of an Award pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall be effected in compliance with Section 422 and 409A of the Code to the extent applicable.

4.03.               Award Agreement Provisions. The Administrator may include such further provisions and limitations in any Award Agreement as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 
 

4.04.               Prohibition Against Repricing. Except to the extent (i) approved in advance by holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or (ii) pursuant to Section 4.02 as a result of any Corporate Event, the Administrator shall not have the power or authority to reduce, whether through amendment or otherwise, the exercise price of any outstanding Option or Base Price of any outstanding SAR or to grant any new Award, or make any cash payment, in substitution for or upon the cancellation of Options or SARs previously granted.

ARTICLE V 

GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND SARS AND SALE OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK

5.01.               Eligibility. Non-Qualified Stock Options and SARs may be granted to Service Providers. Subject to Section 5.02, Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Employees.

5.02.               Qualification of Incentive Stock Options. No Employee may be granted an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan if such Employee, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any then existing Subsidiary or “parent corporation” (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

5.03.               Granting of Options and SARs to Service Providers.

(a)           Options and SARs. The Administrator may from time to time:

(i)                 Select from among the Service Providers (including those to whom Options or SARs have been previously granted under the Plan) such of them as in its opinion should be granted Options and/or SARs;

(ii)                 Determine the number of Shares to be subject to such Options and/or SARs granted to such Service Provider, and determine whether such Options are to be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options; and

(iii)                 Determine the terms and conditions of such Options and SARs, consistent with the Plan.

(b)          SARs may be granted in tandem with Options or may be granted on a freestanding basis, not related to any Option. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator at the grant date or determined thereafter in a manner more favorable to the Participant, SARs granted in tandem with Options shall have substantially similar terms and conditions to such Options to the extent applicable, or may be granted on a freestanding basis, not related to any Option.

(c)           Upon the selection of a Service Provider to be granted an Option or SAR under this Section 5.03, the Administrator shall issue, or shall instruct an authorized officer to issue, such Option or SAR and may impose such conditions on the grant of such Option or SAR as it deems appropriate. Subject to Section 15.02 of the Plan, any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan may be modified by the Administrator, without the consent of the Optionee, even if such modification would result in the disqualification of such Option as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.

 
 

5.04.               Sale of Company Common Stock to Service Providers. The Administrator, acting in its sole discretion, may from time to time designate one or more Service Providers to whom an offer to sell Shares shall be made and the terms and conditions thereof, provided, however, that the price per Share shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date any such offer is accepted. Each Share sold to a Service Provider under this Section 5.04 shall be evidenced by such agreements as shall be approved by the Administrator, which shall contain terms consistent with the terms hereof. Any Shares sold under this Section 5.04 shall be subject to the same limitations, restrictions and administration hereunder as would apply to any Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option under this Plan including, without limitation, conditions and restrictions set forth in Section 7.06.

ARTICLE VI 

TERMS OF OPTIONS AND SARS

6.01.               Award Agreement. Each Option and each SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be accepted and acknowledged by the Optionee, including by electronic means, and which shall contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to qualify such Options as “incentive stock options” under Section 422 of the Code.

6.02.               Exercisability and Vesting of Options and SARs.

(a)           Each Option and SAR shall vest and become exercisable according to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that by a resolution adopted after an Option or SAR is granted the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the time at which such Option or SAR or any portion thereof may be exercised.

(b)          Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator or in the applicable Award Agreement, no portion of an Option or SAR which is unexercisable on the date that an Optionee incurs a termination of service as a Service Provider shall thereafter become exercisable.

(c)           The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Service Provider in any calendar year may not exceed U.S. $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.

(d)          SARs granted in tandem with an Option shall become vested and exercisable on the same date or dates as the Options with which such SARs are associated vest and become exercisable. SARs that are granted in tandem with an Option may only be exercised upon the surrender of the right to exercise such Option for an equivalent number of Shares, and may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which the related Option is then exercisable.

 
 

6.03.               Option Price and Base Price. Excluding Replacement Awards, the per Share purchase price of the Shares subject to each Option (the “Option Price”) and the Base Price of each SAR shall be set by the Administrator and shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date such Option or SAR is granted.

6.04.               Expiration of Options and SARs. No Option or SAR may be exercised after the first to occur of the following events:

(a)           The expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option or SAR was granted; or

(b)          With respect to an Incentive Stock Option, in the case of an Optionee owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code), at the time the Incentive Stock Option was granted, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, the expiration of five (5) years from the date the Incentive Stock Option was granted.

ARTICLE VII 

EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND SARS

7.01.               Person Eligible to Exercise. During the lifetime of the Optionee, only the Optionee may exercise an Option or SAR (or any portion thereof) granted to him or her; provided, however, that the Optionee’s Eligible Representative may exercise his or her Option or SAR or portion thereof during the period of the Optionee’s Disability. After the death of the Optionee, any exercisable portion of an Option or SAR may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, be exercised by his or her Eligible Representative.

7.02.               Partial Exercise. At any time and from time to time prior to the date on which the Option or SAR becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, the exercisable portion of an Option or SAR may be exercised in whole or in part; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional Shares and the Administrator may, by the terms of the Option or SAR, require any partial exercise to exceed a specified minimum number of Shares.

7.03.               Manner of Exercise. Subject to any generally applicable conditions or procedures that may be imposed by the Administrator, an exercisable Option or SAR, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Administrator or its designee of all of the following prior to the time when such Option or SAR or such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement:

(a)           Notice in writing delivered by the Optionee or his or her Eligible Representative, stating that such Option or SAR or portion is being exercised, and specifically stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Option or SAR is being exercised (which form of notice shall be provided by the Administrator upon request and may be electronic);

 
 

(b)          A copy of any agreements or other documentation required by the Company at the time of exercise;

(c)           (i) With respect to the exercise of any Option, full payment (in cash (through wire transfer only) or by personal, certified, or bank cashier check) of the aggregate Option Price of the Shares with respect to which such Option (or portion thereof) is thereby exercised; (ii) with the consent of the Administrator, (A) Shares owned by the Optionee duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or (B) Shares issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option, with a Fair Market Value on the date of Option exercise equal to the aggregate Option Price of the Shares with respect to which such Option (or portion thereof) is thereby exercised; or (iii) unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, payment of the Option Price and applicable Withholding Taxes through a broker-assisted cashless exercise program established by the Company; or (iv) with the consent of the Administrator, any form of payment of the Option Price permitted by Applicable Laws and any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; and

(d)          In the event that the Option or SAR or portion thereof shall be exercised as permitted under Section 7.01 by any person or persons other than the Optionee, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option or SAR or portion thereof.

7.04.               Optionee Representations. The Company, in its sole discretion, may require an Optionee to make certain representations or acknowledgements, on or prior to the purchase of any Shares pursuant to any Option or SAR granted under this Plan, in respect thereof including, without limitation, that the Optionee is acquiring the Shares for an investment purpose and not for resale, and, if the Optionee is an Affiliate, additional acknowledgements regarding when and to what extent any transfers of such Shares may occur.

7.05.               Settlement of SARs. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, upon exercise of a SAR, the Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in the form, determined by the Administrator, of Shares, or cash, or a combination of Shares and cash having an aggregate value equal to the amount determined by multiplying:

(a)           any increase in the Fair Market Value of one Share on the exercise date over the Base Price of such SAR, by

(b)          the number of Shares with respect to which such SAR is exercised;

provided, however, that on the grant date, the Administrator may establish, in its sole discretion, a maximum amount per Share that may be payable upon exercise of a SAR, and provided, further, that in no event shall the value of the Company Common Stock or cash delivered on exercise of a SAR exceed the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised over the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the grant date of such SAR.

7.06.               Conditions to Issuance of Shares. The Company shall evidence the issuance of Shares delivered upon exercise of an Option or SAR in the books and records of the Company or in a manner determined by the Company. The Administrator shall not have any liability to any Optionee for any delay in the delivery of Shares to be issued upon an Optionee’s exercise of an Option or SAR.

 
 

7.07.               Rights as Stockholders. The holder of an Option or SAR shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares purchasable upon the exercise of any part of an Option or SAR unless and until the Shares attributable to the exercise of the Option or SAR have been issued by the Company to such holder.

7.08.               Transfer Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may set forth in an Award Agreement or in such other agreements to be entered into at the time of exercise, such further restrictions on the transferability of the Shares purchasable upon the exercise of an Option or SAR as it deems appropriate. Any such restriction may be referred to in the Share register maintained by the Company or otherwise in a manner reflecting its applicability to the Shares. An Employee must give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, within two (2) years from the date of granting such Option or one (1) year after the transfer of such Shares to such Employee.

ARTICLE VIII 

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS

8.01.               Restricted Stock.

(a)           Grant of Restricted Stock. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock to any Service Provider selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator. All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

(b)          Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Administrator may impose. These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Administrator determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.

(c)           Issuance of Restricted Stock. The issuance of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine.

8.02.               Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Service Provider selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the settlement date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, on the settlement date, the Company shall, subject to the terms of this Plan (including satisfaction of applicable Withholding Taxes), transfer to the Participant one Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited. The Administrator shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the grantee to the Company for such Shares.

 
 

8.03.               Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder in respect of Restricted Stock Units awarded pursuant to the Plan unless and until the Shares attributable to such Restricted Stock Units have been issued to such Participant.

ARTICLE IX 

PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS

9.01.               Grant of Performance Awards. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Performance Shares and Performance Units to any Participant selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator. All Performance Shares and Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

9.02.               Issuance and Restrictions. The Administrator shall have the authority to determine the Participants who shall receive Performance Shares and Performance Units, the number of Performance Shares and the number and value of Performance Units each Participant receives for any Performance Cycle, and the Performance Goals applicable in respect of such Performance Shares and Performance Units for each Performance Cycle. The Administrator shall determine the duration of each Performance Cycle (and the duration of Performance Cycles may differ from one another), and there may be more than one Performance Cycle in existence at any one time. An Award Agreement evidencing the grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units shall specify the number of Performance Shares and the number and value of Performance Units awarded to the Participant, the Performance Goals applicable thereto, and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine. No Company Common Stock will be issued at the time an Award of Performance Shares is made, and the Company shall not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

9.03.               Earned Performance Shares and Performance Units. Performance Shares and Performance Units shall become earned, in whole or in part, based upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals or the occurrence of any event or events, as the Administrator shall determine, either in an Award Agreement or thereafter on terms more favorable to the Participant. In addition to the achievement of the specified Performance Goals, the Administrator may condition payment of Performance Shares and Performance Units on such other conditions as the Administrator shall specify in an Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide in an Award Agreement for the completion of a minimum period of service (in addition to the achievement of any applicable Performance Goals) as a condition to the vesting of any Performance Share or Performance Unit Award.

9.04.               Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder in respect of Performance Shares or Performance Units awarded pursuant to the Plan (including, without limitation, the right to vote on any matter submitted to the Company’s stockholders) until such time as the Shares attributable to such Performance Shares or Performance Units have been issued to such Participant or his or her beneficiary.

 
 

9.05.               Performance Goals. The Administrator shall establish in the Award Agreement or otherwise the Performance Goals that must be satisfied in order for a Participant to receive an Award for a Performance Period or for an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units to be earned or vested. The Administrator may provide for a threshold level of performance below which no amount of compensation will be paid and a maximum level of performance above which no additional amount of compensation will be paid under the Plan, and it may provide for the payment of differing amounts of compensation for different levels of performance. Performance Goals may be established on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Subsidiaries or products or based on individual performance measures, and may be expressed in absolute terms or relative to other metrics including internal targets or budgets, past performance of the Company, the performance of one or more similarly situated companies, performance of an index, outstanding equity or other external measures. In the case of earning-based measures, Performance Goals may include comparisons relating to capital (including but limited to, the cost of capital), shareholders’ equity, shares outstanding, assets or net assets, or any combination thereof. Performance Goals may also be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine appropriate. The Administrator may also adjust the Performance Goals for any Performance Cycle as it deems equitable in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles or such other events, changes or factors as the Administrator may determine.

9.06.               Determination of Attainment of Performance Goals. As soon as practicable following the end of a Performance Cycle and prior to any payment or vesting in respect of such Performance Cycle, the Administrator shall determine the number of Performance Shares, other Performance Awards, the number and value of Performance Units or the amount of any cash entitlement, as applicable that has been earned or vested. Notwithstanding anything in this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrator shall have the right, in its absolute discretion, (i) to reduce or eliminate the amount otherwise payable to any Participant based on individual performance or any other factors that the Administrator, in its discretion, shall deem appropriate and (ii) to establish rules or procedures that have the effect of limiting the amount payable to each Participant to an amount that is less than the maximum amount otherwise authorized under the Award or under the Plan.

9.07.               Newly Eligible Participants. Notwithstanding anything in this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrator shall be entitled to make such rules, determinations and adjustments as it deems appropriate with respect to any Participant who becomes eligible to receive Performance Shares, Performance Units or other Performance Awards after the commencement of a Performance Cycle.

 

ARTICLE X 

DEFERRED SHARE UNITS

10.01.           Grant. Subject to Article III, the Administrator is authorized to make awards of Deferred Share Units to any Participant selected by the Administrator at such time or times as shall be determined by the Administrator without regard to any election by the Participant to defer receipt of any compensation or bonus amount payable to him. The grant date of any Deferred Share Unit under the Plan will be the date on which such Deferred Share Unit is awarded by the Administrator or on such other future date as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. Upon the grant of Deferred Share Units pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall establish a notional account for the Participant and will record in such account the number of Deferred Share Units awarded to the Participant. No Shares will be issued to the Participant at the time an award of Deferred Share Units is granted. Subject to Article III and Applicable Law (including Section 409A of the Code), Deferred Share Units may become payable on a Corporate Event, termination of employment or on a specified date or dates set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Deferred Share Units.

 
 

10.02.           Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall not be, nor have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company in respect of Deferred Share Units awarded pursuant to the Plan unless and until such time as the Shares attributable to such Deferred Share Units have been issued to such Participant.

10.03.           Vesting. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise at the grant date or provides thereafter in a manner more favorable to the Participant, Deferred Share Units shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable when granted

10.04.           Settlement. Subject to this Article X, upon the date specified in the Award Agreement evidencing the Deferred Share Units, for each such Deferred Share Unit the Participant shall receive, as specified in the Award Agreement (and subject to satisfaction of applicable Withholding Taxes), (i) a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share as of such payment date, (ii) one (1) Share or (iii) any combination of clauses (i) and (ii).

ARTICLE XI 

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

11.01.           Grants of Stock-Based Awards. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of other types of equity-based or equity-related awards (“Stock-Based Awards”) not otherwise described by the terms of the Plan in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine. All Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Such Stock-Based Awards may be granted as an inducement to enter the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or in satisfaction of any obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to a Service Provider, whether pursuant to this Plan or otherwise, that would otherwise have been payable in cash or in respect of any other obligation of the Company. Such Stock-Based Awards may entail the transfer of actual Shares, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares.

ARTICLE XII 

DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

12.01.           Generally. Dividend Equivalents may be granted to Participants at such time or times as shall be determined by the Administrator. Dividend Equivalents may be granted in tandem with other Awards, in addition to other Awards, or freestanding and unrelated to other Awards. The grant date of any Dividend Equivalents under the Plan will be the date on which the Dividend Equivalent is awarded by the Administrator, or such other date permitted by Applicable Laws as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. Dividend Equivalents may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be fully vested and nonforfeitable when granted or subject to such vesting conditions as determined by the Administrator. For the avoidance of doubt, Dividend Equivalents with respect to Awards shall not be fully vested until the Awards have been earned and shall be forfeited if the related Award is forfeited. Dividend Equivalents shall be evidenced in writing, whether as part of the Award Agreement governing the terms of the Award, if any, to which such Dividend Equivalent relates, or pursuant to a separate Award Agreement with respect to freestanding Dividend Equivalents.

 
 

ARTICLE XIII 

TERMINATION AND FORFEITURE

13.01.           Termination. Except as provided in Article XIV or in the applicable Award Agreement, or as determined by the Administrator, unvested awards granted under the Plan will be forfeited upon a Participant’s termination of employment or service to the Company for any reason.

13.02.           Forfeiture and Recoupment of Awards. Awards granted under this Plan (and gains earned or accrued in connection with Awards) shall be subject to such generally applicable policies as to forfeiture and recoupment (including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of material financial or accounting errors, financial or other misconduct or Competitive Activity) as may be adopted by the Administrator or the Board from time to time. Any such policies may (in the discretion of the Administrator or the Board) be applied to outstanding Awards at the time of adoption of such policies, or on a prospective basis only. Participants shall also forfeit and disgorge to the Company any Awards granted or vested and any gains earned or accrued due to the exercise of Options or SARs or the sale of any Company Common Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law or as required by any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company Common Stock is listed or quoted, in each case in effect on or after the Effective Date, including Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any regulations promulgated thereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator shall have full authority to implement any policies and procedures necessary to comply with Applicable Law and/or the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company Common Stock is listed or quoted. The implementation of policies and procedures pursuant to this Section 13.02 and any modification of the same shall not be subject to any restrictions on amendment or modification of Awards.

13.03.           Clawbacks. Awards shall be subject to any generally applicable clawback policy adopted by the Administrator, the Board or the Company that is communicated to the Participants or any such policy adopted to comply with Applicable Law.

ARTICLE XIV 

CHANGE IN CONTROL

14.01.           Alternative Awards. Unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement, subject to Section 14.02, no cancellation, acceleration of vesting or other payment shall occur in connection with a Change in Control with respect to any (i) unvested or unexercisable Award and/or (ii) if reasonably determined in good faith by the Administrator prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control, vested Awards, and such Award shall be honored or assumed, or new rights substituted therefor following the Change in Control (such honored, assumed or substituted award, an “Alternative Award”), provided that any Alternative Award must (x) give the Participant who held such Award rights and entitlements substantially equivalent to or better than the rights and terms applicable under such Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, including, without limitation, an identical or better schedule as to vesting and/or exercisability and that Alternative Awards that are stock options have identical or better methods of payment of the exercise price thereof; (y) as to any service-based vesting requirement applicable to the Award, provide for full vesting of the Alternative Award, if within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, the Participant’s employment or service is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the remaining vesting period thereof; and (z) as to any performance-based vesting requirement applicable to the Award, provide for vesting of the Alternative Award at target levels, if within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, the Participant’s employment or service is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the remaining vesting period thereof. If the Administrator determines in connection with a Change in Control that performance-based vesting requirements applicable to an Award will no longer operate as intended following the Change in Control or will no longer provide the intended incentive, the Administrator may modify such performance-based vesting requirements or impose new performance-based vesting requirements so long as the Administrator determines that such modified or new performance-based vesting requirements are not materially more difficult to achieve than the performance-based vesting requirements applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control.

Notwithstanding this Section 14.01, if the securities underlying the Alternative Award are not publicly traded, (i) the acquisition, holding and disposition of the shares underlying the Alternative Award may be subject to such terms and conditions as are established by the Administrator prior to the Change in Control and (ii) the Company or the acquiror in such Change in Control shall be required to repurchase any vested Alternative Awards or securities underlying such Alternative Awards following termination of employment (other than termination for Cause or other circumstances resulting in the forfeiture of such Alternative Awards in accordance with Section 13.02 or an applicable award agreement) for cash or marketable securities equal to the fair market value of the securities subject to such Alternative Award on the effective date of termination (and, in the case of Alternative Awards that are stock options or stock appreciation rights, in excess of the exercise price or base price that the Participant would be required to pay in respect of such Alternative Award).

14.02.           Settlement. Except as otherwise provided in this Article XIV or in an Award Agreement or thereafter on terms more favorable to a Participant, if the Administrator reasonably determines in good faith, prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, that no Alternative Awards will be provided upon a Change in Control:

 
 

(a)           each unvested Award (other than Performance Awards and freestanding Dividend Equivalents not granted in connection with another Award) shall vest;

(b)          each outstanding Option and SAR shall be canceled in exchange for a payment equal to the excess, if any, of the Change in Control Price over the applicable Option Price or Base Price;

(c)           Shares underlying all Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units, and other Stock-Based Awards that are vested (as provided in this Section 14.02 or otherwise) shall be issued or released to the Participant holding such Award, except to the extent that the Administrator has determined, in accordance with authority granted to it by the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement to settle such Award in cash in lieu of shares;

(d)          each outstanding Performance Award shall be treated as provided in the individual Award Agreement governing such Performance Award; and

(e)           all freestanding Dividend Equivalents not granted in connection with another Award shall be cancelled without payment therefor.

To the extent any portion of the Change in Control Price is payable other than in cash and/or other than at the time of the Change in Control, Award holders under the Plan shall receive the same value in respect of their Awards (less any applicable exercise price, Base Price or similar feature) as is received by the Company’s stockholders in respect of their Company Common Stock (as determined by the Administrator), and the Administrator shall determine the extent to which such value shall be paid in cash, in securities or other property, or in a combination of cash and securities or other property, consistent with Applicable Law. To the extent any portion of the Change in Control Price is payable other than at the time of the Change in Control, the Administrator shall determine the time and form of payment to the holders of Award consistent with Section 409A of the Code and other Applicable Laws. For avoidance of doubt, upon a Change in Control the Administrator may cancel Options and SARs for no consideration if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to Options and SARs is less than or equal to the Option Price of such Options or the Base Price of such SARs.

14.03.           Section 409A. Notwithstanding the discretion in Sections 14.01 and 14.02, if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code and an Alternative Award would be deemed a non-compliant modification of such Award under Section 409A, then no Alternative Award shall be provided and such Award shall instead be treated as provided in Section 14.02 or in the Award Agreement (or in such other manner determined by the Administrator that is a compliant modification under Section 409A).

ARTICLE XV 

OTHER PROVISIONS

15.01.           Awards Not Transferable. Unless otherwise approved by the Administrator, no Award or interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 15.01 shall prevent transfers by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution or, with the prior approval of the Company’s General Counsel or the Administrator, estate planning transfers.

 
 

15.02.           Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan or Award Agreements.

(a)           The Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator; provided that without the approval by a majority of the shares entitled to vote at a duly constituted meeting of shareholders of the Company, no amendment or modification to the Plan may (i) except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 4.01(a) or Section 4.03, increase the number of Shares subject to the Plan, (ii) the individual Award limitations applicable to non-employee Directors specified in Section 4.02; (iii) modify the class of persons eligible for participation in the Plan; (iv) modify the prohibition against repricing in Section 4.05; or (v) materially modify the Plan in any other way that would require shareholder approval under Applicable Law.

(b)          Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, neither the amendment, suspension nor termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the holder of the Award, adversely alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted.

(c)           Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall adjustments made by the Administrator pursuant to Section 4.03 or the application of Section 13.02, Section 13.03, Section 14.01, Section 14.02, Section 15.06 or Section 15.12 to any Participant constitute an amendment of the Plan or of any Award Agreement requiring the consent of any Participant.

(d)          No Award may be granted during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and in no event may any Award be granted under this Plan after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

15.03.           Effect of Plan upon Other Award and Compensation Plans. The adoption of this Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Service Providers or (b) to grant or assume options or restricted stock other than under this Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the grant or assumption of options or restricted stock in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or association.

15.04.           At-Will Employment. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue as a Service Provider of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

15.05.           Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.

15.06.           Conformity to Securities Laws. The Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated under any of the foregoing, to the extent the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or any Participant is subject to the provisions thereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and Awards shall be granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.

15.07.           Term of Plan. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 15.02, until the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. The provisions of the Plan shall continue thereafter to govern all outstanding Awards.

15.08.           Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Utah regardless of the application of rules of conflict of law that would apply the laws of any other jurisdiction.

15.09.           Severability. In the event any portion of the Plan or any action taken pursuant thereto shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had not been included, and the illegal or invalid action shall be null and void.

15.10.           Governing Documents. In the event of any express contradiction between the Plan and any Award Agreement or any other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary that has been approved by the Administrator, the express terms of the Plan shall govern, unless it is expressly specified in such Award Agreement or other written document that such express provision of the Plan shall not apply.

15.11.           Withholding Taxes. In addition to any rights or obligations with respect to Withholding Taxes under the Plan or any applicable Award Agreement, the Company or any Subsidiary employing a Service Provider shall have the right to withhold from the Service Provider, or otherwise require the Service Provider or an assignee to pay, any Withholding Taxes arising as a result of grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of any Award or any other taxable event occurring pursuant to the Plan or any Award Agreement, including, without limitation, to the extent permitted by law, the right to deduct any such Withholding Taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Service Provider or to take such other actions (including, without limitation, withholding any Shares or cash deliverable pursuant to the Plan or any Award) as may be necessary to satisfy all or any portion of such Withholding Taxes; provided, however, that in the event that the Company withholds Shares issued or issuable to the Participant to satisfy all or any portion of the Withholding Taxes, the Company shall withhold a number of whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of withholding, not in excess of the maximum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lower amount as may be necessary to avoid liability award accounting) and any remaining amount shall be remitted in cash or withheld; and provided, further, that with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, in no event shall Shares be withheld pursuant to this Section 15.11 (other than upon or immediately prior to settlement in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement) other than to pay taxes imposed under the U.S. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (“FICA”) and any associated U.S. federal withholding tax imposed under Section 3401 of the Code and in no event shall the value of such Shares (other than upon immediately prior to settlement) exceed the amount of the tax imposed under FICA and any associated U.S. federal withholding tax imposed under Section 3401 of the Code. The Participant shall be responsible for all Withholding Taxes and other tax consequences of any Award.

 
 

15.12.           Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate any terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the adoption of the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the adoption of the Plan, the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related regulations and Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the adoption of the Plan), the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance or (c) comply with any correction procedures available with respect to Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Service Provider is a “specified employee” as determined pursuant to Section 409A under any Company Specified Employee policy in effect at the time of the Service Provider’s “separation from service” (as determined under Section 409A) or, if no such policy is in effect, as defined in Section 409A of the Code), then, to the extent necessary to comply with, and avoid imposition on such Service Provider of any tax penalty imposed under, Section 409A of the Code, any payment required to be made to a Service Provider hereunder upon or following his or her separation from service shall be delayed until the first to occur of (i) the six (6)-month anniversary of the Service Provider’s separation from service and (ii) the Service Provider’s death. Should payments be delayed in accordance with the preceding sentence, the accumulated payment that would have been made but for the period of the delay shall be paid in a single lump sum during the ten (10)-day period following the lapsing of the delay period. No provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall be construed to indemnify any Service Provider for any taxes incurred by reason of Section 409A (or timing of incurrence thereof), other than an express indemnification provision therefor.

15.13.           Notices. Except as provided otherwise in an Award Agreement, all notices and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Plan or any Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if delivered personally, sent by email or any other form of electronic transfer approved by the Administrator, sent by certified or express mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by any recognized international equivalent of such delivery, (i) in the case of notices and communications to the Company, to its current business address and to the attention of the General Counsel of the Company or (ii) in the case of a Participant, to the last known address, or email address or, where the individual is an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, to the individual’s workplace address or email address or by other means of electronic transfer acceptable to the Administrator. All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of delivery, if sent by email or any other form of electronic transfer, at the time of dispatch or on the third business day after the mailing thereof.

15.14.           Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time pursuant to procedures approved by the Company name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of such Participant’s death.

15.15.           Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its adoption by the Board, which date is set forth below (the “Effective Date”).

This Plan was duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on November 16, 2021.

 

 

 

Exhibit A

NETCAPITAL INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

FORM OF OPTION AGREEMENT

 

 

THIS AGREEMENT, made as of this __ day of ______ 202_, by and between NETCAPITAL INC., having its principal office at I Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111 (the “Company”) and __________________, an employee of the Company, (the “Optionee”).

 

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company believes that the interests of the Company will be advanced by granting an incentive to officers, directors, consultants and key employees of the Company by providing them with the opportunity to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock on terms which will give them a more direct and continuing interest in the future success of the Company’s business;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Company adopted and approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan of the Company (the “Plan”); all capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Plan;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.       Grant of Options. Subject to, and pursuant to, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the “Option”) to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of ________ shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”) of the Company, at a purchase price of $10.00 per share. The Option granted hereunder is intended to be an incentive stock option to the extent all or any portion of the Option qualifies as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

2.       Expiration. The Option may not be exercised after the tenth anniversary of the date hereof (the “Expiration Date”).

 

3.       Exercise of Option. The Option may be exercised at any time after the date hereof and prior to the Expiration Date or the earlier termination of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option shall not be exercisable for more than the number of Shares that are then vested. The Option shall vest with respect to 100% of the Shares over a four-year period, with _______ shares (subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan) vesting every month from the date hereof until 100% of the Shares granted have vested. In addition, the Option shall vest with respect to 100% of the Shares upon a Sale of the Company, as defined in section 9.b(i). If the Option is not exercised to the maximum extent permissible, it shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, with respect to all Shares not so purchased prior to the Expiration Date or the earlier termination of the Option. During the lifetime of the Optionee, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and only while the Optionee is continuously a director, employee or consultant of the Company or a Subsidiary (as defined in the Plan), within three months after the Optionee ceases to be a director, a consultant or employed, or, if disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), within one year of such disability (but not later than the Expiration Date) if and to the extent the Option was exercisable by the Optionee on the last day that the Optionee served as a director, consultant or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Optionee shall be removed from the Board of Directors, terminated as an employee for cause, or shall have consulting services terminated for cause, all rights as to that portion of the Option that is unexercised shall immediately terminate.

 

4.       Payment of Purchase Price Upon Exercise. The Option granted under this Agreement may be exercised in whole or in part by the Optionee’s delivering or mailing to the Company at its principal office, or such other place as the Company may designate, written notice of exercise in the form prescribed by the Administrator and duly signed by the Optionee (the “Exercise Notice”). Such exercise shall be effective upon (a) receipt of such written notice by the Company and (b) payment to the Company of the full purchase price in cash or any other form permitted under the Plan. The Optionee shall make appropriate arrangements as set forth in the Plan for the payment of all applicable withholding taxes.

 

5.       Issuance and Delivery. The Optionee’s Exercise Notice shall state the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and specify a date, not less than five (5) or more than fifteen (15) days after the date of the mailing of such notice, on which the Shares will be taken and payment made therefor. On the date specified in the Exercise Notice, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Optionee (or the Optionee’s personal representative, as the case may be) stock certificates for the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, against receipt of payment therefor. Certificates evidencing the Shares issued upon exercise of the Option may contain such legends reflecting any restrictions upon transfer of the Shares evidenced thereby as in the opinion of counsel to the Company may be necessary for the lawful and proper issuance of such certificates. Delivery of the Shares may be made at the office of the Company or at the office of a transfer agent appointed for the transfer of shares of Common Stock.

 

 

 

6.       Transferability. The Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Option shall not be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution or levy of any kind.

 

7.       No Rights as a Shareholder. Neither the Optionee nor the Optionee’s legal representative shall be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any of the Shares, unless and until certificates representing such Shares shall have been issued and delivered to the Optionee (or the Optionee’s legal representative).

 

8. Adjustment. In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, special dividends, recapitalization, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, split-ups, combinations or exchanges of shares and the like, the number and kind of shares under this Agreement and the purchase price per share hereof shall be appropriately adjusted consistent with such change. The determination of the Administrator as to any adjustment shall be final, binding and conclusive. It is the intention hereunder to provide for an equitable adjustment.

 

9.        Sale of the Company. (a) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a Sale of the Company (as defined in paragraph (b) below), the Option, at the election of the Company, may be terminated and, if terminated, the Optionee shall receive an amount in cash equal to the difference between the purchase price in effect at the time of such Sale of the Company and the Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph (b) below) of the Shares subject to the then remaining unexercised portion of the Option.

 

(b) For purposes of this Section 9 the following terms shall have the indicated meanings:

 

(i) “Sale of the Company” means a Change of Control of the Company (as defined in clause (ii) below) or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions.

 

(ii) “Change of Control” of the Company will be deemed to have occurred at such time as (A) any person or entity (a “Person”), including a Person’s affiliates and associates, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of 50% or more of the total voting power of the Common Stock, (B) there shall be consummated any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which the Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger or consolidation of the Company in which the holders of the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the consolidation or merger hold, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after such consolidation or merger, or (C) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose election by such Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company has been approved by 66 2/3% of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or recommendation for election was previously so approved) cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

(iii) “Fair Market Value” shall be determined as of the last business day for which the prices or quotes discussed in this sentence are available prior to the date of the Sale of the Company and shall mean (A) the closing selling price per share on that date of the Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then traded on a national securities exchange; or (B) the closing selling price per share on that date of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ quotation system, if the Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange; or (C) the closing bid price per share last quoted on that date by an established quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the Company Stock is not reported on the NASDAQ quotation system.

 

10.       Compliance with Law and Regulations. The Option and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Shares hereunder shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for Shares prior to (i) the listing of such Shares on any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed and (ii) the completion of any registration or qualification of such Shares under any federal or state law, or any rule or regulation of any government body which the Board of Directors or the Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable. Moreover, the Options may not be exercised if their exercise, or the receipt of Shares pursuant thereto, would be contrary to applicable law.

 

 

 

11.       Investment Representation. The Board of Directors or the Administrator may require the Optionee to furnish to the Company, prior to the issuance of any Shares upon the exercise of any Option, an agreement (in such form as the Board of Directors or the Administrator may specify) in which the Optionee represents that the Shares acquired by the Optionee upon exercise are being acquired for investment and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

 

12.       Continued Employment. Neither this Agreement nor any Option granted hereunder shall confer upon any Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary, confer upon any consultant the right to continue to provide consulting services to the Company or any Subsidiary, confer upon any member of the Board of Directors any right to continue on the Board of Directors or limit in any respect the right of the Company, the Board of Directors or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any Employee or the service of any consultant or member of the Board of Directors at any time.

 

13.       Optionee Bound by Plan. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof, including the terms and provisions adopted after the granting of this Option but prior to the complete exercise hereof.


14. Notices. Any notice hereunder to the Company shall be addressed to it at its offices, 1 Lincoln Street, Boston MA, 02111 Attention: Ms. Coreen Kraysler, Chief Financial Officer, or by email to coreen.kraysler@netcapital.com and any notice hereunder to Optionee shall be addressed to the Optionee at the address noted in the Company’s files, or the email address noted on the signature page of this Agreement, subject to the right of either party to designate at any time hereafter in writing some other address.

 

15.       Miscellaneous. This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire understanding and agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof, except as otherwise referred to herein, and supersedes any prior agreement between the parties, whether written or oral. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, modified, amended, changed, discharged or terminated, except by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver, modification, change, amendment, discharge or termination is sought. To the extent that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any manner be affected or impaired thereby.

 

 

16.       Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted, and the rights and liabilities of the parties hereto determined, in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Massachusetts, without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

 

17.       Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts each of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

NETCAPITAL INC.

 

 

By: __________________

Name: Cecilia Lenk

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 


       OPTIONEE

 

By: __________________________________

Name:

Email:

 

Exhibit 5.1 

 

Codelaw

399745 Atlantic Ave

Floor 8

Boston, MA 02111

650–276–3200

www.codelaw.com

 

January 26, 2022

 

 

 

Netcapital Inc.

1 Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Netcapital Inc. (the “Corporation”), a Utah corporation, in connection with the registration of the sale of up to 300,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation to participants in the Corporation’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Corporation is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with respect to the Shares. We have been asked by the Corporation to render this opinion.

 

We have examined copies of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, the Bylaws of the Corporation, the Plan, the Registration Statement, certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary and relevant for the purposes hereof. In addition, we have relied on certificates of officers of the Corporation and of public officials and others as to certain matters of fact relating to this opinion and have made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary and relevant as a basis hereof. In the course of such examinations and investigations, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on, and the authenticity of, all documents and records submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents and records of all documents and records submitted to us as copies, and the truthfulness of all statements of fact contained therein.

 

Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations, assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, and having due regard for such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that, when issued to the Plan participants in accordance with the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The foregoing opinion is based on and limited to the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act and the relevant federal law of the United States of America, and we render no opinion with respect to the law of any other jurisdiction.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. By giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ P. Brennan Lincoln

 

P. Brennan Lincoln

Associate

Codelaw LLC

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the Netcapital Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as filed with the SEC, of our audit report dated August 31, 2021, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Netcapital Inc. and Subsidiaries as of April 30, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.

Fruci & Associates II, PLLC

January 26, 2022