EXHIBIT 10.14

 

CORTENDO PLC

2015 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

 

The purpose of the Cortendo plc 2015 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide (i) designated employees of Cortendo plc (the “Company”) and its parents and subsidiaries; (ii) certain consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or its parents or subsidiaries; and (iii) non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) with the opportunity to receive grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options and stock awards.  The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby benefitting the Company’s shareholders, and will align the economic interests of the participants with those of the shareholders.

 

1.                                      Administration

 

(a)                                 Committee.  The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Board or by a committee consisting of members of the Board, which shall be appointed by the Board.  After an initial public offering of the Company’s stock as described in Section 19(b) (a “Public Offering”), the Plan shall be administered by a committee of Board members, which may consist of “outside directors” as defined under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and related Treasury regulations, and “non-employee directors” as defined under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  The Board, however, may ratify or approve any grants as it deems appropriate, and the Board shall approve and administer all grants made to non-employee directors.  The committee may delegate authority to one or more subcommittees as it deems appropriate.  To the extent that a committee or subcommittee administers the Plan, references in the Plan to the “Board” shall be deemed to refer to the committee or subcommittee.

 

(b)                                 Board Authority.  The Board shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom grants shall be made under the Plan; (ii) determine the type, size, and terms of the grants to be made to each such individual; (iii) determine the time when the grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability; (iv) amend the terms of any previously issued grant; (v) accelerate the vesting, exercisability, or lapse of any forfeiture condition with respect to an Award; and (vi) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Board Determinations.  The Board shall have full power and authority to administer, construe and interpret the Plan, correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement, make factual determinations and adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements, and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion.  The Board’s interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Board pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any awards granted hereunder.  All powers of the Board shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated individuals.

 











 

(d)                                 Limitation of Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no member of the Board shall be liable for any action taken or decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder. The Board may employ counsel, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Board, the Company, and the officers and directors of the Company shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons.

 

2.                                      Awards

 

Awards under the Plan may consist of grants of incentive stock options as described in Section 5 (“Incentive Stock Options”), nonqualified stock options as described in Section 5 (“Nonqualified Stock Options”) (Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options are collectively referred to as “Options”), as stock awards as described in Section 6 (“Stock Awards”), and restricted stock units as described in Section 6 (“RSUs”) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Awards”).  All Awards shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Board deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Board to the individual in a grant instrument or an amendment to the grant instrument (the “Award Agreement”).  The Board shall approve the form and provisions of each Award Agreement.  Awards under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the grantees.

 

3.                                      Shares Subject to the Plan

 

(a)                                 Shares Authorized.  Subject to adjustment as described below, the aggregate number of ordinary shares of par value US$0.01 each of the Company (“Company Stock”) that may be issued or transferred under the Plan is 1,081,818 (the “Share Pool”) and the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the Plan under Incentive Stock Options is 1,081,818.  After a Public Offering, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that shall be subject to Awards made under the Plan to any individual during any calendar year shall be 454,545 shares, subject to adjustment as described below.  The shares may be authorized but unissued shares of Company Stock or reacquired shares of Company Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 Automatic Share Pool Increase. The Share Pool shall be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning with the 2016 fiscal year, in an amount equal to four percent (4.0%) of the outstanding shares of Company Stock on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year.

 

(c)                                  Adjustments to Share Pool. The Share Pool shall be reduced, on the date of grant, by one share for each Award granted under the Plan; provided that Awards that are valued by reference to shares of Company Stock but are required to be paid in cash pursuant to their terms shall not reduce the Share Pool. If and to the extent Options terminate, expire, or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged, or surrendered without having been exercised, or if any Stock Awards or RSUs (including restricted stock received upon the exercise of Options) are forfeited, the shares of Company Stock subject to such Awards shall again be available for Awards under the Share Pool. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shares of Company Stock shall not become available for issuance under the Plan: (A) shares tendered by Grantees, or withheld by the Company, as full or partial payment to the Company upon the exercise of stock options granted under the Plan; and (B) shares withheld by, or otherwise remitted to, the Company to 

 

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satisfy a Grantee’s tax withholding obligations upon the lapse of restrictions on Stock Awards or the exercise of Options granted under the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Adjustments.  If there is any change in the number or kind of shares of Company Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spinoff, recapitalization, stock split, or combination or exchange of shares; (ii) by reason of a merger, reorganization, or consolidation; (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in par value; or (iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock available for Awards, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that any individual participating in the Plan may be granted in any year, the number of shares covered by outstanding Awards, the kind of shares issued under the Plan, and the price per share of such Awards shall be adjusted by the Board to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, issued shares of Company Stock to preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such Awards; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated.  Any adjustments determined by the Board shall be final, binding, and conclusive.

 

4.                                      Eligibility for Participation

 

(a)                                 Eligible Persons.  All employees of the Company and its parents or subsidiaries (“Employees”), including Employees who are officers or members of the Board, and members of the Board who are not Employees (“Non-Employee Directors”) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.  Consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries (“Key Advisors”) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors render bona fide services to the Company or its parents or subsidiaries, the services are not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and the Key Advisors do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

 

(b)                                 Selection of Grantees.  The Board shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors, and Key Advisors to receive Awards and shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to a particular Award in such manner as the Board determines.  Employees, Key Advisors, and Non-Employee Directors who receive Awards under the Plan shall hereinafter be referred to as “Grantees.”

 

5.                                      Granting of Options

 

The Company may grant Options to purchase shares of Company Stock to Employees, Non-Employee Directors, and Key Advisors.  The following provisions are applicable to Options.

 

(a)                                 Number of Shares.  The Board shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock that shall be subject to each Award of Options.

 

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(b)                                 Type of Option and Price.

 

(i)                                     The Board may grant Incentive Stock Options that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or Nonqualified Stock Options that do not qualify as Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or its parents or subsidiaries, as defined in section 424 of the Code.

 

(ii)                                  The purchase price (the “Exercise Price”) of Company Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Board and may be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a share of Company Stock on the date the Option is granted.  An Incentive Stock Option may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of Company Stock on the date of grant.

 

(iii)                               If the Company Stock is publicly traded, the Fair Market Value per share shall be determined as follows: (x) if the principal trading market for the Company Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, the last reported sale price thereof on the relevant date or (if there were no trades on that date) the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported, or (y) if the Company Stock is not principally traded on such exchange or market, the mean between the last reported “bid” and “asked” prices of Company Stock on the relevant date, as reported on Nasdaq or, if not so reported, as reported by the National Daily Quotation Bureau, Inc. or as reported in a customary financial reporting service, as applicable and as the Board determines.

 

(iv)                              If the Company Stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not subject to reported transactions or “bid” or “asked” quotations as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share shall be as determined by the Board.  The Board shall determine the Fair Market Value based upon the application of a reasonable valuation method that considers all material information available to the Board.  The Board may engage outside advisors, valuation experts and counsel to assist the Board in making a determination of Fair Market Value for purpose of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Option Term.  The Board shall determine the term of each Option.  The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  An Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, however, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant.

 

(d)                                 Exercisability of Options.  Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be determined by the Board and specified in the Award Agreement.  The Board may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.  The Board may provide in an Award Agreement that the Grantee may elect to exercise part or all of an Option before it otherwise has become exercisable.  Any shares so purchased shall be restricted shares and shall be subject to a 

 

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repurchase right in favor of the Company during a specified restriction period, with the repurchase price equal to the lesser of (A) the Exercise Price or (B) the Fair Market Value of such shares at the time of repurchase, and (C) any other restrictions determined by the Company.

 

(e)                                  Termination of Employment, Disability, or Death.

 

(i)                                     Except as provided below, an Option may only be exercised while the Grantee is employed by, or providing service to, the Employer (as defined below) as an Employee, Key Advisor, or member of the Board.  In the event that a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer for any reason other than Disability, death, or termination for Cause, any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term.  Except as otherwise provided by the Board or in the Award Agreement, any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer shall terminate as of such date.

 

(ii)                                  In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer on account of a termination for Cause by the Employer, any Option held by the Grantee shall terminate as of the date the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer.  In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 5, if the Board determines that the Grantee has engaged in conduct that constitutes Cause at any time while the Grantee is employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or after the Grantee’s termination of employment or service, any Option held by the Grantee shall immediately terminate, and the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share certificates, upon refund by the Company of the Exercise Price paid by the Grantee for such shares.  Upon any exercise of an Option, the Company may withhold delivery of share certificates pending resolution of an inquiry that could lead to a finding resulting in a forfeiture.

 

(iii)                               In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer because the Grantee is Disabled, any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term.  Except as otherwise provided by the Board, any of the Grantee’s Options which are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer shall terminate as of such date.

 

(iv)                              If the Grantee dies while employed by, or providing service to, the Employer or within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed or provide service on account of a termination specified in Section 5(f)(i) above (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), any Option that is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Board), but in any event no later than the date of 

 

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expiration of the Option term. Except as otherwise provided by the Board, any of the Grantee’s Options that are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer shall terminate as of such date.

 

(v)                                 For purposes of this Plan:

 

(A)                               The term “Employer” shall mean the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations or other entities, as determined by the Board.

 

(B)                               “Employed by, or provide service to, the Employer” shall mean employment or service as an Employee, Key Advisor, or member of the Board (so that, for purposes of exercising Options and satisfying conditions with respect to Stock Awards or RSUs, a Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the Grantee ceases to be an Employee, Key Advisor, or member of the Board), unless the Board determines otherwise.

 

(C)                               “Disability” shall mean a Grantee’s becoming disabled within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Code, within the meaning of the Employer’s long-term disability plan applicable to the Grantee, or as otherwise determined by the Board.

 

(D)                               “Cause” shall mean, except to the extent specified otherwise by the Board or as defined in any other agreement between the Grantee and the Company, a finding by the Board that the Grantee has (i) been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude; (ii) disclosed trade secrets or confidential information of the Employer to persons not entitled to receive such information; (iii) breached any written noncompetition or nonsolicitation agreement between the Grantee and the Employer; or (iv) engaged in willful and continued negligence in the performance of the duties assigned to the Grantee by the Employer, after the Grantee has received notice of and failed to cure such negligence.

 

(f)                                   Exercise of Options.  A Grantee may exercise an Option that has become vested and exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company.  The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price for an Option by the Board (i) in cash; (ii) by delivering shares of Company Stock owned by the Grantee (including Company Stock acquired in connection with the exercise of an Option, subject to such restrictions as the Board deems appropriate) and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or by attestation (on a form prescribed by the Board) to ownership of shares of Company Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price; (iii) after a Public Offering, payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board; or (iv) by such other method as the Board may approve.  In addition, the Grantee may elect to settle the Option on a “net basis” by taking delivery of the number of Company Stock equal to Fair Market Value of the shares subject to any Option less the exercise price, any tax (or other governmental obligation) or other administration fees due. Shares of Company Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Grantee for the requisite period of time to avoid adverse accounting consequences to 

 

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the Company with respect to the Option.  The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price and the amount of any withholding tax due (pursuant to Section 7) as specified by the Board.

 

(g)                                  Limits on Incentive Stock Options.  Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.  An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any person who is not an Employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary (within the meaning of section 424(f) of the Code) of the Company.

 

6.                                      Stock Awards and RSUs

 

The Company may issue or transfer shares of Company Stock to an Employee, Non-Employee Director, or Key Advisor under a Stock Award or RSU, upon such terms as the Board deems appropriate.  The following provisions are applicable to Stock Awards and RSUs:

 

(a)                                 General Requirements.  Shares of Company Stock issued or transferred pursuant to Stock Awards may be issued or transferred for consideration or for no consideration, and subject to restrictions or no restrictions, as determined by the Board.  The Board shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to a Stock Award and the number of RSUs to be granted to a Grantee, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions, if any, under which, the Stock Award and RSUs may vest or may be forfeited to the Company and the other terms and conditions of such Awards.  The Board may require different periods of service or different performance goals and objectives with respect to different Grantees holding different Stock Awards or RSUs or to separate, designated portions of shares constituting Stock Awards.

 

(b)                                 Transfer Restrictions and Legend on Stock Certificate. Stock Awards and RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered except as provided in the Plan or as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that the Board may determine that Stock Awards and RSUs may be transferred by the Grantee. Each certificate for Stock Awards shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the Award.  The Grantee shall be entitled to have the legend removed from the stock certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions when all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.  The Board may determine that the Company shall not issue certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed, or that the Company shall retain possession of certificates for Stock Awards until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. Upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable to a Stock Award, the Company or other custodian, as applicable, shall deliver such certificates to the Grantee or the Grantee’s legal representative.

 

(c)                                  Payment/Lapse of Restrictions. Each RSU shall be granted with respect to one share of Company Stock or shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Company Stock. RSUs shall be paid in cash, shares of Company Stock, other securities, other Awards or other property, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board, upon the lapse of restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. The amount payable as a result of the vesting of an RSU shall be distributed as soon 

 

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as practicable following the vesting date and in no event later than the fifteenth date of the third calendar month of the year following the vesting date of the RSU (or as otherwise permitted under Section 409A of the Code); provided, however, that a Grantee may, if and to the extent permitted by the Board, elect to defer payment of RSUs in a manner permitted by Section 409A of the Code.

 

(d)                                 Termination of Employment or Service. Except as otherwise set forth in the Award Agreement, if the Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer (as defined in Section 5(e)), any Stock Award or RSUs held by the Grantee that are subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 6(b) above at such time shall be forfeited. The Board may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems appropriate.

 

(e)                                  No Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends.  Prior to the lapse of the transfer restrictions set forth in Section 6(b) above, the Grantee shall not have the right to vote shares subject to Stock Awards or to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on such shares, subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Board.

 

7.                                      Performance-Based Awards

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, certain Stock Awards or RSUs granted under the Plan may be granted in a manner which is deductible by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto). Such Stock Awards or RSUs shall be designated “Performance-Based Awards”. The following provisions are applicable to Performance-Based Awards:

 

(a)                                 Performance Goals. A Grantee’s Performance-Based Awards shall be determined based on the attainment of written performance goals approved by the Board for a performance period established by the Board (i) while the outcome for that performance period is substantially uncertain and (ii) no more than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which the performance goal relates or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25 percent of the relevant performance period, or as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto). The performance goals, which must be objective, shall be based upon one or more of the following criteria: (i) consolidated earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income; (iv) earnings per share; (v) return on shareholders’ equity; (vi) attainment of strategic and operational initiatives; (vii) customer income; (viii) economic value-added models; (ix) maintenance or improvement of profit margins; (x) stock price (including total shareholder return), including, without limitation, as compared to one or more stock indices; (xi) market share; (xii) revenues, sales or net sales; (xiii) return on assets; (xiv) book value per share; (xv) expense management; (xvi) improvements in capital structure; (xvii) costs and (xviii) cash flow. The foregoing criteria may relate to the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries or one or more of its divisions or units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Board shall determine. In addition, to the degree consistent with the Code, the performance goals may be calculated without regard to extraordinary, unusual and/or non-recurring items.

 

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(b)                                 Determination of Satisfaction of Performance Goals. The Board shall determine whether, with respect to a performance period, the applicable performance goals have been met with respect to a given Grantee and, if they have, so certify and ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award. No Performance-Based Awards will be paid for such performance period until such certification is made by the Board. The amount of the Performance-Based Award actually paid to a given Grantee may be less than the amount determined by the applicable performance goal formula, at the discretion of the Board. The amount of the Performance-Based Award determined by the Board for a performance period shall be paid to the Grantee at such time as determined by the Board in its sole discretion after the end of such performance period; provided, however, that a Grantee may, if and to the extent permitted by the Board and consistent with the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, elect to defer payment of a Performance-Based Award in a manner permitted by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto) provides terms different from the requirements of this Section 7, this Section 7 shall be deemed amended thereby

 

8.                                      Withholding of Taxes

 

(a)                                 Required Withholding.  All Awards under the Plan shall be subject to applicable federal (including FICA), state, and local tax (or other governmental obligation) withholding requirements or other administration fees due.  The Employer may require that the Grantee or other person receiving or exercising Awards pay to the Employer the amount of any federal, state, or local taxes (or other governmental obligations) that the Employer is required to withhold or any administration fees due with respect to such Awards, or the Employer may deduct from other wages paid by the Employer the amount of any withholding taxes, governmental obligations or administration fees due with respect to such Awards.

 

(b)                                 Election to Withhold Shares.  If the Board so permits, a Grantee may elect to satisfy the Employer’s income tax (or other governmental obligation) withholding requirement and any administration fees due with respect to an Award by having shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the Grantee’s minimum applicable withholding rate for federal (including FICA), state, and local tax (and other governmental obligation) liabilities plus any other administration fees due.  The election must be in a form and manner prescribed by the Board and may be subject to the prior approval of the Board.

 

9.                                      Transferability of Awards

 

(a)                                 Nontransferability of Awards.  Except as provided below, only the Grantee may exercise rights under an Award during the Grantee’s lifetime.  A Grantee may not transfer those rights except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (ii) with respect to Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, if permitted in any specific case by the Board, pursuant to a domestic relations order or otherwise as permitted by the Board.  When a Grantee dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Grantee may exercise such rights.  Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to receive the Award under the Grantee’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

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(b)                                 Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may provide, in an Award Agreement, that a Grantee may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Board may determine; provided that the Grantee receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option and the transferred Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option immediately before the transfer.

 

10.                               Right of First Refusal; Repurchase Right

 

(a)                                 Offer.  Prior to a Public Offering, if at any time an individual desires to sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of shares of Company Stock that were distributed to him or her under the Plan and that are transferable, the individual may do so only pursuant to a bona fide written offer, and the individual shall first offer the shares to the Company by giving the Company written notice disclosing:  (i) the name of the proposed transferee of the Company Stock; (ii) the certificate number and number of shares of Company Stock proposed to be transferred or encumbered; (iii) the proposed price; (iv) all other terms of the proposed transfer; and (v) a written copy of the proposed offer.  Within 60 days after receipt of such notice, the Company shall have the option to purchase all or part of such Company Stock at the price and on the terms described in the written notice; provided that the Company may pay such price in installments over a period not to exceed four years, at the discretion of the Board.

 

(b)                                 Sale.  In the event the Company (or a shareholder, as described below) does not exercise the option to purchase Company Stock, as provided above, the individual shall have the right to sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of the shares of Company Stock described in subsection (a) at the price and on the terms of the transfer set forth in the written notice to the Company, provided such transfer is effected within 15 days after the expiration of the option period.  If the transfer is not effected within such period, the Company must again be given an option to purchase, as provided above.

 

(c)                                  Assignment of Rights.  The Board, in its sole discretion, may waive the Company’s right of first refusal and repurchase right under this Section 10.  If the Company’s right of first refusal or repurchase right is so waived, the Board may, in its sole discretion, assign such right to the remaining shareholders of the Company in the same proportion that each shareholder’s stock ownership bears to the stock ownership of all the shareholders of the Company, as determined by the Board.  To the extent that a shareholder has been given such right and does not purchase his or her allotment, the other shareholders shall have the right to purchase such allotment on the same basis.

 

(d)                                 Purchase by the Company.  Prior to a Public Offering, if a Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide service to, the Employer, the Company shall have the right to purchase, within 60 days of the date that Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide services to, the Employer, all or part of any Company Stock distributed to Grantee under the Plan at the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 5(b)) on the date that Grantee ceases to be employed by, or provide services to, the Employer (or at such other price as may be established in the Award Agreement); provided, however, that such repurchase shall be made in accordance with applicable accounting rules to avoid adverse accounting treatment.

 

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(e)                                  Public Offering.  On and after a Public Offering, the Company shall have no further right to purchase shares of Company Stock under this Section 10.

 

(f)                                   Shareholder’s Agreement.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, if the Board requires that a Grantee execute a shareholder’s agreement with respect to any Company Stock distributed pursuant to the Plan, which contains a right of first refusal or repurchase right, the provisions of this Section 10 shall not apply to such Company Stock.

 

11.                               Change of Control of the Company

 

As used herein, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(a)                                 Any “person” (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than persons who are shareholders on the effective date of the Plan) becomes a “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 voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; provided that a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of a change of ownership resulting from the death of a shareholder, and a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of a transaction in which the Company becomes a subsidiary of another corporation and in which the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the transaction, will beneficially own, immediately after the transaction, shares entitling such shareholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all shareholders of the parent corporation would be entitled in the election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock to elect directors by a separate class vote); or

 

(b)                                 The consummation of (i) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, will not beneficially own, immediately after the merger or consolidation, shares entitling such shareholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all shareholders of the surviving corporation would be entitled in the election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock to elect directors by a separate class vote); (ii) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (A) an acquisition by the Company or entity controlled by the Company, or (B) an acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company

 

12.                               Consequences of a Change of Control

 

(a)                                 Assumption of Awards.  Upon a Change of Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), unless the Board determines otherwise, all outstanding Awards shall be assumed by, or replaced with comparable Awards by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation).

 

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(b)                                 Termination of Awards. Upon a Change of Control where the Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of another corporation), in the event the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation) does not assume or replace the Awards with comparable Awards, (i) the Company shall provide each Grantee with outstanding Awards written notice of such Change of Control; (ii) all outstanding Options shall automatically accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable; (iii) all outstanding Stock Awards shall become vested and deliverable in accordance with Section 6(b); and (iv) all outstanding RSUs shall become vested and deliverable in accordance with Section 6(c).

 

(c)                                  Other Alternatives.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Change of Control, the Board may take one or both of the following actions:  the Board may (i) require that Grantees surrender their outstanding Options in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash or Company Stock as determined by the Board, in an amount equal to the amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the Grantee’s unexercised Options exceeds the Exercise Price of the Options; or (ii) after giving Grantees an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options, terminate any or all unexercised Options at such time as the Board deems appropriate.  Such surrender or termination shall take place as of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Board may specify.

 

13.                               Requirements for Issuance or Transfer of Shares

 

(a)                                 Shareholder’s Agreement.  The Board may require that a Grantee execute a shareholder’s agreement, with such terms as the Board deems appropriate, with respect to any Company Stock issued or distributed pursuant to the Plan.

 

(b)                                 Limitations on Issuance or Transfer of Shares.  No Company Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Award hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such Company Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Board.  The Board shall have the right to condition any Award made to any Grantee hereunder on such Grantee’s undertaking in writing to comply with such restrictions on his or her subsequent disposition of such shares of Company Stock as the Board shall deem necessary or advisable, and certificates representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions.  Certificates representing shares of Company Stock issued or transferred under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as may be required by applicable laws, regulations, and interpretations, including any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.

 

(c)                                  Lock-Up Period.  If so requested by the Company or any representative of the underwriters (the “Managing Underwriter”) in connection with any underwritten offering of securities of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), a Grantee (including any successor or assigns) shall not sell or otherwise transfer any shares or other securities of the Company during the 30-day period preceding and the 180-day period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act for such underwriting (or such shorter period as may be requested by the Managing Underwriter and agreed to by the Company) (the “Market Standoff Period”).  The 

 

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Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such Market Standoff Period.

 

14.                               Amendment and Termination of the Plan

 

(a)                                 Amendment.  The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without shareholder approval if such approval is required in order to comply with the Code or other applicable laws or, after an Initial Public Offering, to comply with applicable stock exchange requirements.

 

(b)                                 Termination of Plan.  The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its effective date, unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the approval of the shareholders.

 

(c)                                  Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Awards.  A termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after an Award is made shall not materially impair the rights of a Grantee unless the Grantee consents or unless the Board acts under Section 20(b).  The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Board with respect to an outstanding Award.  Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Award may be terminated or amended under Section 20(b) or may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Grantee consistent with the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Governing Document.  The Plan shall be the controlling document.  No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner.  The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.

 

15.                               Funding of the Plan

 

The Plan shall be unfunded.  The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Awards under the Plan.  In no event shall interest be paid or accrued on any Award, including unpaid installments of Awards.

 

16.                               Rights of Participants

 

Nothing in the Plan shall entitle any Employee, Key Advisor, Non-Employee Director, or other person to any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ of the Employer or any other employment rights.

 

17.                               No Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of Company Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.  The Board shall determine whether cash, other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

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18.                               Headings

 

Section headings are for reference only.  In the event of a conflict between a title and the content of a Section, the content of the Section shall control.

 

19.                               Effective Date of the Plan

 

(a)                                 Effective Date.  The Plan shall be effective on September 3, 2015.

 

(b)                                 Public Offering.  The provisions of the Plan that refer to a Public Offering, or that refer to, or are applicable to persons subject to, section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 162(m) of the Code, shall be effective, if at all, upon the initial registration of the Company Stock under section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and shall remain effective thereafter for so long as such stock is so registered.

 

20.                               Miscellaneous

 

(a)                                 Awards in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Board to make Awards under the Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Awards to employees thereof who become Employees, or for other proper corporate purposes; or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards outside of the Plan.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Board may make an Award to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization, or liquidation involving the Company, the Parent, or any of their subsidiaries in substitution for a stock option, stock award or other type of applicable equity grants made by such corporation.  The terms and conditions of the substitute grants may vary from the terms and conditions required by the Plan and from those of the substituted stock incentives.  The Board shall prescribe the provisions of the substitute grants.

 

(b)                                 Compliance with Law.  The Plan, exercise of Options, restrictions of Stock Awards and obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Company Stock under Awards shall be subject to all applicable laws and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required.  With respect to persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, after a Public Offering, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act.  In addition, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and applicable Awards under the Plan comply with the applicable provisions of sections 162(m), 409A and 422 of the Code.  To the extent that any legal requirement of section 16 of the Exchange Act or sections 162(m), 409A or 422 of the Code as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under section 16 of the Exchange Act or sections 162(m), 409A or 422 of the Code, that Plan provision shall cease to apply.  The Board may revoke any Award if it is contrary to law or modify an Award to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation.  The Board may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Grantees.  The Board may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.

 

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(c)                                  Employees Subject to Taxation Outside the United States.  With respect to Grantees who are subject to taxation in countries other than the United States, the Board may make Awards on such terms and conditions as the Board deems appropriate to comply with the laws of the applicable countries, and the Board may create such procedures, addenda, and subplans and make such modifications as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such laws.

 

(d)                                 Governing Law.  The validity, construction, interpretation, and effect of the Plan and Award Agreements issued under the Plan shall be governed and construed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

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