Company: DARE
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001401914-25-000014
Chunk: 67

Company: Dare Bioscience, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 67
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 to a participant. Upon settlement of restricted stock units which have vested, the participant will recognize ordinary income at the time(s) of settlement equal to the sum of the fair market value (on each settlement date) of any shares issued to the participant plus any cash received by the participant.

Income Tax Effects for the Company . We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the 2022 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant at the time the participant recognizes such income (for example, upon the exercise of an NQSO).

2025 Proxy Statement | Page 48

Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) . Code Section 162(m) generally does not allow a publicly-held corporation to claim a federal income tax deduction for compensation that exceeds $1 million paid in any tax year with respect to those persons who were/are our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and each of the other three most highly compensated officers for any fiscal year after December 31, 2016 (“Covered Employees”). It is impossible to be certain that all 2022 Plan awards or any other compensation paid by the Company to Covered Employees will be tax deductible. In order to maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner designed to promote corporate goals, the Board has not adopted a policy that all executive compensation must be tax deductible.

Internal Revenue Code Section 409A . Section 409A of the Code governs the federal income taxation of certain types of nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements. A violation of Section 409A of the Code generally results in an acceleration of the recognition of income of amounts intended to be deferred and the imposition of a federal excise tax of 20% on the employee over and above the income tax owed, plus possible penalties and interest. The types of arrangements covered by Section 409A of the Code are broad and may apply to certain awards available under the 2022 Plan (such as restricted stock units). The intent is for the 2022 Plan, including any awards available thereunder, to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable. As required by Code Section 409A, certain nonqualified deferred compensation payments to “specified employees” may be delayed to the seventh month after such employee’s separation from service.

Internal Revenue Code Section 280G . For certain employees, if a change in control of the Company causes an award to vest or become newly payable or if the award was granted within one year of a change in control of