Document

                        

9 METERS BIOPHARMA, INC. 
2022 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
 
2022 Stock Incentive Plan Approved by
the Board and Stockholders on May 4, 2022 and June 22, 2022, respectively
 
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel to serve as Employees, Directors or Consultants; to provide additional incentives to Employees, Directors and Consultants to contribute to the successful performance of the Company and any Related Entity; to promote the growth of the market value of the Company’s Common Stock; to align the interests of Participants with those of the Company’s stockholders; and to promote the success of the Company’s business. 
 
2. Definitions. The following definitions will apply as used herein and in all individual Award Agreements except as a term may be otherwise defined in an individual Award Agreement. In the event a term is separately defined in an individual Award Agreement, such definition will supersede the definition contained in this Section 2.
 
(a) “Administrator” means the Plan Administrator as described in Section 4.
 
(b) “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws, the corporate laws of Delaware, and, to the extent other than Delaware, the corporate law of the state of the Company’s incorporation, the Code, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.
 
(c) “Assumed” means, with respect to an Award, that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly affirmed as continuing in effect by the Company, or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed (and not simply by operation of law) by the successor entity or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities of the successor entity or its Parent subject to the Award and the exercise or purchase price thereof which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to assume the Award.
 
(d) “Award” means the grant of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Dividend Equivalent Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or other right or benefit under the Plan.
 
(e) “Award Agreement” means the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Participant, including any amendments thereto.
  
(f) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
(g) “Cause” means, with respect to the termination by the Company or a Related Entity of a Participant’s Continuous Service:
 
(i) that such termination is for “Cause” as such term (or word of like import) is expressly defined in a then-effective written employment agreement, consulting agreement, service agreement or other similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or such Related Entity, provided, however, that with regard to any agreement that defines “Cause” on the occurrence of or in connection with a Corporate Transaction, such definition of “Cause” will not apply until a Corporate Transaction actually occurs; or
 
(ii) in the absence of such then-effective written agreement and definition, is based on, in the determination of the Administrator: (A) the Participant’s performance of any act, or failure to perform any act, in bad faith and to the detriment of the Company or a Related Entity; (B) the Participant’s dishonesty, intentional misconduct or material breach of any agreement with the Company or a Related Entity; (C) the Participant’s material breach of any noncompetition, confidentiality or similar agreement with the Company or a Related Entity, as determined under such agreement; (D) the Participant’s commission of a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical or emotional harm to any person; (E) if the Participant is an Employee or Consultant, the Participant’s engaging in acts or omissions constituting gross negligence, misconduct or a willful violation of a Company or a Related Entity policy which is or is reasonably expected to be materially injurious to the Company and/or a Related Entity; or (F) if the Participant is an Employee, the Participant’s failure to follow the reasonable instructions of the Board or such Participant’s direct supervisor, which failure, if curable, is not cured within 10 days after notice to such Participant or, if cured, recurs within 180 days.
 
(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute.
 





                        

(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 4(a) below.
 
(j) “Common Stock” means the Company’s voting common stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
 
(k) “Company” means 9 Meters Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor entity that adopts the Plan in connection with a Corporate Transaction.
 
(l) “Consultant” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.
 
(m) “Continuous Service” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service will be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective under Applicable Laws. A Participant’s Continuous Service will be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Continuous Service or upon the entity for which the Participant provides services ceasing to be a Related Entity. Continuous Service will not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). An approved leave of absence for purposes of this Plan will include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave, so long as the Company or Related Entity has a reasonable expectation that the individual will return to provide services for the Company or Related Entity, and provided further that the leave does not exceed six months, unless the individual has a statutory or contractual right to re-employment following a longer leave. For purposes of each Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan, if such leave exceeds three months, and reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then the Incentive Stock Option will be treated as a Non-statutory Stock Option beginning on the day three months and one day following the expiration of such three month period.
  
(n) “Corporate Transaction” means any of the following transactions, provided, however, that the Administrator will determine under parts (ii), (iii) and (iv) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination will be final, binding and conclusive:
 
(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;
 
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in one or a series of related transactions;
 
(iii) any reverse merger or series of related transactions culminating in a reverse merger (including, but not limited to, a tender offer followed by a reverse merger) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the Shares outstanding immediately prior to such merger are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or (B) in which securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger or the initial transaction culminating in such merger; or
 
(iv) acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities; or
 
(v) the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
  
(o) “Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 21 of this Plan.
 
(p) “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.
 
(q) “Disability” means a “disability” (or word of like import) as defined under the long-term disability policy of the Company or the Related Entity to which the Participant provides services regardless of whether the Participant is covered by such policy. If the Company or the Related Entity to which the Participant 





                        

provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Participant is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Participant by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days. A Participant will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Administrator.
 
(r) “Disqualifying Disposition” means any disposition (including any sale) of Common Stock received upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option before either (i) two years after the date the Employee was granted the Incentive Stock Option, or (ii) one year after the date the Employee acquired Common Stock by exercising the Incentive Stock Option. If the Employee has died before such stock is sold, these holding period requirements do not apply and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur thereafter.
 
(s) “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right entitling the Participant to compensation measured by dividends paid with respect to Common Stock.
 
(t) “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 15 below.
 
(u) “Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity, subject to the control and direction of the Company or any Related Entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity to an individual will not be sufficient to make such individual an “Employee” of the Company or a Related Entity.
 
(v) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
(w) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows.
 
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market, or The NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Common Stock is listed (as determined by the Administrator) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
  
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC markets and systems maintained by OTC Markets Group Inc.) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
 
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value thereof will be determined by the Administrator in good faith by application of a reasonable valuation method consistently applied and taking into consideration all available information material to the value of the Company in a manner in compliance with Section 409A, or in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, in a manner in compliance with Section 422 of the Code.
 
(x) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
 
(y) “Non-statutory Stock Option” means an Option that either (i) is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, or (ii) fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
 
(z) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
(aa) “Option” means an option to purchase one or more Shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the Plan.
 





                        

(bb) “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
 
(cc) “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.
 
(dd) “Performance Award” means an Award under the Plan in which the vesting or other realization of the Award by a Participant is subject to the achievement of certain performance criteria over the course of a Performance Period, all as determined by the Administrator in accordance with Section 8 below.
 
(ee) “Performance Period” means the time period established by the Administrator during which specified performance criteria must be met in connection with a Performance Award as described in Section 8 below.
  
(ff) “Plan” means this 9 Meters Biopharma, Inc. 2022 Stock Incentive Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time.
 
(gg) “Post-Termination Exercise Period” means the period specified in the Award Agreement of not less than 30 days commencing on the date of termination (other than termination by the Company or any Related Entity for Cause) of the Participant’s Continuous Service, or such longer period as may be applicable upon death or Disability.
 
(hh) “Prior Plan” means the Company’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended.  Although no new awards may be granted under the Prior Plan as of its expiration on April 30, 2022, awards issued under the Prior Plan that are outstanding as of the Effective Date will remain in effect subject to the terms and conditions of the Prior Plan and the applicable award agreements.
 
(ii) “Related Entity” means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
 
(jj) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued under the Plan to the Participant for such consideration, if any, and subject to such restrictions on transfer, rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, and other terms and conditions as established by the Administrator.
 
(kk) “Restricted Stock Units” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon the passage of time or the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of cash, Shares or other securities as established by the Administrator.
 
(ll) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, and includes any successor provisions thereto.
 
(mm) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award entitling the Participant to Shares or cash compensation, as established by the Administrator, measured by appreciation in the value of Common Stock.
 
(nn) “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, the Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder by the United States Department of the Treasury (whether issued before or after the Effective Date), and all state laws of similar effect.
 
(oo) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock.
 
(pp) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
 
(qq) “Tax Obligations” means all federal, state, local, and foreign income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, or other tax-related liabilities related to a Participant’s participation in the Plan and the receipt of any benefits hereunder, as determined under the Applicable Laws.
  
3. Stock Subject to the Plan.
 
(a) Subject to adjustment as described in Section 13 below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards is the sum of (i) 12,000,000 Shares and (ii) the number of Shares underlying any award granted under the Prior Plan that expires, terminates, or is canceled or forfeited under the terms of the Prior Plan without such Shares having been issued. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.





                        

 
(b) Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 13, no more than 12,000,000 Shares may be issued in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.
 
(c) Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) will be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, except that the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed the number specified in Section 3(b). Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are forfeited or repurchased by the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan.
 
(d) In the event any Option or other Award granted under the Plan is exercised through the tendering of Shares (either actually or through attestation), or in the event tax withholding obligations are satisfied by tendering or withholding Shares, any Shares so tendered or withheld will not again be available for Awards under the Plan. To the extent that cash is delivered in lieu of Shares upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to Section 6(l), the Company will be deemed, for purposes of applying the limitation on the number of shares, to have issued the total number of Shares which were otherwise issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding that cash was issued in lieu of such Shares. Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Options will not be available for Awards under the Plan.
 
(e) During the term of the Plan, the Company will at all times reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
 
4. Administration of the Plan.
 
(a) Plan Administrator.
 
(i) Administration with Respect to Directors and Officers. With respect to grants of Awards to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee will be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws and to permit such grants and related transactions under the Plan to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Once appointed, such Committee will continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.
  
(ii) Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees. With respect to grants of Awards to Employees or Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee will be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws and may or may not be composed of members of the Board. Once appointed, such Committee will continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.
 
(b) Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan may be administered by different bodies with respect to Directors, Officers, Consultants, and Employees who are neither Directors nor Officers.
 
(c) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the Applicable Laws, the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
 
(i) to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder;
 
(ii) to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;
 
(iii) to determine the number of Shares or the amount of other consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
 
(iv) determine the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to all Awards under the Plan;
 
(v) to determine the type, terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder;
 
(vi) to accelerate vesting on any Award or to waive any forfeiture restrictions applicable thereto or to waive any other limitation or restriction with respect to an Award;





                        

 
(vii) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
 
(viii) to establish additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures to accommodate the rules or laws of applicable non-U.S. jurisdictions and to afford Participants favorable treatment under such rules or laws; provided, however, that no Award will be granted under any such additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures with terms or conditions which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan;
 
(ix) to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that any amendment that would materially adversely affect the Participant’s rights under an outstanding Award will not be made without the Participant’s written consent; provided, however, that an amendment or modification that may cause an Incentive Stock Option to become a Non-statutory Stock Option will not be treated as adversely affecting the rights of the Participant;
  
(x) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards, including without limitation, any notice of Award or Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan;
 
(xi) to make other determinations as provided in this Plan; and
 
(xii) to take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.
 
The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Administrator will not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Administrator; provided that the Administrator may not exercise any right or power reserved to the Board. Any decision made, or action taken, by the Administrator or in connection with the administration of this Plan will be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan.
 
(d) Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity, members of the Board and any Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity to whom authority to act for the Board, the Administrator or the Company is delegated will be defended and indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law on an after-tax basis against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to such liabilities, costs, and expenses as may arise out of, or result from, the bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or criminal acts of such persons; provided, however, that within 30 days after the institution of such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, such person will offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at the Company’s expense to defend the same.
 
5. Eligibility. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors, and Consultants of the Company or any Related Entity. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Related Entity. An Employee, Director, or Consultant who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards. Awards may be granted to such Employees, Directors, or Consultants who are residing in non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Administrator may determine from time to time.
  
6. Terms and Conditions of Awards.
 
(a) Types of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award any type of arrangement to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, or similar right with a fixed or variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares and with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions. Such Awards include, without limitation, Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Rights. An Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two or more of them in any combination or alternative.
 
(b) Designation of Award. Each Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrator. The type of each Award will be designated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Option, the Option will be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-statutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, any portion of an Option designated as an Incentive Stock 





                        

Option that exceeds the $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code will be treated as a Non-statutory Stock Option. The $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is calculated based on the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which become exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Related Entity). For purposes of this calculation, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the grant date of the relevant Option. Any Option granted which fails to satisfy the requirements of the Applicable Laws for treatment as an Incentive Stock Option will be a Non-statutory Stock Option.
 
(c) Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator will determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria that may be established by the Administrator.
 
(d) Term of Award. The term of each Award will be the term stated in the Award Agreement as determined by the Administrator, provided, however, that the term of any Option will be no more than 10 years from the date of grant thereof, and provided further that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Entity, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be no more than five years from the date of grant thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the specified term of any Award will not include any period for which the Participant has elected to defer the receipt of the Shares or cash issuable pursuant to the Award.
  
(e) Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator.
 
(f) Notice to Company of Disqualifying Disposition. Each Employee who receives an Incentive Stock Option must agree to notify the Company in writing immediately after the Employee makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
 
(g) Acquisitions and Other Transactions. The Administrator may issue Awards under the Plan in settlement, assumption or substitution for, outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards in connection with the Company or a Related Entity acquiring another entity, an interest in another entity or an additional interest in a Related Entity whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or other form of transaction.
 
(h) Deferral of Award Payment. The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.
 
(i) Separate Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Participants on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.
 
(j) Early Exercise. An Award Agreement may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Participant may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or Consultant to exercise any part or all of the Award prior to full vesting of the Award. Any unvested Shares received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or a Related Entity or to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
 
(k) Transferability of Awards. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, no Award may be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries of the Participant’s Award in the event of the Participant’s death on a beneficiary designation form provided by the Administrator.
 
(l) Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted (i) with respect to any Option granted under this Plan, either concurrently with the grant of such Option or at such later time as determined by the Administrator (as to all or any portion of the Shares subject to the Option), or (ii) alone, without reference to any related Option. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted by the Administrator under this Plan will be subject to 





                        

the following terms and conditions. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted to any Participant will relate to such number of Shares as determined by the Administrator, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13. In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to an Option, the number of Shares to which the Stock Appreciation Right pertains will be reduced in the same proportion that the holder of the Option exercises the related Option. The exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Administrator at the date of grant but may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject thereto on the date of grant. Subject to the right of the Administrator to deliver cash in lieu of Shares (which, as it pertains to Officers and Directors of the Company, will comply with all requirements of the Exchange Act), the number of Shares which issuable upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by dividing:
  
(i) the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised multiplied by the amount of the appreciation in such Shares (for this purpose, the “appreciation” will be the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right on the exercise date exceeds (A) in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option, the exercise price of the Shares under the Option or (B) in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted alone, without reference to a related Option, an amount determined by the Administrator at the time of grant, subject to adjustment under Section 13); by
 
(ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the exercise date.
 
In lieu of issuing Shares upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Administrator may elect to pay the holder of the Stock Appreciation Right cash equal to the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of any or all of the Shares which would otherwise be issuable. No fractional Shares will be issued upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right; instead, the holder of the Stock Appreciation Right will be entitled to receive a cash adjustment equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the exercise date or to purchase the portion necessary to make a whole share at its Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. The exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option will be permitted only to the extent that the Option is exercisable under its terms on the date of surrender. Any Incentive Stock Option surrendered pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6(l) will be deemed to have been converted into a Non-statutory Stock Option immediately prior to such surrender.
 
7. Award Exercise or Purchase Price.
 
(a) Exercise or Purchase Price. The exercise or purchase price, if any, for an Award will be as follows.
 
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:
 
(1) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Entity, the per Share exercise price will be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or
 
(2) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
  
(ii) In the case of a Non-statutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
 
(iii) In the case of other Awards, such price as is determined by the Administrator.
 
(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), in the case of an Award issued pursuant to Section 6(g) above, the exercise or purchase price for the Award will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the relevant instrument evidencing the agreement to issue such Award and the Applicable Laws.
 
(b) Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise or purchase of an Award, including the method of payment, will be determined by the Administrator. In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for Shares issued under the Plan the following:
 
(i) cash;
 
(ii) check;
 





                        

(iii) surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Administrator may require which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award is exercised;
 
(iv) with respect to Options, payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Participant (A) provides written instructions to a broker-dealer acceptable to the Company to effect the immediate sale of some or all of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares and (B) provides written directives to the Company to deliver the certificates (or other evidence satisfactory to the Company to the extent that the Shares are uncertificated) for the purchased Shares directly to such broker-dealer in order to complete the sale transaction;
 
(v) with respect to Options, payment through a “net exercise” such that, without the payment of any funds, the Participant may exercise the Option and receive the net number of Shares equal to (i) the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Fair Market Value per Share (on such date as is determined by the Administrator) less the Exercise Price per Share, and the denominator of which is such Fair Market Value per Share;
 
(vi) past or future services actually or to be rendered to the Company or a Related Entity; or
 
(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
  
The Administrator may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by amendment to the standard forms of Award Agreement described in Section 4(c)(vii), or by other means, grant Awards which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment for the Shares or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
 
8. Performance Awards.
 
(a) Grant of Performance Awards. The Administrator may issue Performance Awards under the Plan in accordance with this Section 8. Performance Awards may be Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or any other form of Award permitted pursuant to the Plan.
 
(b) Award Agreement for Performance Awards. Any Award intended to be a Performance Award pursuant to this Section 8 will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Shares covered by the Award, the applicable performance criteria, the duration of the Performance Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, payment of the Award to a Participant will occur following the end of the Performance Period, or if later, the date on which any applicable contingency or restriction has ended.
 
(c) Performance Criteria. The performance criteria for any Performance Awards will be established by the Administrator and may include, but are not limited to, any one of, or combination of, the following criteria:
 
(i) Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes);
 
(ii) Earnings per share;
 
(iii) Net sales growth;
 
(iv) Net operating profit;
 
(v) Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity, or sales);
 
(vi) Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital);
 
(vii) Cash flow per share;
 
(viii) Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization;
 
(ix) Gross or operating margins;
 
(x) Productivity ratios;
  





                        

(xi) Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return);
 
(xii) Expense targets or ratios;
 
(xiii) Charge-off levels;
 
(xiv) Improvement in or attainment of revenue levels;
 
(xv) Margins;
 
(xvi) Operating efficiency;
 
(xvii) Operating expenses;
 
(xviii) Economic value added;
 
(xix) Improvement in or attainment of expense levels;
 
(xx) Improvement in or attainment of working capital levels;
 
(xxi) Debt reduction;
 
(xxii) Capital targets;
 
(xxiii) Consummation of acquisitions, dispositions, projects or other specific events or transactions; or
 
(xxiv) Other significant operational or business milestones.
 
(d) Determination of Performance Criteria. Performance criteria may be measured on an absolute (e.g., plan or budget) or relative basis, and may be established on a corporate-wide basis or with respect to one or more business units, divisions, subsidiaries or business segments, or may be established on an individual basis. Relative performance may be measured against a group of peer companies, a financial market index or other acceptable objective and quantifiable indices. If the Administrator determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which the Company conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the performance objectives unsuitable, the Administrator may modify the minimum acceptable level of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Administrator deems appropriate and equitable. Performance objectives may be adjusted for material items not originally contemplated in establishing the performance target for items resulting from discontinued operations, extraordinary gains and losses, the effect of changes in accounting standards or principles, acquisitions or divestitures, changes in tax rules or regulations, capital transactions, restructuring, nonrecurring gains or losses or unusual items. Performance measures may vary from Performance Award to Performance Award, and from Participant to Participant, and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative. The Administrator will have the authority to impose such other restrictions on as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that Performance Awards satisfy all requirements of the Applicable Laws.
  
(e) Administrator Certification of Achievement of Performance Criteria. Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Administrator will determine whether the applicable performance criteria have been achieved for the Performance Awards for such Performance Period. In determining the amounts earned by a Participant pursuant to an Award issued pursuant to this Section 8, the Administrator will have the right to (i) adjust the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Administrator may deem relevant to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period, (ii) determine what actual Award, if any, will be paid in the event of a Corporate Transaction or in the event of a termination of employment following a Corporate Transaction prior to the end of the Performance Period, and (iii) determine what actual Award, if any, will be paid in the event of a termination of employment other than as the result of a Participant’s death or Disability prior to a Corporate Transaction and prior to the end of the Performance Period.
 
9. Tax Withholding.
 
(a) Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or the exercise thereof), or at such other time as the Tax Obligations are due, the Company, in accordance with the Code and any Applicable Laws, will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all Tax Obligations. The Administrator may condition such delivery, payment, or other event pursuant to an Award on the payment by the Participant of any such Tax Obligations.





                        

 
(b) The Administrator, pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may designate the method or methods by which a Participant may satisfy the Tax Obligations. As determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion from time to time, these methods may include one or more of the following:
 
(i) paying cash;
 
(ii) directing the Company withhold cash or Shares deliverable to the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld;
 
(iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld or remitted, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences as the Administrator determines;
 
(iv) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the Tax Obligations required to be withheld;
 
(v) retaining from salary or other amounts payable to the Participant cash having a sufficient value to satisfy the Tax Obligations; or
 
(vi) any other means which the Administrator determines to both comply with Applicable Laws, and to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.
  
The amount of Tax Obligations will be deemed to include any amount that the Administrator determines may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state, local and foreign marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant or the Company, as applicable, with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax or social insurance liability to be withheld or remitted is to be determined. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the Tax Obligations are required to be withheld.
 
10. Rights As a Stockholder.
 
(a) Restricted Stock. Except as otherwise provided in any Award Agreement, a Participant will not have any rights of a stockholder with respect to any of the Shares granted to the Participant under an Award of Restricted Stock (including the right to vote or receive dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect thereto). No dividends or Dividend Equivalent Rights will be paid in respect of any unvested Award of Restricted Stock, unless and until such Shares vest.
 
(b) Other Awards. In the case of Awards other than Restricted Stock, a Participant will not have any rights of a stockholder, nor will dividends or Dividend Equivalent Rights accrue or be paid, with respect to any of the Shares granted pursuant to such Award until the Award is exercised or settled and the Shares are delivered (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).
 
11. Exercise of Award.
 
(a) Procedure for Exercise.
 
(i) Any Award granted hereunder will be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the terms of the Plan and as specified in the Award Agreement.
 
(ii) An Award will be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award Agreement by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been made in compliance with the terms of the Award Agreement and the Plan.
 
(b) Exercise of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service. In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason other than Disability or death, such Participant may, but only during the Post-Termination Exercise Period (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Award), exercise the portion of the Participant’s Award that was vested at the date of such termination (or such greater portion of the Participant’s Award as may be determined by the Administrator). Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant’s right to exercise the Award will terminate concurrently with the termination of Participant’s Continuous Service for Cause. In the event of a Participant’s change of status from 





                        

Employee to Consultant, an Employee’s Incentive Stock Option will convert automatically to a Non-statutory Stock Option on the day three months and one day following such change of status. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the unvested portion of a Participant’s Award will terminate as of the date of termination. In addition, if the Participant does not exercise the vested portion of the Participant’s Award within the Post-Termination Exercise Period, the Award will terminate upon the conclusion of the Post-Termination Exercise Period.
  
(c) Disability of Participant. In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her Disability, such Participant may, but only within 12 months from the date of such termination (or such longer period as specified in the Award Agreement but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement), exercise the portion of the Participant’s Award that was vested at the date of such termination; provided, however, that if such Disability is not a “disability” as such term is defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option such Incentive Stock Option will automatically convert to a Non-statutory Stock Option on the day three months and one day following such termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the unvested portion of a Participant’s Award will terminate as of the date of such termination. In addition, if the Participant does not exercise the vested portion of the Participant’s Award within the period specified in the Award Agreement following such termination, the Award will terminate upon the conclusion of such period.
 
(d) Death of Participant. In the event of a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her death, or in the event of the death of the Participant during the Post-Termination Exercise Period or during the 12 month period following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service as a result of his or her Disability, the Participant’s estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance may exercise the portion of the Participant’s Award that was vested as of the date of termination, within 12 months from the date of death (or such longer period as specified in the Award Agreement but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement). Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the unvested portion of a Participant’s Award will terminate as of the date of the Participant’s death. In addition, if the Participant’s estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the vested portion of the Participant’s Award within the period specified in the Award Agreement following the Participant’s death, the Award will terminate upon the conclusion of such period.
 
(e) Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of an Award within the applicable time periods set forth in this Section 11 is prevented by the provisions of Section 12 below, the Award will remain exercisable until one month after the date the Participant is notified by the Company that the Award is exercisable, but in any event no later than the expiration of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement.
  
12. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares; Manner of Issuance of Shares.
 
(a) Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award unless the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws. If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Shares pursuant to the exercise, vesting or any other provision of an Award is or may be unlawful under Applicable Laws, the vesting or right to exercise an Award or to otherwise receive Shares pursuant to the terms of an Award will be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The Company will have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Shares under any Applicable Law.
 
(b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any Applicable Laws.
 
(c) Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority has not been obtained.
 
(d) Form of Issuance of Shares. Subject to the Applicable Laws and any governing rules or regulations, the Company will issue or cause to be issued the Shares acquired pursuant to an Award and will deliver such Shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following as determined by the Administrator: (i) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry Shares credited to the account of the Participant, (ii) by depositing such Shares for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (iii) by delivering such Shares to the Participant in certificate form.
 





                        

(e) Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares will be issued pursuant to any Award under the Plan; any Participant who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a Share upon exercise or vesting of an Award will receive from the Company cash in lieu of such fractional Shares in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such fractional Shares, as determined by the Administrator.
 
13. Adjustments. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment will be proportionately adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or similar transaction affecting the Shares, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (iii) any other transaction with respect to the Company’s Common Stock including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment will be made by the Administrator and its determination will be final, binding and conclusive. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, will affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof will be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award. No adjustments will be made for dividends paid in cash or in property other than Common Stock of the Company, nor will cash dividends or dividend equivalents accrue or be paid in respect of unexercised Options or unvested Awards hereunder.
  
14. Corporate Transactions.
 
(a) Termination of Awards to Extent Not Assumed in Corporate Transaction. Effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding Awards under the Plan will terminate, except that Awards will not terminate to the extent they are Assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction.
 
(b) Effect of a Corporate Transaction. The Administrator may establish such terms and conditions relating to the effect of a Corporate Transaction on Awards as the Administrator deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, determining that: (i) one or more Awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction, and, to the extent the Administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Corporate Transaction; (ii) Awards will be Assumed by, or replaced with awards that have substantially equivalent terms by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation); (iii) Participants will receive a payment in satisfaction of outstanding Awards of Restricted Stock Units or of other rights or benefits, in such amount and form as may be determined by the Administrator; (iv) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights be terminated or surrendered, in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash or other property as determined by the Administrator, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and Stock Appreciation Rights exceeds the exercise price (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Administrator determines in good faith that as of the date of the occurrence of the Corporate Transaction the per share Fair Market Value of the Shares does not exceed the per share exercise price of a given Award, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), and (v) after giving Participants an opportunity to exercise all of their outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the Administrator may terminate any or all unexercised Options and Stock Appreciation Rights at such time as the Administrator deems appropriate. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 14(b), the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly. Such action(s) by the Administrator will take place as of the date of the Corporate Transaction or such other date as the Administrator may specify.
 
(c) Effect of Acceleration on Incentive Stock Options. Any Incentive Stock Option accelerated under this Section 14 in connection with a Corporate Transaction will remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded.
  
15. Effective Date and Term of Plan; Stockholder Approval.
 
(a) This Plan became effective upon its adoption by the Board on May 4, 2022 (the “Effective Date”). The Plan will continue in effect for a period of 10 years from the Effective Date unless sooner terminated, subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company as described in Section 15(c) below.
 
(b) The expiration of the Plan will not have the effect of terminating any Awards outstanding on such date, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement.





                        

 
(c) The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within 12 months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
 
16. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.
 
(a) The Board may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan, or amend the Plan in any respect, except that it may not, without the approval of the stockholders obtained within 12 months before or after the Board adopts a resolution authorizing any of the following actions, do any of the following:
 
(i) increase the total number of shares that may be issued under the Plan (except by adjustment pursuant to Section 13);
 
(ii) modify the provisions of Section 6 regarding eligibility for grants of Incentive Stock Options;
 
(iii) modify the provisions of Section 7(a) regarding the exercise price at which shares may be offered pursuant to Options (except by adjustment pursuant to Section 13); or
 
(iv) extend the expiration date of the Plan.
 
(b) Except as provided in Section 13 (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the Company may not, without approval by the Company’s stockholders, (i) lower the exercise price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) cancel an Option or Stock Appreciation Right when the exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of a Share in exchange for cash or another Award, or (iii) take any other action with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that would be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed.
  
(c) No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan. No suspension or termination of the Plan will adversely affect any rights under Awards already granted to a Participant without his or her consent.
 
17. No Effect on Terms of Employment/Consulting Relationship. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon any Participant any right with respect to the Participant’s Continuous Service, nor will either interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the right of the Company or a Related Entity to terminate the Participant’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without Cause, and with or without notice. The ability of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the employment of a Participant who is employed on an “at will” basis is in no way affected by its determination that the Participant’s Continuous Service has been terminated for Cause for the purposes of this Plan.
 
18. No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans. Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity, Awards will not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Related Entity, and will not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. The Plan is not a “Retirement Plan” or “Welfare Plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
 
19. Information to Participants. The Company will provide to each Participant, during the period for which such Participant has one or more Awards outstanding, such information as required by Applicable Laws.
 
20. Electronic Delivery. The Administrator may decide to deliver any documents related to any Award granted under the Plan through an online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company or to request a Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By accepting an Award, each Participant consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company, and such consent will remain in effect throughout Participant’s Continuous Service with the Company and any Related Entity and thereafter until withdrawn in writing by Participant.
 
21. Data Privacy. The Administrator may decide to collect, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, personal data as described in this Plan or any Award for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing participation in the Plan. By accepting an Award, each Participant acknowledges that the Company holds 





                        

certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, details of all Awards awarded, cancelled, exercised, vested or unvested, for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (the “Data”). Each Participant further acknowledges that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan and that these third parties may be located in jurisdictions that may have different data privacy laws and protections, and Participant authorizes such third parties to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the recipient or the Company may elect to deposit any Shares acquired upon any Award.
  
22. Application of Section 409A. This Plan and the Awards granted hereunder will be construed and administered such that the Awards either qualify for an exemption from the application of Section 409A or satisfy the requirements of Section 409A. If an Award is subject to Section 409A: (i) distributions will only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted under Section 409A, (ii) payments to be made upon a termination of employment will only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A, (iii) payments to be made upon a Corporate Transaction will only be made upon an event that qualifies as a “change of control event” under Section 409A (without giving effect to any elective provisions permitted thereunder), and (iv) in no event will a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made, except in accordance with Section 409A. Each payment in any series of installment payments under an Award will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Any Award granted under this Plan that is subject to Section 409A and that is to be distributed to a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A) upon a separation from service will be administered so that any distribution with respect to such Award will be postponed for six months following the date of the Participant’s separation from service, if required by Section 409A. If a distribution is so delayed pursuant to Section 409A, the distribution will be paid within 30 days after the end of the six-month period or the Participant’s death, if earlier. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures, or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (A) exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (B) comply with the requirements of Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, each Participant will be solely responsible for the tax consequences of Awards, and in no event will the Company have any responsibility or liability if an Award does not meet any applicable requirements of Section 409A. Although the Company intends to administer the Plan to avoid taxation under Section 409A, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Plan or any Award is exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A.
 
23. Unfunded Obligation. Participants will have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan will be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Neither the Company nor any Related Entity will be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company will retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account will not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Administrator, the Company or any Related Entity and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of the Company or a Related Entity. The Participants will have no claim against the Company or any Related Entity for any changes in the value of any assets that may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
 
24. Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and will not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.