Exhibit 10.1
VOLATO GROUP, INC.
2023 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
In addition to other terms defined herein or in an Award Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings given below:
(a)
Administrator means the Board and, upon its delegation of all or part of its authority to administer the Plan to the Committee, the
Committee.
(b)
Affiliate means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, and also includes any other business entity which is controlled by, under
common control with or controls the Company; provided, however, that the term “Affiliate” shall be construed in a manner in accordance with the registration provisions of applicable federal securities laws if and to the extent required.
(c)
Applicable Law means any applicable laws, rules or regulations (or similar guidance), including but not limited to the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Code and the listing or other rules of any applicable stock exchange. References to applicable laws, rules and regulations, including references to any sections or
other provisions of applicable laws, rules and regulations, shall also refer to any successor provisions thereto unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(d)
Award means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of an Option (including an Incentive Option or a Nonqualified Option);
a Stock Appreciation Right (including a Related SAR or a Freestanding SAR); a Restricted Award (including a Restricted Stock Award or a Restricted Stock Unit Award); a Performance Award (including a Performance Share Award or a Performance Unit
Award); a Phantom Stock Award; an Other Cash-Based Award; an Other Stock-Based Award; a Dividend Equivalent Award; and/or any other award granted under the Plan.
(e)
Award Agreement means an award agreement (which may be in written or electronic form, in the Administrator’s discretion, and which includes any amendment or supplement thereto) between
the Company and a Participant specifying the terms, conditions and restrictions of an Award granted to the Participant. An Award Agreement may also state such other terms, conditions and restrictions, including but not limited to terms,
conditions and restrictions applicable to shares of Common Stock or any other benefit underlying an Award, as may be established by the Administrator.
(f)
Base Price means the price assigned to a Stock Appreciation Right on the date of grant.
(g)
Board or Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(h)
Cause means, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, a Participant’s termination of employment or service resulting from the Participant’s (i) termination for “Cause”
as defined under the Participant’s employment, change in control, consulting or other agreement or arrangement with the Company or an Affiliate, if any, or (ii) if the Participant has not entered into any such agreement (or, if any such agreement
does not define “Cause”), then the Participant’s termination shall be for “Cause” if termination results due to the Participant’s (A) dishonesty; (B) failure to perform his or her duties for the Company or an Affiliate; (C) engaging in
fraudulent conduct or conduct that could be materially damaging to the Company without a reasonable good faith belief that such conduct was in the best interest of the Company; or (D) material breach of any confidentiality, non-solicitation,
non-competition or other similar covenant applicable to the Participant. The determination of “Cause” shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final and conclusive. Without in any way limiting the effect of the
foregoing, for purposes of the Plan and an Award, a Participant’s employment or service shall also be deemed to have terminated for Cause if, after the Participant’s employment or service has terminated, facts and circumstances are discovered
that would have justified, in the opinion of the Administrator, a termination for Cause.
(i)
A Change of Control shall (except as may be otherwise required for compliance with Code Section 409A) be deemed to have occurred on the earliest of the following dates:
(i)
The date any entity or person shall have become the beneficial owner of, or shall have obtained voting control over, more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the Company’s
then outstanding voting stock;
(ii)
The date of the consummation of (A) a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the Company (or similar transaction involving the Company), in which the holders of the Common
Stock or other voting securities immediately prior to the transaction have voting control over less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of the surviving corporation immediately after such transaction, or (B) the sale or disposition
of all or substantially all the assets of the Company;
(iii)
The date there shall have been a change in a majority of the Board within a 12 -month period unless the nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders or the appointment of each new
Director (other than as a result of any settlement of a proxy or consent solicitation contest or any action taken to avoid such a contest) was approved by the vote of two-thirds or more of the members of the Board (or a committee of the Board, if
nominations are approved by a Board committee rather than the Board) then still in office who were in office at the beginning of the 12-month period; or
(iv)
The date on which the stockholders of the Company approve of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company to the extent that stockholder approval is required by Applicable Law.
(For the purposes herein, the term “person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, group, association or other person, as such term is defined in Section
13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan(s) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, and the term “beneficial owner” shall
have the meaning given the term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.)
For the purposes of clarity, a transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control if its principal purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, create a holding
company that would be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction or is another transaction of other similar effect.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of Section 1(i), in the event that any Awards granted under the Plan are deemed to be deferred compensation subject to (and not exempt from)
the provisions of Code Section 409A, then distributions related to such Awards to be made upon a Change of Control may be permitted, in the Administrator's discretion, upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events (as they are defined
and interpreted under Code Section 409A): (A) a change in the ownership of the Company; (B) a change in effective control of the Company; or (C) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company.
The Administrator shall have full and final authority, in its discretion (subject to any Code Section 409A considerations), to determine whether a Change of Control of the Company
has occurred, the date of the occurrence of such Change of Control and any incidental matters relating thereto.
(j)
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor thereto. Any reference herein to a specific Code section shall be deemed to include all related regulations
or other guidance with respect to such Code section.
(k)
Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or a subcommittee thereof), or other committee of the Board to which the Board has delegated power to act under or pursuant
to the provisions of the Plan. For clarity, the term “Committee” includes the Board (or subcommittee of the Committee or other committee of the Board) if exercising the authority of the Committee under the Plan.
(l)
Common Stock means the Class A common stock of Volato Group, Inc., $0.0001 par value, or any successor securities thereto.
(m)
Company means Volato Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with any successor thereto. In the Administrator’s discretion, the term “Company” may also refer to the
Company and any or all of its Affiliates.
(n)
Director means a member of the Board or of the board of directors of an Affiliate.
(o)
Disability means (except as may be otherwise determined by the Administrator (taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations) or otherwise defined in a Participant’s Award
Agreement or any employment, change in control, consulting or other agreement or arrangement to which the Participant is a party) the inability of the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death, or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. The Administrator shall have authority to determine if a
Disability has occurred.
(p)
Dividend Equivalent Award means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 13 to receive the equivalent value (in cash or shares of Common Stock) of dividends paid on
Common Stock.
(q)
Effective Date means the effective date of the Plan, as provided in Section 4.
(r)
Employee means any person who is an employee of the Company or any Affiliate (including entities which become Affiliates after the Effective Date of the Plan).
For this purpose, an individual shall be considered to be an Employee only if there exists between the individual and the Company or an Affiliate the legal and bona fide relationship of employer and employee (taking into account Code Section 409A
considerations if and to the extent applicable); provided, however, that, with respect to Incentive Options, “Employee” means any person who is considered an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary for purposes of Treas. Reg.
Section 1.421-1(h) (or any successor provision related thereto).
(s)
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(t)
Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock shall be established by the Administrator and, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Fair Market
Value shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions: (A) if the shares of Common Stock are listed for trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) or another national
or regional stock exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price per share of the shares on Nasdaq, the NYSE or other principal stock exchange on which such securities are listed on the date an Award is granted or other
determination is made (such date of determination being referred to herein as a “valuation date”), or, if there is no transaction on such date, then on the trading date nearest preceding the valuation date for which closing price information
is available, and, provided further, if the shares are not listed for trading on Nasdaq, the NYSE or another stock exchange but are regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities
dealer, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such shares as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the valuation date, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the valuation date (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such
other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or (B) if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or reported in any of the foregoing, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator based on such valuation measures or other
factors as it deems appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) with respect to the grant of Incentive Options, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 20.2031-2 of
the Federal Estate Tax Regulations, or in any other manner consistent with Code Section 422; and (ii) Fair Market Value shall be determined in accordance with Code Section 409A if and to the extent required.
(u)
Freestanding SAR means a Stock Appreciation Right that is not granted in tandem with an Option, as provided in Section 8.
(v)
Good Reason means, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, in the context of a Change of Control, a Participant’s termination of employment or service resulting from the
Participant’s (i) termination for “Good Reason” as defined under the Participant’s employment, change in control, consulting or other agreement or arrangement with the Company or an Affiliate, if any, or (ii) if the Participant has not
entered into any agreement (or, if any such agreement does not define “Good Reason”), then, a Participant’s termination shall be for “Good Reason” if termination results from any of the following without the Participant’s consent:
(A) a material reduction in the Participant’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to the date of the Change of Control, or (B) the assignment to the Participant of duties or responsibilities materially inconsistent with, or a material
diminution in, the Participant’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Directors, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, a
Director’s termination from service on the Board shall be for “Good Reason” if the Participant ceases to serve as a Director or, if the Company is not the surviving company in the Change of Control event, a member of the board of directors
of the surviving entity, in either case, due to the Participant’s failure to be nominated to serve as a director of such entity or the Participant’s failure to be elected to serve as a director of such entity, but not due to the Participant’s
decision not to continue service on the Board or the board of directors of the surviving entity, as the case may be. In the context other than a Change of Control, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning given in a Participant’s Award
Agreement or employment, change in control, consulting or other agreement or arrangement with the Company or an Affiliate, as applicable. An event or condition that would otherwise constitute “Good Reason” shall constitute Good Reason only
if the Company fails to rescind or cure such event or condition within 30 days after receipt from the Participant of written notice of the event which constitutes Good Reason, and Good Reason shall cease to exist for any event or condition
described herein on the 60th day following the later of the occurrence or the Participant’s knowledge thereof, unless the Participant has given the Company written notice thereof prior to such date. The determination of “Good Reason” shall
be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final and conclusive.
(w)
Incentive Option means an Option that is designated by the Administrator as an Incentive Option pursuant to Section 7 and
intended to meet the requirements of incentive stock options under Code Section 422.
(x)
Independent Contractor means an individual, other than an Employee, who provides services to the Company or an Affiliate
(other than capital-raising services) as an independent contractor, consultant or advisor.
(y)
Nonqualified Option means an Option granted under Section 7 that is not intended to qualify (or does not qualify) as an incentive stock option under Code Section
422.
(z)
Option means a stock option granted under Section 7 that entitles the holder to purchase from the Company a stated number of shares of Common Stock at the Option
Price and subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the Plan or an Award Agreement or established by the Administrator.
(aa)
Option Period means the term of an Option, as provided in Section 7(d).
(bb)
Option Price means the price at which an Option may be exercised, as provided in Section 7(b).
(cc)
Other Cash-Based Award means a right granted to a Participant under Section 12 that is payable in cash and subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms and
conditions established by the Administrator.
(dd)
Other Stock-Based Award means a right granted to a Participant under Section 12 that relates to or is valued by reference to shares of Common Stock or other
Awards relating to shares of Common Stock and subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms and conditions established by the Administrator.
(ee)
Parent means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e) (or any successor section thereto).
(ff)
Participant means an individual who is an Employee employed by, or a Director or Independent Contractor providing services to, the Company or an Affiliate who satisfies the
requirements of Section 6 and is selected by the Administrator to receive an Award under the Plan.
(gg)
Performance Award means a Performance Share Award and/or a Performance Unit Award, as provided in Section 10.
(hh)
Performance Measures mean one or more performance factors or criteria which may be established by the Administrator with respect to an Award. Performance Measures may be based on
such corporate, business unit or division and/or individual performance or other factors or criteria, whether objective or subjective, as the Administrator in its discretion may deem appropriate. Such criteria may relate to the Company, one or
more of its Affiliates or one or more of its divisions, departments, units, segments, partnerships, joint ventures or minority investments, facilities, product lines or products or any combination of the foregoing. The targeted level or levels of
performance with respect to such business criteria may be established at such levels and on such terms as the Administrator may determine, in its discretion, including but not limited to on an absolute basis, in relation to performance in a prior
performance period, and/or relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof.
(ii)
Performance Share means an Award granted under Section 10, in an amount determined by the Administrator and specified in an Award Agreement, stated with
reference to a specified number of shares of Common Stock, that entitles the holder to receive, in the form of shares of Common Stock, a cash payment or a combination of Common Stock and cash (as determined by the Administrator), value equal to the
value of the reference shares, subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms and conditions established by the Administrator.
(jj)
Performance Unit means an Award granted under Section 10, in an amount determined by the Administrator and specified in an Award Agreement, that entitles the
holder to receive shares of Common Stock, a cash payment or a combination of Common Stock and cash (as determined by the Administrator), subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms and conditions established by the Administrator.
(kk)
Phantom Stock Award means an Award granted under Section 11 entitling a Participant to a payment in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and
Common Stock (as determined by the Administrator) following the completion of the applicable vesting period and compliance with the terms of the Plan and other terms and conditions established by the Administrator. The unit value of a Phantom Stock
Award shall be based on the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock.
(ll)
Plan means the Volato Group, Inc. 2023 Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and/or restated.
(mm)
Prior Plan means the Volato, Inc. (formerly, Aerago, Inc.) 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or restated.
(nn)
Related SAR means a Stock Appreciation Right that is granted in tandem with a particular Option, as provided in Section 8, and that can be exercised only upon
the surrender to the Company, unexercised, of that portion of the Option to which the SAR relates.
(oo)
Restricted Award means a Restricted Stock Award or a Restricted Stock Unit Award, as provided in Section 9.
(pp)
Restricted Stock Award means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted to a Participant under Section 9. Shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock
Award shall cease to be restricted when, in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the terms and conditions established by the Administrator, the shares vest and become transferable or free of any substantial risk of forfeiture.
(qq) Restricted Stock Unit means a Restricted Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 will be settled, if at
all, (i) by the delivery of one share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit, (ii) in cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit, or (iii) in a combination of cash and shares
equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit, as determined by the Administrator. A Restricted Stock Unit represents the promise of the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination
thereof, as applicable, at the end of the applicable restriction period if and only to the extent the Award vests and ceases to be subject to forfeiture, subject to compliance with the terms of the Plan and Award Agreement and any terms and
conditions established by the Administrator.
(rr)
Retirement means (except as may be otherwise determined by the Administrator (taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations) or otherwise defined in a
Participant’s Award Agreement, employment agreement, change in control agreement, consulting agreement or other similar agreement to which the Participant is a party) retirement in accordance with the retirement policies and procedures established
by the Company. The Administrator shall have authority to determine if a Retirement has occurred.
(ss)
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(tt)
Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means an Award granted under Section 8 entitling the Participant to receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock
encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the excess of the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Base Price, subject to the terms of the Plan and Award Agreement and any other terms and conditions established by the Administrator.
References to “SARs” include both Related SARs and Freestanding SARs, unless the context requires otherwise.
(uu)
Subsidiary means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(f) (or any successor section thereto).
(vv)
Termination Date means the date of termination of a Participant’s employment or service for any reason, as determined by the Administrator (taking into account
any Code Section 409A considerations).
The purposes of the Plan are to encourage and enable selected Employees, Directors and Independent Contractors of the Company and its Affiliates to acquire or to increase their
holdings of Common Stock and other equity-based interests in the Company and to provide other incentive awards in order to promote a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders, and to provide flexibility
to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract and retain the services of Participants upon whose judgment, interest and special effort the successful conduct of its operation largely depends. These purposes may be carried out through the
granting of Awards to selected Participants.
3. |
Administration of the Plan
|
(a)
The Plan shall be administered by the Board or, upon its delegation, by the Committee (or a subcommittee thereof). To the extent required under Rule 16b-3 adopted under
the Exchange Act, the Committee shall be comprised solely of two or more “non-employee directors,” as such term is defined in Rule 16b-3, or as may otherwise be permitted under Rule 16b-3. In addition, Committee members shall qualify as
“independent directors” under applicable stock exchange rules if and to the extent required.
(b)
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have full and final authority in its discretion to take any action with respect to the Plan including,
without limitation, the authority to (i) determine all matters relating to Awards, including selection of individuals to be granted Awards, the types of Awards, the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, subject to an Award, and all terms,
conditions, restrictions and limitations of an Award; (ii) prescribe the form or forms of Award Agreements evidencing any Awards granted under the Plan; (iii) establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan;
(iv) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement; and (v) construe and interpret the Plan, Awards and Award Agreements made under the Plan, interpret rules and regulations
for administering the Plan and make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. In addition, (i) the Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the date that any Award which was not otherwise
exercisable, vested or earned shall become exercisable, vested or earned in whole or in part without any obligation to accelerate such date with respect to any other Award granted to any recipient; and (ii) the Administrator may in its sole
discretion modify or extend the terms and conditions for exercise, vesting or earning of an Award (in each case, taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations). The Administrator’s authority to grant Awards and authorize payments under
the Plan shall not in any way restrict the authority of the Company to grant compensation to Employees, Directors or Independent Contractors under any other compensation plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any Affiliate. The
Administrator may determine that a Participant’s rights, payments and/or benefits with respect to an Award (including but not limited to any shares issued or issuable and/or cash paid or payable with respect to an Award) shall be subject to
reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to,
termination of employment for Cause, violation of policies of the Company or an Affiliate, breach of non-solicitation, noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, other conduct by the
Participant that is determined by the Administrator to be detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company or any Affiliate, and/or other circumstances where such reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment is required by Applicable
Law. In addition, the Administrator shall have the authority and discretion to establish terms and conditions of Awards (including but not limited to the establishment of subplans) as the Administrator determines to be necessary or appropriate to
conform to the applicable requirements or practices of jurisdictions outside of the United States. In addition to action by meeting in accordance with Applicable Law, any action of the Administrator with respect to the Plan may be taken by a
written instrument signed by all of the members of the Board or Committee, as appropriate, and any such action so taken by written consent shall be as fully effective as if it had been taken by a majority of the members at a meeting duly held and
called. All determinations of the Administrator with respect to the Plan and any Award or Award Agreement will be final and binding on the Company and all persons having or claiming an interest in any Award granted under the Plan. No member of
the Board or Committee, as applicable, shall be liable while acting as Administrator for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, an Award or an Award Agreement. The members of the Board or Committee, as
applicable, shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement in the manner and to the fullest extent provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or pursuant to Applicable Law.
(c)
The Administrator may adjust or modify Performance Measures or other performance factors or criteria or terms or conditions of Awards due to extraordinary items,
transactions, events or developments, or in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or infrequent events affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in
Applicable Law, accounting principles or business conditions, in each case as determined by the Administrator. By way of example but not limitation, the Administrator may provide with respect to any Award that any evaluation of performance shall
exclude or otherwise objectively adjust for any specified circumstance or event that occurs during a performance period, including circumstances or events such as the following: (i) asset write-downs or impairment charges; (ii) significant
litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting standards or principles or other laws or regulatory rules; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items
as described in then-current accounting principles; (vi) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to
stockholders; (vii) acquisitions or divestitures; (viii) a change in the Company’s fiscal year; (ix) foreign exchange gains and losses; or (x) any other unusual or infrequent events.
(d)
Notwithstanding the other provisions of Section 3, the Board may expressly delegate to one or more officers of the Company or a special committee consisting of one or
more directors who are also officers of the Company the authority, within specified limits, to grant Awards to eligible Participants, and to make any or all of the determinations reserved for the Administrator in the Plan and summarized in
Section 3(b) with respect to such Awards (subject to any restrictions imposed by Applicable Law and such terms and conditions as may be established by the Administrator); provided, however, that the granting of Awards may not be delegated under
this Section (3)(d) if the Participant to whom the Award is granted is deemed to be an officer or director of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the grant would not satisfy the requirements of that section. To
the extent that the Administrator has delegated authority to grant Awards pursuant to this Section 3(d) to an officer(s) and/or a special committee, references to the “Administrator” shall include references to such officer(s) and/or special
committee, subject, however, to the requirements of the Plan, Rule 16b-3 and other Applicable Law.
(e)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(b) herein, Awards granted under the Plan (other than cash-based awards) shall be subject to a minimum vesting (or earning)
(collectively, “vesting”) period of one year; provided, however, that (i) the Administrator may provide for acceleration of vesting and/or exercisability of all or a portion of an Award in its discretion, including but not limited to in
cases of a Participant's death, Disability or Retirement, or (to the extent provided pursuant to Section 14 herein) upon the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company; (ii) the Administrator may provide for the grant of Awards to
Participants without a minimum vesting period or with a shorter minimum vesting period, but only with respect to Awards for no more than an aggregate of five percent (5%) of the total number of Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan
pursuant to Section 5(a) herein, upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine; (iii) the Administrator also may provide for the grant of Awards to Participants that have different vesting terms in the case of Awards that
are substituted for other equity awards in connection with mergers, consolidations or other similar transactions, Awards that are granted as an inducement to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate or to replace forfeited awards from a former
employer, or Awards that are granted in exchange for forgone cash compensation; and (iv) with respect to Awards granted to non-employee Directors, the minimum vesting period shall be the period commencing with the date on which such non-employee
Director is elected to appointed to the Board and ending on the earlier to occur of (X) the one-year anniversary of the grant date of such Award or (Y) the date of the next annual meeting following such non-employee Director’s election or
appointment to the Board, so long as the period between the date of the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders related to the grant date and the date of the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders is not less than 50 weeks.
The Effective Date of the Plan is July 31, 2023 (the “Effective Date”). Awards may be granted on or after the Effective Date, but no Awards may be granted after July 30,
2033.
Awards that are outstanding at the end of the Plan term (or such earlier termination date as may be established by the Board pursuant to Section 16(a)) shall continue in accordance
with their terms, unless otherwise provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement.
5. |
Shares of Stock Subject to the Plan; Award Limitations
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(a)
Shares of Stock Subject to the Plan: Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 5(d), the maximum aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall not exceed 5,608,6901 shares. Shares delivered under the Plan shall be
authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased on the open market or by private purchase. The Company hereby reserves sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock to meet the grant of Awards hereunder. If the Plan is
approved, no further awards shall be granted under the Prior Plan on or after the Effective Date, although Prior Plan awards that are outstanding as of such date shall continue in accordance with their terms.
(b)
Award Limitations: Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the following limitation shall apply to Awards granted
under the Plan, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 5(d): the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the grant of Incentive Options shall not exceed 5,608,690 shares of Common Stock;2 and
(c)
Additional Share Counting Provisions: The following provisions shall apply with respect to the share limitations of Section
5(a):
(i)
To the extent that an Award is canceled, terminates, expires, is forfeited or lapses for any reason, any such unissued or forfeited shares subject to the Award will
again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.
(ii)
Awards settled in cash shall not be counted against the share limitations stated in Section 5(a) herein.
(iii)
Dividends, including dividends paid in shares, or dividend equivalents paid in connection with outstanding Awards, will not be counted towards the share limitations in Section 5(a).
(iv)
Except as provided in Paragraph (vi), to the extent any shares are withheld or used to satisfy any tax withholding requirements in connection with the vesting or earning
of an Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan, such shares will not be counted towards the share limitations in Section 5(a).
(v)
Except as provided in Paragraph (vi), to the extent that the full number of shares subject to an Award is not issued for any reason, including by reason of failure to achieve maximum
performance factors or criteria, only the number of shares issued and delivered shall be considered for purposes of determining the number of shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.
(vi)
The following shares of Common Stock may not again be made available for issuance as Awards under the Plan: (A) shares withheld or delivered to satisfy the tax withholding requirements for
an Option or SAR and shares withheld or delivered to pay the exercise price related to an Option or SAR; (B) shares not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an Option or SAR; and (C) shares repurchased on the open market with
the proceeds of the Option Price of an Option.
(vii)
Further, (A) shares issued under the Plan through the settlement, assumption or substitution of outstanding awards granted by another entity or obligations to grant
future awards as a condition of or in connection with a merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Company acquiring another entity shall not reduce the maximum number of shares available for delivery under the Plan, and (B) available
shares under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and will not reduce the maximum number of shares available under the Plan, subject, in the
case of both (A) and (B) herein, to applicable stock exchange listing requirements.
1 Number reflects 20% of the post-merger capitalization as approved by the stockholders.
2 Number reflects 20% of the post-merger capitalization as approved by the stockholders.
(d)
Adjustments; Right to Issue Additional Securities: If there is any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock because of a
merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization involving the Company, or if the Board declares a stock dividend, stock split distributable in shares of Common Stock or reverse stock split, other distribution (other than an ordinary or
regular cash dividend) or combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or if there is a similar change in the capital stock structure of the Company affecting the Common Stock (excluding conversion of convertible securities by the Company
and/or the exercise of warrants by their holders), then the number and class of securities available under the Plan, the terms of each outstanding Award (including the number and class and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and
the Option Price, Base Price or purchase price per share, if applicable for such Award) shall be appropriately adjusted, and the Administrator shall make such adjustments to Awards or to any provisions of this Plan as the Administrator deems
equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of Awards or as may otherwise be advisable. Nothing in the Plan, an Award or an Award Agreement shall limit the ability of the Company to issue additional securities (including but not limited to the
issuance of other options or other derivative securities, warrants, additional shares or classes of Common Stock, preferred stock and/or other convertible securities).
An Award may be granted only to an individual who satisfies all of the following eligibility requirements on the date the Award is granted:
(a)
The individual is (i) an Employee, (ii) a Director or (iii) an Independent Contractor.
(b)
With respect to the grant of Incentive Options, the individual is otherwise eligible to participate under this Section 6, is an Employee of the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary and does not own, immediately before the time that the Incentive Option is granted, stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary may be granted an Incentive Option if the Option Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, and
the Option Period does not exceed five years. For this purpose, an individual will be deemed to own stock which is attributable to him or her under Code Section 424(d).
(c)
With respect to the grant of substitute awards or assumption of awards in connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition, reorganization or similar transaction involving
the Company or an Affiliate, the recipient is otherwise eligible to receive the Award and the terms of the award are consistent with the Plan and Applicable Law (including, to the extent necessary, the federal securities laws registration
provisions, Code Section 409A and Code Section 424(a)).
(d)
The individual, being otherwise eligible under this Section 6, is selected by the Administrator as an individual to whom an Award shall be granted (as defined above, a “Participant”).
(a)
Grant of Options: Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may in its discretion grant Options to such eligible
individuals in such numbers, subject to such terms and conditions, and at such times as the Administrator shall determine. Both Incentive Options and Nonqualified Options may be granted under the Plan, as determined by the Administrator;
provided, however, that Incentive Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary. To the extent that an Option is designated as an Incentive Option but does not qualify as such under Code Section 422, the Option
(or portion thereof) shall be treated as a Nonqualified Option. An Option may be granted with or without a Related SAR.
(b)
Option Price: The Option Price per share at which an Option may be exercised shall be established by the Administrator and
stated in the Award Agreement evidencing the grant of the Option; provided, that (i) the Option Price of an Option shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock as determined on the date the Option is granted (or
110% of the Fair Market Value with respect to Incentive Options granted to an Employee who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary, as provided in Section 6(b));
and (ii) in no event shall the Option Price per share of any Option be less than the par value, if any, per share of the Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may in its discretion authorize the grant of substitute or
assumed options of an acquired entity with an Option Price not equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of the stock on the date of grant, if the terms of such substitution or assumption otherwise comply, to the extent deemed applicable, with Code
Section 409A and/or Code Section 424(a).
(c)
Date of Grant: An Option shall be considered to be granted on the date that the Administrator acts to grant the Option, or on
such later date as may be established by the Administrator in accordance with Applicable Law.
(d)
Option Period and Limitations on the Right to Exercise Options:
(i)
The Option Period shall be determined by the Administrator at the time the Option is granted and shall be stated in the Award Agreement. The Option Period shall not extend more than 10 years
from the date on which the Option is granted (or five years with respect to Incentive Options granted to an Employee who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary, as provided in Section 6(b)). Any Option or portion thereof not exercised before expiration of the Option Period shall terminate. The period or periods during which, and the terms and conditions pursuant to which, an Option may vest
and become exercisable shall be determined by the Administrator in its discretion, subject to the terms of the Plan.
(ii)
An Option may be exercised by giving written notice to the Company in form acceptable to the Administrator at such place and subject to such conditions as may be established by the
Administrator or its designee. Such notice shall specify the number of shares to be purchased pursuant to an Option and the aggregate purchase price to be paid therefor and shall be accompanied by payment of such purchase price. Unless an Award
Agreement provides otherwise, such payment shall be in the form of cash or cash equivalent; provided that, except where prohibited by the Administrator or Applicable Law (and subject to such terms and conditions as may be established by the
Administrator), payment may also be made:
(A)
By delivery (by either actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for such time period, if any, as may be determined by the
Administrator;
(B)
By shares of Common Stock withheld upon exercise;
(C)
By delivery of written notice of exercise to the Company and delivery to a broker of written notice of exercise and irrevocable instructions to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of
sale or loan proceeds to pay the Option Price;
(D)
By such other payment methods as may be approved by the Administrator and which are acceptable under Applicable Law; or
(E)
By any combination of the foregoing methods.
Shares delivered or withheld in payment on the exercise of an Option shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, as determined by the Administrator or its designee.
(iii)
The Administrator shall determine the extent, if any, to which a Participant may have the right to exercise an Option following termination of the Participant’s employment or service with
the Company. Such rights, if any, shall be subject to the sole discretion of the Administrator, shall be stated in the individual Award Agreement, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to this Section 7, and may reflect
distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment or service. Subject to Plan terms, the Administrator also shall have authority, in its sole discretion (taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations), to accelerate the
date for exercising all or any part of an Option which was not otherwise vested and exercisable, extend the period during which an Option may be exercised, modify the other terms and conditions of exercise, or any combination of the foregoing.
(e)
Notice of Disposition: If shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Option are disposed of within two years
following the date of grant or one year following the transfer of such shares to a Participant upon exercise, the Participant shall, promptly following such disposition, notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of such disposition and
provide such other information regarding the disposition as the Administrator may reasonably require.
(f)
Limitation on Incentive Options: In no event shall there first become exercisable by an Employee in any one calendar year
Incentive Options granted by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary with respect to shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time an Incentive Option is granted) greater than $100,000; provided that, if such limit is
exceeded, then the first $100,000 of shares to become exercisable in such calendar year will be Incentive Options and the Options (or portion thereof) for shares with a value in excess of $100,000 that first became exercisable in that calendar
year will be Nonqualified Options. In the event the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the Effective Date of the Plan to provide for a different limitation on the Fair Market Value of shares permitted to be subject
to Incentive Options, then such different limit shall be automatically incorporated herein.
(g)
Nontransferability of Options: Incentive Options shall not be transferable (including by sale, assignment, pledge or
hypothecation) other than transfers by will or the laws of intestate succession or, in the Administrator’s discretion, such transfers (for no consideration) as may otherwise be permitted in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.421-1(b)(2) or
Treas. Reg. Section 1.421-2(c) or any successor provisions thereto. Nonqualified Options shall not be transferable (including by sale, assignment, pledge or hypothecation) other than by will or the laws of intestate succession, except for
transfers (for no consideration) if and to the extent permitted by the Administrator in a manner consistent with the registration provisions of the Securities Act. Except as may be permitted by the preceding, an Option shall be exercisable during
the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or by his or her guardian or legal representative. The designation of a beneficiary in accordance with the Plan does not constitute a transfer.
8. |
Stock Appreciation Rights
|
(a)
Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights: Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may in its discretion grant SARs
to such eligible individuals, in such numbers, upon such terms and at such times as the Administrator shall determine. SARs may be granted to the holder of an Option with respect to all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to the
Related Option or may be granted separately to an eligible individual. The Base Price per share of an SAR shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date the SAR is granted. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Administrator may in its discretion authorize the grant of substitute or assumed SARs of an acquired entity with a Base Price per share not equal to at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of the stock on the date of grant, if the
terms of such substitution or assumption otherwise comply, to the extent deemed applicable, with Code Section 409A and/or Code Section 424(a). An SAR shall be considered to be granted on the date that the Administrator acts to grant the SAR, or
on such later date as may be established by the Administrator in accordance with Applicable Law.
(b)
Related SARs: A Related SAR may be granted either concurrently with the grant of the Related Option or (if the Related Option
is a Nonqualified Option) at any time thereafter prior to the complete exercise, termination, expiration or cancellation of such Related Option. The Base Price of a Related SAR shall be equal to the Option Price of the Related Option. Related
SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent that the Related Option is exercisable (and may be subject to such additional limitations on exercisability as the Administrator may provide in an Award Agreement), and in no event
after the complete termination or full exercise of the Related Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Related SAR that is related to an Incentive Option may be exercised only to the extent that the Related Option is exercisable and only when
the Fair Market Value exceeds the Option Price of the Related Option. Upon the exercise of a Related SAR granted in connection with a Related Option, the Option shall be canceled to the extent of the number of shares as to which the SAR is
exercised, and upon the exercise of a Related Option, the Related SAR shall be canceled to the extent of the number of shares as to which the Related Option is exercised or surrendered.
(c)
Freestanding SARs: An SAR may be granted without relationship to an Option (as defined above, a “Freestanding SAR”)
and, in such case, will be exercisable upon such terms and subject to such conditions as may be determined by the Administrator, subject to the terms of the Plan.
(d)
Exercise of SARs:
(i)
Subject to the terms of the Plan, SARs shall be vested and exercisable in whole or in part upon such terms and conditions as may be established by the Administrator. The period during which
an SAR may be exercisable shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant or, in the case of Related SARs, such shorter Option Period as may apply to the Related Option (the “SAR Period”). Any SAR or portion thereof not exercised before
expiration of the period established by the Administrator shall terminate.
(ii)
SARs may be exercised by giving written notice to the Company in form acceptable to the Administrator at such place and subject to such terms and conditions as may be established by the
Administrator or its designee. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the date of exercise of an SAR shall mean the date on which the Company shall have received proper notice from the Participant of the exercise of such SAR.
(iii)
The Administrator shall determine the extent, if any, to which a Participant may have the right to exercise an SAR following termination of the Participant’s employment or service with the
Company. Such rights, if any, shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, shall be stated in the individual Award Agreement, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to this Section 8, and may reflect distinctions
based on the reasons for termination of employment or service. Subject to Plan terms, the Administrator also may, in its sole discretion (taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations), accelerate the date for exercising all or any
part of an SAR which was not otherwise exercisable on the Termination Date, extend the period during which an SAR may be exercised, modify the terms and conditions to exercise, or any combination of the foregoing.
(e)
Payment Upon Exercise: Subject to the limitations of the Plan, upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to
receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying (i) the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the Base Price of the SAR by (ii) the number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the SAR is being exercised. The consideration payable upon exercise of an SAR shall be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock (valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR) or a combination of
cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Administrator or provided in the Award Agreement.
(f)
Nontransferability: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, SARs shall not be transferable (including by sale,
assignment, pledge or hypothecation) other than by will or the laws of intestate succession, except for transfers (for no consideration) if and to the extent permitted by the Administrator in a manner consistent with the registration provisions
of the Securities Act. Except as may be permitted by the preceding sentence, SARs may be exercised during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or by his or her guardian or legal representative. The designation of a beneficiary in
accordance with the Plan does not constitute a transfer.
(a)
Grant of Restricted Awards: Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may in its discretion grant Restricted
Awards to such individuals, for such numbers of shares of Common Stock, upon such terms and at such times as the Administrator shall determine. Such Restricted Awards may be in the form of Restricted Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Units. The
Award Agreement shall specify (i) in the case of Restricted Stock Awards, the Award’s vesting conditions, the payment, if any, required from the Participant as a condition to the grant of the Award and any restrictions on the Participant’s right
to make an election under Code Section 83(b), and (ii) in the case of Restricted Stock Units, the date on which, or the event on the occurrence of which, the Common Stock subject to the Award will be transferred to the Participant and any vesting
conditions applicable to the Award. Restricted Stock Awards shall be payable in shares of Common Stock. Restricted Stock Units shall be payable in cash or shares of Common Stock, or partly in cash and partly in shares of Common Stock, as
determined by the Administrator.
(b)
Vesting of Restricted Awards: The vesting conditions for a Restricted Award shall be determined by the Administrator and may
include, but are not limited to, attainment of performance objectives, continued service or employment for a specified period of time, a combination of attainment of performance objectives and continued service or other conditions (such as the
period within which such conditions must be met, the “Restricted Period”). In the case of Restricted Awards based upon performance factors or criteria, or a combination of performance factors or criteria and continued service, the
Administrator shall determine the Performance Measures applicable to such Restricted Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan (and taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations), the Administrator shall have sole authority to determine
whether and to what degree Restricted Awards have vested and been earned and are payable and to establish and interpret the terms and conditions of Restricted Awards. Subject to Plan terms, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may (subject
to any Code Section 409A considerations) accelerate the date that any Restricted Award granted to a Participant shall be deemed to be vested or earned in whole or in part, without any obligation to accelerate such date with respect to other
Restricted Awards granted to any Participant.
(c)
Termination of Employment or Service; Forfeiture: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, if the employment or service of a
Participant shall be terminated for any reason (whether by the Company or the Participant and whether voluntary or involuntary) and all or any part of a Restricted Award has not vested or been earned pursuant to the terms of the Plan and related
Award Agreement, such Award, to the extent not then vested or earned, shall be forfeited immediately upon such termination and the Participant shall have no further rights with respect thereto.
(d)
Share Certificates; Escrow: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, a certificate or certificates representing the
shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award shall be issued in the name of the Participant (or, in the case of uncertificated shares, other written evidence of ownership in accordance with Applicable Law shall be provided) after
the Award is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may require that the Participant (i) deliver the certificate(s) (or other instruments) for such shares to the Administrator or its designee to be held in escrow until the
Restricted Stock Award vests and is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (in which case the shares will be promptly released to the Participant) or is forfeited (in which case the shares shall be returned to the Company); and/or
(ii) deliver to the Company a stock power, endorsed in blank (or similar instrument), relating to the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award which are subject to forfeiture. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, a certificate or
certificate representing shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit shall be issued in the name of the Participant (or, in the case of uncertificated shares, other written evidence of ownership in accordance with
Applicable Law shall be provided) promptly after the Award (or portion thereof) has vested and is distributable.
(e)
Nontransferability: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Restricted Awards that have not vested shall not be
transferable (including by sale, assignment, pledge or hypothecation) other than transfers (for no consideration) by will or the laws of intestate succession, and the recipient of a Restricted Award shall not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or
otherwise encumber shares subject to the Award until the Restriction Period has expired and until all conditions to vesting have been met. The designation of a beneficiary in accordance with the Plan does not constitute a transfer.
(a)
Grant of Performance Awards: Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator may in its discretion grant Performance
Awards to such eligible individuals upon such terms and conditions and at such times as the Administrator shall determine. Performance Awards may be in the form of Performance Shares or Performance Units. An Award of Performance Share is a grant
of a right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Administrator, the cash value thereof, or a combination thereof (in the Administrator’s discretion or as specified in the Award Agreement), which is contingent upon the
achievement of performance or other objectives during a specified period. An Award of a Performance Unit is a grant of a right to receive a designated dollar value as determined by the Administrator in the form of Common Stock, cash or a
combination thereof, which is contingent upon the achievement of performance or other objectives during a specified period. The Administrator shall have discretion to determine the number of Performance Units and/or Performance Shares granted to
any Participant. Subject to Plan terms, the Administrator shall determine the nature, length and starting date of the period during which a Performance Award may be earned (the “Performance Period”), and shall determine the conditions
which must be met in order for a Performance Award to be granted or to vest or be earned (in whole or in part), which conditions may include but are not limited to attainment of performance objectives, continued service or employment for a
certain period of time, or any other conditions. The Administrator shall determine the Performance Measures applicable to Performance Awards.
(b)
Earning of Performance Awards: Subject to the terms of the Plan (and taking into account any Code Section 409A
considerations), the Administrator shall have sole authority to determine whether and to what degree Performance Awards have been earned and are payable and to interpret the terms and conditions of Performance Awards and the provisions of this
Section 10. Subject to Plan terms, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may (subject to any Code Section 409A considerations) accelerate the date that any Performance Award granted to a Participant shall be deemed to be earned in whole or
in part, without any obligation to accelerate such date with respect to other Awards granted to any Participant.
(c)
Form of Payment: Payment of the amount to which a Participant shall be entitled upon earning a Performance Award shall be made in cash,
shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. Payment may be made in a lump sum or upon such terms as may be established by the Administrator (taking into
account any Code Section 409A considerations).
(d)
Termination of Employment or Service; Forfeiture: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise (taking into account any Code
Section 409A considerations), if the employment or service of a Participant shall terminate for any reason (whether by the Company or the Participant and whether voluntary or involuntary) and the Participant has not earned and vested in all or
part of a Performance Award pursuant to the terms of the Plan and related Award Agreement, such Award, to the extent not then earned and vested, shall be forfeited immediately upon such termination and the Participant shall have no further rights
with respect thereto.
(e)
Nontransferability: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Performance Awards which have not been earned shall not be
transferable (including by sale, assignment, pledge or hypothecation) other than transfers (for no consideration) by will or the laws of intestate succession, and the recipient of a Performance Award shall not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or
otherwise encumber any shares or any other benefit subject to the Award until the Performance Period has expired and the conditions to earning the Award have been met. The designation of a beneficiary in accordance with the Plan does not constitute
a transfer.
(a)
Grant of Phantom Stock Awards: Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator may in its discretion grant Phantom Stock Awards to
such eligible individuals, in such numbers, upon such terms and at such times as the Administrator shall determine. A Phantom Stock Award is an Award to a Participant of a number of hypothetical share units with a value equal to the Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock.
(b)
Vesting of Phantom Stock Awards: The vesting conditions for a Phantom Stock Award shall be
determined by the Administrator and may include, but are not limited to, attainment of performance objectives, continued service or employment for a specified period of time, a combination of attainment of performance objectives and continued
service or other conditions. In the case of Phantom Stock Awards based upon performance factors or criteria, or a combination of performance factors or criteria and continued service, the Administrator shall determine the Performance Measures
applicable to such Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan (and taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations), the Administrator shall have sole authority to determine whether and to what degree Phantom Stock Awards have vested and are
payable and to interpret the terms and conditions of Phantom Stock Awards. Subject to Plan terms, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may (subject to any Code Section 409A considerations) accelerate the date that any Phantom Stock Award
granted to a Participant shall be deemed to be earned in whole or in part, without any obligation to accelerate such date with respect to other Awards granted to any Participant.
(c)
Termination of Employment or Service; Forfeiture: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise (taking into account any Code
Section 409A considerations), if the employment or service of a Participant shall be terminated for any reason (whether by the Company or the Participant and whether voluntary or involuntary) and all or any part of a Phantom Stock Award has not
vested and become payable pursuant to the terms of the Plan and related Award Agreement, such Award, to the extent not then vested or earned, shall be forfeited immediately upon such termination and the Participant shall have no further rights
with respect thereto.
(d)
Payment of Phantom Stock Awards: Upon vesting of all or a part of a Phantom Stock Award and satisfaction of such other terms and
conditions as may be established by the Administrator, the Participant shall be entitled to a payment of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock with respect to each such Phantom Stock unit which has vested and is
payable. Payment may be made, as determined in the discretion of the Administrator, in cash or in shares of Common Stock valued at their Fair Market Value on the applicable vesting date or dates (or other date or dates determined by the
Administrator), or in a combination thereof. Payment may be made in a lump sum or upon such terms as may be established by the Administrator (taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations).
(e)
Nontransferability: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, (i) Phantom Stock Awards shall not be transferable (including by
sale, assignment, pledge or hypothecation) other than transfers (for no consideration) by will or the laws of intestate succession and (ii) shares of Common Stock (if any) subject to a Phantom Stock Award may not be sold, transferred, assigned,
pledged or otherwise encumbered until the Phantom Stock Award has vested and all other conditions established by the Administrator have been met. The designation of a beneficiary in accordance with the Plan does not constitute a transfer.
12. |
Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards
|
The Administrator shall have the authority to grant Other Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards to one or more eligible individuals. Other Stock-Based Awards may be valued
in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, shares of Common Stock or Awards for shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to Other Stock-Based Awards granted in lieu of bonus, salary or other compensation,
Other Stock-Based Awards granted with vesting or performance conditions, or Other Stock-Based Awards granted without vesting or performance conditions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the number of shares of
Common Stock, if any, to be awarded to a Participant under (or otherwise related to) such Other Stock-Based Awards; whether such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common
Stock; and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. Other Cash-Based Awards shall be valued and settled in cash, may be granted in lieu of bonus, salary or other compensation, may be granted with vesting or performance conditions and/or may
be granted without being subject to vesting or performance conditions. Other Cash-Based Awards shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as may be established by the Administrator. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, (i) Other
Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards shall not be transferable (including by sale, assignment, pledge or hypothecation) other than transfers (for no consideration) by will or the laws of intestate succession, and (ii) shares of Common
Stock (if any) subject to an Other Stock-Based Award may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered until the Other Stock-Based Award has vested and all other conditions established by the Administrator have been met. The
designation of a beneficiary in accordance with the Plan does not constitute a transfer.
13. |
Dividends and Dividend Equivalents
|
The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide that Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights will be credited with dividends or dividend equivalent rights;
provided, however, that dividends and dividend equivalent rights (whether paid in cash or shares of Common Stock) on unearned or unvested Awards shall not be paid (even if accrued) unless and until the underlying Award (or portion thereof) has
vested and been earned. Any crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents may be subject to such additional restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may establish, including reinvestment in additional shares of Common Stock or share
equivalents. Notwithstanding the other provisions herein, any dividends or dividend equivalents related to an Award shall be structured in a manner intended to be exempt from, or to comply with, Code Section 409A.
(a)
General: Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the contrary, and except as otherwise provided in Section 14(b), the
following provisions shall apply in the event of a Change of Control (except to the extent, if any, otherwise required under Code Section 409A or provided in an Award Agreement):
(i)
To the extent that the successor or surviving company in the Change of Control event does not assume or substitute for an Award (or in which the Company is the ultimate parent corporation and
does not continue the Award) on substantially similar terms or with substantially equivalent economic benefits (as determined by the Administrator) as Awards outstanding under the Plan immediately prior to the Change of Control event, (A) all
outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become fully vested and exercisable, whether or not then otherwise vested and exercisable; and (B) any restrictions, including but not limited to the Restricted Period, Performance Period
and/or performance or other factors or criteria applicable to any outstanding Award (other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) shall be deemed to have been met, and such Awards shall be deemed vested and earned in full at the greater of
actual or target.
(ii)
Further, if an Award is substituted, assumed or continued as provided in Section 14(a)(i) herein, the Award will nonetheless become vested (and, in the case of Options and SARs, exercisable)
and any restrictions, including but not limited to the Restricted Period, Performance Period and/or performance factors or criteria applicable to any outstanding Award other than Options or SARs shall be deemed to have been met, and such Awards
shall be deemed vested and earned in full at the greater of actual or target, if the employment or service of the Participant is terminated within six months before (in which case vesting shall not occur until the effective date of the Change of
Control) or 12 months (or such other period after a Change of Control as may be stated in a Participant’s change in control agreement, employment agreement or similar agreement, if applicable) after the effective date of a Change of Control if
such termination of employment or service (A) is by the Company not for Cause or (B) is by the Participant for Good Reason. For clarification, for the purposes of this Section 14, the “Company” shall include any successor to the Company.
(b)
Effect of Employment Agreement, Change in Control Agreement or other Similar Arrangement: Notwithstanding any other provision
of the Plan to the contrary, and unless an individual Award Agreement expressly provides otherwise, in the event that a Participant has entered into, or is a participant in, a change in control agreement or plan, employment agreement or similar
agreement, plan or arrangement with the Company, the Participant shall be entitled to the greater of the benefits provided upon a change of control of the Company under this Plan or the respective change in control agreement, employment agreement
or similar agreement, plan or arrangement, and such change in control agreement, employment agreement or similar agreement, plan or arrangement shall not be construed to reduce in any way the benefits otherwise provided to a Participant upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control as defined in the Plan.
The Company shall withhold all required local, state, federal, foreign and other taxes and any other amount required to be withheld by any governmental authority or law from any
amount payable in cash with respect to an Award. Prior to the delivery or transfer of any certificate for shares or any other benefit conferred under the Plan, the Company shall require any Participant or other person to pay to the Company in cash
the amount of any tax or other amount required by any governmental authority to be withheld and paid over by the Company to such authority for the account of such recipient. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may in its discretion
establish procedures to permit a recipient to satisfy such obligation in whole or in part, and any local, state, federal, foreign or other income tax obligations relating to such an Award, by electing to deliver to the Company shares of Common
Stock held by the Participant (which are fully vested and not subject to any pledge or other security interest) or to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares to which the recipient is otherwise entitled. The number of
shares to be withheld or delivered shall have a Fair Market Value as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined as nearly equal as possible to, but not exceeding (unless otherwise permitted by the Administrator in a manner in
accordance with Applicable Law and applicable accounting principles), the amount of such obligations being satisfied. Each election must be made in writing to the Administrator in accordance with election procedures established by the
Administrator.
16. |
Amendment and Termination of the Plan and Awards
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(a)
Amendment and Termination of Plan; Prohibition on Repricing: The Plan may be amended, altered, suspended and/or terminated at any time
by the Board; provided, that (i) approval of an amendment to the Plan by the stockholders of the Company shall be required to the extent, if any, that stockholder approval of such amendment is required by Applicable Law; and (ii) except for
adjustments made pursuant to Section 5(d) or in connection with a Change of Control, the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the Option Price or Base Price of such
outstanding Options or SARs; (ii) exchange outstanding Options or SARs for cash, for Options or SARs with an Option Price or Base Price that is less than the Option Price or Base Price of the original Option or SAR, or for other equity awards at a
time when the original Option or SAR has an Option Price or Base Price, as the case may be, above the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock; or (iii) take other action with respect to Options or SARs that would be treated as a repricing under the
rules of the principal stock exchange on which shares of the Common Stock are listed.
(b)
Amendment and Termination of Awards: The Administrator may amend, alter, suspend and/or terminate any Award granted under the Plan,
prospectively or retroactively, but (except as otherwise provided in Section 3(b) or Section 16(c)) such amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of an Award shall not, without the written consent of the recipient of an outstanding Award,
materially adversely affect the rights of the recipient with respect to the Award.
(c)
Amendments to Comply with Applicable Law: Notwithstanding Section 16(a) and Section 16(b), the following provisions shall apply:
(i)
The Administrator shall have unilateral authority to amend the Plan and any Award (without Participant consent) to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law or
changes to Applicable Law (including but in no way limited to Code Section 409A, Code Section 422 and federal securities laws).
(ii)
The Administrator shall have unilateral authority to make adjustments to the terms and conditions of Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any
Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in Applicable Law, or accounting principles, if the Administrator determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement
of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable accounting principles or Applicable Law.
17. |
Restrictions on Awards and Shares; Compliance with Applicable Law
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(a)
General: As a condition to the issuance and delivery of Common Stock hereunder, or the grant of any benefit pursuant to the Plan, the
Company may require a Participant or other person at any time and from time to time to become a party to an Award Agreement, other agreement(s) restricting the transfer, purchase, repurchase and/or voting of shares of Common Stock of the Company,
and any employment agreements, consulting agreements, non-competition agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-solicitation agreements, non-disparagement agreements or other agreements imposing such restrictions as may be required by the
Company. In addition, without in any way limiting the effect of the foregoing, each Participant or other holder of shares issued under the Plan shall be permitted to transfer such shares only if such transfer is in accordance with the Plan, the
Award Agreement, any other applicable agreements and Applicable Law. The Administrator reserves the right to impose other requirements on an Award and the shares acquired upon vesting of the Award, to the extent the Administrator determines it is
necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require a Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing. The acquisition of shares of Common Stock under the Plan
by a Participant or any other holder of shares shall be subject to, and conditioned upon, the agreement of the Participant or other holder of such shares to the restrictions described in the Plan, the Award Agreement and any other applicable
agreements and Applicable Law.
(b)
Compliance with Applicable Laws, Rules and Regulations: The Company may impose such restrictions on Awards, shares of Common Stock and
any other benefits underlying Awards hereunder as it may deem advisable, including without limitation restrictions under the federal securities laws, the requirements of any stock exchange or similar organization and any blue sky, state or
foreign securities or other laws applicable to such securities. Notwithstanding any other Plan provision to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to issue, deliver or transfer shares of Common Stock under the Plan, make any other
distribution of benefits under the Plan, or take any other action, unless such delivery, distribution or action is in compliance with Applicable Law (including but not limited to the requirements of the Securities Act). The Company will be under
no obligation to register shares of Common Stock or other securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission or to effect compliance with the exemption, registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state securities laws, stock
exchange or similar organization, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so. The Company may cause a restrictive legend or legends to be placed on any certificate issued pursuant to an Award hereunder in such
form as may be prescribed from time to time by Applicable Law or as may be advised by legal counsel.
18. |
No Right or Obligation of Continued Employment or Service or to Awards; Compliance with the Plan
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Neither the Plan, an Award, an Award Agreement nor any other action related to the Plan shall confer upon a Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company
or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director or Independent Contractor, or to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan,
an Award Agreement or as may be determined by the Administrator, all rights of a Participant with respect to an Award shall terminate upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service. In addition, no person shall have any right to be
granted an Award, and the Company shall have no obligation to treat Participants or Awards uniformly. By participating in the Plan, each Participant shall be deemed to have accepted all of the conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of
any rules and regulations adopted by the Administrator and shall be fully bound thereby. Any Award granted hereunder is not intended to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature, or part of a Participant’s normal or expected compensation,
and in no way represents any portion of a Participant’s salary, compensation or other remuneration for purposes of pension benefits, severance, redundancy, resignation or any other purpose.
(a)
Stockholder Rights: Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator (and subject to the provisions of Section 9(d) regarding
Restricted Awards and Section 13 regarding dividends and dividend equivalents), a Participant and his or her legal representative, legatees or distributees shall not be deemed to be the holder of any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award and
shall not have any rights of a stockholder unless and until certificates for such shares have been issued and delivered to him, her or them under the Plan. A certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an
Option or SAR shall be issued in the name of the Participant or his or her beneficiary and distributed to the Participant or his or her beneficiary (or, in the case of uncertificated shares, other written notice of ownership in accordance with
Applicable Law shall be provided) as soon as practicable following receipt of notice of exercise and, with respect to Options, payment of the Option Price (except as may otherwise be determined by the Company in the event of payment of the Option
Price pursuant to Section 7(d)(ii)(C)). Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(d) regarding Restricted Stock Awards or otherwise determined by the Administrator, a certificate for any shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to a Restricted
Award, Performance Award, Phantom Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall be issued in the name of the Participant or his or her beneficiary and distributed to the Participant or his or her beneficiary (or, in the case of uncertificated
shares, other written notice of ownership in accordance with Applicable Law shall be provided) after the Award (or portion thereof) has vested and been earned.
(b)
Section 16(b) Compliance: To the extent that any Participants in the Plan are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, it is the
general intention of the Company that transactions under the Plan shall comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and that the Plan shall be construed in favor of such Plan transactions meeting the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or any successor
rules thereto. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan to Participants who are
officers or directors subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Participants.
(c)
Unfunded Plan; No Effect on Other Plans:
(i)
The Plan shall be unfunded, and the Company shall not be required to create a trust or segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by Awards under the Plan.
The Plan shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or other person. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property
of the Company or any Affiliate, including, without limitation, any specific funds, assets or other property which the Company or any Affiliate, in their discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the Plan. A Participant shall
have only a contractual right to shares of Common Stock or other amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of such
entities shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.
(ii)
The amount of any compensation deemed to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall not constitute compensation with respect to which any other employee benefits of such
Participant are determined, including, without limitation, benefits under any bonus, pension, profit sharing, life insurance or salary continuation plan, except as otherwise specifically provided by the terms of such plan or as may be determined
by the Administrator.
(iii)
Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other stock incentive or other compensation plans in effect for the Company or any Affiliate, nor
shall the Plan preclude the Company from establishing any other forms of stock incentive or other compensation for employees or service providers of the Company or any Affiliate.
(d)
Governing Law: The Plan and Awards shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to the conflict of laws provisions of any state, and in accordance with applicable federal laws of the United States.
(e)
Beneficiary Designation: The Administrator may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to designate in writing a person or persons as
beneficiary, which beneficiary shall be entitled to receive settlement of Awards (if any) to which the Participant is otherwise entitled in the event of death. In the absence of such designation by a Participant, and in the event of the
Participant’s death, the estate of the Participant shall be treated as beneficiary for purposes of the Plan, unless the Administrator determines otherwise. The Administrator shall have discretion to approve and interpret the form or forms of such
beneficiary designation. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except
to the extent that the Plan and/or Award Agreement provide otherwise, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator.
(f)
Gender and Number: Except where otherwise indicated by the context, words in any gender shall include any other gender, words in the
singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular.
(g)
Severability: If any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, such illegality or
invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan or the Award Agreement, and the Plan or Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
(h)
Rules of Construction: Headings are given to the sections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. The reference
to any statute, regulation or other provision of law shall (unless the Administrator determines otherwise) be construed to refer to any amendment to or successor of such provision of law.
(i)
Successors and Assigns: The Plan shall be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and Participants, their executors,
administrators and permitted transferees and beneficiaries.
(j)
Award Agreement: The grant of any Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Company and the
Participant. Such Award Agreement may state terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the Award and any may state such other terms, conditions and restrictions, including but not limited to terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
shares of Common Stock (or other benefits) subject to an Award, as may be established by the Administrator.
(k)
Right of Offset: Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, the Company may at any time (subject to any
Code Section 409A considerations) reduce the amount of any payment or benefit otherwise payable to or on behalf of a Participant by the amount of any obligation of the Participant to or on behalf of the Company or an Affiliate that is or becomes
due and payable.
(l)
Uncertificated Shares: Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, to the extent the Plan provides for the issuance of stock
certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Common Stock, the issuance may, in the Company’s discretion, be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or by
Applicable Law (including but not limited to applicable state corporate law and the applicable rules of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be traded).
(m)
Income and Other Taxes: Participants are solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise
in connection with Awards (including but not limited to any taxes arising under Code Section 409A), and the Company shall not have any liability for, or any obligation to indemnify, gross up or otherwise hold any Participant harmless from, any or
all of such taxes. The Company shall have no responsibility to take or refrain from taking any actions in order to achieve a certain tax result for a Participant or any other person.
(n)
Effect of Certain Changes in Status: Notwithstanding the other terms of the Plan or an Award Agreement, the Administrator has sole
discretion to determine (taking into account any Code Section 409A considerations), at the time of grant of an Award or at any time thereafter, the effect, if any, on Awards (including but not limited to modifying the vesting, exercisability
and/or earning of Awards) granted to a Participant if the Participant’s status as an Employee, Director or Independent Contractor changes, including but not limited to a change from full-time to part-time, or vice versa, or if other similar
changes in the nature or scope of the Participant’s employment or service occur.
(o)
Stockholder Approval: The Plan is subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company, which approval must occur, if at all, within
twelve (12) months of the Effective Date. Awards granted prior to such stockholder approval shall be conditioned upon and shall be effective only upon approval of the Plan by such stockholders on or before such date if and to the extent required
under Applicable Law or so determined by the Administrator. Subsequent stockholder approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Law.
(p)
Deferrals: Subject to the provisions of this Section 19(p) and Section 20, the Administrator may permit or require a Participant to
defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be payable with respect to an Award. Any such deferral shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be established by
the Administrator and to any applicable Code Section 409A requirements.
(q)
Fractional Shares: Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or determined by the Administrator, (i) the total number of
shares issuable pursuant to the exercise, vesting or earning of an Award shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share, and (ii) no fractional shares shall be issued. The Administrator may, in its discretion, determine that a fractional share
shall be settled in cash and/or Common Stock.
(r)
Compliance with Recoupment, Ownership and Other Policies or Agreements: Notwithstanding anything
in the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator may, at any time, consistent with, but without limiting, the authority granted in Section 3(b) herein, in its discretion provide that an Award, shares of Common Stock, cash or other benefits related to
an Award shall be forfeited and/or recouped if the Participant, during employment or service or following termination of employment or service for any reason, engages in certain specified conduct, including but not limited to violation of policies
of the Company or an Affiliate, breach of non-solicitation, noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants, or other conduct by the Participant that is determined by the Administrator to be detrimental to the business or reputation
of the Company or any Affiliate. In addition, without limiting the effect of the foregoing, as a condition to the grant of an Award or receipt or retention of shares of Common Stock, cash or any other benefit under the Plan, the Administrator may,
at any time, require that a Participant agree to abide by any equity retention policy, stock ownership guidelines, compensation recovery policy and/or other policies adopted by the Company or an Affiliate, each as in effect from time to time and to
the extent applicable to the Participant. Further, each Participant shall be subject to such compensation recovery, recoupment, forfeiture or other similar provisions as may apply under Applicable Law.
(s)
Attestation: Wherever in the Plan or any Award Agreement a Participant is permitted to pay the Option Price of an Option or taxes
relating to the exercise, vesting or earning of an Award by delivering shares of Common Stock, the Participant may, unless the Committee determines otherwise and subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement
by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Award as exercised, vested or earned without further payment and/or shall withhold such number of shares from the shares acquired by the exercise,
vesting or earning of the Award, as appropriate.
(t)
Plan Controls: Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, (i) in the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in
the Plan and an express term contained in any Award Agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail, and (ii) the terms of an Award Agreement shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with the Plan
merely because they impose greater or additional restrictions, obligations or duties, or if the Award Agreement provides that such Award Agreement terms apply notwithstanding the provisions to the contrary in the Plan.
(u)
Electronic Delivery and Participation: The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver to and obtain a Participant’s
acceptance of any documents related to an Award that may be granted under the Plan by electronic means or request such Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.
20. |
Compliance with Code Section 409A
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Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if and to the extent that Code Section 409A is deemed to apply to the Plan or any Award, it is
the general intention of the Company that the Plan and all such Awards shall, to the extent practicable, comply with, or be exempt from, Code Section 409A, and the Plan and any such Award Agreement shall, to the extent practicable, be construed in
accordance therewith. Deferrals of shares or any other benefit issuable pursuant to an Award otherwise exempt from Code Section 409A in a manner that would cause Code Section 409A to apply shall not be permitted unless such deferrals are in
compliance with, or exempt from, Code Section 409A. In the event that the Company (or a successor thereto) has any stock which is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, distributions that are subject to Code Section 409A
to any Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined under Code Section 409A) upon a separation from service may only be made following the expiration of the six-month period after the date of separation from service (with such
distributions to be made during the seventh month following separation of service), or, if earlier than the end of the six-month period, the date of death of the specified employee, or as otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A. For purposes of
Code Section 409A, each installment payment provided under the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Without in any way limiting the effect of any of the foregoing, (i) in the event that Code Section 409A requires that
any special terms, provisions or conditions be included in the Plan or any Award Agreement, then such terms, provisions and conditions shall, to the extent practicable, be deemed to be made a part of the Plan or Award Agreement, as applicable, and
(ii) terms used in the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be construed in accordance with Code Section 409A if and to the extent required. Further, in the event that the Plan or any Award shall be deemed not to comply with Code Section 409A, the
Company, the Administrator and its or their designees or agents shall not be liable to any Participant or other person for actions, decisions or determinations made in good faith.