stlt_ex1022.htm

EXHIBIT 10.22
 
SPOTLIGHT INNOVATION INC.
2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
 
1. Purposes of the Plan
 
Spotlight Innovation Inc. (the "Company"), a Nevada corporation, wishes to establish the Spotlight Innovation Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), with the following purposes:
 
(a) Encourage selected employees, directors and consultants to improve operations and increase profits of the Company;
 
(b) Encourage selected employees, directors and consultants to accept or continue employment or association with the Company or its Subsidiaries; 
 
(c) Increase the interest of selected employees, directors and consultants in the Company's welfare through participation in the growth in value of the common stock of the Company (the "Shares"); and 
 
(d) Align the interests of the Company with selected employees, directors and consultants.
 
Options granted under the Plan ("Options") may be "incentive stock options" ("ISOs") intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the "Code"), or "non-qualified stock options" ("NQSOs").
 
2. Eligible Persons
 
Every person who at the date of grant of an Option is an employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company is eligible to receive NQSOs or ISOs under the Plan. Every person who at the date of grant is a consultant to, or non-employee director of, the Company or any Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company is eligible to receive NQSOs under the Plan. The term "Subsidiary" as used in the Plan means a subsidiary corporation as defined in the applicable provisions (currently Sections 424(f), respectively) of the Code. The term "employee" (within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code) includes an officer or director who is an employee of the Company. The term "consultant" includes persons employed by, or otherwise affiliated with, a consultant to the Company.
 
3. Stock Subject to the Plan; Maximum Number of Grants
 
Subject to the provisions of Section 6(a)(i) of the Plan, the total number of Shares which may be issued under Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed the 3,600,000 Shares. The Shares covered by the portion of any grant under the Plan which expires unexercised shall become available again for grants under the Plan.
 
	 
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4. Administration
 
(a) The Plan shall be administered by either the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or by a committee (the "Committee") to which administration of the Plan, or of part of the Plan, may be delegated by the Board (in either case, the "Administrator"). The Board shall appoint and remove members of such Committee, if any, in its discretion in accordance with applicable laws. If necessary in order to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, in the Board's discretion, be comprised solely of "non-employee directors" within the meaning of said Rule 16b-3 and "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Administrator may delegate nondiscretionary administrative duties to such employees of the Company as it deems proper, and the Board, in its absolute discretion, may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Administrator under the Plan.
 
(b) Subject to the other provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have the authority to, in its discretion: (i) grant Options; (ii) determine the fair market value of the Shares subject to Options; (iii) determine the exercise price of Options granted; (iv) determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Options shall be granted, and the number of shares subject to each Option; (v) interpret the Plan; (vi) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (vii) determine the terms and provisions of each Option granted (which need not be identical), including but not limited to, the time or times at which Options shall be exercisable; (viii) with the consent of the optionee, to modify or amend any Option; (ix) defer (with the consent of the optionee) the exercise date of any Option; (x) authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument evidencing the grant of an Option; (xi) grant waivers of Plan or Award conditions; and (xii) make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Administrator may delegate nondiscretionary administrative duties to such employees of the Company as it deems proper.
 
(c) All questions of interpretation, implementation, and application of the Plan shall be determined by the Administrator. Such determinations shall be final and binding on all persons.
 
5. Granting of Options; Option Agreement
 
(a) No Options shall be granted under the Plan after ten years from the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board.
 
(b) Each Option shall be evidenced by a written stock option agreement, in form satisfactory to the Administrator, executed by the Company and the person to whom such Option is granted.
 
(c) The stock option agreement shall specify whether each Option it evidences is an NQSO or an ISO.
 
	 
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6. Terms and Conditions of Options
 
Each Option granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6(a). NQSOs shall also be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6(b), but not those set forth in Section 6(c). ISOs shall also be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section (c), but not those set forth in Section 6(b).
 
(a) Terms and Conditions to Which All Options Are Subject. All Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
(i) Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to Section 6(a)(ii), if the stock of the Company is changed by reason of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, or recapitalization, combination or reclassification, appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Board in (1) the number and class of shares of stock subject to the Plan and each Option outstanding under the Plan, and (2) the exercise price of each outstanding Option; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares as a result of any such adjustments. Each such adjustment shall be subject to approval by the Board in its sole discretion.
 
(ii) Corporate Transactions. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each optionee at least 30 days prior to such proposed action. To the extent not previously exercised, all Options will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action; provided, however, that the Administrator, in the exercise of its sole discretion, may permit exercise of any Options prior to their termination, even if such Options were not otherwise exercisable. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or entity in which the Company does not survive, or in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in which the stockholders of the Company receive securities of the acquiring entity or an affiliate thereof, all Options shall be assumed or equivalent options shall be substituted by the successor corporation (or other entity) or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (or other entity); provided, however, that if such successor does not agree to assume the Options or to substitute equivalent options therefor, the Administrator, in the exercise of its sole discretion, may permit the exercise of any of the Options prior to consummation of such event, even if such Options were not otherwise exercisable. 
 
(iii) Time of Option Exercise. Subject to Section 5 and Section 6(c)(iii), Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable in accordance with a schedule as specified in the written stock option agreement relating to such Option. In any case, no Option shall be exercisable until a written stock option agreement in form satisfactory to the Company is executed by the Company and the optionee.
 
(iv) Option Grant Date. The date of grant of an Option under the Plan shall be the date as of which the Administrator approves the grantunless otherwise specified.
  
(v) Nontransferability of Option Rights. Except with the express written approval of the Administrator which approval the Administrator is authorized to give only with respect to NQSOs, no Option granted under the Plan shall be assignable or otherwise transferable by the optionee except by will, by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. During the life of the optionee, an Option shall be exercisable only by the optionee.
 
	 
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(vi) Payment. Except as provided below, payment in full, in cash, shall be made for all stock purchased at the time written notice of exercise of an Option is given to the Company, and proceeds of any payment shall constitute general funds of the Company. The Administrator, in the exercise of its absolute discretion, may authorize any one or more of the following additional methods of payment:
 
(1) delivery by the optionee of Shares already owned by the optionee for all or part of the Option price, provided the fair market value (determined as set forth in Section 6(a)(x)) of such Shares being delivered is equal on the date of exercise to the Option price, or such portion thereof as the optionee is authorized to pay by delivery of such stock;
 
(2) the surrender of Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, provided the fair market value (determined as set forth in Section 6(a)(x)) of such Shares is equal on the date of exercise to the Option price, or such portion thereof as the optionee is authorized to pay by surrender of such stock;
 
(3) cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the optionee or waiver of compensation due or accrued to optionee for services rendered; and
 
(4) if and so long as the Shares are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and to the extent permitted by law, delivery of a properly executed exercise agreement or notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a brokerage firm designated or approved by the Administrator to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of proceeds to pay the option exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, all in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board.
 
(vii) Termination of Employment or Service. If for any reason other than death or permanent and total disability, an optionee ceases to be employed by, a consultant to, or non-employee director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (such event being called a "Termination"), Options held at the date of Termination (to the extent then exercisable) may be exercised in whole or in part at any time within three months of the date of such Termination, or such other period of not less than 30 days after the date of such Termination as is specified in the Option Agreement or by amendment thereof (but in no event after the Expiration Date); provided, however, that if such exercise of the Option would result in liability for the optionee under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, then such three-month period automatically shall be extended until the tenth day following the last date upon which optionee has any liability under Section 16(b) (but in no event after the Expiration Date). If an optionee dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) while employed by a consultant to, or non-employee director of the Company or a Subsidiary or within the period that the Option remains exercisable after Termination, Options then held (to the extent then exercisable) may be exercised, in whole or in part, by the optionee, by the optionee's personal representative or by the person to whom the Option is transferred by devise or the laws of descent and distribution, at any time within twelve months after the death or twelve months after the permanent and total disability of the optionee or any longer period specified in the Option Agreement or by amendment thereof (but in no event after the Expiration Date). For purposes of this Section 6(a)(vii), an optionee's employment, consultancy or directorship shall not be deemed to terminate by reason of sick leave, military leave or other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, if the period of any such leave does not exceed 90 days or, if longer, if the optionee's right to employment, consultancy or directorship by the Company or any Subsidiary following such leave is guaranteed either contractually or by statute.
 
	 
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(viii) Withholding and Employment Taxes. At the time of exercise of an Option and as a condition thereto, or at such other time as the amount of such obligations becomes determinable (the "Tax Date"), the optionee shall remit to the Company in cash all applicable federal and state withholding and employment taxes. Such obligation to remit may be satisfied, if authorized by the Administrator in its sole discretion, after considering any tax, accounting and financial consequences, by the optionee's (1) delivery of a promissory note in the required amount on such terms as the Administrator deems appropriate, (2) tendering to the Company previously owned Shares or other securities of the Company with a fair market value equal to the required amount, or (3) agreeing to have Shares (with a fair market value equal to the required amount) which are acquired upon exercise of the Option withheld by the Company.
 
(ix) Other Provisions. Each Option granted under the Plan may contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator, and each ISO granted under the Plan shall include such provisions and conditions as are necessary to qualify the Option as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
 
(x) Determination of Value. For purposes of the Plan, the fair market value of Shares or other securities of the Company shall be determined as follows:
 
(1) Fair market value shall be the closing price of such stock on the date before the date the value is to be determined on the principal recognized securities exchange or recognized securities market on which such stock is reported, but if selling prices are not reported, its fair market value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for such stock on the date before the date the value is to be determined (or if there are no quoted prices for such date, then for the last preceding business day on which there were quoted prices).
 
(2) In the absence of an established market for the stock, the fair market value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator, with reference to the Company's net worth, prospective earning power, dividend-paying capacity and other relevant factors, including the goodwill of the Company, the economic outlook in the Company's industry, the Company's position in the industry, the Company's management and the values of stock of other corporations in the same or similar line of business.
 
	 
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(xi) Option Term. Subject to Section 6(c)(iii), no Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date of grant, or such lesser period of time as is set forth in the stock option agreement (the end of the maximum exercise period stated in the stock option agreement is referred to in the Plan as the "Expiration Date").
 
(b) Terms and Conditions to Which Only NQSOs Are Subject. Options granted under the Plan which are designated as NQSOs shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
(i) Exercise Price.
 
(1) To the extent required by applicable laws, rules and regulations and except as set forth in Section 6(b)(i)(2), the exercise price of an NQSO shall be not less than 85% of the fair market value (determined in accordance with Section 6(a)(x)) of the stock subject to the Option on the date of grant.
 
(2) To the extent required by applicable laws, rules and regulations, the exercise price of a NQSO granted to any person who owns, directly or by attribution under the Code (currently Section 424(d)), stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary (a "Ten Percent Stockholder") shall in no event be less than 110% of the fair market value (determined in accordance with Section 6(a)(x)) of the stock covered by the Option at the time the Option is granted.
 
(c) Terms and Conditions to Which Only ISOs Are Subject. Options granted under the Plan which are designated as ISOs shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
(i) Exercise Price.
 
(1) Except as set forth in Section 6(c)(i)(2), the exercise price of an ISO shall be determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Code and shall in no event be less than the fair market value (determined in accordance with Section 6(a)(x)) of the stock covered by the Option at the time the Option is granted.
 
(2) The exercise price of an ISO granted to any Ten Percent Stockholder shall in no event be less than 110% of the fair market value (determined in accordance with Section 6(a)(x)) of the stock covered by the Option at the time the Option is granted.
 
(ii) Disqualifying Dispositions. If stock acquired by exercise of an ISO granted pursuant to the Plan is disposed of in a "disqualifying disposition" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code (a disposition within two years from the date of grant of the Option or within one year after the transfer such stock on exercise of the Option), the holder of the stock immediately before the disposition shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of the disposition and shall provide such other information regarding the Option as the Company may reasonably require.
 
	 
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(iii) Shares Initially Exercisable During Any Year. The aggregate fair market value (determined as set forth in Section 6(a)(x) with respect to each ISO at the time such ISO is granted) of the Shares with respect to which an ISO is exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year (under this Plan or any other plan of the Company or an affiliate thereof) shall not exceed $100,000.
 
(iv) Term. Notwithstanding Section 6(a)(xi), no ISO granted to any Ten Percent Stockholder shall be exercisable more than five years after the date of grant.
 
7. Manner of Exercise
 
(a) An optionee wishing to exercise an Option shall give written notice to the Company at its principal executive office, to the attention of the officer of the Company designated by the Administrator, accompanied by payment of the exercise price and withholding taxes as provided in Sections 6(a)(vi) and 6(a)(viii). The date the Company receives written notice of an exercise hereunder accompanied by payment of the exercise price will be considered as the date such Option was exercised.
 
(b) Promptly after receipt of written notice of exercise of an Option and the payments called for by Section 7(a), the Company shall, without stock issue or transfer taxes to the optionee or other person entitled to exercise the Option, deliver to the optionee or such other person a certificate or certificates for the requisite number of shares of stock. An optionee or permitted transferee of the Option shall not have any privileges as a stockholder with respect to any shares of stock covered by the Option until the date of issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent) of such shares. 
 
8. Employment or Consulting Relationship
 
Nothing in the Plan or any Option granted hereunder shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries to terminate any optionee's employment or consulting at any time, nor confer upon any optionee any right to continue in the employ of, or consult with, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
9. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares
 
Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
 
10. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan
 
The adoption of the Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Company to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options other than under the Plan.
 
	 
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11. Amendments to the Plan
 
The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan. Without the consent of an optionee, no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuance may adversely affect outstanding Options except to conform the Plan and ISOs granted under the Plan to the requirements of federal or other tax laws relating to incentive stock options. No amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuance shall require stockholder approval unless (a) such amendment seeks to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or the price at which Options may be granted below the price provided for in Section 6, (b) stockholder approval is required by law or under applicable listing requirements or to preserve incentive stock option treatment for federal income tax purposes, or (c) the Board otherwise concludes that stockholder approval is advisable.
 
12. Effective Date of Plan; Termination
 
This Plan was adopted by the Board and became effective as of November 25, 2015, (the "Effective Date"); provided, however, that no Option shall be exercisable unless and until written consent of the stockholders of the Company, or approval of stockholders of the Company voting at a validly called stockholders' meeting, is obtained within twelve months after adoption by the Board. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within such time, Options granted hereunder shall be of the same force and effect as if such approval was obtained except that all ISOs granted hereunder shall be treated as NQSOs. Options may be granted and exercised under the Plan only after there has been compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. The Plan shall terminate within ten years from the date of its adoption by the Board.
 
	 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officer, has executed this Plan, effective as of November 25, 2015.
 
 
	 
	SPOTLIGHT INNOVATION INC.	 

	 	 	 	 
		By:	/s/ Cristopher Grunewald	 

	 
	 
	Cristopher Grunewald	 

	 
	 
	President and Chief Executive Officer	 



 
 
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