Document:

Exhibit 10.15

 

DEPOMED, INC.

2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.  Plan.  Depomed, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), established this Depomed, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (this “Plan”), effective as of February 19, 2014 (the “Effective Date”) This Plan shall continue in effect for a term of 10 years after the Effective Date unless sooner terminated by action of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.  Objectives.  This Plan is designed to attract and retain employees and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined herein), to attract and retain qualified non-employee directors of the Company, to encourage the sense of proprietorship of such employees, consultants and directors and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the development and financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries. These objectives are to be accomplished by making Awards under this Plan and thereby providing Participants (as defined herein) with a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

3.  Definitions.  As used herein, the terms set forth below shall have the following respective meanings:

 

“Authorized Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (or any other senior officer of the Company to whom any of such individuals shall delegate the authority to execute any Award Agreement).

 

“Award” means the grant of any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, or Cash Award, any of which may be structured as a Performance Award, whether granted singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions, and limitations as the Committee may establish in accordance with the objectives of this Plan.

 

“Award Agreement” means the document (in written or electronic form) communicating the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to an Award. The Committee may, in its discretion, require that the Participant execute such Award Agreement, or may provide for procedures through which Award Agreements are made effective without execution. Any Participant who is granted an Award and who does not affirmatively reject the applicable Award Agreement shall be deemed to have accepted the terms of Award as embodied in the Award Agreement.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cash Award” means an Award denominated in cash.

 

“Change in Control” means any event so determined by the Board and that also constitutes a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or change in the “ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) (provided, that the Board may specify a definition of Change in Control in an Award Agreement that is not inconsistent with this definition of Change in Control).

 

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

 

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, and any successor committee thereto or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer this Plan in whole or in part including any subcommittee of the Board as designated by the Board.

 

“Common Stock” means the Common Stock, no par value, of the Company.

 

“Company” means Depomed, Inc., a California corporation, or any successor thereto.

 

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“Consultant” means an individual providing services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than an Employee or a Director, and an individual who has agreed to become a consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and actually becomes such a consultant following such date of agreement.

 

“Consultant Award” means the grant of any Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option), whether granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, to a Participant who is a Consultant pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions, and limitations established by the Committee.

 

“Covered Employee” means any Employee who is or may be a “covered employee,” as defined in Code Section 162(m).

 

“Director” means an individual serving as a member of the Board who is not an Employee or a Consultant and an individual who has agreed to become a director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and actually becomes such a director following such date of agreement.

 

“Director Award” means the grant of any Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option), whether granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, to a Participant who is a Director pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions, and limitations established by the Board.

 

“Disability” means (1) if the Participant is an Employee, a disability that entitles the Employee to benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan, as may be in effect from time to time, as determined by the plan administrator of the long-term disability plan or (2) if the Participant is a Director or a Consultant, a disability whereby the Director or Consultant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, the definition of Disability shall conform to the requirements of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i).

 

“Dividend Equivalents” means, in the case of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Units, an amount equal to all dividends and other distributions (or the economic equivalent thereof) that are payable to shareholders of record during the Restriction Period or performance period, as applicable, on a like number of shares of Common Stock that are subject to the Award.

 

“Employee” means an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and an individual who has agreed to become an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and actually becomes such an employee following such date of agreement.

 

“Employee Award” means the grant of any Award, whether granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, to an Employee pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions, and limitations established by the Committee.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

“Exercise Price” means the price at which a Participant may exercise his right to receive cash or Common Stock, as applicable, under the terms of an Award.

 

“Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock means, as of a particular date, (1) if shares of Common Stock are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price per share of Common Stock on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the principal national securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are listed on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported, (2) if the Common Stock is not so listed, the average of the closing bid and asked price on that date, or, if there are no quotations available for such date, on the last preceding date on which such quotations shall be available, as reported by an inter-dealer quotation system, (3) if 

 

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shares of Common Stock are not publicly traded, the most recent value determined by an independent appraiser appointed by the Committee for such purpose, or (4) if none of the above are applicable, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

“Grant Date” means the date an Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to this Plan.

 

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to comply with the requirements set forth in Code Section 422.

 

“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to comply with the requirements set forth in Code Section 422.

 

“Option” means a right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified Exercise Price, which is either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

“Participant” means an Employee, Consultant or Director to whom an Award has been made under this Plan.

 

“Performance Award” means an Award made pursuant to this Plan to a Participant which is subject to the attainment of one or more Performance Goals.

 

“Performance Goal” means one or more standards established by the Committee to determine in whole or in part whether a Performance Award shall be earned.

 

“Performance Unit” means a unit evidencing the right to receive in specified circumstances one share of Common Stock or equivalent value in cash, the value of which at the time it is settled is determined as a function of the extent to which established performance criteria have been satisfied.

 

“Performance Unit Award” means an Award in the form of Performance Units.

 

“Prior Plan” means the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan of Depomed, Inc.

 

“Qualified Performance Awards” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)(vii)(B).

 

“Restricted Stock” means a share of Common Stock that is restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions.

 

“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award in the form of Restricted Stock.

 

“Restricted Stock Unit” means a unit evidencing the right to receive in specified circumstances one share of Common Stock or equivalent value in cash that is restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions.

 

“Restricted Stock Unit Award” means an Award in the form of Restricted Stock Units.

 

“Restriction Period” means a period of time beginning as of the date upon which a Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit Award is made pursuant to this Plan and ending as of the date upon which such Award is no longer restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions.

 

“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive a payment, in cash or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over a specified Exercise Price.

 

“Stock Award” means an Award in the form of shares of Common Stock, including a Restricted Stock Award, and a Restricted Stock Unit Award or Performance Unit Award that may be settled in shares of Common Stock, and excluding Options and SARs.

 

“Stock-Based Award Limitations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.

 

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“Subsidiary” means (1) in the case of a corporation, any corporation of which the Company directly or indirectly owns shares representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the shares of all classes or series of capital stock of such corporation which have the right to vote generally on matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of such corporation, and (2) in the case of a partnership or other business entity not organized as a corporation, any such business entity of which the Company directly or indirectly owns 50% or more of the voting, capital or profits interests (whether in the form of partnership interests, membership interests or otherwise).

 

4.  Eligibility.

 

(a)  Employees.  All Employees are eligible for Employee Awards under this Plan, provided, however, that if the Committee makes an Employee Award to an individual whom it expects to become an Employee following the Grant Date of such Award, such Award shall be subject to (among other terms and conditions) the individual actually becoming an Employee.

 

(b)  Consultants.  All Consultants are eligible for Consultant Awards under this Plan, provided, however, that if the Committee makes a Consultant Award to an individual whom it expects to become a Consultant following the Grant Date of such Award, such Award shall be subject to (among other terms and conditions) the individual actually becoming a Consultant.

 

(c)  Directors.  All Directors are eligible for Director Awards under this Plan, provided, however, that if the Board makes a Director Award to an individual whom it expects to become a Director following the Grant Date of such Award, such Award shall be subject to (among other terms and conditions) the individual actually becoming a Director.

 

The Committee (or the Board, in the case of Director Awards) shall determine the type or types of Awards to be made under this Plan and shall designate from time to time the Employees, Consultants or Directors who are to be granted Awards under this Plan.

 

5.  Common Stock Available for Awards.  Subject to the provisions of Section 15 hereof, there shall be available for Awards under this Plan granted wholly or partly in Common Stock (including rights or Options that may be exercised for or settled in Common Stock) an aggregate of 6,150,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Maximum Share Limit”), all of which shall be available for Incentive Stock Options. Each Stock Award granted under this Plan shall be counted against the Maximum Share Limit as 1.55 shares of Common Stock; each Option and SAR shall be counted against the Maximum Share Limit as 1 share of Common Stock.

 

Awards settled in cash shall not reduce the Maximum Share Limit under the Plan. If an Award expires or is terminated, cancelled or forfeited, the shares of Common Stock associated with the expired, terminated, cancelled or forfeited Award shall again be available for Awards under the Plan, and the Maximum Share Limit shall be increased by the same amount as such shares were counted against the Maximum Share Limit (i.e., increased by 1.55 shares of Common Stock, if a Stock Award, and 1 share of Common Stock, if an Option or SAR). Shares of Common Stock that are tendered by a Participant or withheld as full or partial payment of minimum withholding taxes related to the vesting or settlement of an Award other than Options or SARs shall become available again for Awards under the Plan. The following shares of Common Stock shall not become available again for Awards under the Plan:

 

(i)                                     Shares of Common Stock that are tendered by a Participant or withheld (1) as full or partial payment of minimum withholding taxes related to the exercise or settlement of Options or SARs, (2) as payment for the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR or (3) in connection with the settlement of an SAR;

 

(ii)                                  Shares of Common Stock repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of an Exercise Price of an Option or SAR; and

 

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(iii)                               Shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon grant of an SAR, to the extent the number of reserved shares of Common Stock exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued upon exercise or settlement of such SAR.

 

The foregoing notwithstanding, subject to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, the Maximum Share Limit shall not be reduced by (x) shares of Common Stock issued under Awards granted in assumption, substitution or exchange for previously granted awards of a company acquired by the Company and (y) available shares under a shareholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) and such shares shall be available for Awards under the Plan.

 

The Board and the appropriate officers of the Company shall from time to time take whatever actions are necessary to file any required documents with governmental authorities, stock exchanges and transaction reporting systems to ensure that shares of Common Stock are available for issuance pursuant to Awards.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the following limitations shall apply to any Awards made hereunder:

 

(a)                                 No Employee may be granted during any calendar year Awards consisting of Options or SARs that are exercisable for more than 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock;

 

(b)                                 No Employee may be granted during any calendar year Qualified Performance Awards that are Stock Awards covering or relating to more than 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the limitation set forth in this clause (b), together with the limitation set forth in clause (a) above, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Stock-Based Award Limitations”); and

 

(c)                                  No Employee may be granted during any calendar year Qualified Performance Awards that are (1) Cash Awards or (2) Restricted Stock Unit Awards or Performance Unit Awards that may be settled solely in cash having a value determined on the Grant Date in excess of $5,000,000.

 

Shares delivered by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, shares of Common Stock purchased on the open market or by private purchase or any combination of the foregoing.

 

6.  Administration.

 

(a)  Authority of the Committee.  Except as otherwise provided in this Plan with respect to actions or determinations by the Board, this Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that (i) any and all members of the Committee shall satisfy any independence requirements prescribed by any stock exchange on which the Company lists its Common Stock; (ii) Awards may be granted to individuals who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act only if the Committee is comprised solely of two or more “Non-Employee Directors” as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3 (as amended from time to time, and any successor rule, regulation or statute fulfilling the same or similar function); and (iii) any Award intended to qualify for the “performance-based compensation” exception under Code Section 162(m) shall be granted only if the Committee is comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Code Section l62(m) and regulations pursuant thereto. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Committee shall have full and exclusive power and authority to administer this Plan and to take all actions that are specifically contemplated hereby or are necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration hereof. The Committee shall also have full and exclusive power to interpret this Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for carrying out this Plan as it may deem necessary or proper, all of which powers shall be exercised in the best interests of the Company and in keeping with the objectives of this Plan. Subject to Section 6(c) hereof, the Committee may, in its discretion, (x) provide for the extension 

 

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of the exercisability of an Award, or (y) in the event of death, Disability, retirement or Change in Control, accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, eliminate or make less restrictive any restrictions contained in an Award, waive any restriction or other provision of this Plan or an Award or otherwise amend or modify an Award in any manner that is, in either case, (1) not materially adverse to the Participant to whom such Award was granted, (2) consented to by such Participant or (3) authorized by Section 15(c) hereof; provided, however, that except as expressly provided in Section 8(a)(i) or 8(a)(ii) hereof, no such action shall permit the term of any Option or SAR to be greater than 10 years from its Grant Date. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable to further this Plan’s purposes. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of this Plan shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned. The Board shall have the same powers as the Committee with respect to Director Awards.

 

(b)  Indemnity.  No member of the Board or the Committee or officer of the Company to whom the Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of this Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him, by any member of the Board or the Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the performance of any duties under this Plan, except for his own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.

 

(c)  Prohibition on Repricing of Awards.  Subject to the provisions of Section 15 hereof, the terms of outstanding Award Agreements may not be amended without the approval of the Company’s shareholders so as to (i) reduce the Exercise Price of any outstanding Options or SARs or (ii) cancel any outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash or other Awards (including substitutions and cash buyouts), or Options or SARs with an Exercise Price that is less than the Exercise Price of the original Options or SARs.

 

7.  Delegation of Authority.  The Committee may delegate any of its authority to grant Awards to Employees who are not subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and Consultants, subject to Section 6(a) above, to the Board or to any other committee of the Board, provided such delegation is made in writing and specifically sets forth such delegated authority. The Committee may also delegate to an Authorized Officer authority to execute on behalf of the Company any Award Agreement. The Committee and the Board, as applicable, may engage or authorize the engagement of a third party administrator to carry out administrative functions under this Plan. Any such delegation hereunder shall only be made to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

8.  Employee Awards.

 

(a)                                 The Committee shall determine the type or types of Employee Awards to be made under this Plan and shall designate from time to time the Employees who are to be the recipients of such Awards. Each Award shall be embodied in an Award Agreement, which shall contain such terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and, if required by the Committee, shall be signed by the Participant to whom the Award is granted and by an Authorized Officer for and on behalf of the Company. Awards may consist of those listed in this Section 8(a) hereof and may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Awards may also be made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, grants or rights under this Plan or any other plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including the plan of any acquired entity; provided, however, that, except as contemplated in Section 15 hereof, no Option or SAR may be issued in exchange for the cancellation of an Option or SAR with a higher Exercise Price nor may the Exercise Price of any Option or SAR be reduced. All or part of an Award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee. Upon the termination of employment by a Participant who is an Employee, any unexercised, unvested or unpaid Awards 

 

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shall be treated as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or in any other written agreement the Company has entered into with the Participant.

 

(i)  Options.  An Employee Award may be in the form of an Option. An Option awarded pursuant to this Plan may consist of either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. The price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15 hereof. The term of an Option shall not exceed 10 years from the Grant Date; provided, however, if the term of a Nonqualified Option (but not an Incentive Option) expires when trading in the Common Stock is prohibited by law or the Company’s insider trading policy, then the term of such Nonqualified Option shall expire on the 30th day after the expiration of such prohibition. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Option, including, but not limited to, the term of any Option and the date or dates upon which the Option becomes vested and exercisable, shall be determined by the Committee.

 

(ii)  Stock Appreciation Rights.  An Employee Award may be in the form of an SAR. The Exercise Price for an SAR shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15 hereof. The holder of a tandem SAR may elect to exercise either the Option or the SAR, but not both. The exercise period for an SAR shall extend no more than 10 years after the Grant Date; provided, however, if the term of an SAR expires when trading in the Common Stock is prohibited by law or the Company’s insider trading policy, then the term of such SAR shall expire on the 30th day after the expiration of such prohibition. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions, and limitations applicable to any SAR, including, but not limited to, the term of any SAR and the date or dates upon which the SAR becomes vested and exercisable, shall be determined by the Committee.

 

(iii)  Stock Awards.  An Employee Award may be in the form of a Stock Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Stock Award, including, but not limited to, vesting or other restrictions, shall be determined by the Committee, and subject to the minimum Restriction Period and performance period requirements and any other applicable requirements described in this Section 8(a) hereof.

 

(iv)  Restricted Stock Unit Awards.  An Employee Award may be in the form of a Restricted Stock Unit Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to a Restricted Stock Unit Award, including, but not limited to, the Restriction Period, shall be determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may settle Restricted Stock Units in the form of cash or in shares of Common Stock (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the vested Restricted Stock Units. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee with respect to a specific Award, Restricted Stock Unit awards shall be settled in shares of Common Stock.

 

(v)  Performance Unit Awards.  An Employee Award may be in the form of a Performance Unit Award. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee on the Grant Date. Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable performance period has ended, the Participant shall be entitled to receive settlement of the value and number of Performance Units earned by the Participant over the performance period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved. Settlement of earned Performance Units shall be as determined by the Committee and as evidenced in an Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may settle earned Performance Units in the form of cash or in shares of Common Stock (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Units as soon as practicable after the end of the performance period and following the Committee’s determination 

 

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of actual performance against the performance measures and related goals established by the Committee.

 

(vi)  Cash Awards.  An Employee Award may be in the form of a Cash Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to a Cash Award, including, but not limited to, vesting or other restrictions, shall be determined by the Committee.

 

(vii)  Performance Awards.  Without limiting the type or number of Awards that may be made under the other provisions of this Plan, an Employee Award may be in the form of a Performance Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to an Award that is a Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall set Performance Goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or amount of Performance Awards that will be paid out to the Participant and/or the portion of an Award that may be exercised.

 

(A)  Nonqualified Performance Awards.  Performance Awards granted to Employees that are not intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) shall be based on achievement of such Performance Goals and be subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee or its delegate shall determine.

 

(B)  Qualified Performance Awards.  Performance Awards granted to Employees under this Plan that are intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) shall be paid, vested or otherwise deliverable solely on account of the attainment of one or more pre-established, objective Performance Goals established by the Committee prior to the earlier to occur of (1) 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the Performance Goal relates and (2) the lapse of 25% of the period of service (as scheduled in good faith at the time the goal is established), and in any event while the outcome is substantially uncertain. A Performance Goal is objective if a third party having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether the goal is met. One or more of such goals may apply to the Employee, one or more business units, divisions or sectors of the Company, or the Company as a whole, and if so desired by the Committee, by comparison with a peer group of companies. A Performance Goal shall include one or more of the following: (1) earnings per share; (2) net order dollars; (3) increase in cash flow; (4) increase in cash flow from operations; (5) increase in cash flow return; (6) return on net assets; (7) return on assets; (8) return on investment; (9) return on capital; (10) return on equity; (11) economic value added; (12) operating margin; (13) net profit dollars; (14) net income; (15) net income per share; (16) pretax earnings; (17) pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA; (18) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; (19) total shareholder return; (20) debt reduction; (21) net profit growth; (22) operating income; (23) internal rate of return; (24) safety; (25) net revenue dollars; (26) capital efficiency; (27) revenue growth (including revenue growth by product); (28) growth in product sales (including as measured by prescriptions for one or more pharmaceutical products); and (29) any of the above goals determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the Russell 3000 Stock Index or a group of comparable companies.

 

Unless otherwise stated, such a Performance Goal need not be based upon an increase or positive result under a particular business criterion and could include, for example, maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to specific business criteria). In interpreting Plan provisions applicable to Qualified Performance Awards, it is the intent of this Plan to conform with the standards of Code Section 162(m) and Treasury Regulation § 1.162-27(e)(2)(i), as to grants to Covered 

 

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Employees and the Committee in establishing such goals and interpreting this Plan shall be guided by such provisions. Prior to the payment of any compensation based on the achievement of Performance Goals applicable to Qualified Performance Awards, the Committee must certify in writing that applicable Performance Goals and any of the material terms thereof were, in fact, satisfied. For this purpose, approved minutes of the Committee meeting in which the certification is made shall be treated as such written certification. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Qualified Performance Awards made pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee may provide in any such Performance Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year, (f) acquisitions or divestitures, (g) foreign exchange gains and losses and (h) settlement of hedging activities.

 

(C)  Adjustment of Performance Awards.  Awards that are intended to be Qualified Performance Awards may not be adjusted upward. The Committee may retain the discretion to adjust such Performance Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee determines.

 

9.  Consultant and Director Awards.

 

(a)  Consultant Awards.  The Committee has the sole authority to grant Consultant Awards from time to time in accordance with this Section 9(a). Consultant Awards may consist of the forms of Award described in Section 8, with the exception of Incentive Stock Options, may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem and shall be granted subject to such terms and conditions as specified in Section 8. Each Consultant Award shall be embodied in an Award Agreement, which shall contain such terms, conditions, and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

 

(b)  Director Awards.  The Board has the sole authority to grant Director Awards from time to time in accordance with this Section 9(b). Director Awards may consist of the forms of Award described in Section 8, with the exception of Incentive Stock Options, may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem and shall be granted subject to such terms and conditions as specified in Section 8. Each Director Award may, in the discretion of the Board, be embodied in an Award Agreement, which shall contain such terms, conditions, and limitations as shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

 

10.  Award Payment; Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.

 

(a)  General.  Payment of Awards may be made in the form of cash or Common Stock, or a combination thereof, and may include such restrictions as the Committee (or the Board, in the case of Director Awards) shall determine, including, but not limited to, in the case of Common Stock, restrictions on transfer and forfeiture provisions. For a Restricted Stock Award, the certificates evidencing the shares of such Restricted Stock (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) shall contain appropriate legends and restrictions that describe the terms and conditions of the restrictions applicable thereto. For a Restricted Stock Unit Award that may be settled in shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock that may be issued at the end of the Restriction Period shall be evidenced by book entry registration or in such other manner as the Committee may determine.

 

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(b)  Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.  Rights to (1) dividends will be extended to and made part of any Restricted Stock Award and (2) Dividend Equivalents may be extended to and made part of any Restricted Stock Unit Award and Performance Unit Award, subject in each case to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee may establish; provided, however, that no such dividends or Dividend Equivalents shall be paid with respect to unvested Stock Awards, including Stock Awards subject to Performance Goals. Dividends or Dividend Equivalents paid with respect to unvested Stock Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be accumulated and paid to the Participant at the time that such Stock Award vests. Dividends and/or Dividend Equivalents shall not be made part of any Options or SARs.

 

11.  Option Exercise.  The Exercise Price shall be paid in full at the time of exercise in cash or, if permitted by the Committee and elected by the Participant, the Participant may purchase such shares by means of the Company withholding shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable on exercise of the Award or tendering Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, or any combination thereof. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine acceptable methods for Participants to tender Common Stock or other Awards. The Committee may provide for procedures to permit the exercise or purchase of such Awards by use of the proceeds to be received from the sale of Common Stock issuable pursuant to an Award, and for the avoidance of doubt, so long as the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded and unless the Committee specifically determines otherwise, an Option may be exercised using consideration received by the Company under a procedure under which a licensed broker-dealer advances funds on behalf of a Participant or sells shares of Common Stock on behalf of a Participant (a “Cashless Exercise Procedure”), provided, however, that no officer or director may participate in that Cashless Exercise Procedure to the extent prohibited by applicable law. The Committee may adopt additional rules and procedures regarding the exercise of Options from time to time, provided that such rules and procedures are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 11.

 

12.  Taxes.  The Company shall have the right to deduct applicable taxes from any Award payment and withhold, at the time of delivery or vesting of cash or shares of Common Stock under this Plan, an appropriate amount of cash or number of shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof for payment of required withholding taxes or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for withholding of such taxes including a requirement that a Participant pay in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any required withholding amount; provided, however, that in the event in the Committee’s sole discretion share withholding is permitted, the number of shares of Common Stock withheld for payment of required withholding taxes must equal no more than the required minimum withholding taxes. The Committee may also permit withholding to be satisfied by the transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock theretofore owned by the holder of the Award with respect to which withholding is required. If shares of Common Stock are used to satisfy tax withholding, such shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value when the tax withholding is required to be made.

 

13.  Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination.  The Board may amend, modify, suspend or terminate this Plan (and the Committee may amend an Award Agreement) for the purpose of meeting or addressing any changes in legal requirements or for any other purpose permitted by law, except that (1) no amendment or alteration that would materially adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted to such Participant shall be made without the consent of such Participant and (2) no amendment or alteration shall be effective prior to its approval by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is otherwise required by applicable legal requirements or the requirements of the securities exchange on which the Company’s stock is listed, including any amendment that expands the types of Awards available under this Plan, materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under this Plan, materially expands the classes of persons eligible for Awards under this Plan, materially extends the term of this 

 

10

 

Plan, materially changes the method of determining the Exercise Price of Options, deletes or limits any provisions of this Plan that prohibit the repricing of Options or SARs.

 

14.  Assignability.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee (or the Board in the case of Director Awards) or expressly provided for in an Award Agreement, no Award or any other benefit under this Plan shall be assignable or otherwise transferable except (1) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or (2) pursuant to a domestic relations order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction that is not contrary to the terms and conditions of this Plan or applicable Award and in a form acceptable to the Committee. The Committee may prescribe and include in applicable Award Agreements other restrictions on transfer. Any attempted assignment of an Award or any other benefit under this Plan in violation of this Section 14 shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Award may be transferred for value or consideration.

 

15.  Adjustments.

 

(a)                                 The existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect in any manner the right or power of the Company or its shareholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the capital stock of the Company or its business or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock (whether or not such issue is prior to, on a parity with or junior to the Common Stock) or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding of any kind, whether or not of a character similar to that of the acts or proceedings enumerated above.

 

(b)                                 In the event of any subdivision or consolidation of outstanding shares of Common Stock, declaration of a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or other stock split, then (1) the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under this Plan, (2) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards in the form of Common Stock or units denominated in Common Stock, (3) the Exercise Price or other price in respect of such Awards, (4) the Stock-Based Award Limitations, and (5) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards shall each be proportionately adjusted by the Committee as appropriate to reflect such transaction. In the event of any other recapitalization or capital reorganization of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with another corporation or entity, the adoption by the Company of any plan of exchange affecting the Common Stock or any distribution to holders of Common Stock of securities or property (other than normal cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Stock), the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments to (i) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by Awards in the form of Common Stock or units denominated in Common Stock, (ii) the Exercise Price or other price in respect of such Awards, (iii) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards, and (iv) the Stock-Based Award Limitations to reflect such transaction; provided that such adjustments shall only be such as are necessary to maintain the proportionate interest of the holders of the Awards and preserve, without increasing, the value of such Awards.

 

(c)                                  In the event of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation, the Committee may make such adjustments to Awards or other provisions for the disposition of Awards as it deems equitable, and shall be authorized, in its discretion, (1) to provide for the substitution of a new Award or other arrangement (which, if applicable, may be exercisable for such property or stock as the Committee determines) for an Award or the assumption of the Award, regardless of whether in a transaction to which Code Section 424(a) applies, (2) to provide, prior to the transaction, for the acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of, or lapse of restrictions with respect to, the Award and, if the transaction is a cash merger, provide for the termination of any portion of the Award that remains unexercised at 

 

11

 

the time of such transaction, or (3) to cancel any such Awards and to deliver to the Participants cash in an amount that the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion is equal to the Fair Market Value of such Awards on the date of such event, which in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be the excess (if any) of the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on such date over the Exercise Price of such Award.

 

(d)                                 No adjustment or substitution pursuant to this Section 15 shall be made in a manner that results in noncompliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, to the extent applicable.

 

16.  Restrictions.  No Common Stock or other form of payment shall be issued with respect to any Award unless the Company shall be satisfied based on the advice of its counsel that such issuance will be in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) may be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or transaction reporting system upon which the Common Stock is then listed or to which it is admitted for quotation and any applicable federal or state securities law. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed upon such certificates (if any) to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

17.  Unfunded Plan.  This Plan is unfunded. Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to Participants who are entitled to cash, Common Stock or rights thereto under this Plan, any such accounts shall be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience. The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by cash, Common Stock or rights thereto, nor shall this Plan be construed as providing for such segregation, nor shall the Company, the Board or the Committee be deemed to be a trustee of any cash, Common Stock or rights thereto to be granted under this Plan. Any liability or obligation of the Company to any Participant with respect to an Award of cash, Common Stock or rights thereto under this Plan shall be based solely upon any contractual obligations that may be created by this Plan and any Award Agreement, and no such liability or obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or other encumbrance on any property of the Company. None of the Company, the Board or the Committee shall be required to give any security or bond for the performance of any obligation that may be created by this Plan. With respect to this Plan and any Awards granted hereunder, Participants are general and unsecured creditors of the Company and have no rights or claims except as otherwise provided in this Plan or any applicable Award Agreement.

 

18.  Code Section 409A.

 

(a)                                 Awards made under this Plan are intended to comply with or be exempt from Code Section 409A, and ambiguous provisions hereof, if any, shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent. No payment, benefit or consideration shall be substituted for an Award if such action would result in the imposition of taxes under Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if any Plan provision or Award under this Plan would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Code Section 409A, that Plan provision or Award shall be reformed, to the extent permissible under Code Section 409A, to avoid imposition of the additional tax, and no such action shall be deemed to adversely affect the Participant’s rights to an Award.

 

(b)                                 Unless the Committee provides otherwise in an Award Agreement, each Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Unit Award or Cash Award (or portion thereof if the Award is subject to a vesting schedule) shall be settled no later than the 15th day of the third month after the end of the first calendar year in which the Award (or such portion thereof) is no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If the Committee determines that a Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Unit Award or Cash Award is 

 

12

 

intended to be subject to Code Section 409A, the applicable Award Agreement shall include terms that are designed to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

(c)                                  If the Participant is identified by the Company as a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) on the date on which the Participant has a “separation from service” (other than due to death) within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h), any Award payable or settled on account of a separation from service that is deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A shall be paid or settled on the earliest of (1) the first business day following the expiration of six months from the Participant’s separation from service, (2) the date of the Participant’s death, or (3) such earlier date as complies with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

19.  Awards to Foreign Nationals and Employees Outside the United States.  The Committee may, without amending this Plan, (1) establish special rules applicable to Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals, are employed or otherwise providing services outside the United States, or both, including rules that differ from those set forth in this Plan, and (2) grant Awards to such Participants in accordance with those rules.

 

20.  Governing Law.  This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or the securities laws of the United States, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

 

21.  Right to Continued Service or Employment.  Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate any Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company or its Subsidiaries at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the capacity in which he is employed or otherwise serves the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

22.  Clawback Right.  Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award shall be subject to recovery or clawback by the Company under any clawback policy adopted by the Company whether before or after the date of grant of the Award.

 

23.  Usage.  Words used in this Plan in the singular shall include the plural and in the plural the singular, and the gender of words used shall be construed to include whichever may be appropriate under any particular circumstances of the masculine, feminine or neuter genders.

 

24.  Headings.  The headings in this Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Plan.

 

25.  Effectiveness.  This Plan, as approved by the Board on February 19, 2014, shall be effective as of the Effective Date. This Plan shall continue in effect for a term of 10 years commencing on the Effective Date, unless earlier terminated by action of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the adoption of this Plan is expressly conditioned upon the approval by the holders of a majority of shares of Common Stock present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of the Company’s shareholders on or before February 19, 2015. If the shareholders of the Company should fail to so approve this Plan on or before such date, (i) this Plan shall not be of any force or effect and (ii) any grants of Awards hereunder shall be null and void. As of the date of shareholder approval of this Plan, no further awards shall be made under the Prior Plan, provided, however, that any and all outstanding awards granted under the Prior Plan shall continue to be outstanding and shall be subject to the terms of the Prior Plan as are in effect as of the date this Plan is effective.

 

13

 

 

DEPOMED, INC.

2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT AND AWARD AGREEMENT

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Depomed, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) will have the same defined meanings in this Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Grant and Award Agreement (the “Award Agreement”).

 

Awardee Name

 

Address

 

NOTICE OF GRANT

 

You have been granted the right to receive an Award of Restricted Stock Units, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Plan Prospectus and this Award Agreement, as follows:

 

Grant Number

 

Date of Grant

 

Vesting Commencement Date

 

Number of Restricted Stock Units

 

Vesting Schedule

 

The Restricted Stock Unit and Awardee’s right to acquire any shares of Common Stock (“Shares”) hereunder will immediately terminate upon Termination (as defined below) of Awardee.

 

By Awardee’s acceptance of this Award of Restricted Stock Units, Awardee and Depomed, Inc. (the “Company”) agree that this Award of Restricted Stock Units is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Award Agreement, including the Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Grant, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and the Plan Prospectus, all of which are made a part of this document. Awardee has reviewed the Plan, this Award Agreement and the Plan Prospectus in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Award Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, this Award Agreement and the Plan Prospectus. Awardee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, this Award Agreement or the Plan Prospectus. Awardee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated above.

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT

 

1.                                      Grant. The Company hereby grants to the individual named in the Notice of Grant section of this Award Agreement (the “Awardee”) under the Plan an Award of Restricted Stock Units, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this Award Agreement, the Plan and the Plan Prospectus, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Copies of the Plan and Plan Prospectus are available at www.etrade.com, and are available on request from the Company’s Human Resources Department. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Award Agreement will have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

 

2.                                      Company’s Obligation to Pay. Subject to deferral under Section 5, each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive a Share on the date it vests. Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units will have vested in the manner set forth in Section 3, Awardee will have no right to payment of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual payment of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such Restricted Stock Unit will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company. Any Restricted Stock Units that vest in accordance with Section 3 will be paid to Awardee (or in the event of Awardee’s death, to his or her estate) in whole Shares, subject to Awardee satisfying any applicable tax withholding obligations. Subject to the provisions of Section 4 and Section 5, such vested Restricted Stock Units will be paid in Shares as soon as practicable after vesting, but in each such case within the period ending no later than the date that is two and one-half (2-1/2) months from the end of the Company’s tax year that includes the vesting date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, settle all or a portion of the vested Restricted Stock Units in cash based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the vesting date.

 

3.                                      Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in Section 4, and subject to Section 5, the Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Award Agreement will vest in accordance with the vesting provisions set forth in the Notice of Grant section of this Award Agreement. Restricted Stock Units scheduled to vest on a certain date or upon the occurrence of a certain condition will not vest in Awardee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Award Agreement if Awardee has been Terminated prior to the date such vesting occurs.

 

4.                                      Committee Discretion. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or this Award Agreement to the contrary, if the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the Restricted Stock Units is accelerated in connection with Awardee’s Termination (provided that such Termination is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, as determined by the Company), other than due to death, and if (x) Awardee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of such Termination and (y) the payment of such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will result in the imposition of additional tax under Section 409A if paid to Awardee on or within the six (6) month period following Awardee’s Termination, then the payment of

 

 

such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will not be made until the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Awardee’s Termination, unless the Awardee dies following his or her Termination, in which case, the Restricted Stock Units will be paid in Shares to the Awardee’s estate as soon as practicable following his or her death. It is the intent of this Award Agreement to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the Restricted Stock Units provided under this Award Agreement or Shares issuable thereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply. For purposes of this Award Agreement, “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, and any proposed, temporary or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time.

 

5.                                      Election to Defer Distribution. If the distribution is subject to U.S. tax law, an eligible Awardee may be allowed to elect to defer the distribution of some or all of the Restricted Stock Units. Such election shall be in accordance with rules established by the Committee and in general must be received in writing by the Company no later than the date specified by the Committee in connection with the establishment of procedures for deferral. The deferral, if elected, will result in the transfer of the Restricted Stock Units into the Company’s deferred compensation plan in effect, and applicable to the Awardee at the time the Restricted Stock Units would have otherwise been distributed. The applicable Company deferred compensation plan rules will govern the administration of this Award beginning on the date the Restricted Stock Units are credited to the applicable deferred compensation plan.

 

6.                                      Modifications to the Agreement. Awardee expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Award Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to this Award Agreement, the Plan or the Plan Prospectus can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, this Award Agreement or the Plan Prospectus, the Company reserves the right to revise this Award Agreement as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of Awardee, to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A in connection to this Award of Restricted Stock Units.

 

7.                                      Meaning of Termination.  For purposes of this Award Agreement, “Termination” means that the Awardee has ceased to be, with or without any cause or for any reason, an Employee, Director or Consultant. However, unless so determined by the Committee, or otherwise provided in this Plan, “Termination” shall not include a change in status from an Employee, Consultant or Director to another such status. An event that causes an affiliate to cease being an affiliate shall be treated as the “Termination” of that affiliate’s Employees, Directors and Consultants.

 

 

 

DEPOMED, INC.

2014 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION AWARD

 

[Name]
 [Address]
 [City, State Zip]

 

RE:         Grant of Stock Option

 

Section A

 

	
Grant   Number:
    	
 
    
	
Grant   Date:
    	
         ,   201
    
	
Type   of Grant:
    	
 
    
	
Option   Shares:
    	
 
    
	
Purchase   Price Per Share:
    	
 
    
	
Vesting   Base Date:
    	
         ,   201
    

 

Section B

 

	
Shares
    	
 
    	
Vest Type
    	
 
    	
Fully Vested Date
    	
 
    	
Expiration Date
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[On Vest Date]
    	
 
    	
      , 201
    	
 
    	
      , 202
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Monthly]
    	
 
    	
      , 201
    	
 
    	
      , 202
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Monthly]
    	
 
    	
      , 201
    	
 
    	
      , 202
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Monthly]
    	
 
    	
      , 201
    	
 
    	
      , 202
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Monthly]
    	
 
    	
      , 201
    	
 
    	
      , 202
    

 

Dear [Name]:

 

I am pleased to confirm that Depomed, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you an option to purchase shares of our common stock under the Depomed, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

 

General Terms

 

The basic terms of your option grant are identified in the information block at the top of this offer letter, but other important terms and conditions are described in the Plan, this award notice and the Plan Prospectus.  By accepting this option, you and the Company agree that this option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of this award notice, the Plan and the Plan Prospectus, each of which is attached and made a part of this document.  You further acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed each of the foregoing documents in their entirety.  You further agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to this award notice, the Plan or the Plan Prospectus.  Copies of the Plan and Plan Prospectus are available at www.etrade.com and on request from our Human Resources Department.  Capitalized terms used and not defined herein will have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

 

Vesting, Purchase and Payment

 

Subject to the Plan and your continued employment or service to the Company, your Option Shares (as defined in Section A) vest (and this option becomes exercisable) as set forth in Section B, the above Vest Type schedule, so that the Option Shares will become vested and purchasable on the Fully Vested Date(s), as shown above.

 

Vesting in Section B on the first line of the above detailed option starts from the Vesting Base Date in Section A.  However, if this option has more than one line of vesting shares, then each additional line will start vesting from the Fully Vested Date on the line directly above it.  These additional lines of vesting shares do not start vesting from the Vesting Base Date in Section A.

 

If you decide to purchase shares under this option, you will be required either to submit your exercise electronically at www.etrade.com or submit a completed exercise agreement on a form approved by the Company, together with payment for the shares.  You may pay for the shares (plus any associated withholding taxes) using cash, a check, a wire transfer or any other form of payment listed in Section 11 of the Plan and permitted by the Committee at the time you wish to exercise.  Shares available under this option must be purchased, if at all, no later than the Expiration Date in Section B.

 

Termination of Employment

 

The following provisions apply in the event of your Termination (as defined below):

 

(a)           In General. Except otherwise provided below, after your Termination your Option Shares shall be exercisable to the extent (but only to the extent) they are vested on the date of your Termination and only during the 90-day period after your Termination, but in no event after the Expiration Date. To the extent you do not exercise your Option Shares within the time specified for exercise, your Option Shares shall automatically terminate.

 

(b)           Death or Disability. In the case of Termination due to your death, your Option Shares may be exercised as described in the Plan Prospectus.  In the case of Termination due to disability, if a guardian or conservator has been appointed to act for you and has been granted this authority as part of that appointment, that guardian or conservator may exercise the Option

 

 

Shares on your behalf. To the extent Option Shares are not so exercised within the time specified for their exercise, the Option Shares shall automatically terminate.

 

(c)           Divestiture. If your Termination is due to a Divestiture (as defined below), the Board may take any one or more of the actions described in Section 15(c) of the Plan with respect to your Option Shares.

 

(d)           Termination for Cause. If your Termination is due to Cause, all of your Option Shares shall automatically terminate and cease to be exercisable at the time of your Termination. “Cause” means employment-related dishonesty, fraud, misconduct or disclosure or misuse of confidential information, or other employment-related conduct that is likely to cause significant injury to the Company, an affiliate, or any of their respective employees, officers or directors (including, without limitation, commission of a felony or similar offense whether or not employment-related), in each case as determined by the Committee. Cause shall not require that a civil judgment or criminal conviction have been entered against or guilty plea shall have been made by you regarding any of the matters referred to in the previous sentence. Accordingly, the Committee shall be entitled to determine Cause based on the Committee’s good faith belief. If you are criminally charged with a felony or similar offense, that shall be a sufficient, but not a necessary, basis for such a belief.

 

Certain Tax Consequences

 

If this option is an Incentive Stock Option (as defined in Section 3 of the Plan) then it shall be treated as such to the fullest extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code.  In the event that the Option Shares are disposed of within two years after the Grant Date or within one year after exercise of this option, immediately prior to the disposition you agree to promptly notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of the disposition and will provide such other information regarding the disposition as the Company may reasonably require.

 

Definitions

 

For purposes of this award notice, if the Company or an affiliate sells or otherwise transfers equity securities of an affiliate to a person or entity other than the Company or an affiliate, or leases, exchanges or transfers all or any portion of its assets to such a person or entity, then the Board may specify that such transaction or event constitutes a “Divestiture.”  “Termination” means that you have ceased to be, with or without any cause or for any reason, an Employee, Director or Consultant.  However, unless so determined by the Committee, Termination shall not include a change in status from an Employee, Consultant or Director to another such status. An event that causes an affiliate to cease being an affiliate shall be treated as the Termination of that affiliate’s Employees, Directors and Consultants.Exhibit 10.16

 

 

DEPOMED, INC. ANNUAL BONUS PLAN

(as adopted by the Board of Directors on February 5, 2015)

 

Depomed, Inc. (“Depomed” or the “Company) has established an Annual Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”) that is designed to align employee performance with annual corporate goals and to reward the achievement of corporate and personal goals.

 

The Bonus Plan is administered at the absolute discretion of the Company, including its management and Board of Directors, which may, at its discretion, choose not to fund the Bonus Plan or to fund it at any level it chooses.

 

Background

 

Depomed has a history of rewarding its high-performing employees for their efforts and accomplishments.  We have formalized the structure of employees’ activities to be consistent with Depomed’s corporate goals and have defined a specific process for calculating bonuses consistent with the Company’s performance and the employees’ performance and individual contributions.  The Company maintains absolute discretion in administering and deciding whether to fund the Bonus Plan so that it remains flexible in meeting the changing needs of the organization.

 

All levels of Depomed employees other than the CEO establish personal goals consistent with Depomed’s corporate goals and their department goals.  By following defined goals, employees will align their activity with the corporate goals and major department deliverables.  Progress toward achievement of personal goals is to be reviewed together by employees and their supervisors, with oversight from department heads, on an ongoing basis throughout the calendar year.  The review period for accomplishing personal goals ends on December 31.

 

Eligibility

 

All regular Depomed employees who are not field-based sales personnel and work at least 25 hours per week will be eligible to participate in the Bonus Plan.  Bonuses for employees regularly scheduled to work less than 40 hours weekly will be prorated based on the number of hours they are regularly scheduled to work.  New employees who join the company by October 1 of a calendar year will be eligible to participate in the current year’s plan on a prorated basis based on the number of full calendar months worked.  If an employee’s Bonus Target (as defined below) changes during the plan year due to a promotion or otherwise, the final Bonus Target level will be calculated based on the months the employee worked at each Bonus Target and the base compensation received while at each level.  Employees who are on approved leaves of absence of more than 6 weeks (or such other period determined by the Company in its discretion) in any calendar year may have their annual bonus award prorated in accordance with applicable law to reflect the time they were on leave.

 

Field-based sales personnel participate in separate incentive compensation plans and are not subject to this Bonus Plan.  Depomed shall have sole discretion to make any eligibility determinations.

 

Bonus Target

 

A “Bonus Target” has been identified for different levels of personnel and is based on a percentage of annual base pay, including overtime compensation paid to non-exempt employees during the plan year.  The Company seeks to set Bonus Targets based on external compensation benchmarks for similar positions within our industry and on internal equity considerations.  The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors sets the Bonus Targets for the CEO and all other executive officers who report directly to the CEO and are at the Senior Vice President level or above.  Management sets Bonus Targets for all other positions and reviews the various Bonus Target levels periodically with the Compensation Committee.  The Bonus Target is comprised of two elements:  (i) the employee’s achievement of personal goals; and (ii) Depomed’s achievement of corporate goals.

 

 

Corporate Goals Bonus Calculation

 

The portion of the Bonus Target attributed to the corporate goals will be subject to a “Corporate Goals Bonus Calculation,” which will reflect the Company’s overall success and fiscal and other considerations the Board of Directors deems relevant.  In a year where all the corporate goals are fully met and the Company’s finances are on target, the Corporate Goals Bonus Calculation would usually be 100%.  Conversely, in a year where the corporate goals are not fully met, finances are not on target or as other considerations warrant, Corporate Goals Bonus Calculation multiplier of 75%, 50% or 0%, for example, might be applied to the Bonus Target.  If the Company has exceeded corporate goals and finances are above target, the Corporate Goals Bonus Calculation may be more than 100%.  After the end of each calendar year, the Company’s performance will be evaluated by the CEO, CFO, and Vice President of Human Resources, who will recommend a Corporate Goals Bonus Calculation to the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.  The Compensation Committee then makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors, which has final authority and discretion on determining the Corporate Multiplier.

 

Exhibit A reflects the current Bonus Targets for various positions within the Company.  Management will update Exhibit A from time to time as appropriate.

 

Personal Goals

 

For all levels of Depomed employees other than the CEO, personal goals consistent with Depomed’s corporate goals and applicable department goals are established by management in consultation with employees. Employees may have up to six personal goals. Each personal goal will be assigned a weight reflecting the significance and impact of the goal and the contribution towards corporate and department goals.  The minimum weight assigned to each goal is 10%, and the combined weight of the goals must equal 100%.  Personal goals will be approved by the next level manager.  Any exceptions to the personal goals minimum described above must be approved by an employee’s supervisor, department head and the Vice President of Human Resources.

 

Personal Goal Bonus Calculation

 

At the end of each calendar year employees’ goals and achievements will be assessed by management.  Based on management’s assessment of the level of achievement, employees may receive no credit, partial credit or full credit for achieving any single personal goal (or for achieving all of personal goals collectively) up to a maximum of 1.25 times target.  Management determines the final award for the achievement of personal goals.

 

Performance Assessment and Payment of Bonuses

 

Following the plan year, personal goals and corporate goals will be assessed and performance reviews will be prepared and delivered to employees.  Employees receiving an overall performance rating of “Needs Improvement” will receive no more than 50% of their target bonus payout.  Employees who receive an overall performance rating of “Unsatisfactory Performance” will not be eligible to receive any bonus payout.  Bonuses will be calculated and payment of bonuses will be made to eligible employees no later than March 15 (unless otherwise determined by the Company).

 

The CEO’s direct reports will recommend the bonus award for achievement of personal goals for employees in their departments subject to approval or modification by the CEO.  Management maintains absolute discretion in determining the scope and impact of accomplishments as well as the final bonus payout for all employees.  Employees’ final bonus payouts generally are based on the Corporate Goals Bonus Calculation and aggregate personal goal calculation but may be modified as deemed appropriate by management or the Compensation Committee, as applicable.

 

Employees must be employed by Depomed on the day payment is made to earn and be eligible for a bonus payment, since the payments are intended to incent successful employees to remain with Depomed.

 

2

 

Employees who have received formal disciplinary action during or after a plan year may have their bonus payout reduced or eliminated for that plan year, at the sole discretion of management.

 

Depomed retains the right to alter or eliminate the Plan and to alter its terms and conditions at any time and for any reason, before, during or after the plan year.  All decisions made by the Company, including management and the Board of Directors, will be in their absolute discretion, and are final and not subject to dispute of appeal.

 

No participant shall have any vested right to receive any payment until actual delivery of any such payment.  This Bonus Plan does not constitute a contract or other agreement concerning employment with Depomed.  Employment at Depomed is and remains “at will” and may be terminated at any time by Depomed or by the employee, either with or without cause.

 

All payments made under this Bonus Plan shall be subject to recovery or clawback by the Company under any clawback policy adopted by the Company, whether before or after the date of any payment made under this Bonus Plan.

 

3

 

Exhibit A to Depomed, Inc. Bonus Plan

Bonus Targets

(effective as of February 5, 2015)

 

	
Title / Level
    	
 
    	
Bonus Target
    	
 
    	
Weighting of
   Corporate
   Goals
    	
 
    	
Weighting of
   Personal
   Goals
    	
 
    
	
President and Chief Executive Officer 
    	
 
    	
80
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Chief Financial Officer*

General Counsel*

Chief Medical Officer*

Chief Commercial Officer*
    	
 
    	
45
    	
%
    	
65
    	
%
    	
35
    	
%
    
	
All other Vice Presidents on the Executive Team   which currently includes:

SVP, Business Development*

VP, Marketing

VP, Sales

VP, Human Resources

VP, Tech Development and Quality 
    	
 
    	
35
    	
%
    	
65
    	
%
    	
35
    	
%
    
	
All other Vice Presidents 
    	
 
    	
30
    	
%
    	
60
    	
%
    	
40
    	
%
    
	
Sr. Directors / Directors 
    	
 
    	
25
    	
%
    	
60
    	
%
    	
40
    	
%
    
	
Associate Directors 
    	
 
    	
20
    	
%
    	
55
    	
%
    	
45
    	
%
    
	
Sr. Managers / Managers
    	
 
    	
15
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
Supervisors 
    	
 
    	
10
    	
%
    	
40
    	
%
    	
60
    	
%
    
	
Senior Scientific / Technical Individual   Contributors
    	
 
    	
10
    	
%
    	
30
    	
%
    	
70
    	
%
    
	
Individual Contributors 
    	
 
    	
5
    	
%
    	
30
    	
%
    	
70
    	
%
    

 

*  Bonus Target set by the Compensation Committee

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