Exhibit 10.1

 

PROTEON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ADOPTED: AUGUST 21, 2014
 APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: OCTOBER 3, 2014
 TERMINATION DATE: MARCH 23, 2016

 

1.                                      PURPOSES.

 

(a)                                 Eligible Stock Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Stock Awards are Employees, Directors and Consultants.

 

(b)                                 Available Stock Awards. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which eligible recipients of Stock Awards may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of the following Stock Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) stock bonuses, (iv) rights to acquire restricted stock, (v) Stock Appreciation Rights and (vi) Phantom Stock Awards.

 

(c)                                  General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to secure and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

2.                                      DEFINITIONS.

 

(a)                                 “Affiliate” means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

 

(b)                                 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(c)                                  “Capitalization Adjustment” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 11(a).

 

(d)                                 “Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

 

(i)                                    any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction;

 

(ii)                                there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company if, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing

 

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more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction;

 

(iii)                            the stockholders of the Company approve or the Board approves a plan of complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall otherwise occur;

 

(iv)                             there is consummated a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their Ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; or

 

(v)                                 a majority of the Board votes in favor of a decision that a Change of Control has occurred, which vote may adopted by the Board with the intention that such vote become effective subject to and contingent upon the occurrence of certain events, in which case such Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred unless and until such vote becomes effective in accordance with its terms.

 

The term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company, or for primarily fundraising purposes.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Stock Awards subject to such agreement (it being understood, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply).

 

(e)                                  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(f)                                   “Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3(c).

 

(g)                                 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(h)                                 “Company” means Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(i)                                    “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is compensated for such services or (ii) serving as a member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate and who is compensated for such services. However, the term “Consultant” shall not include Directors who

 

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are not compensated by the Company for their services as Directors, and the payment of a director’s fee by the Company for services as a Director shall not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan.

 

(j)                                    “Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, shall not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an employee of the Company to a consultant to an Affiliate or to a Director shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Board, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in a Stock Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy or in the written terms of the Participant’s leave of absence.

 

(k)                                 “Corporate Transaction” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

 

(i)                                    a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(ii)                                a sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company;

 

(iii)                            a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or

 

(iv)                             a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.

 

(l)                                    “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(m)                             “Disability” means the inability of a person, in the opinion of a qualified physician acceptable to the Company, to perform the major duties of that person’s position with the Company or an Affiliate because of the sickness or injury of the person.

 

(n)                                 “Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. Service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company for such service or for service as a 

 

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member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

(o)                                 “Entity” means a corporation, partnership or other entity.

 

(p)                                 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(q)                                 “Exchange Act Person” means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” shall not include (A) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(r)                                  “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined in good faith by the Board, and if required by applicable law, in a manner consistent with Section 260.140.50 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

 

(s)                                   “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(t)                                    “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(u)                                 “Officer” means any person designated by the Company as an officer.

 

(v)                                 “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(w)                               “Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

(x)                                 “Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

 

(y)                                 “Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership” A person or Entity shall be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.

 

(z)                                  “Participant” means a person to whom a Stock Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock Award.

 

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(aa)                          “Phantom Stock Award” means an award of a specified number of units of value granted under the Plan, which, when redeemed, shall be a right to receive cash from the Company in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as determined in accordance with this Plan.

 

(bb)                          “Plan” means this Amended and Restated Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(cc)                            “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7(b).

 

(dd)                          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(ee)                            “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a single unit of value granted under the Plan, which, when redeemed, shall be a right to receive cash from the Company in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, as determined in accordance with this Plan, minus the exercise price, if any, of the SAR.

 

(ff)                              “Stock Award” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Option, a stock bonus and a right to acquire restricted stock.

 

(gg)                          “Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

(hh)                          “Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%).

 

(ii)                                “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who Owns (or is deemed to Own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates.

 

3.                                      ADMINISTRATION.

 

(a)                                 Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in Section 3(c).

 

(b)                                 Powers of Board. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

 

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(i)                                    To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock Award shall be granted; what type or combination of types of Stock Award shall be granted; the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and the number of shares of Common Stock, or units of value for Stock Appreciation Rights or Phantom Stock Awards, with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person.

 

(ii)                                To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.

 

(iii)                            To effect, at any time and from time to time, with the consent of any adversely affected Optionholder, (1) the reduction of the exercise price of any outstanding Option under the Plan, (2) the cancellation of any outstanding Option under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefor of (A) a new Option under the Plan or another equity plan of the Company covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock, (B) a Restricted Stock Award (including a stock bonus), (C) a Stock Appreciation Right, (D) cash (E) Phantom Stock Awards and/or (F) other valuable consideration (as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion), or (3) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

(iv)                             To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in Section 12.

 

(v)                                 To terminate or suspend the Plan as provided in Section 13.

 

(vi)                             Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Delegation to Committee. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of three (3) or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one or more Officers of the Company the authority to do one or both of the following: (i) designate Officers and Employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be recipients of Stock Awards and (ii) determine the

 

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number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Officers and Employees of the Company; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation shall specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may not delegate authority to an Officer to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock.

 

(e)                                  Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

 

4.                                      SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

 

(a)                                 Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the Common Stock and units of value for Stock Appreciation Rights or Phantom Stock Awards that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate eighteen million two hundred twenty-two thousand one hundred fifty-seven (18,222,157) shares of Common Stock.

 

(b)                                 Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any Stock Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised or redeemed in full, the shares of Common Stock not acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Source of Shares. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

 

(d)                                 Share Reserve Limitation. To the extent that it may be required by Section 260.140.45 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Options and the total number of shares of Common Stock provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan of the Company shall not exceed the applicable percentage as calculated in accordance with the conditions and exclusions of Section 260.140.45 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, based on the shares of Common Stock of the Company that are outstanding at the time the calculation is made.

 

5.                                      ELIGIBILITY.

 

(a)                                 Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.

 

(b)                                 Ten Percent Stockholders.

 

(i)                                    A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.

 

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(ii)                                A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least (i) one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant or (ii) such lower percentage of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant as is permitted by Section 260.140.41 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations at the time of the grant of the Option, if applicable.

 

(iii)                            A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted a restricted stock award unless the purchase price of the restricted stock is at least (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant or (ii) such lower percentage of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant as is permitted by Section 260.140.42 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations at the time of the grant of the restricted stock award, if applicable.

 

(c)                                  Consultants.                           A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award if, at the time of grant, either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant is not exempt under Rule 701 of the Securities Act (“Rule 701”) because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, because the Consultant is not a natural person, or because of some other provision of Rule 701, unless the Company determines that such grant need not comply with the requirements of Rule 701 and will satisfy another exemption under the Securities Act as well as comply with the securities laws of all other relevant jurisdictions, if applicable.

 

6.                                      OPTION PROVISIONS.

 

Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates shall be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

(a)                                 Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

 

(b)                                 Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

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(c)                                  Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

(d)                                 Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at the discretion of the Board at the time of the grant of the Option (or subsequently in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option) (1) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, (2) according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the Optionholder or (3) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes). At any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, payment of the Common Stock’s “par value,” as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.

 

In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid (1) the treatment as interest, under any applicable provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the deferred payment arrangement and (2) the treatment of the Option as a variable award for financial accounting purposes.

 

If the Common Stock is traded on an established market, payment of any exercise price may also be made through and under the terms and conditions of any formal cashless exercise program authorized by the Company entailing the sale of the Common Stock subject to an Option in a brokered transaction (other than to the Company), provided, that, such formal cashless exercise program shall not be applicable to any Option unless and until the holder of such Option shall have agreed in writing that such formal cashless exercise program shall be applicable to such Option.

 

(e)                                  Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

 

(f)                                   Transferability of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, to the

 

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extent provided in the Option Agreement, to such further extent as permitted by Section 260.140.41(d) of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, if applicable at the time of the grant of the Option, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. If the Nonstatutory Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

 

(g)                                 Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The provisions of this Section 6(g) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised.

 

(h)                                 Minimum Vesting. Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 6(g), to the extent that the following restrictions on vesting are required by Section 260.140.41(f) of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations at the time of the grant of the Option, then:

 

(i)                                    Options granted to an Employee who is not an Officer, Director or Consultant shall provide for vesting of the total number of shares of Common Stock at a rate of at least twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the Option was granted, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment; and

 

(ii)                                Options granted to Officers, Directors or Consultants may be made fully exercisable, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment, at any time or during any period established by the Company.

 

(i)                                    Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

 

(j)                                    Extension of Termination Date. An Optionholder’s Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier

 

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of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in Section 6(a) or (ii) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.

 

(k)                                 Disability of Optionholder. In the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement, which period shall not be less than six (6) months) or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

 

(l)                                    Death of Optionholder. In the event that (i) an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death or (ii) the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the option upon the Optionholder’s death pursuant to Section 6(e) or 6(f), but only within the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement, which period shall not be less than six (6) months) or (2) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

 

(m)                             Early Exercise. The Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h), any unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate. Provided that the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h) is not violated, the Company will not exercise its repurchase option until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following exercise of the Option unless the Board otherwise specifically provides in the Option.

 

7.                                      PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS.

 

(a)                                 Stock Bonus Awards. Each stock bonus agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate stock bonus agreements need not be identical, but each stock bonus agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

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(i)                                    Consideration. A stock bonus may be awarded in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate for its benefit.

 

(ii)                                Vesting. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h), shares of Common Stock awarded under the stock bonus agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.

 

(iii)                            Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h), in the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus agreement. Provided that the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h) is not violated, the Company will not exercise its repurchase option until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following receipt of the stock bonus unless otherwise specifically provided in the stock bonus agreement.

 

(iv)                             Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the stock bonus agreement shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.

 

(b)                                 Restricted Stock Awards. Each restricted stock purchase agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of the restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate restricted stock purchase agreements need not be identical, but each restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

(i)                                    Purchase Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the purchase price of restricted stock awards shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Common Stock’s Fair Market Value on the date such award is made or at the time the purchase is consummated.

 

(ii)                                Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board, according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the Participant; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its discretion; provided, however, that at any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, then payment of the Common Stock’s “par value,” as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.

 

(iii)                            Vesting. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h), shares of Common Stock acquired under the restricted stock purchase agreement may, but need not, be

 

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subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.

 

(iv)                             Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h), in the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the restricted stock purchase agreement. Provided that the “Repurchase Limitation” in Section 10(h) is not violated, the Company will not exercise its repurchase option until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following the purchase of the restricted stock unless otherwise specifically provided in the restricted stock purchase agreement.

 

(v)                                 Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the restricted stock purchase agreement shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.

 

(c)                                  Stock Appreciation Rights and Phantom Stock Awards. Each SAR and Phantom Stock Award agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of SAR and Phantom Stock Award agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate SAR and Phantom Stock Award agreements need not be identical, but each SAR and Phantom Stock Award agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

(i)                                    Grants. SARs and Phantom Stock Awards granted to a Participant shall be credited to a bookkeeping account to be maintained for such Participant. A Participant may be granted more than one SAR or Phantom Stock Award under the Plan, and such Participant shall be notified of each such grant in writing within thirty (30) days of the date of grant, or within such other time period as the Board shall determine is appropriate.

 

(ii)                                Term. Each SAR and Phantom Stock Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall have a term of ten (10) years. A SAR or Phantom Stock Award not redeemed prior to the payment shall be made to the Participant holding such SAR or Phantom Stock Award in accordance with this Section 7(c).

 

(iii)                            Vesting and Forfeiture. SARs and the units subject to each Phantom Stock Award shall become vested and redeemable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The SAR or Phantom Stock Award may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be redeemed (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual SARs and Phantom Stock Awards may vary.

 

A Participant’s SARs or Phantom Stock Awards shall continue to vest until either (i) the Participant’s Continuous Service terminates for any reason, or (ii) all SARs or units subject to

 

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the Phantom Stock Award under the Participant’s grant become fully vested. Only SARs and units subject to the Phantom Stock Awards that are vested may be redeemed.

 

If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates for any reason before all SARs or units subject to a Phantom Stock Award held by such Participant have vested, the portion of those SARs or Phantom Stock Awards that has not vested as of the date of such termination of  Continuous Service shall be forfeited and canceled as of such date. Such Participant’s SARs and vested units subject to the Phantom Stock Award that have vested automatically shall be redeemed on the date of his or her termination, and the Participant shall receive a cash payment for such automatically redeemed vested SARs and Phantom Stock Awards in accordance with Section 7(c)(iv).

 

If a Participant’s Continuous Service with the Company is interrupted for a period of three (3) months or more in a calendar year for any reason, including such Participant’s sick leave, maternity leave, military leave, or other leave of absence approved by the Company, before all SARs or units subject to a Phantom Stock Award held by such Participant have vested, then upon the occurrence of such interruption, further vesting of the SARs and Phantom Stock Awards shall cease until the Participant resumes Continuous Service. The unvested SARs and Phantom Stock Awards thereafter shall vest on the basis set forth in the Participant’s SAR or Phantom Stock Award agreement, with no vesting credit given for the period during which the vesting ceased.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have the power to accelerate the time of vesting for any Participant or Participants under this Section 7(c), including in the event of a Change in Control or a Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

 

(iv)                             Redemption. SARs and Phantom Stock Awards shall entitle the holder to receive a cash payment from the Company upon redemption in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock (or such other value per share as may be set forth in the SAR or Phantom Stock Award agreement), multiplied by the number of SARs or units as to which the Phantom Stock Award is redeemed, less the applicable exercise price, if any, and applicable withholding taxes and authorized payroll deductions. Such payments shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable following the redemption of a SAR or Phantom Stock Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing a SAR or Phantom Stock Award agreement may provide that the Company may, in its sole discretion, make payment following a redemption of a SAR or Phantom Stock Award pursuant to a deferred payment schedule. Such deferred payment schedule shall provide that the Company shall pay the Participant the payment due with respect to the redemption within a period certain not to exceed two years from the date of the redemption. Payments made pursuant to a deferred payment schedule will include an interest payment by the Company in an amount equal to the mid-term Applicable Federal Rate established by the Internal Revenue Service, compounded annually, on the unpaid balance of the payment over the actual term of the payment.

 

At the time of the redemption of a SAR or Phantom Stock Award, the Participant shall execute such additional documents as the Company may then require in order to administer properly the terms of the grant and redemption.

 

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(v)                                 Transferability. SARs and Phantom Stock Awards shall not be transferable or assignable in any manner by a Participant. During the lifetime of a Participant, vested SARs and units subject to Phantom Stock Awards held by such Participant shall be redeemed only by such Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative. In the case of the death of a Participant who holds vested SARs or units subject to Phantom Stock Awards, such vested SARs or units subject to Phantom Stock Awards automatically shall be redeemed as of the Participant’s date of death, and payment shall be made to such Participant’s designated beneficiary or, in the absence of designation, to such Participant’s beneficiary by will or by the laws of descent and distribution upon sufficient legal proof of entitlement, in accordance with Section 7(c)(iv) of the Plan.

 

(vi)                             Funding. SARs and Phantom Stock Awards shall not be funded, the Company shall not be required to segregate any funds representing the value of SARs or Phantom Stock Awards granted to Participants, and nothing in the Plan shall be construed as providing for such segregation. A Participant’s rights to amounts received upon the redemption of SARs or Phantom Stock Awards under the Plan shall be those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. The liability for payment upon the redemption of a SAR or Phantom Stock Award shall be a liability of the Company alone and shall not be a liability of any officer, director, shareholder or affiliate of the Company.

 

8.                                      COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

 

(a)                                 Availability of Shares. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Stock Awards.

 

(b)                                 Securities Law Compliance. The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

9.                                      USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK

 

Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company.

 

10.                               MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)                                 Acceleration of Exercisability or Redemption and Vesting. The Board shall have the power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or

 

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redeemed or the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or redeemed or the time during which it will vest; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, any such acceleration of the Option would not cause the Option to fail to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or the Optionholder consents to the acceleration.

 

(b)                                 Stockholder Rights. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its terms.

 

(c)                                  No Employment or other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.

 

(d)                                 Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) (the “ISO Limit”), the Options or portions thereof that exceed the ISO Limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of a Stock Award Agreement; provided however, that to the extent that applicable law is amended to increase or decrease the incentive stock option value limitation, the ISO Limit shall be deemed to be such amended value.

 

(e)                                  Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (1) the issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (2) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such

 

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requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.

 

(f)                                   Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, a Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under a Stock Award or redemption of a SAR or Phantom Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering a cash payment; (ii) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award; provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lower amount as may be necessary to avoid variable award accounting); or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock.

 

(g)                                 Information Obligation. To the extent required by Section 260.140.46 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the Company shall deliver financial statements to Participants at least annually. This Section 10(g) shall not apply to key Employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.

 

(h)                                 Repurchase Limitation. The terms of any repurchase option shall be specified in the Stock Award, and the repurchase price may be either the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of termination of Continuous Service or the lower of (i) the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of repurchase or (ii) their original purchase price. To the extent required by Section 260.140.41 and Section 260.140.42 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations at the time a Stock Award is made, any repurchase option contained in a Stock Award granted to a person who is not an Officer, Director or Consultant shall be upon the terms described below:

 

(i)                                    Fair Market Value. If the repurchase option gives the Company the right to repurchase the shares of Common Stock upon termination of Continuous Service at not less than the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock to be purchased on the date of termination of Continuous Service, then (i) the right to repurchase shall be exercised for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares of Common Stock within ninety (90) days of termination of Continuous Service (or in the case of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Stock Awards after such date of termination, within ninety (90) days after the date of the exercise) or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Participant (for example, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code regarding “qualified small business stock”) and (ii) the right terminates when the shares of Common Stock become publicly traded.

 

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(ii)                                Original Purchase Price. If the repurchase option gives the Company the right to repurchase the shares of Common Stock upon termination of Continuous Service at the lower of (i) the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of repurchase or (ii) their original purchase price, then (x) the right to repurchase at the original purchase price shall lapse at the rate of at least twenty percent (20%) of the shares of Common Stock per year over five (5) years from the date the Stock Award is granted (without respect to the date the Stock Award was exercised or became exercisable) and (y) the right to repurchase shall be exercised for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares of Common Stock within ninety (90) days of termination of Continuous Service (or in the case of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Options after such date of termination, within ninety (90) days after the date of the exercise) or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Participant (for example, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code regarding “qualified small business stock”).

 

11.                               ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK

 

(a)                                 Capitalization Adjustments. If any change is made in, or other event occurs with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company (each a “Capitalization Adjustment”), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Sections 4(a) and 4(b) and the maximum number of securities subject to award to any person pursuant to Section 5(c), and the outstanding Stock Awards will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction “without receipt of consideration” by the Company.)

 

(b)                                 Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Options shall terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase option may be repurchased by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such stock is still in Continuous Service.

 

(c)                                  Corporate Transaction.  In the event of a Corporate Transaction, any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation may assume or continue any or all Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards for Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan (it being understood that similar stock awards include, but are not limited to, awards to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders or the Company, as the case may be, pursuant to the Corporate Transaction), and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock Awards may be assigned by the Company to the successor of the Company (or such successor’s parent company), if any, in connection with such Corporate Transaction. In the event that any surviving corporation or

 

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acquiring corporation does not assume or continue any or all such outstanding Stock Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Stock Awards, then with respect to Stock Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Awards may be exercised or redeemed) shall (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) be accelerated in full to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board shall determine (or, if the Board shall not determine such a date, to the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction), the Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised or redeemed (if applicable) at or prior to such effective time, and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Stock Awards held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated shall (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) lapse. With respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan that have not been assumed, continued or substituted, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Award may be exercised or redeemed) shall not be accelerated, unless otherwise provided in a written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the holder of such Stock Award, and such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised or redeemed (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction.

 

(d)                                 Change in Control.  A Stock Award held by any Participant whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective time of a Change in Control may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability or redemption upon or after such event as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration shall occur.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, to the extent that the surviving entity declines to continue, convert, assume or replace any outstanding Options, then such Options, to the extent not already exercisable in full, shall accelerate with respect to 100% of the shares for which such Options are not then exercisable.

 

12.                               AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.

 

(a)                                 Amendment of Plan. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(b)                                 Stockholder Approval. The Board, in its sole discretion, may submit any other amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval.

 

(c)                                  Contemplated Amendments. It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.

 

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(d)                                 No Impairment of Rights. Rights under any Stock Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the Participant consents in writing.

 

(e)                                  Amendment of Stock Awards. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards; provided, however, that the rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the Participant consents in writing.

 

13.                               TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

 

(a)                                 Plan Term. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

 

(b)                                 No Impairment of Rights. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the Participant.

 

14.                               EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

 

The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board.

 

15.                               CHOICE OF LAW.

 

The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of laws rules.

 

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