EXHIBIT 10.1

 

FIRST PRIORITY TAX SOLUTIONS INC.

 

2014 NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

1. Purpose of this Plan

 

This Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) is intended as an employment incentive, to aid in attracting and retaining in the employ or service of First Priority Tax Solutions Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, and any Affiliated Corporation, persons of experience and ability and whose services are considered valuable, to encourage the sense of proprietorship in such persons, and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the development and success of the Company. This Plan provides for the issuance of non-statutory stock options (“NSOs” or “Options”) which are not intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

2. Administration of this Plan

 

The Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) may appoint and maintain as administrator of this Plan the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board which shall consist of at least three members of the Board. Until such time as the Committee is duly constituted, the Board itself shall have and fulfill the duties herein allocated to the Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority to designate Plan participants, to determine the provisions and terms of respective NSOs (which need not be identical as to number of shares covered by any NSO, the method of exercise as related to exercise in whole or in installments, or otherwise), including the NSO price, and to interpret the provisions and supervise the administration of this Plan. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that certain NSOs not vest (that is, become exercisable) until expiration of a certain period after issuance or until other conditions are satisfied, so long as not contrary to this Plan.

 

A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. All decisions and selections made by the Committee pursuant to this Plan’s provisions shall be made by a majority of its members. Any decision reduced to writing and signed by all of the members shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a majority at a meeting duly held. The Committee shall select one of its members as its chairman and shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it deems advisable. If at any time the Board shall consist of seven or more members, then the Board may amend this Plan to provide that the Committee shall consist only of Board members who shall not have been eligible to participate in this Plan (or similar stock or stock option plan) of the Company or its affiliates at any time within one year prior to appointment to the Committee.

 

All NSOs granted under this Plan are subject to, and may not be exercised before, the approval of this Plan by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares, and if such approval is not obtained, all NSOs previously granted shall be void. Each NSO shall be evidenced by a written agreement containing terms and conditions established by the Committee consistent with the provisions of this Plan.

 

	 
	
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3. Designation of Participants

 

The persons eligible for participation in this Plan as recipients of NSOs shall include full-time and part-time employees (as determined by the Committee) and officers of the Company or of an Affiliated Corporation. In addition, directors of the Company or any Affiliated Corporation who are not employees of the Company or an Affiliated Corporation and any attorney, consultant or other adviser to the Company or any Affiliated Corporation shall be eligible to participate in this Plan. For all purposes of this Plan, any director who is not also a common law employee and is granted an option under this Plan shall be considered an “employee” until the effective date of the director’s resignation or removal from the Board of Directors, including removal due to death or disability. The Committee shall have full power to designate, from among eligible individuals, the persons to whom NSOs may be granted. A person who has been granted an NSO hereunder may be granted an additional NSO or NSOs, if the Committee shall so determine. The granting of an NSO shall not be construed as a contract of employment or as entitling the recipient thereof to any rights of continued employment.

 

4. Stock Reserved for this Plan

 

Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 9 below, a total of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock (“Stock”), of the Company shall be subject to this Plan. The Stock subject to this Plan shall consist of un-issued shares or previously issued shares reacquired and held by the Company or any Affiliated Corporation, and such amount of shares shall be and is hereby reserved for sale for such purpose. Any of such shares which may remain unsold and which are not subject to outstanding NSOs at the termination of this Plan shall cease to be reserved for the purpose of this Plan, but until termination of this Plan, the Company shall at all times reserve a sufficient number of shares to meet the requirements of this Plan. Should any NSO expire or be canceled prior to its exercise in full, the unexercised shares theretofore subject to such NSO may again be subjected to an NSO under this Plan.

 

5. Option Price

 

The purchase price of each share of Stock placed under NSO shall not be less than ten percent (10%) of the fair market value of such share on the date the NSO is granted. The fair market value of a share on a particular date shall be deemed to be the average of either (i) the highest and lowest prices at which shares were sold on the date of grant, if traded on a national securities exchange, (ii) the high and low prices reported in the consolidated reporting system, if traded on a “last sale reported” system, such as the Nasdaq Stock Market, or (iii) the high bid and high asked price for over-the-counter securities. If no transactions in the Stock occur on the date of grant, the fair market value shall be determined as of the next earliest day for which reports or quotations are available. If the common shares are not then quoted on any exchange or in any quotation medium at the time the option is granted, then the Board of Directors or Committee will use its discretion in selecting a good faith value believed to represent fair market value based on factors then known to them. The cash proceeds from the sale of Stock are to be added to the general funds of the Company.

 

	 
	
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6. Exercise Period

 



	
 

	
a.

	
The NSO exercise period shall be a term of not more than ten (10) years from the date of granting of each NSO and shall automatically terminate:




 



	 	
1.

	
Upon termination of the optionee’s employment with the Company for cause;


	 	
 

	 
	 	
2.

	
At the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date of termination of the optionee’s employment with the Company for any reason other than death, without cause; provided, that if the optioned dies within such twelve month period, sub-clause (iii) below shall apply; or


	 	
 

	 
	 	
3.

	
At the expiration of fifteen (15) months after the date of death of the optionee.




 

	
 

	
b.

	
“Employment with the Company” as used in this Plan shall include employment with any Affiliated Corporation, and NSOs granted under this Plan shall not be affected by an employee’s transfer of employment among the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary thereof. An optionee’s employment with the Company shall not be deemed interrupted or terminated by a bona fide leave of absence (such as sabbatical leave or employment by the Government) duly approved, military leave, maternity leave or sick leave.




 

7. Exercise of Options

 

	 	
a.

	
The Committee, in granting NSOs, shall have discretion to determine the terms upon which NSOs shall be exercisable, subject to applicable provisions of this Plan. Once available for purchase, un-purchased shares of Stock shall remain subject to purchase until the NSO expires or terminates in accordance with Paragraph 6 above. Unless otherwise provided in the NSO, an NSO may be exercised in whole or in part, one or more times, but no NSO may be exercised for a fractional share of Stock.


	 	
 

	 
	 	
b.

	
NSOs may be exercised solely by the optioned during his lifetime, or after his death (with respect to the number of shares which the optioned could have purchased at the time of death) by the person or persons entitled thereto under the decedent’s will or the laws of descent and distribution.


	 	
 

	 
	 	
c.

	
The purchase price of the shares of Stock as to which an NSO is exercised shall be paid in full at the time of exercise and no shares of Stock shall be issued until full payment is made therefore. Payment shall be made either (i) in cash, represented by bank or cashier’s check, certified check or money order or (ii) in lieu of payment for bona fide services rendered, and such services were not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction, (iii) by delivering shares of the Company’s Common Stock which have been beneficially owned by the optioned, the optionee’s spouse, or both of them for a period of at least six (6) months prior to the time of exercise (the “Delivered Stock”) in a number equal to the number of shares of Stock being purchased upon exercise of the NSO or (iv) by delivery of shares of corporate stock which are freely tradable without restriction and which are part of a class of securities which has been listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or other national securities exchange, with an aggregate fair market value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the shares of Stock being purchased under the NSO, or (v) a combination of cash, services, Delivered Stock or other corporate shares. An NSO shall be deemed exercised when written notice thereof, accompanied by the appropriate payment in full, is received by the Company. No holder of an NSO shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any shares of Stock purchasable upon exercise of any part of an NSO unless and until certificates representing such shares shall have been issued by the Company to him or her.




 

	 
	
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8. Assignability

 

No NSO shall be assignable or otherwise transferable (by the optioned or otherwise) except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or except as permitted in accordance with SEC Release No.33-7646, effective April 7, 1999, and in particular that portion thereof which expands upon transferability as is contained in Article III entitled “Transferable Options and Proxy Reporting” as indicated in Section A.1 through 4 inclusive and Section B thereof. No NSO shall be pledged or hypothecated in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

 

9. Reorganizations and Recapitalizations of the Company

 

	 	
a.

	
The existence of this Plan and NSOs granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its shareholders to make or authorize any and all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks ahead of or affecting the Company’s Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale, exchange or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or the other corporation act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.


	 	
 

	 
	 	
b.

	
The shares of Stock with respect to which NSOs may be granted hereunder are shares of the Common Stock of the Company as currently constituted. If, and whenever, prior to delivery by the Company of all of the shares of Stock which are subject to NSOs granted hereunder, the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares or other capital readjustment, the payment of a Stock dividend, a stock split, combination of shares (reverse stock split) or recapitalization or other increase or reduction of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding without receiving compensation therefore in money, services or property, then the number of shares of Stock available under this Plan and the number of shares of Stock with respect to which NSOs granted hereunder may thereafter be exercised shall (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares, be proportionately increased, and the cash consideration payable per share shall be proportionately reduced; and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding shares, be proportionately reduced, and the cash consideration payable per share shall be proportionately increased.


	 	
 

	 
	 	
c.

	
If the Company is reorganized, merged, consolidated or party to a plan of exchange with another corporation pursuant to which shareholders of the Company receive any shares of stock or other securities, there shall be substituted for the shares of Stock subject to the unexercised portions of outstanding NSOs an appropriate number of shares of each class of stock or other securities which were distributed to the shareholders of the Company in respect of such shares of Stock in the case of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or plan of exchange; provided, however, that all such NSOs may be canceled by the Company as of the effective date of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, plan of exchange, or any dissolution or liquidation of the Company, by giving notice to each optioned or his personal representative of its intention to do so and by permitting the purchase of all the shares subject to such outstanding NSOs for a period of not less than thirty (30) days during the sixty (60) days next preceding such effective date.


	 	
 

	 
	 	
d.

	
Except as expressly provided above, the Company’s issuance of shares of Stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of Stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into shares of Stock or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to NSOs granted hereunder or the purchase price of such shares.




 

	 
	
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10. Purchase for Investment

 

Unless the shares of Stock covered by this Plan have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each person exercising an NSO under this Plan may be required by the Company to give a representation in writing that he is acquiring such shares for his own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any part thereof.

 

11. Effective Date and Expiration of this Plan

 

This Plan shall be effective as of October 10, 2014, the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders, and no NSO shall be granted pursuant to this Plan after its expiration. This Plan shall expire on October 9, 2024, except as to NSOs then outstanding, which shall remain in effect until they have expired or been exercised.

 

12. Amendments or Termination

 

The Board may amend, alter or discontinue this Plan at any time in such respects as it shall deem advisable in order to conform to any change in any other applicable law, or in order to comply with the provisions of any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission required to exempt this Plan or any NSOs granted thereunder from the operation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or in any other respect not inconsistent with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; provided, that no amendment or alteration shall be made which would impair the rights of any participant under any NSO theretofore granted, without his consent (unless made solely to conform such NSO to, and necessary because of, changes in the foregoing laws, rules or regulations), and except that no amendment or alteration shall be made without the approval of shareholders which would:

 

	 	
a.

	
Decrease the NSO price provided for in Paragraph 5 (except as provided in Paragraph 9), or change the classes of persons eligible to participate in this Plan as provided in Paragraph 3; or


	 	
 

	 
	 	
b.

	
Extend the NSO period provided for in Paragraph 6; or


	 	
 

	 
	 	
c.

	
Materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under this Plan; or


	 	
 

	 
	 	
d.

	
Materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in this Plan; or


	 	
 

	 
	 	
e.

	
Extend the expiration date of this Plan as set forth in Paragraph 11.




 

	 
	
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13. Government Regulations

 

This Plan, and the granting and exercise of NSOs hereunder, and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver shares of Stock under such NSOs, shall 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. Liability

 

No member of the Board of Directors, the Committee or officers or employees of the Company or any Affiliated Corporation shall be personally liable for any action, omission or determination made in good faith in connection with this Plan.

 

15. Miscellaneous

 

The term “Affiliated Corporation” used herein shall mean any Parent or Subsidiary.

 

	 	
a.

	
The term “Parent” used herein shall mean any corporation owning 50 percent or more of the total combined voting stock of all classes of the Company or of another corporation qualifying as a Parent within this definition.


	 	
 

	 
	 	
b.

	
The term “Subsidiary” used herein shall mean any corporation more than 50 percent of whose total combined voting stock of all classes is held by the Company or by another corporation qualifying as a Subsidiary within this definition.




 

	 
	
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16. Options in Substitution for Other Options

 

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, at any time during the term of this Plan, grant new options to an employee under this Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company on the condition that such employee shall surrender for cancellation one or more outstanding options which represent the right to purchase (after giving effect to any previous partial exercise thereof) a number of shares, in relation to the number of shares to be covered by the new conditional grant hereunder, determined by the Committee. If the Committee shall have so determined to grant such new options on such a conditional basis (“New Conditional Options”), no such New Conditional Option shall become exercisable in the absence of such employee’s consent to the condition and surrender and cancellation as appropriate. New Conditional Options shall be treated in all respects under this Plan as newly granted options. Option may be granted under this Plan from time to time in substitution for similar rights held by employees of other corporations who are about to become employees of the Company or an Affiliated Corporation, or the merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or an Affiliated Corporation, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliated Corporation of the assets of the employing corporation, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliated Corporation of stock of the employing corporation as the result of which it becomes an Affiliated Corporation.

 

17. Withholding Taxes

 

Pursuant to applicable federal and state laws, the Company may be required to collect withholding taxes upon the exercise of a NSO. The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an NSO, that the optionee concurrently pay to the Company the entire amount or a portion of any taxes which the Company is required to withhold by reason of such exercise, in such amount as the Committee or the Company in its discretion may determine. In lieu of part or all of any such payment, the optioned may elect to have the Company withhold from the shares to be issued upon exercise of the option that number of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount which the Company is required to withhold.

 

18. Transferability in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-7646 entitled “Registration of Securities on Form S-8,”effective April 7, 1999

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary as may be contained in this Plan regarding rights as to transferability or lack thereof, all options granted hereunder may and shall be transferable to the extent permitted in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-7646 entitled “Registration of Securities on Form S-8,” effective April 7, 1999, and in particular in accordance with that portion of such Release which expands Form S-8 to include stock option exercise by family members so that the rules governing the use of Form S-8 (a) do not impede legitimate intra family transfer of options and (b) may facilitate transfer for estate planning purposes, all as more specifically defined in Article III, Sections A and B thereto, the contents of which are herewith incorporated by reference.

 

	 
	
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