Company: AAOI
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-019126
Chunk: 94

Company: APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 94
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 with Section 409A. Any such amendment or modification made to avoid the imposition of adverse taxation under Section 409A will be deemed not to materially adversely impact the Participant.

(E) The right to any dividends or Dividend Equivalents declared and paid on the number of shares underlying an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right may not be contingent, directly or indirectly, on the exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right and must otherwise comply with or qualify for an exemption under Section 409A. In addition, the right to any

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

**dividends or Dividend Equivalents declared and paid on Restricted Stock must comply with or qualify for an exemption under Section 409A.

11. Restrictions on Transfer of Awards and Common Stock**

#### .

(a)

#### No Transfer of Awards
#### .

A Participant may not Transfer an Award or interest in an Award other than (i) Transfers on Participant’s death by will or by the Applicable Laws of descent and distribution, and (ii) Transfers of vested shares of Common Stock after the period of restrictions have lapsed or been removed and the shares have been issued to the Participant, and subject to compliance with the Company’s policies on trading in Company securities and Applicable Laws. In general, during a Participant’s lifetime, only the Participant granted the Award may exercise the Award or purchase the shares under the Award. The Administrator may permit the Transfer of an Award or an interest in an Award if that Transfer complies with all Applicable Laws, such as a transfer to a trust if the Participant is considered the sole beneficial owner of the trust (as determined under Applicable Laws) or pursuant to a court-endorsed domestic relations order in a format acceptable to the Administrator.

(b)

#### Refusal to Transfer
#### .

The Company will not be required (i) to Transfer on its books any shares of Common Stock that have been purportedly Transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Plan, or (ii) to treat as owner of the shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom the shares have purportedly been so Transferred. In general, any Transfer or purported Transfer of an Award or of shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan in violation of the Plan will be null and void, will have no force or effect.

12.

#### Changes to Company’s Common Stock.
(a) If the Company undertakes a stock dividend,