livent-formofemployeeopt






    #113565746 v2  NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT  UNDER THE LIVENT CORPORATION  INCENTIVE COMPENSATION AND STOCK PLAN  This NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)  is made by and between Livent Corporation (the “Company”) and [Participant Name] (the  “Participant”).  WHEREAS, the Company maintains the Livent Corporation Incentive Compensation and  Stock Plan (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”);  WHEREAS, Article 8 of the Plan authorizes the grant of Awards in the form of  Nonqualified Stock Options; and  WHEREAS, in recognition of the Participant’s past and anticipated future contributions  to the Company, and to further align the Participant’s personal financial interests with those of  the Company’s stockholders, the Committee has approved this grant of an award of Nonqualified  Stock Options to the Participant on the terms described herein, effective as of [Grant Date] (the  “Grant Date”); and  WHEREAS, the terms of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part  of this Agreement and will control the rights and obligations of the Company and the Participant  under this Agreement.  In the event of a conflict among the provisions of the Plan, this  Agreement and any descriptive materials provided in connection herewith, the provisions of the  Plan will prevail.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein will have the same meanings as  in the Plan.  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and  other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties  hereto agree as follows:  1. Grant of Option.  Pursuant to the Plan, effective as of the Grant Date, the  Committee hereby grants the Participant a Nonqualified Stock Option (“Option”) to purchase an  aggregate of [Number of Shares Granted] shares of Common Stock (“Shares”), at an exercise  price of [Exercise Price] per Share (“Exercise Price”), subject to the terms and conditions set  forth in this Agreement.  2. Vesting.  (a) [Vesting Terms]  (b) Upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment for any reason, any  Unvested Option (as defined below) will be forfeited immediately and automatically and the  Participant will have no further rights with respect thereto.  (c) For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Vested Option” means any portion  of the Option which has vested and become exercisable in accordance with the terms of this  Exhibit 10.8 





 






  -2-  #113565746 v2  Agreement (including pursuant to Sections 2(a)[       ]) and (ii) “Unvested Option” means any  portion of the Option that is not a Vested Option.  3. Termination of Option.  The Option and all rights hereunder, to the extent such  rights will not have been exercised, will terminate and become null and void on the earliest to  occur of (a) [Expiration Date], (b) [Period] after the date of the Participant’s Termination of  Employment for any reason other than due to the Participant’s death or Disability, (c) [Period]  after the Participant’s Termination of Employment due to the Participant’s Disability or death,  (d) the date of the Participant’s Termination for Cause, (d) the date the Option is terminated in  accordance with the Plan and this Agreement or (e) if so determined by the Committee, the date  of a Change in Control, provided the Participant is afforded the opportunity to exercise any  Vested Option immediately prior to such Change in Control (such earliest date being referred to  herein as the “Option Expiration Date”).  4. Right to Exercise.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Plan, any  Vested Option will remain exercisable from time to time, in whole or in part, until the Option  Expiration Date.  In no event may the Option (or any portion thereof) be exercised to any extent  by the Participant (a) before it becomes a Vested Option or (b) after the Option Expiration Date.  5. Method of Exercise; Settlement.  (a) The Participant may exercise a Vested Option with respect to all or any  portion of the Shares underlying such Vested Option at any time prior to the Option Expiration  Date by (i) delivering to the Company, in accordance with such procedures as determined by the  Company, a written notice specifying the Grant Date, the number of such Shares as to which the  Vested Option is being exercised (the “Exercise Notice”), (ii) paying the Company an amount  equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate Exercise Price applicable to such Shares being exercised  and (2) the amount of any taxes required to be withheld by the Company (collectively, the  “Option Payment”) in accordance with Section 5(b) and (iii) making such representations and  assurances as the Company deems necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable securities  laws.  The date on which the Participant delivers the Exercise Notice in accordance with this  Section 5(a) shall be referred to herein as the “Exercise Date”.  The Company may from time to  time make available alternative methods of exercise upon notice to the Participant.  (b) The Participant may pay the Option Payment by any of the following  means (or by a combination thereof): (i) cash or check, certified bank draft or postal or express  money order payable to the order of the Company in lawful money of the United States; or (ii) if  permitted by the Committee, in its sole discretion, pursuant to such procedures as the Committee  may require, by the Participant’s (A) transferring to the Company, effective as of the Exercise  Date, a number of vested Shares owned and designated by the Participant having an aggregate  Fair Market Value as of the Exercise Date equal to the Option Payment, (B) electing a “net  cashless exercise” procedure in accordance with Section 8.04 of the Plan, or (C) delivering  irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell Shares obtained upon the exercise of the Option and to  deliver promptly to the Company an amount out of the proceeds of such sale equal to the Option  Payment; or (iii) by any other method acceptable to the Committee.  





 






  -3-  #113565746 v2  (c) As soon as practicable after receipt of the Exercise Notice and the Option  Payment, the Company will, without transfer or issue tax or other incidental expense to the  Participant, issue the Shares deliverable upon such exercise by causing its transfer agent to make  an appropriate book entry in the name of the Participant.  6. Adjustments.  The Committee shall make equitable substitutions or adjustments to  the Option (including, without limitation, the Exercise Price) and/or Shares issuable upon the  exercise of the Option as it determines to be necessary or appropriate in the event of any stock  dividend, stock split, merger, consolidation, separation or other change in capitalization, spin-off,  extraordinary dividend or distribution, reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes  within the definition of such term in Section 368 of the Code), reclassification, recapitalization,  partial or complete liquidation of the Company or other similar event or transaction; provided,  however, that no such substitution or adjustment will be made if such substitution or adjustment  would give rise to any tax under Section 409A of the Code, and provided further, that the  number of Shares subject to the Option will always be a whole number.  7. Non-Transferability.  During the Participant’s lifetime, the Option will only be  exercisable by the Participant, and neither the Option nor any right with respect thereto may be  assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the  Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any purported  assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance will be void and  unenforceable against the Company and may result in the Company terminating the Option.  8. Stockholder Rights.  The Participant will not have any stockholder rights or  privileges, including voting or dividend rights, with respect to the Shares subject to the Option  until such Shares are actually issued and registered in the Participant’s name in the Company’s  books and records.  9. No Limitation on Rights of the Company.  For the avoidance of doubt, the grant  of the Option will not in any way affect the right or power of the Company to make adjustments,  reclassifications or changes in its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate,  reincorporate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.  10. Clawback Policy.  Without limiting the generality of Article 14 of the Plan, to the  extent the Participant is a current or former executive officer of the Company, the Option, any  Shares or other securities or property issued in respect of the Option or upon exercise of the  Option, and the rights of the Participant hereunder, are subject to any policy (whether currently  in existence or later adopted) established by the Company providing for clawback or recovery of  amounts paid or credited to current or former executive officers of the Company. The Committee  will make any determination for clawback or recovery under any such policy in its sole  discretion and in accordance with any applicable law or regulation, and the Participant agrees to  be bound by any such determination.  11. No Continuation of Service.  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan will confer  on the Participant any right to continue in employment or service for any period of specific  duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or Affiliate  





 






  -4-  #113565746 v2  employing or retaining the Participant) to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at  any time for any reason, with or without cause.  12. Tax Treatment and Withholding.  (a) The Participant has had the opportunity to review with his or her own tax  advisors the federal, state and local tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this  Agreement.  The Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or  representations of the Company or any of its agents.  (b) The Company may withhold any tax (or other governmental obligation)  arising in connection with the Option, and it is a condition to the Company’s obligation to issue  Shares upon the exercise of the Option hereunder that the Participant pay to the Company such  amount as may be required to satisfy all tax withholding obligations (or other governmental  obligations) arising in connection with the Option (or otherwise make arrangements acceptable  to the Company for the satisfaction of such tax withholding obligations).  If the required  withholding amount required is not timely paid or satisfied, the Participant’s right to receive such  Shares upon exercise of the Option will be permanently forfeited.  Notwithstanding the  foregoing, and in accordance with Section 17.03 of the Plan, the Participant may satisfy any such  withholding requirement by transferring to the Company pursuant to such procedures as the  Committee may require, effective as of the date on which such requirement arises, a number of  vested Shares owned and designated by the Participant having an aggregate Fair Market Value as  of such date that is at least equal to the minimum, and not more than the maximum, amount  required to be withheld.  If the Committee permits the Participant to satisfy any such withholding  requirement pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company shall remit to the Internal Revenue  Service and appropriate state and local revenue agencies, for the credit of the Participant, an  amount of cash withholding equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares transferred to the  Company as provided above.  13. Government Regulation.  The Company’s obligation to deliver Shares upon  exercise of the Option will be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to such  approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.  14. Notices.  (a) Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the  terms of this Agreement will be addressed to it in care of its Secretary, Livent Corporation, 1818  Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, and any notice to the Participant will be addressed to the  Participant’s address now on file with the Company, or to such other address as either may  designate to the other in writing.  Except as otherwise provided below in Section 14(b), any  notice will be deemed to be duly given when enclosed in a properly sealed envelope addressed as  stated above and deposited, postage paid, in a post office or branch post office regularly  maintained by the United States government.  (b) The Participant hereby authorizes the Company to deliver electronically  any prospectuses or other documentation related to the Option, the Plan and any other  compensation or benefit plan or arrangement in effect from time to time (including, without  





 






  -5-  #113565746 v2  limitation, reports, proxy statements or other documents that are required to be delivered to  participants in such plans or arrangements pursuant to federal or state laws, rules or regulations).   For this purpose, electronic delivery will include, without limitation, delivery by means of e-mail  or e-mail notification that such documentation is available on the Company’s Intranet site.  Upon  written request, the Company will provide to the Participant a paper copy of any document also  delivered to the Participant electronically.  The authorization described in this Section 14(b) may  be revoked by the Participant at any time by written notice to the Company.  15. Administration.  By entering into this Agreement, the Participant agrees and  acknowledges that (a) the Company has provided or made available to the Participant a copy of  the Plan, (b) he or she has read the Plan, (c) the Option is subject to the Plan and (d) pursuant to  the Plan, the Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan and to adopt rules and regulations not  inconsistent with the Plan as it deems appropriate.  The Participant hereby agrees to accept as  binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee with respect to  questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement.  16. References.  References herein to rights and obligations of the Participant shall  apply, where appropriate, to the Participant’s legal representative or estate without regard to  whether specific reference to such legal representative or estate is contained in a particular  provision of this Agreement.  17. Binding Effect.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon  the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted  assigns.  18. Entire Agreement; Amendment.  This Agreement, together with the Plan,  represents the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and  supersedes any prior agreement, written or otherwise, relating to the subject matter hereof.  This  Agreement may only be amended by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto, except that  the Company may amend or modify this Agreement without the Participant’s consent in  accordance with the provisions of the Plan.  19. Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this  Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to the  principles of conflict of laws.  20. Privacy.  By signing this Agreement, the Participant hereby acknowledges and  agrees to the Company’s transfer of certain personal data of such Participant to the Company and  its agents for purposes of implementing, performing or administering the Plan, this Award or any  related benefit.  Participant expressly gives his or her consent to the Company to process such  personal data.  21. Discretionary Nature.  The Participant acknowledges and agrees that this award is  discretionary, and any future awards will be made in the Committee’s discretion; and that the  Plan may be terminated, amended or canceled by the Company at any time in accordance with its  terms.  





 






  -6-  #113565746 v2  22. Section Headings.  The headings of sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are  inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any  provision of this Agreement.  23. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts  (including by facsimile or .pdf signature), each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all  of which together will constitute but one and the same instrument.  24. Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent applicable, this Agreement is intended  to be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder,  and the provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted accordingly.  If any provision of this  Agreement or any term or condition of the Option would otherwise frustrate or conflict with this  intent, the provision, term or condition shall be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid  this conflict.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be liable for all or  any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the  Participant on account of non-compliance with Section 409A of the Code.    [Signature Page Follows]  





 






    #113565746 v2  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company’s duly authorized representative and the  Participant have each executed this Agreement on the respective date below indicated.  LIVENT CORPORATION  By:        Name:        Title:        Date:        PARTICIPANT  Signature: