As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 82-4271369 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
8725 Pendery Place, Suite 201, Bradenton, FL | 34201 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
(formerly known as the AI Fresh Super Holdco, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan)
(Full Title of Plans)
Jay Wolszczak, Esq.
General Counsel and Secretary
8725 Pendery Place, Suite 201
Bradenton, FL 34201
(941) 907-9800
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
Copies to:
Alexander D. Lynch
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
(212) 310-8000 (Phone)
(212) 310-8007 (Fax)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| ||||||||
Title of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(4) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(4) |
Amount of Registration Fee | ||||
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share(1)(3) |
4,034,072 | $18.00(4) | $72,613,296.00(4) | $7,922.11 | ||||
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share(2)(3) |
4,409,331 | $9.48(5) | $41,800,457.88 | $4,560.43 | ||||
Total |
8,443,403 | $114,413,753.88 | $12,482.54 | |||||
| ||||||||
|
(1) | Covers common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), of First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (the Company or the Registrant) issuable under the First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2021 Equity Plan). |
(2) | Covers Common Stock issuable under the First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (formerly known as the AI Fresh Super Holdco, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan) (the 2017 Equity Plan). |
(3) | Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), this registration statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock which may be offered and issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock distributions or similar transactions. |
(4) | Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h)(1) of the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee and are based on a price of $18.00 per share, which is the price per share of Common Stock for the Registrants initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-259360). |
(5) | Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act based on the weighted average exercise price of outstanding stock options granted under the 2017 Equity Plan of $9.48 per share. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed by First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (the Company) for the purpose of registering (i) 4,034,072 shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock), that may be issued and sold under the First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2021 Equity Plan) and (ii) 4,409,331 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to stock option awards outstanding under the First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (formerly known as the AI Fresh Super Holdco, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan) (the 2017 Equity Plan).
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. | Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Commission:
| The Registrants Prospectus relating to the offering of Common Stock to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, relating to the Form S-1 (File No. 333-259360); and |
| The Registrants Registration Statement on Form 8-A to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), relating to the Registrants Common Stock, including all other amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, on or after the date of this Registration Statement prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents with the Commission. Unless expressly incorporated into this Registration Statement, a report (or portion thereof) furnished on Form 8-K prior or subsequent to the date hereof shall not be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein (or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein or any document which constitutes part of the prospectus relating to the 2021 Equity Plan and the 2017 Equity Plan meeting the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. | Description of Securities. |
Not applicable.
Item 5. | Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
None.
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Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
The Registrant is governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL. Section 145 of the DGCL, as amended, provides that a corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person was or is an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the corporations best interest and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that such persons conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any person, including an officer or director, who was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or contemplated action or suit by or in the right of such corporation, under the same conditions, except that such indemnification is limited to expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person, and except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to such corporation. Where an officer or director of a corporation is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify that person against the expenses (including attorneys fees) which such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
The Registrants amended and restated bylaws will authorize the indemnification of its officers and directors, consistent with Section 145 of the DGCL, as amended. The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its executive officers and directors. These agreements, among other things, require the Registrant to indemnify each executive officer and director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of the Registrant, arising out of the persons services as a director or an executive officer.
Reference is made to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, which enables a corporation in its original certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director for violations of the directors fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, which provides for liability of directors for unlawful payments of dividends of unlawful stock purchase or redemptions, or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. The Registrants amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for such limitation of liability. The Registrant is also expressly authorized by its amended and restated bylaws to advance certain expenses (including attorneys fees) to its directors and officers and its amended and restated bylaws provide that the Registrant must indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The Registrant expects to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (i) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (ii) to the Registrant with respect to indemnification payments that it may make to such directors and officers.
Item 7. | Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
Not applicable.
Item 8. | Exhibits. |
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* | Filed herewith |
Item 9. | Undertakings. |
(a) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement; |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; |
(a) | provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. |
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(b) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrants annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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(c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bradenton, State of Florida, on September 30, 2021.
FIRST WATCH RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Christopher A. Tomasso | |
Name: | Christopher A. Tomasso | |
Title: | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Christopher A. Tomasso, Mel Hope and Jay Wolszczak, or any of them, each acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that any such attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on September 30, 2021.
Signature |
Title | |||
/s/ Christopher A. Tomasso Christopher A. Tomasso |
|
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
/s/ Mel Hope Mel Hope |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ Jay Wolszczak Jay Wolszczak |
General Counsel and Secretary | |||
/s/ Kenneth L. Pendery, Jr. Kenneth L. Pendery, Jr. |
Chairman Emeritus | |||
/s/ Ralph Alvarez Ralph Alvarez |
Director and Chairman of the Board | |||
/s/ Julie M.B. Bradley Julie M.B. Bradley |
Director | |||
/s/ Tricia Glynn Tricia Glynn |
Director | |||
/s/ William Kussell William Kussell |
Director | |||
/s/ Lisa Price Lisa Price |
Director | |||
/s/ Michael White Michael White |
Director |
Exhibit 5.1
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153-0119
+1 212 310 8000 tel
+1 212 310 8007 fax
September 30, 2021
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.
8725 Pendery Place, Suite 201
Bradenton, FL 34201
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the Registration Statement), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), relating to the registration of the offer, issuance and sale by the Company of up to 4,034,072 shares of the Companys common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the Common Stock) which may be issued pursuant to the First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the Equity Plan), which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement, and up to 4,409,331 shares of the Companys Common Stock, which may be issued pursuant to the First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (formerly known as the AI Fresh Super Holdco, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan) (the 2017 Plan), which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registration Statement (such shares together with the shares issued pursuant to the Companys Equity Plan, collectively the Shares).
In so acting, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of (i) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company; (ii) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company; (iii) the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company in effect at the time the 2017 Plan was authorized; (iv) the Bylaws of the Company in effect at the time the 2017 Plan was authorized; (v) the Equity Plan; (vi) the 2017 Plan; (vii) the Registration Statement; and (viii) such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such inquiries of such officers and representatives, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to all questions of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company.
September 30, 2021 Page 2 |
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and delivered upon the receipt of consideration constituting lawful consideration under Delaware law in accordance with the Equity Plan and the 2017 Plan, as applicable, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the corporate laws of the State of Delaware, and we express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to any and all references to our firm in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. of our report dated April 23, 2021, except for the effects of the stock split discussed in Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is September 22, 2021, relating to the financial statements, which appears in the prospectus dated September 22, 2021 filed by First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (No. 333-259360).
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Tampa, Florida
September 30, 2021
Exhibit 99.1
FIRST WATCH RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE OF THE FIRST WATCH RESTAURANT GROUP, INC., 2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN IS TO FURTHER ALIGN THE INTERESTS OF ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS WITH THOSE OF THE COMPANYS STOCKHOLDERS BY PROVIDING INCENTIVE COMPENSATION OPPORTUNITIES TIED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY AND ITS COMMON STOCK. THE PLAN IS INTENDED TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND INCREASE STOCKHOLDER VALUE BY ATTRACTING, RETAINING AND MOTIVATING KEY PERSONNEL UPON WHOSE JUDGMENT, INITIATIVE AND EFFORT THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF THE COMPANYS BUSINESS IS LARGELY DEPENDENT.
2. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth below:
Affiliate means, with respect to a Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such first Person.
Award means a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, or Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
Award Agreement means a notice or an agreement entered into between the Company and a Participant or provided by the Company to a Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted to a Participant as provided in Section 14.2 hereof.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Cause has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2 hereof.
Change in Control has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3 hereof.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Committee means (i) the Compensation Committee of the Board, (ii) such other committee of no fewer than two members of the Board who are appointed by the Board to administer the Plan or (iii) the Board, as determined by the Board.
Common Stock means the common shares of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (and any shares or other securities into which such Common Stock may be converted or into which it may be exchanged.
Company means First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto.
Date of Grant means the date on which an Award under the Plan is granted by the Committee or such later date as the Committee may specify to be the effective date of an Award.
Disability means, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, a disability described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i)(A). A Disability shall be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability.
Effective Date means the day immediately prior to the date on which the Companys registration statement on Form S-1 in connection with its initial public offering of Common Stock is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, subject to approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company.
Eligible Person means any Person who is an officer, employee, Non-Employee Director, or any natural person who is a consultant or other personal service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Fair Market Value means, as applied to a specific date, the price of a share of Common Stock that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low or average selling prices of a share of Common Stock reported on any established stock exchange or national market system including without limitation the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ), the New York Stock Exchange and the National Market System on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise or unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, or if shares of Common Stock are not publicly traded on such date, as of the most recent date on which shares of Common Stock were publicly traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Common Stock is not traded on any established stock exchange or national market system, the Fair Market Value means the price of a share of Common Stock as established by the Committee.
Incentive Stock Option means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
Non-Employee Director means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Nonqualified Stock Option means a Stock Option granted under Section 6 hereof that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
Participant means any Eligible Person who holds an outstanding Award under the Plan.
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or other legal entity. All references to Person shall include an individual Person or a group (as defined in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of Persons.
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Plan means the First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as set forth herein, effective as of the Effective Date and as may be amended from time to time, as provided herein, and includes any sub-plan or appendix that may be created and approved by the Board to allow Eligible Persons of Subsidiaries to participate in the Plan.
Restricted Stock Award means a grant of shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Person under Section 8 hereof that are issued subject to such vesting and transfer restrictions as the Committee shall determine, and such other conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
Restricted Stock Unit means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 9 hereof representing notional unit interests equal in value to a share of Common Stock to be paid or distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions, as set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Service means a Participants employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or a Participants service as a Non-Employee Director, consultant or other service provider with the Company or any Subsidiary, as applicable.
Stock Appreciation Right means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 7 hereof entitling such Eligible Person to receive a payment, representing the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock over the base price per share of the right, at such time, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
Stock-Based Award means a grant of shares of Common Stock or any award that is valued by reference to shares of Common Stock to an Eligible Person under Section 10 hereof.
Stock Option means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6 hereof to purchase shares of Common Stock at such time and price, and subject to such conditions, as are set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
Subsidiary means an entity (whether or not a corporation) that is wholly or majority owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any other Affiliate of the Company that is so designated, from time to time, by the Committee, during the period of such Affiliated status; provided, however, that with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the term Subsidiary shall include only an entity that qualifies under Section 424(f) of the Code as a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company.
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Treasury Regulations means regulations promulgated by the United States Treasury Department.
3. Administration.
3.1 Committee Members. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. To the extent deemed necessary by the Board, each Committee member shall satisfy the requirements for (i) an independent director under rules adopted by the NASDAQ or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed and (ii) a non-employee director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the mere fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify under any of the foregoing requirements shall not invalidate any Award made by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly made under the Plan. The Board may exercise all powers of the Committee hereunder and may directly administer the Plan. Neither the Company nor any member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith by the Board or Committee with respect to the Plan or any Award thereunder.
3.2 Committee Authority. The Committee shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and to control its operation, including, but not limited to, the power to (i) determine the Eligible Persons to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan, (ii) prescribe the restrictions, terms and conditions of all Awards, (iii) interpret the Plan and terms of the Awards, (iv) adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith, and interpret, amend or revoke any such rules, (v) make all determinations with respect to a Participants Service and the termination of such Service for purposes of any Award, (vi) correct any defect(s) or omission(s) or reconcile any ambiguity(ies) or inconsistency(ies) in the Plan or any Award thereunder, (vii) make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan, (viii) decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan, (ix) subject to the terms of the Plan, amend the terms of an Award in any manner that is not inconsistent with the Plan, (x) accelerate the vesting or, to the extent applicable, exercisability of any Award at any time (including, but not limited to, upon a Change in Control or upon termination of Service of a Participant under certain circumstances (including, without limitation, upon retirement)) and (xi) adopt such procedures, modifications or subplans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals or provide services outside of the United States. The Committees determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by the Committee selectively among Participants and Eligible Persons, whether or not such Persons are similarly situated. The Committee shall, in its discretion, consider such factors as it deems relevant in making its interpretations, determinations and actions under the Plan including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any officer or employee of the Company or board of directors of a Subsidiary or such attorneys, consultants, accountants or other advisors as it may select. All interpretations, determinations, and actions by the Committee shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all parties.
3.3 Delegation of Authority. The Committee shall have the right, from time to time, to delegate in writing to one or more officers of the Company the authority of the Committee to
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grant and determine the terms and conditions of Awards granted under the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or any successor provision) or such other limitations as the Committee shall determine. In no event shall any such delegation of authority be permitted with respect to Awards granted to any member of the Board or to any Eligible Person who is subject to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Committee shall also be permitted to delegate, to any appropriate officer or employee of the Company, responsibility for performing certain ministerial functions under the Plan. In the event that the Committees authority is delegated to officers or employees in accordance with the foregoing, all provisions of the Plan relating to the Committee shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the foregoing by treating any such reference as a reference to such officer or employee for such purpose. Any action undertaken in accordance with the Committees delegation of authority hereunder shall have the same force and effect as if such action was undertaken directly by the Committee and shall be deemed for all purposes of the Plan to have been taken by the Committee.
4. Shares Subject to the Plan.
4.1 Number of Shares Reserved. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 and Section 4.5 hereof, the total number of shares of Common Stock that are available for issuance under the Plan (the Share Reserve) shall equal 4,034,072. Within the Share Reserve, the total number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance as Incentive Stock Options shall equal the maximum number of shares available for issuance under the Plan. Each share of Common Stock subject to an Award shall reduce the Share Reserve by one share. Any shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall consist of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
4.2 Annual Increase in Shares Reserved. On the first day of each fiscal year of the Company during the term of the Plan, commencing on January 1, 2023 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2032, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall automatically increase by a number equal to the least of (i) two percent (2%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock actually issued and outstanding on the last day of the preceding fiscal year, (ii) a number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Board; and (iii) 4,034,072 shares of Common Stock.
4.3 Share Replenishment. Following the Effective Date, to the extent that an Award granted under this Plan is canceled, expired, forfeited or surrendered without consideration or otherwise terminated without delivery of the shares of Common Stock to the Participant under the Plan, the shares of Common Stock retained by or returned to the Company will (i) not be deemed to have been delivered under the Plan, (ii) be available for future Awards under the Plan, and (iii) increase the Share Reserve by one share for each share that is retained by or returned to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of Common Stock that are (x) withheld from any Award granted under this Plan in payment of the exercise, base or purchase price or taxes relating to such an Award, (y) not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of any Award, or (z) repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of a Stock Option, will be deemed to have been delivered under the Plan and will not be available for future Awards under the Plan. The payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Award shall not count against the Share Reserve.
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4.4 Awards Granted to Non-Employee Directors. No Non-Employee Director may be granted, during any calendar year, Awards having a fair value (determined on the date of grant) that, when added to all cash compensation paid to the Non-Employee Director in respect of the Non-Employee Directors service as a member of the Board for such calendar year, exceeds (i) $1,000,000 in the year that such Non-Employee Director is first elected to serve as a director on the Board; and (ii) $750,000 in each subsequent year.
4.5 Adjustments. If there shall occur any change with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other distribution with respect to the shares of Common Stock or any merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, spin-off or other corporate event or transaction or any other change affecting the Common Stock (other than regular cash dividends to stockholders of the Company), the Committee shall, in the manner and to the extent it considers appropriate and equitable to the Participants and consistent with the terms of the Plan, cause an adjustment to be made to (i) the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities provided in Sections 4.1 hereof and 4.2 hereof, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock, units or other securities or rights subject to then outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise, base or purchase price for each share or unit or other security or right subject to then outstanding Awards, (iv) other value determinations applicable to the Plan and/or outstanding Awards, and/or (v) any other terms of an Award that are affected by the event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) any such adjustments shall, to the extent necessary to avoid additional taxes, be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and (b) in the case of Incentive Stock Options, any such adjustments shall, to the extent practicable, be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.
5. Eligibility and Awards.
5.1 Designation of Participants. Any Eligible Person may be selected by the Committee to receive an Award and become a Participant. The Committee has the authority, in its discretion, to determine and designate from time to time those Eligible Persons who are to be granted Awards, the types of Awards to be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock or units subject to Awards to be granted and the terms and conditions of such Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan. In selecting Eligible Persons to be Participants, and in determining the type and amount of Awards to be granted under the Plan, the Committee shall consider any and all factors that it deems relevant or appropriate. Designation of a Participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such Person to receive an Award in any other year or, once designated, to receive the same type or amount of Award as granted to such Participant in any other year.
5.2 Determination of Awards. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of all Awards granted to Participants in accordance with its authority under Section 3.2 hereof. An Award may consist of one type of right or benefit hereunder or of two or more such rights or benefits granted in tandem.
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5.3 Award Agreements. Each Award granted to an Eligible Person shall be represented by an Award Agreement. The terms of the Award, as determined by the Committee, will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreements as described in Section 14.2 hereof.
6. Stock Options.
6.1 Grant of Stock Options. A Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee, except that an Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to an Eligible Person satisfying the conditions of Section 6.7(a) hereof. Each Stock Option shall be designated on the Date of Grant, in the discretion of the Committee, as an Incentive Stock Option or as a Nonqualified Stock Option. All Stock Options granted under the Plan are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.
6.2 Exercise Price. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the exercise price per share of a Stock Option (other than a Stock Option substituted or assumed under Section 14.10) shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant. The Committee may in its discretion specify an exercise price per share that is higher than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant.
6.3 Vesting of Stock Options. The Committee shall, in its discretion, prescribe in an award agreement the time or times at which or the conditions upon which, a Stock Option or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable. The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Option may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Stock Option are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited.
6.4 Term of Stock Options. The Committee shall in its discretion prescribe in an Award Agreement the period during which a vested Stock Option may be exercised; provided, however, that the maximum term of a Stock Option shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide that a Stock Option will cease to be exercisable upon or at the end of a specified time period following a termination of Service for any reason as set forth in the Award Agreement or otherwise. A Stock Option may be earlier terminated as specified by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement upon or following the termination of a Participants Service with the Company or any Subsidiary, including by reason of voluntary resignation, death, Disability, termination for Cause or any other reason. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, as applicable, and the provisions of this Section 6, the Committee may extend at any time the period in which a Stock Option may be exercised, but not beyond ten (10) years from the Date of Grant.
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6.5 Stock Option Exercise; Tax Withholding. Subject to such terms and conditions as specified in an Award Agreement (including applicable vesting requirements), a Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term thereof by notice in the form required by the Company, together with payment of the aggregate exercise price and applicable withholding tax. Payment of the exercise price may be made: (i) in cash or by cash equivalent acceptable to the Committee, or, (ii) to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Award Agreement or otherwise (A) in shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of exercise, (B) through an open-market, broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the exercise price, (C) by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Stock Option by the number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, (D) by a combination of the methods described above or (E) by such other method as may be approved by the Committee. In accordance with Section 14.11 hereof, and in addition to and at the time of payment of the exercise price, the Participant shall pay to the Company the full amount of any and all applicable income tax, employment tax and other amounts required to be withheld in connection with such exercise, payable under such of the methods described above for the payment of the exercise price as may be approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.
6.6 Limited Transferability of Nonqualified Stock Options. All Stock Options shall be nontransferable except (i) upon the Participants death, in accordance with Section 14.3 hereof or (ii) in the case of Nonqualified Stock Options only, for the transfer of all or part of the Stock Option to a Participants family member (as defined for purposes of the Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act), or as otherwise permitted by the Committee to the extent also permitted by the general instructions of the Form S-8 registration statement, as may be amended from time to time, in each case as may be approved by the Committee in its discretion at the time of proposed transfer; provided, in each case, that any permitted transfer shall be for no consideration. The transfer of a Nonqualified Stock Option may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may in its discretion impose from time to time. Subsequent transfers of a Nonqualified Stock Option shall be prohibited other than in accordance with Section 14.3 hereof.
6.7 Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options.
(a) Eligibility. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to an Eligible Person who is considered an employee for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h) with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary that qualifies as a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company for purposes of Section 424(f) of the Code.
(b) Annual Limits. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to a Participant as a result of which the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Date of Grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code are exercisable for the first time in any calendar year under the Plan and any other stock option plans of the Company or any Subsidiary or parent corporation, would exceed $100,000, determined in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code. This limitation shall be applied by taking Stock Options into account in the order in which granted. Any Stock Option grant that exceeds such limit shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.
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(c) Additional Limitations. In the case of any Incentive Stock Option granted to an Eligible Person who owns, either directly or indirectly (taking into account the attribution rules contained in Section 424(d) of the Code), stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, the exercise price shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant and the maximum term shall be five (5) years.
(d) Termination of Service. An Award of an Incentive Stock Option may provide that such Stock Option may be exercised not later than (i) three (3) months following termination of Service of the Participant with the Company and all Subsidiaries (other than as set forth in clause (ii) of this Section 6.7(d)) or (ii) one year following termination of Service of the Participant with the Company and all Subsidiaries due to death or permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, in each case as and to the extent determined by the Committee to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
(e) Other Terms and Conditions; Nontransferability. Any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as are deemed necessary or desirable by the Committee, which terms, together with the terms of the Plan, shall be intended and interpreted to cause such Incentive Stock Option to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code. A Stock Option that is granted as an Incentive Stock Option shall, to the extent it fails to qualify as an incentive stock option under the Code, be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall by its terms be nontransferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant.
(f) Disqualifying Dispositions. If shares of Common Stock acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of within two years following the Date of Grant or one year following the transfer of such shares to the 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 Company may reasonably require.
6.8 Repricing Prohibited. Subject to the adjustment provisions contained in Section 4.5 hereof and other than in connection with a Change in Control, without the prior approval of the Companys stockholders, neither the Committee nor the Board shall cancel a Stock Option when the exercise price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock in exchange for cash or another Award or cause the cancellation, substitution or amendment of a Stock Option that would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of such a Stock Option previously granted under the Plan or otherwise approve any modification to such a Stock Option, that would be treated as a repricing under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements adopted by the NASDAQ or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.
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6.9 No Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares underlying a Stock Option until such time as shares or Common Stock are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.
7. Stock Appreciation Rights.
7.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted on a basis that allows for the exercise of the right by the Participant, or that provides for the automatic exercise or payment of the right upon a specified date or event. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be non-transferable, except as provided in Section 14.3 hereof. All Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan are intended to comply with or otherwise be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.
7.2 Terms of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee shall in its discretion provide in an Award Agreement the time or times at which or the conditions upon which, a Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof shall become vested and/or exercisable. The requirements for vesting and exercisability of a Stock Appreciation Right may be based on the continued Service of a Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Stock Appreciation Right are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited. A Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable or payable at such time or times as determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the maximum term of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, as applicable, and the provisions of this Section 7.2, the Committee may extend at any time the period in which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, but not beyond ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide that a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be exercisable upon or at the end of a period following a termination of Service for any reason. The base price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion; provided, however, that the base price per share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant (other than with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right substituted or assumed under Section 14.10).
7.3 Payment of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the holder, upon exercise or other payment of the Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, to receive an amount determined by multiplying: (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise or payment of the Stock Appreciation Right over the base price of such Stock Appreciation Right, by (ii) the number of shares as to which such Stock Appreciation Right is exercised or paid. Payment of the amount determined under the foregoing may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in shares of Common Stock valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or payment, in cash or in a combination of shares of Common Stock and cash, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements.
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7.4 Repricing Prohibited. Subject to the adjustment provisions contained in Section 4.5 hereof and other than in connection with a Change in Control, without the prior approval of the Companys stockholders, neither the Committee nor the Board shall cancel a Stock Appreciation Right when the base price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock in exchange for cash or another Award or cause the cancellation, substitution or amendment of a Stock Appreciation Right that would have the effect of reducing the base price of such a Stock Appreciation Right previously granted under the Plan or otherwise approve any modification to such Stock Appreciation Right that would be treated as a repricing under the then applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements adopted by the NASDAQ or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.
7.5 No Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares underlying a Stock Appreciation Right unless and until such time as shares or Common Stock are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.
8. Restricted Stock Awards.
8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. The Committee may require the payment by the Participant of a specified purchase price in connection with any Restricted Stock Award.
8.2 Vesting Requirements. The restrictions imposed on shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award shall lapse in accordance with the vesting requirements specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement. The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Award may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Award are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Award shall be returned to the Company.
8.3 Transfer Restrictions. Shares granted under any Restricted Stock Award may not be transferred, assigned or subject to any encumbrance, pledge or charge until all applicable restrictions are removed or have expired, except as provided in Section 14.3 hereof. Failure to satisfy any applicable restrictions shall result in the subject shares of the Restricted Stock Award being forfeited and returned to the Company. The Committee may require in an Award Agreement that certificates (if any) representing the shares granted under a Restricted Stock Award bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed, and that certificates (if any) representing the shares granted or sold under a Restricted Stock Award will remain in the physical custody of an escrow holder until all restrictions are removed or have expired.
8.4 Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 and the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall have all rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares granted to the Participant under a Restricted Stock Award, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with
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respect thereto, unless the Committee determines otherwise at the time the Restricted Stock Award is granted. The Committee shall determine and set forth in a Participants Award Agreement whether or not a Participant holding a Restricted Stock Award granted hereunder shall have the right to exercise voting rights with respect to the period during which the Restricted Stock Award is subject to forfeiture (the Restriction Period), and have the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock Award during the Restriction Period (and, if so, on what terms) provided that if a Participant has the right to receive dividends paid with respect to the Restricted Stock Award, such dividends shall be subject to the same vesting terms as the related Restricted Stock Award.
8.5 Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall file, within thirty (30) days following the Date of Grant, a copy of such election with the Company and with the Internal Revenue Service, in accordance with the regulations under Section 83 of the Code. The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the Restricted Stock Award is conditioned upon the Participants making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Section 83(b) of the Code.
9. Restricted Stock Units.
9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Units. A Restricted Stock Unit may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. The value of each Restricted Stock Unit is equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the applicable date or time period of determination, as specified by the Committee. Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be non-transferable, except as provided in Section 14.3 hereof.
9.2 Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. The Committee shall, in its discretion, determine any vesting requirements with respect to Restricted Stock Units, which shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. The requirements for vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit may be based on the continued Service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary for a specified time period (or periods), on the attainment of a specified performance goal(s) and/or on such other terms and conditions as approved by the Committee in its discretion. If the vesting requirements of a Restricted Stock Unit Award are not satisfied, the Award shall be forfeited.
9.3 Payment of Restricted Stock Units. Restricted Stock Units shall become payable to a Participant at the time or times determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, which may be upon or following the vesting of the Award. Payment of a Restricted Stock Unit may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in cash or in shares of Common Stock or in a combination thereof, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements. Any cash payment of a Restricted Stock Unit shall be made based upon the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock, determined on such date or over such time period as determined by the Committee.
9.4 Dividend Equivalent Rights. Dividends shall not be paid with respect to Restricted Stock Units. Dividend equivalent rights may be granted with respect to the Shares
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subject to Restricted Stock Units to the extent permitted by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement; provided that any dividend equivalent rights granted shall be subject to the same vesting terms as the related Restricted Stock Units.
9.5 No Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to a Restricted Stock Unit until such time as shares of Common Stock are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.
10. Stock-Based Awards.
10.1 Grant of Stock-Based Awards. A Stock-Based Award may be granted to any Eligible Person selected by the Committee. A Stock-Based Award may be granted for past Services, in lieu of bonus or other cash compensation, as directors compensation or for any other valid purpose as determined by the Committee, and shall be based upon or calculated by reference to the Common Stock. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, and such Awards may be made without vesting requirements. In addition, the Committee may, in connection with any Stock-Based Award, require the payment of a specified purchase price.
10.2 Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock, including the right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto, until such time as shares of Common Stock, if any, are issued to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement. If a Participant has the right to receive dividends paid with respect to the Stock-Based Award, such dividends shall be subject to the same vesting terms as the related Stock-Based Award, if applicable.
11. Change in Control.
11.1 Effect on Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, all outstanding Awards shall either be (a) continued or assumed by the Company (if it is the surviving company or corporation) or by the surviving company or corporation or its parent (with such continuation or assumption including conversion into the right to receive securities, cash or a combination of both), or (b) substituted by the surviving company or corporation or its parent for awards (with such substitution including conversion into the right to receive securities, cash or a combination of both), with substantially similar terms for outstanding Awards (with appropriate adjustments to the type of consideration payable upon settlement of the Awards or other relevant factors, and with any applicable performance conditions deemed achieved (i) for any completed performance period, based on actual performance, or (ii) for any partial or future performance period, at the greater of the target level or actual performance, in each case as determined by the Committee (with the Award remaining subject only to time vesting), unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement).
11.2 Certain Adjustments. Notwithstanding Section 11.1, to the extent that outstanding Awards are not continued, assumed or substituted pursuant to Section 11.1 upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Committee is authorized (but not obligated) to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including without limitation the following (or any combination thereof):
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(a) acceleration of exercisability, vesting and/or payment of outstanding Awards immediately prior to the occurrence of such event or upon or following such event;
(b) upon written notice, providing that any outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights are exercisable during a period of time immediately prior to the scheduled consummation of the event or such other period as determined by the Committee (contingent upon the consummation of the event), and at the end of such period, such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate to the extent not so exercised within the relevant period; and
(c) cancellation of all or any portion of outstanding Awards for fair value (in the form of cash, Common Shares, other property or any combination thereof) as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that, in the case of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights or similar Awards, the fair value may equal the excess, if any, of the value or amount of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction to holders of shares of Common Stock (or, if no such consideration is paid, Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock) over the aggregate exercise or base price, as applicable, with respect to such Awards or portion thereof being canceled, or if there is no such excess, zero; provided, further, that if any payments or other consideration are deferred and/or contingent as a result of escrows, earn outs, holdbacks or any other contingencies, payments under this provision may be made on substantially the same terms and conditions applicable to, and only to the extent actually paid to, the holders of Common Shares in connection with the Change in Control.
11.3 Definition of Change in Control. Unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement or other written agreement approved by the Committee, Change in Control means, and shall occur, if:
(a) any Person (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of Common Stock) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities;
(b) during any period of two consecutive years (the Board Measurement Period) individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director designated by a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in paragraph (a), (c), or (d) of this section, or a director initially elected or nominated as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
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directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the Board Measurement Period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
(c) a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person (other than those covered by the exceptions in (i) above) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company; or
(d) the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets other than (i) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a Person or Persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale or disposition or (ii) pursuant to a spinoff type transaction, directly or indirectly, of such assets to the stockholders of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code with respect to the payment of nonqualified deferred compensation, Change in Control shall be limited to a change in control event as defined under Section 409A of the Code.
12. Forfeiture Events.
12.1 General. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participants rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award are 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, without limitation, termination of Service for Cause, violation of laws, regulations or material Company policies, breach of noncompetition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, application of a Company clawback policy relating to financial restatement, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company.
12.2 Termination for Cause.
(a) Treatment of Awards. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in an Award Agreement, if (i) a Participants Service with the Company or any Subsidiary shall be terminated for Cause or (ii) after termination of Service for any other reason, the Committee determines in its discretion either that, (1) during the Participants period of Service, the Participant engaged in an act or omission which would have warranted termination of Service for Cause or (2) after termination, the Participant engages in conduct that violates any
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continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, such Participants rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to cancellation, forfeiture and/or recoupment, as provided in Section 12.3 below. The Company shall have the power to determine whether the Participant has been terminated for Cause, the date upon which such termination for Cause occurs, whether the Participant engaged in an act or omission which would have warranted termination of Service for Cause or engaged in conduct that violated any continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary. Any such determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons. In addition, if the Company shall reasonably determine that a Participant has committed or may have committed any act which could constitute the basis for a termination of such Participants Service for Cause or violates any continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company may suspend the Participants rights to exercise any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, receive any payment or vest in any right with respect to any Award pending a determination by the Company of whether an act or omission could constitute the basis for a termination for Cause as provided in this Section 12.2.
(b) Definition of Cause. Cause means with respect to a Participants termination of Service, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define cause (or words of like import, which shall include but not be limited to gross misconduct)), termination due to a Participants (1) failure to substantially perform Participants duties or obey lawful directives that continues after receipt of written notice from the Company and a ten (10)-day opportunity to cure; (2) gross misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of Participants duties; (3) fraud, embezzlement, theft, or any other act of material dishonesty or misconduct; (4) conviction of, indictment for, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; (5) (x) material breach or violation of any agreement with the Company or its Affiliates, including any restrictive covenant agreement applicable to Participant, or (y) significant violation of the code of conduct or similar written policy, including, without limitation, any sexual harassment policy, of the Company or its Affiliates; or (6) other conduct, acts or omissions that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, are likely to significantly injure the reputation, business or a business relationship of the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant that defines cause (or words of like import, which shall include but not be limited to gross misconduct), cause as defined under such agreement. With respect to a termination of Service for a non-employee director, Cause means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Delaware law. Any voluntary termination of Service by the Participant in anticipation of an involuntary termination of the Participants Service for Cause shall be deemed to be a termination for Cause.
12.3 Right of Recapture.
(a) General. If at any time within one year (or such longer time specified in an Award Agreement or other agreement with a Participant or policy applicable to the Participant) after the date on which a Participant exercises a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation
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Right or on which a Stock-Based Award, Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit vests, is settled in shares or otherwise becomes payable, or on which income otherwise is realized or property is received by a Participant in connection with an Award, (i) a Participants Service is terminated for Cause, (ii) the Committee determines in its discretion that the Participant is subject to any recoupment of benefits pursuant to the Companys compensation recovery, clawback or similar policy, as may be in effect from time to time, or (iii) after a Participants Service terminates for any other reason, the Committee determines in its discretion either that, (1) during the Participants period of Service, the Participant engaged in an act or omission which would have warranted termination of the Participants Service for Cause or (2) after a Participants termination of Service, the Participant engaged in conduct that violated any continuing obligation or duty of the Participant in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary, then, at the sole discretion of the Committee, any gain realized by the Participant from the exercise, vesting, payment, settlement or other realization of income or receipt of property by the Participant in connection with an Award, shall be repaid by the Participant to the Company upon notice from the Company, subject to applicable law. Such gain shall be determined as of the date or dates on which the gain is realized by the Participant, without regard to any subsequent change in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock. To the extent not otherwise prohibited by law, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of such repayment obligation against any amounts otherwise owed to the Participant by the Company (whether as wages, vacation pay or pursuant to any benefit plan or other compensatory arrangement).
(b) Accounting Restatement. If a Participant receives compensation pursuant to an Award under the Plan based on financial statements that are subsequently restated in a way that would decrease the value of such compensation, the Participant will, to the extent not otherwise prohibited by law, upon the written request of the Company, forfeit and repay to the Company the difference between what the Participant received and what the Participant should have received based on the accounting restatement, in accordance with (i) any compensation recovery, clawback or similar policy, as may be in effect from time to time to which such Participant is subject and (ii) any compensation recovery, clawback or similar policy made applicable by law including the provisions of Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules, regulations and requirements adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any national securities exchange on which the Companys equity securities may be listed (the Policy). By accepting an Award hereunder, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Policy, whenever adopted, shall apply to such Award, and all incentive-based compensation payable pursuant to such Award shall be subject to forfeiture and repayment pursuant to the terms of the Policy.
13. Transfer, Leave of Absence, Etc. For purposes of the Plan, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of Service: (a) a transfer to the service of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, a leave of absence where the employees right to re-employment is protected either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted, a leave of absence for any other purpose approved by the Company or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing.
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14. General Provisions.
14.1 Status of Plan. The Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Companys obligations to deliver shares of Common Stock or make payments with respect to Awards.
14.2 Award Agreement. An Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in a written or electronic form approved by the Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock or other amounts or securities subject to the Award, the exercise price, base price or purchase price of the Award, the time or times at which an Award will become vested, exercisable or payable and the term of the Award. The Award Agreement also may set forth the effect on an Award of a Change in Control and/or a termination of Service under certain circumstances. The Award Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate, by reference or otherwise, all of the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, and also may set forth other terms and conditions applicable to the Award as determined by the Committee consistent with the limitations of the Plan. The grant of an Award under the Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in the Plan as being applicable to such type of Award (or to all Awards) or as are expressly set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee need not require the execution of an Award Agreement by a Participant, in which case, acceptance of the Award by the Participant shall constitute agreement by the Participant to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement as well as the administrative guidelines of the Company in effect from time to time. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall prevail.
14.3 No Assignment or Transfer; Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.6 hereof or as otherwise provided by the Committee to the extent not prohibited under Section A.1.(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8, as may be amended from time to time, Awards under the Plan shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant, and shall not be subject in any manner to assignment, alienation, pledge, encumbrance or charge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the death of a Participant, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, an outstanding Award may be exercised by or shall become payable to the Participants beneficiary as determined under the Company 401(k) retirement plan or other applicable retirement or pension plan. In lieu of such determination, a Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any benefit in case of the Participants death before the Participant receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing (in such form or manner as may be prescribed by the Committee) with the Company during the Participants lifetime. In the absence of a valid designation as provided above, if no validly designated beneficiary survives the Participant or if each surviving validly designated beneficiary is legally impaired or prohibited from receiving the benefits under an Award, the Participants beneficiary shall be the legatee or legatees of such Award designated under the Participants last will or by such Participants executors, personal representatives or distributees of such Award in accordance with the Participants will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may provide in the terms of an Award
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Agreement or in any other manner prescribed by the Committee that the Participant shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries who shall be entitled to any rights, payments or other benefits specified under an Award following the Participants death. Any transfer permitted under this Section 14.3 shall be for no consideration.
14.4 No Right to Employment or Continued Service. Nothing in the Plan, in the grant of any Award or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Eligible Person or any Participant any right to continue in the Service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment or other service relationship of an Eligible Person or a Participant for any reason or no reason at any time.
14.5 Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a holder of shares of Common Stock with respect to any unissued securities covered by an Award until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of such securities. Except as provided in Section 4.5 hereof, no adjustment or other provision shall be made for dividends or other stockholder rights, except to the extent that the Award Agreement provides for dividend payments or dividend equivalent rights. The Committee may determine in its discretion the manner of delivery of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan, which may be by delivery of stock certificates, electronic account entry into new or existing accounts or any other means as the Committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate. The Committee may require that the stock certificates (if any) be held in escrow by the Company for any shares of Common Stock or cause the shares to be legended in order to comply with the securities laws or other applicable restrictions. Should the shares of Common Stock be represented by book or electronic account entry rather than a certificate, the Committee may take such steps to restrict transfer of the shares of Common Stock as the Committee considers necessary or advisable.
14.6 Trading Policy and Other Restrictions. Transactions involving Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Companys insider trading policy and other restrictions, terms, conditions and policies established by the Board or Committee from time to time or by applicable law.
14.7 Section 409A Compliance. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Plan and all Awards hereunder comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, and that the Plan and all Award Agreements shall be interpreted and applied by the Committee in a manner consistent with this intent in order to avoid the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A of the Code. In the event that any (i) provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, (ii) Award, payment, transaction or (iii) other action or arrangement contemplated by the provisions of the Plan is determined by the Committee to not comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, the Committee shall have the authority to take such actions and to make such changes to the Plan or an Award Agreement as the Committee deems necessary to comply with such requirements. No payment that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be made under the Plan or an Award Agreement upon a termination of Service will be made or provided unless and until such termination is also a
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separation from service, as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything elsewhere in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Participant is a specified employee as defined in Section 409A of the Code at the time of termination of Service with respect to an Award, then solely to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, the commencement of any payments or benefits under the Award shall be deferred until the date that is six (6) months plus one (1) day following the date of the Participants termination of Service or, if earlier, the Participants death (or such other period as required to comply with Section 409A). For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, a Participants right to receive any installment payments pursuant to this Plan or any Award granted hereunder shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. For the avoidance of doubt, each applicable tranche of Common Shares subject to vesting under any Award shall be considered a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
14.8 Section 457A Compliance. In the event any Award is subject to Section 457A of the Code (Section 457A), the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without a Participants prior consent, amend the Plan and/or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and actions with retroactive effect) as are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Plan and/or any Award from the application of Section 457A, (ii) preserve the intended tax treatment of any such Award, or (iii) comply with the requirements of Section 457A, including without limitation any such regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after the date of the grant. To the extent that an Award constitutes deferred compensation subject to Section 457A, such Award will be subject to taxation in accordance with Section 457A. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 457A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 457A of the Code.
14.9 Securities Law Compliance. No shares of Common Stock will be issued or transferred pursuant to an Award unless and until all then applicable requirements imposed by Federal and state securities and other laws, rules and regulations and by any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and by any exchanges upon which the shares of Common Stock may be listed, have been fully met. As a condition precedent to the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the grant or exercise of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any action that the Company determines is necessary or advisable to meet such requirements. The Committee may impose such conditions on any shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under the Securities Act, under the requirements of any exchange upon which such shares of the same class are then listed, and under any blue sky or other securities laws applicable to such shares. The Committee may also require the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of issuance or transfer that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired solely for investment purposes and without any current intention to sell or distribute such shares.
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14.10 Substitution or Assumption of Awards in Corporate Transactions. The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, of the business or assets of any corporation or other entity, in substitution for awards previously granted by such corporation or other entity or otherwise. The Committee may also assume any previously granted awards of a former employee or a current employee, director, consultant or other service provider of another corporation or entity that becomes an Eligible Person by reason of such corporation transaction. The terms and conditions of the substituted or assumed awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would otherwise be required by the Plan solely to the extent the Committee deems necessary for such purpose. To the extent permitted by applicable law and the listing requirements of the NASDAQ or other exchange or securities market on which the Common Shares are listed, any such substituted or assumed awards shall not reduce the Share Reserve.
14.11 Tax Withholding. The Participant shall be responsible for payment of any taxes or similar charges required by law to be paid or withheld from an Award or an amount paid in satisfaction of an Award. Any required withholdings shall be paid by the Participant on or prior to the payment or other event that results in taxable income in respect of an Award. The Award Agreement may specify the manner in which the withholding obligation shall be satisfied with respect to the particular type of Award, which may include permitting the Participant to elect to satisfy the withholding obligation by tendering shares of Common Stock to the Company or having the Company withhold a number of shares of Common Stock having a value in each case up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdiction or as the Committee may approve in its discretion (provided that such withholding does not result in adverse tax or accounting consequences to the Company), or similar charge required to be paid or withheld. In addition, to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion in an Award Agreement or otherwise, and subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, withholding may be satisfied through an open-market, broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the withholding amount, which shall be subject to any terms and conditions imposed by the Committee. The Company shall have the power and the right to require a Participant to remit to the Company the amount necessary to satisfy federal, state, provincial and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld, and to deduct or withhold from any shares of Common Stock deliverable under an Award to satisfy such withholding obligation.
14.12 Unfunded Plan. The adoption of the Plan and any reservation of shares of Common Stock or cash amounts by the Company to discharge its obligations hereunder shall not be deemed to create a trust or other funded arrangement. Except upon the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award, any rights of a Participant under the Plan shall be those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company, and neither a Participant nor the Participants permitted transferees or estate shall have any other interest in any assets of the Company by virtue of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to implement or set aside funds in a grantor trust, subject to the claims of the Companys creditors or otherwise, to discharge its obligations under the Plan.
14.13 Other Compensation and Benefit Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other share incentive or other compensation plans in effect for the Company or any
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Subsidiary, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company from establishing any other forms of share incentive or other compensation or benefit program for employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. The amount of any compensation deemed to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall not constitute includable compensation for purposes of determining the amount of benefits to which a Participant is entitled under any other compensation or benefit plan or program of the Company or a Subsidiary, including, without limitation, under any pension or severance benefits plan, except to the extent specifically provided by the terms of any such plan.
14.14 Plan Binding on Transferees. The Plan shall be binding upon the Company, its transferees and assigns, and the Participant, the Participants executor, administrator and permitted transferees and beneficiaries.
14.15 Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.
14.16 Governing Law. The Plan, all Awards and all Award Agreements, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to the Plan, any Award or Award Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of any such documents or matter related thereto (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with the Plan, any Award or Award Agreement, or as an inducement to enter into any Award Agreement), shall be governed by, and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, including its statutes of limitations and repose, but without regard to any borrowing statute that would result in the application of the statute of limitations or repose of any other jurisdiction.
14.17 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares of Common Stock or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.
14.18 No Guarantees Regarding Tax Treatment. Neither the Company nor the Committee make any guarantees to any Person regarding the tax treatment of Awards or payments made under the Plan. Neither the Company nor the Committee has any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any tax on any Person with respect to any Award under Section 409A of the Code, Section 4999 of the Code or otherwise and neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any liability to a Person with respect thereto.
14.19 Data Protection. By participating in the Plan, each Participant consents to the collection, processing, transmission and storage by the Company, its Subsidiaries and any third party administrators of any data of a professional or personal nature for the purposes of administering the Plan and in connection with a Participants status as a stockholder of the Company upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award.
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14.20 Awards to Non-U.S. Participants. To comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates operates or has employees, Non-Employee Directors or consultants, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to (i) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Participants outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws, (ii) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals and (iii) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 14.20 by the Committee shall be attached to this Plan document as appendices.
15. Term; Amendment and Termination; Stockholder Approval.
15.1 Term. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. Subject to Section 15.2 hereof, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
15.2 Amendment and Termination. The Board may from time to time and in any respect, amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Participant or the permitted transferee of the Award. The Board may seek the approval of any amendment, modification, suspension or termination by the Companys stockholders to the extent it deems necessary in its discretion for purposes of compliance with Section 422 of the Code or for any other purpose, and shall seek such approval to the extent it deems necessary in its discretion to comply with applicable law or listing requirements of NASDAQ or other exchange or securities market. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have broad authority to amend the Plan or any Award under the Plan without the consent of a Participant to the extent it deems necessary or desirable in its discretion to comply with, take into account changes in, or interpretations of, applicable tax laws, securities laws, employment laws, accounting rules and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.
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