Document:

Exhibit 10.8

 

CYCLERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2019 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

1.                                      Defined Terms

 

Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines the terms used in the Plan and sets forth certain operational rules related to those terms.

 

2.                                      Purpose of Plan

 

The Plan is intended to enable Eligible Employees to use payroll deductions to purchase shares of Stock in offerings under the Plan, and thereby acquire an interest in the future of the Company.  The Plan is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code and to be exempt from the application and requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and is to be construed accordingly.

 

3.                                      Options to Purchase Stock

 

Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 16 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock available for purchase under the Plan to Eligible Employees will be            shares, plus an annual increase to be added on the date of each specified annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company, beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date and ending with the ninth annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Date, equal to the lesser of (i) one percent (1%) of the number of shares of Stock outstanding on a fully diluted basis as of the close of business on the immediately preceding day (calculated by adding to the number of shares of Stock outstanding, all outstanding securities convertible into Stock on such date on an as converted basis), and (ii) an amount determined by the Administrator on or prior to the date of such annual meeting of stockholders.  The shares of Stock to be delivered upon exercise of Options under the Plan may be either shares of authorized but unissued Stock, treasury Stock or previously issued Stock acquired by the Company.  If any Option granted under the Plan expires or terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full or ceases for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in part, the unpurchased shares of Stock subject to such Option will again be available for purchase under the Plan.  If, on an Exercise Date, the total number of shares of Stock that would otherwise be subject to Options granted under the Plan exceeds the number of shares then available under the Plan (after deduction of all shares for which Options have been exercised or are then outstanding), the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares remaining available for purchase under the Plan in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable.  In such event, the Administrator shall notify each Participant of such reduction and of the effect on the Participant’s Options and may reduce the rate of payroll deductions, if necessary.

 

4.                                      Eligibility

 

(a)                                 Eligibility Requirements.  Subject to Section 13 of the Plan, and the exceptions and limitations set forth in Sections 4(b), 4(c) and 6 of the Plan, or as may be provided elsewhere in the Plan, each Employee (i) who has been continuously employed by the Company or a

 

 

Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, for a period of at least fifteen (15) Business Days as of the first day of an Option Period, (ii) whose customary Employment with the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, is for more than five (5) months per calendar year, (iii) who customarily works twenty (20) hours or more per week, and (iv) who satisfies the requirements set forth in the Plan will be an Eligible Employee.

 

(b)                                 Five Percent Shareholders.  No Employee may be granted an Option under the Plan if, immediately after the Option is granted, the Employee would own (or pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code would be deemed to own) stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or Subsidiaries, if any.

 

(c)                                  Additional Requirements.  The Administrator may, for Option Periods that have not yet commenced, establish additional or different eligibility requirements not inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code.

 

5.                                      Option Periods

 

The Plan will generally be implemented by a series of separate offerings referred to as “Option Periods”.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Option Periods will be successive periods of approximately six (6) months commencing on the first Business Day in June and December of each year, anticipated to be on or around June 1 and December 1, and ending approximately six (6) months later on the last Business Day in November or May, as applicable, of each year, anticipated to be on or around November 30 and May 31.  The last Business Day of each Option Period will be an “Exercise Date”.  The Administrator may change the Exercise Date, the commencement date, the ending date and the duration of each Option Period to the extent permitted by Section 423 of the Code; provided, however, that no Option may be exercised after 27 months from its grant date.

 

6.                                      Option Grant

 

Subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 4 and 10 of the Plan and the Maximum Share Limit, on the first day of an Option Period, each Participant automatically will be granted an Option to purchase shares of Stock on the Exercise Date; provided, however, that no Participant will be granted an Option under the Plan that permits the Participant’s right to purchase shares of Stock under the Plan and under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Parent and Subsidiaries, if any, to accrue at a rate that exceeds $25,000 in Fair Market Value (or such other maximum as may be prescribed from time to time by the Code) for each calendar year during which any Option granted to such Participant is outstanding at any time, as determined in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

 

7.                                      Method of Participation

 

(a)                                 Payroll Deduction and Participation Authorization.  To participate in an Option Period, an Eligible Employee must execute and deliver to the Administrator a payroll deduction and participation authorization form in accordance with the procedures prescribed by, and in a form acceptable to, the Administrator and, in so doing, the Eligible Employee will thereby become a Participant as of the first day of such Option Period.  Such an Eligible Employee will

 

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remain a Participant with respect to subsequent Option Periods until his or her participation in the Plan is terminated as provided herein.  Such payroll deduction and participation authorization must be delivered not later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the first day of an Option Period, or such other time as specified by the Administrator.

 

(b)                                 Changes to Payroll Deduction Authorization for Subsequent Option Periods.  A Participant’s payroll deduction authorization will remain in effect for subsequent Option Periods unless the Participant files a new authorization not later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the first day of the subsequent Option Period (or such other time as specified by the Administrator) or the Participant’s Option is cancelled pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Changes to Payroll Deduction Authorization for Current Option Period.  During an Option Period, a Participant may decrease his or her payroll deduction authorization once, but may not increase his or her payroll deduction authorization.  Any election to decrease to a Participant’s payroll deduction authorization intended to be effective for the Option Period during which the election to decrease is made must be delivered to the Administrator in accordance with the procedures prescribed by, and in a form acceptable to, the Administrator and will be effective as soon as administratively practicable.  If a Participant’s payroll deduction authorization is reduced to 0% during an Option Period, payroll deductions previously accumulated during such Option Period will be applied to purchase shares of Stock on the Exercise Date for that Option Period and the Participant’s participation in the Plan will thereupon terminate, unless the Participant has delivered a new payroll deduction authorization for the subsequent Option Period in accordance with the rules of Section 7(b) above.  A Participant may also terminate his or her payroll deduction authorization during an Option Period by canceling his or her Option in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Payroll Deduction Percentage.  Each payroll deduction authorization will authorize payroll deductions as a whole percentage from one percent (1%) to fifteen percent (15%) of the employee’s Eligible Compensation per payroll period.

 

(e)                                  Payroll Deduction Account.  All payroll deductions made pursuant to this Section 7 will be credited to the Participant’s Account.  Amounts credited to a Participant’s Account will not be required to be set aside in trust or otherwise segregated from the Company’s general assets.

 

8.                                      Method of Payment

 

A Participant must pay for shares of Stock purchased under the Plan with accumulated payroll deductions credited to the Participant’s Account, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator under a sub-plan or separate offering for a non-U.S. Designated Subsidiary.

 

9.                                      Purchase Price

 

The Purchase Price of shares of Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option on each Exercise Date will be eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage specified by the Administrator to the extent permitted under Section 423 of the Code) of the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date on which the Option was granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan (i.e., the first day of the Option Period) and (b) the Fair Market Value of a

 

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share of Stock on the date on which the Option is deemed exercised pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan (i.e., the Exercise Date).

 

10.                               Exercise of Options

 

(a)                                 Purchase of Shares.  Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6 of the Plan and this Section 10, with respect to each Option Period, on the applicable Exercise Date, each Participant will be deemed to have exercised his or her Option and the accumulated payroll deductions in the Participant’s Account will be applied to purchase the greatest number of shares of Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) that can be purchased with such Account balance at the applicable Purchase Price; provided, however, that no more than            shares of Stock may be purchased by a Participant on any Exercise Date, or such lesser number as the Administrator may prescribe in accordance with Section 423 of the Code (the “Maximum Share Limit”).  As soon as practicable thereafter, shares of Stock so purchased will be placed, in book-entry form, into a record keeping account in the name of the Participant.  No fractional shares will be purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option under the Plan; any accumulated payroll deductions in a Participant’s Account that are not sufficient to purchase a whole share will be retained in the Participant’s Account for the subsequent Option Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 13 hereof.

 

(b)                                 Return of Account Balance.  Except as provided in Section 10(a) with respect to fractional shares, any amount of payroll deductions in a Participant’s Account that are not used for the purchase of shares of Stock, whether because of the Participant’s withdrawal from participation in an Option Period or for any other reason, will be returned to the Participant (or his or her designated beneficiary or legal representative, as applicable), without interest, as soon as administratively practicable after such withdrawal or other event, as applicable.  If the Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on the Exercise Date of an Option Period would otherwise enable the Participant to purchase shares of Stock in excess of the Maximum Share Limit or the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan, the excess of the amount of the accumulated payroll deductions over the aggregate Purchase Price of the shares of Stock actually purchased will be returned to the Participant, without interest, as soon as administratively practicable after such Exercise Date.

 

11.                               Interest

 

No interest will be payable on any amount held in the Account of any Participant.

 

12.                               Taxes

 

Payroll deductions will be made on an after-tax basis.  The Administrator will have the right to make such provision as it deems necessary for, and may condition the exercise of an Option on, the satisfaction of its obligations to withhold federal, state, local income or other taxes incurred by reason of the purchase or disposition of shares of Stock under the Plan.  In the Administrator’s discretion and subject to applicable law, such tax obligations may be paid in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Stock to the Company, including shares of Stock purchased under the Plan, valued at Fair Market Value, but not in excess of the minimum statutory amounts required to be withheld.

 

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13.                               Cancellation and Withdrawal

 

(a)                                 Cancellation of Payroll Deduction Authorization and Withdrawal from Plan.  A Participant who holds an Option under the Plan may cancel all (but not less than all) of his or her Option and terminate his or her payroll deduction authorization by notice delivered to the Administrator in accordance with the procedures prescribed by, and in a form acceptable to, the Administrator.  To be effective with respect to an upcoming Exercise Date, such cancellation notice must be delivered not later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to such Exercise Date (or such other time as specified by the Administrator).  Upon such termination and cancellation, the balance in the Participant’s Account will be returned to the Participant, without interest, as soon as administratively practicable thereafter.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Participant who reduces his or her withholding rate for a future Option Period or future payroll periods within an ongoing Option period to 0% pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan, will be deemed to have terminated his or her payroll deduction authorization and canceled his or her participation in future Option Periods, unless the Participant delivers a new payroll deduction authorization for a subsequent Option Period in accordance with the rules of Section 7(b) of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 401(k) Hardship Withdrawal.  To the extent required by applicable law, a Participant who makes a hardship withdrawal from a 401(k) Plan will be deemed to have terminated his or her payroll deduction authorization for subsequent payroll dates relating to the then current Option Period as of the date of such hardship withdrawal and amounts accumulated in the Participant’s Account as of such date will be returned to the Participant, without interest, as soon as administratively practicable thereafter.  To the extent required by applicable law, an Employee who has made a hardship withdrawal from a 401(k) Plan will not be permitted to participate in Option Periods commencing after the date of his or her hardship withdrawal until the first Option Period that begins at least six months after the date of his or her hardship withdrawal.

 

14.                               Termination of Employment; Death of Participant

 

Upon the termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, for any reason (including the death of a Participant during an Option Period prior to an Exercise Date) or in the event the Participant ceases to qualify as an Eligible Employee, the Participant will cease to be a Participant, any Option held by the Participant under the Plan will be canceled, the balance in the Participant’s Account will be returned to the Participant (or his or her estate or designated beneficiary in the event of the Participant’s death), without interest, as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, and the Participant will have no further rights under the Plan.

 

15.                               Equal Rights; Participant’s Rights Not Transferable

 

All Participants granted Options in an offering under the Plan will have the same rights and privileges, consistent with the requirements set forth in Section 423 of the Code.  Any Option granted under the Plan will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her and may not be sold, pledged, assigned, or transferred in any manner.  In the event any Participant violates or attempts to violate the terms of this Section 15, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, any Options held by the Participant under the Plan may be

 

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terminated by the Company and, upon the return to the Participant of the balance of his or her Account, without interest, all of the Participant’s rights under the Plan will terminate.

 

16.                               Change in Capitalization; Corporate Transaction

 

(a)                                 Change in Capitalization.  In the event of any change in the outstanding Stock by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, or other capital change, the aggregate number and type of shares of Stock available under the Plan, the number and type of shares of Stock granted under any outstanding Options, the Maximum Share Limit and the purchase price per share of Stock under any outstanding Option will be appropriately adjusted; provided, that any such adjustment shall be made in a manner that complies with Section 423 of the Code.

 

(b)                                 Corporate Transaction.  In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the Stock or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or a merger or similar transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or that results in the acquisition of the Company by another person, the Administrator may, in its discretion, (i) if the Company is merged with or acquired by another corporation, provide that each outstanding Option will be assumed or exchanged for a substitute Option granted by the acquiror or successor corporation or by a parent or subsidiary of the acquiror or successor corporation, (ii) cancel each outstanding Option and return the balances in Participants’ Accounts to the Participants, without interest, and/or (iii) pursuant to Section 18 of the Plan, terminate the Option Period on or before the date of the proposed sale, merger or similar transaction.

 

17.                               Administration of Plan

 

The Plan will be administered by the Administrator, which will have the authority to interpret the Plan, determine eligibility under the Plan, prescribe forms, rules and procedures relating to the Plan and otherwise do all things necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Plan.  All determinations and decisions by the Administrator regarding the interpretation or application of the Plan will be final and binding on all Participants and all persons.

 

The Administrator may specify the manner in which the Company and/or Employees are to provide notices and forms under the Plan, and may require that such notices and forms be submitted electronically.

 

18.                               Amendment and Termination of Plan; Separate Offerings; Sub-Plans

 

(a)                                 Amendment.  The Board reserves the right at any time or times to amend the Plan to any extent and in any manner it may deem advisable; provided, however, that any amendment that would be treated as the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 423 of the Code will have no force or effect unless approved by the shareholders of the Company within 12 months before or after its adoption.

 

(b)                                 Termination.  The Board reserves the right at any time or times to suspend or terminate the Plan.  In connection therewith, the Board may provide, in its sole discretion, either that outstanding Options will be exercisable either on the Exercise Date for the applicable Option Period or on such earlier date as the Board may specify (in which case such earlier date will be

 

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treated as the Exercise Date for the applicable Option Period), or that the balance of each Participant’s Account will be returned to the Participant, without interest.

 

(c)                                  Separate Offerings; Sub-Plans.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of this Plan to the contrary, consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan, or an offering, and/or provide for separate offerings under this Plan in order to, among other things, reflect the impact of local law outside of the United States as applied to one or more Eligible Employees of a Designated Subsidiary and may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub-plans to reflect such amended provisions.

 

19.                               Approvals

 

Shareholder approval of the Plan will be obtained prior to the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of Board approval.  In the event that the Plan has not been approved by the shareholders of the Company prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, all Options to purchase shares of Stock under the Plan will be cancelled and become null and void.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligation of the Company to issue and deliver shares of Stock under the Plan will be subject to the approval required of any governmental authority in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale or transfer of such shares of Stock and to any requirements of any national securities exchange applicable thereto, and to compliance by the Company with other applicable legal requirements in effect from time to time.

 

20.                               Participants’ Rights as Shareholders and Employees

 

A Participant will have no rights or privileges as a shareholder of the Company and will not receive any dividends in respect of any shares of Stock covered by an Option granted hereunder until such Option has been exercised, full payment has been made for such shares, and the shares have been issued to the Participant.

 

Nothing contained in the provisions of the Plan will be construed as giving to any Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary or as interfering with the right of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary to discharge, promote, demote or otherwise re-assign any Employee from one position to another within the Company or any Designated Subsidiary at any time.

 

21.                               Limitations on Dispositions; Information Regarding Disqualifying Dispositions.

 

Shares of Stock purchased under the Plan may, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, be subject to a holding period during which such shares may not be sold, transferred, withdrawn, or moved.

 

By electing to participate in the Plan, each Participant agrees to provide such information about any transfer of Stock acquired under the Plan that occurs within two years after the first day of the Option Period in which such Stock was acquired and within one year after the day

 

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such Stock was purchased as may be requested by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary in order to assist it in complying with applicable tax laws.

 

22.                               Governing Law

 

The Plan will be governed by and administered in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is listed or entered for trading and the Code, in each case as determined by the Administrator.  Except as otherwise provided under a sub-plan described in Section 18(c) of the Plan or as provided in the first sentence of this Section 22, the domestic substantive laws of Massachusetts govern the provisions of the Plan or any Options under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

23.                               Effective Date and Term

 

The Effective Date of the Plan will be the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board.  No rights will be granted hereunder after the earliest to occur of (a) the Plan’s termination by the Company, (b) the issuance of all shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan or (c) the day before the 10-year anniversary of the date the Board approves the Plan.

 

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EXHIBIT A

Definition of Terms

 

The following terms, when used in the Plan, will have the meanings and be subject to the provisions set forth below:

 

“401(k) Plan”:  A savings plan qualifying under Section 401(k) of the Code that is sponsored by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of its employees.

 

“Account”:  A payroll deduction account maintained in the Participant’s name on the books of the Company.

 

“Administrator”:  The Compensation Committee of the Board, except that the Compensation Committee may delegate (i) to one or more members one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board, including the full Board) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine and (ii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate.  In the event of any delegation described in the preceding sentence, the term “Administrator” will include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation.

 

“Board”:  The Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Business Day”:  Any day on which the established national exchange or trading system (including the Nasdaq Stock Market) on which the Stock is traded is available and open for trading.

 

“Code”:  The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect.

 

“Company”:  Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation.

 

“Designated Subsidiary”:  A Subsidiary of the Company that has been designated by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board from time to time as eligible to participate in the Plan as set forth on Exhibit B to the Plan.  For the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary of the Company shall be eligible to be designated as a Designated Subsidiary hereunder.

 

“Effective Date”:  The date set forth in Section 23 of the Plan.

 

“Eligible Compensation”:  Compensation, as such term is defined in the Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. 401(k) Plan.

 

“Eligible Employee”:  Any Employee who meets the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 4 of the Plan.

 

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“Employee”:  Any person who is employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary.  For the avoidance of doubt, independent contractors and consultants are not “Employees”.

 

“Exercise Date”:  The date set forth in Section 5 of the Plan or otherwise designated by the Administrator with respect to a particular Option Period on which a Participant will be deemed to have exercised the Option granted to him or her for such Option Period.

 

“Fair Market Value”:  As of a particular date, (i) the closing price for a share of Stock reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any other national securities exchange on which the shares are then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the immediately preceding date on which a closing price was reported or (ii) in the event that the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Stock determined by the Administrator consistent with the rules of Section 422 of the Code and Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable.

 

“Maximum Share Limit”:  The meaning set forth in Section 10 of the Plan.

 

“Option”:  An option granted pursuant to the Plan entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the Purchase Price per share of Stock.

 

“Option Period”:  An offering period established in accordance with Section 5 of the Plan.

 

“Parent”:  A “parent corporation” as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

“Participant”:  An Eligible Employee who elects to enroll in the Plan.

 

“Plan”:  The Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect.

 

“Purchase Price”:  The price per share of Stock with respect to an Option Period determined in accordance with Section 9 of the Plan.

 

“Stock”:  Common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Subsidiary”:  A “subsidiary corporation” as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

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EXHIBIT B

Designated Subsidiaries

 

Designated Subsidiaries as of the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board are listed below:

 

N/A

 

11Exhibit 10.9

 

CYCLERION THERAPEUTICS, INC.
 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                      DEFINED TERMS

 

Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines the terms used in the Plan and includes certain operational rules related to those terms.

 

2.                                      PURPOSE

 

The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the Company by providing for the grant to Participants of Stock, Stock-based and other incentive Awards.

 

3.                                      ADMINISTRATION

 

The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan; determine eligibility for and grant Awards; determine, modify or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; determine the form of settlement of Awards (whether in cash, shares of Stock, or other property); prescribe forms, rules and procedures relating to the Plan and Awards; and otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Plan.  Determinations of the Administrator made under the Plan are conclusive and bind all persons.

 

4.                                      LIMITS ON AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN

 

(a)                                 Number of Shares.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7(b), the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued in satisfaction of Awards under the Plan is            shares, plus (1) an annual increase to be added on the date of each annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company, beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Date of Adoption and ending with the ninth annual meeting of stockholders following the Date of Adoption, equal to the lesser of (i) four percent (4%) of the number of shares of Stock outstanding on a fully diluted basis as of the close of business on the immediately preceding business day (calculated by adding to the number of shares of Stock outstanding, all outstanding securities convertible into Stock on such date on an as converted basis) and (ii) an amount determined by the Administrator on or prior to the date of such annual meeting of stockholders and (2) any shares of Stock underlying awards granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan or the Company’s Amended and Restated 2010 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan that are forfeited, expired or are cancelled without the delivery of shares of Stock thereunder.  Up to the total number of shares of Stock set forth in the preceding sentence may be issued in satisfaction of ISOs, but nothing in this Section 4(a) will be construed as requiring that any, or any fixed number of, ISOs be awarded under the Plan.  For purposes of this Section 4(a), the number of shares of Stock issued in satisfaction of Awards will be determined by excluding (i) shares of Stock withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of the Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award, (ii) the full number of shares covered by a SAR any portion of which is settled in Stock (and not only the number of shares of Stock delivered in settlement), and (iii) any shares of Stock underlying Awards settled in cash or that expire, become unexercisable, terminate or are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance of Stock.  For

 

 

the avoidance of doubt, the number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the Plan will not be increased by any shares of Stock delivered under the Plan that are subsequently repurchased using proceeds directly attributable to Stock Option exercises.  The limits set forth in this Section 4(a) will be construed to comply with Section 422.

 

(b)                                 Substitute Awards.  The Administrator may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan.  To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder and other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), Stock issued under Substitute Awards will be in addition to and will not reduce the number of shares available for Awards under the Plan set forth in Section 4(a), but, notwithstanding anything in Section 4(a) to the contrary, if any Substitute Award is settled in cash or expires, becomes unexercisable, terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the issuance of Stock, the shares of Stock previously subject to such Award will not be available for future grants under the Plan.  The Administrator will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions of the Plan apply to Substitute Awards, if at all, provided, however, that Substitute Awards will not be subject to the per-Participant Award limits described in Section 4(d) below.

 

(c)                                  Type of Shares.  Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock, treasury Stock or previously issued Stock acquired by the Company.  No fractional shares of Stock will be delivered under the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Individual Limit.

 

(1)                                 Awards comprising no more than             shares of Stock may be granted to any person under the Plan in any calendar year.  In applying the foregoing limit, (i) all Awards granted to the same person in the same calendar year are aggregated and made subject to one limit; (ii) the limit as applicable to Stock Options and SARs refers to the number of shares of Stock underlying those Awards; and (iii) the share limit as applicable to Awards other than Stock Options and SARs refers to the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered, or the value of which could be paid in cash or other property, under an Award or Awards assuming a maximum payout.

 

(2)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing limit, the aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid to any Director with respect to any calendar year, including Awards granted under the Plan and cash fees or other compensation paid by the Company to such Director outside of the Plan for his or her services as a Director during such calendar year, may not exceed $            in the aggregate, calculating the value of any Awards based on the grant date fair value in accordance with the Accounting Rules, assuming a maximum payout.  To the extent applicable, the foregoing provisions will be construed in a manner consistent with Section 162(m), including, without limitation, where applicable, the rules under Section 162(m) pertaining to permissible deferrals of exempt awards.

 

5.                                      ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

The Administrator shall select Participants from among key Employees and Directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the Company and its subsidiaries.  Eligibility for ISOs is limited

 

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to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are employees of the Company or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code.  Eligibility for Stock Options, other than ISOs, and SARs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are providing direct services on the date of grant of the Award to the Company or to a subsidiary of the Company that would be described in the first sentence of Treas. Regs. §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E).

 

6.                                      RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

 

(a)                                 All Awards.

 

(1)                                 Award Provisions.  The Administrator shall determine the terms of all Awards, subject to the limitations provided herein.  By accepting (or, under such rules as the Administrator may prescribe, being deemed to have accepted) an Award, the Participant will be deemed to have agreed to the terms of the Award and the Plan.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards may contain terms and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions specified herein, as determined by the Administrator.

 

(2)                                 Term of Plan.  No Awards may be made after 10 years from the Date of Adoption, but previously granted Awards may continue beyond that date in accordance with their terms.

 

(3)                                 Transferability.  Neither ISOs nor, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), other Awards may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  During a Participant’s lifetime, ISOs and, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), SARs and NSOs may be exercised only by the Participant.  The Administrator may permit the gratuitous transfer (i.e., transfer not for value) of Awards other than ISOs, subject to applicable securities and other laws and such limitations as the Administrator may impose.

 

(4)                                 Vesting.  The Administrator shall determine the time or times at which an Award vests or becomes exercisable and the terms on which a Stock Option or SAR remains exercisable.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, regardless of any adverse or potentially adverse tax or other consequences resulting from such acceleration.  Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, however, the following rules will apply if a Participant’s Employment ceases:

 

(A)                               Except as provided in (B) and (C) below, immediately upon the cessation of the Participant’s Employment each Stock Option and SAR that is then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, will cease to be exercisable and will terminate and all other Awards that are then held by the Participant or by the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, to the extent not already vested will be forfeited.

 

(B)                               Subject to (C) and (D) below, all Stock Options and SARs held by the Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the

 

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cessation of the Participant’s Employment, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) a period of three months or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate.

 

(C)                               Subject to (D) below, all Stock Options and SARs held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the Participant’s death, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) the one year period ending with the first anniversary of the Participant’s death or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate.

 

(D)                               All Stock Options and SARs (whether or not exercisable) held by a Participant or the Participant’s permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participant’s Employment will immediately terminate upon such cessation of Employment if the termination is for Cause or occurs in circumstances that in the determination of the Administrator would have constituted grounds for the Participant’s Employment to be terminated for Cause.

 

(5)                                 Recovery of Compensation.  The Administrator may provide in any case that outstanding Awards (whether or not vested or exercisable) and the proceeds from the exercise or disposition of Awards or Stock acquired under Awards will be subject to forfeiture and disgorgement to the Company, with interest and other related earnings, if the Participant to whom the Award was granted violates (i) a non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, non-disparagement, confidentiality, invention assignment or other restrictive covenant by which he or she is bound, or (ii) any Company policy applicable to the Participant that provides for forfeiture or disgorgement with respect to incentive compensation that includes Awards under the Plan.  In addition, the Administrator may require forfeiture and disgorgement to the Company of outstanding Awards and the proceeds from the exercise or disposition of Awards or Stock acquired under Awards, with interest and other related earnings, to the extent required by law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any related Company policy.  Each Participant, by accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, agrees to cooperate fully with the Administrator, and to cause any and all permitted transferees of the Participant to cooperate fully with the Administrator, to effectuate any forfeiture or disgorgement required hereunder.  Neither the Administrator nor the Company nor any other person, other than the Participant and his or her permitted transferees, if any, will be responsible for any adverse tax or other consequences to a Participant or his or her permitted transferees, if any, that may arise in connection with this Section 6(a)(5).

 

(6)                                 Taxes.  The delivery, vesting and retention of Stock, cash or other property under an Award are conditioned upon full satisfaction by the Participant of all tax withholding requirements with respect to the Award.  The Administrator shall prescribe such rules for the withholding of taxes with respect to any Award as it deems necessary.  The Administrator may hold back shares of Stock from an Award or permit a Participant to tender previously owned shares of Stock in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements (but not in

 

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excess of the maximum withholding amount consistent with the award being subject to equity accounting treatment under the Accounting Rules).

 

(7)                                 Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.  The Administrator may provide for the payment of amounts (on terms and subject to conditions established by the Administrator) in lieu of cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock subject to an Award whether or not the holder of such Award is otherwise entitled to share in the actual dividend or distribution in respect of such Award; provided, however, that (a) dividends or dividend equivalents relating to an Award that, at the dividend payment date, remains subject to a risk of forfeiture (whether service-based or performance-based) shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture as applies to the underlying Award and (b) no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or SARs.  Any entitlement to dividend equivalents or similar entitlements will be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with, the requirements of Section 409A.  Dividends or dividend equivalent amounts payable in respect of Awards that are subject to restrictions may be subject to such limits or restrictions as the Administrator may impose.

 

(8)                                 Rights Limited.  Nothing in the Plan may be construed as giving any person the right to be granted an Award or to continued employment or service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any rights as a stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually issued under the Plan.  The loss of existing or potential profit in Awards will not constitute an element of damages in the event of termination of Employment for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to the Participant.

 

(9)                                 Section 162(m).  To the extent applicable, Awards granted under this Plan are intended to be eligible for exemption from the limitations of Section 162(m) by reason of the post-initial public offering transition relief set forth in Section 1.162-27(f) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

(10)                          Coordination with Other Plans.  Awards under the Plan may be granted in tandem with, or in satisfaction of or substitution for, other Awards under the Plan or awards made under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  For example, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, awards under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries may be settled in Stock (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Stock) under the Plan if the Administrator so determines, in which case the shares delivered will be treated as awarded under the Plan (and will reduce the number of shares thereafter available under the Plan in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 4).

 

(11)                          Section 409A.

 

(A)                               Without limiting the generality of Section 11(b) hereof, each Award will contain such terms as the Administrator determines and will be construed and administered, such that the Award either qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A or satisfies such requirements.

 

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(B)                               Notwithstanding Section 9 of this Plan or any other provision of this Plan or any Award agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may unilaterally amend, modify or terminate the Plan or any outstanding Award, including but not limited to changing the form of the Award, if the Administrator determines that such amendment, modification or termination is necessary or advisable to avoid the imposition of an additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A.

 

(C)                               If a Participant is deemed on the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then, with regard to any payment that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable, payable on account of a “separation from service”, such payment will be made or provided on the date that is the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” and (ii) the date of the Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”).  Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6(a)(11)(C) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) will be paid on the first business day following the expiration of the Delay Period in a lump sum and any remaining payments due under the Award will be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them in the applicable Award agreement.

 

(D)                               For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under this Plan will be treated as a separate payment.

 

(E)                               With regard to any payment considered to be nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable, that is payable upon a change in control of the Company or other similar event, to avoid the imposition of an additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A, no amount will be payable unless such change in control constitutes a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

(b)                                 Stock Options and SARs.

 

(1)                                 Time and Manner of Exercise.  Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, no Stock Option or SAR will be deemed to have been exercised until the Administrator receives notice of exercise in a form acceptable to the Administrator that is signed by the appropriate person and accompanied by any payment required under the Award.  Any attempt to exercise a Stock Option or SAR by any person other than the Participant will not be given effect unless the Administrator has received such evidence as it may require that the person exercising the Award has the right to do so.

 

(2)                                 Exercise Price.  The exercise price (or the base value from which appreciation is to be measured) of each Award requiring exercise must be no less than 100% (in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder within the meaning of subsection (b)(6) of Section 422, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the Award, determined as of

 

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the date of grant, or such higher amount as the Administrator may determine in connection with the grant.

 

(3)                                 Payment of Exercise Price.  Where the exercise of an Award is to be accompanied by payment, payment of the exercise price must be by cash or check acceptable to the Administrator or, if so permitted by the Administrator and if legally permissible, (i) through the delivery of previously acquired unrestricted shares of Stock, or the withholding of unrestricted shares of Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise, in either case that have a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price, (ii) through a broker-assisted exercise program acceptable to the Administrator, (iii) by other means acceptable to the Administrator, or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment.  The delivery of previously acquired shares in payment of the exercise price under clause (i) above may be accomplished either by actual delivery or by constructive delivery through attestation of ownership, subject to such rules as the Administrator may prescribe.

 

(4)                                 Maximum Term.  The maximum term of Stock Options and SARs must not exceed 10 years from the date of grant (or five years from the date of grant in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder described in Section 6(b)(2) above).

 

(5)                                 No Repricing.  Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (which term includes, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares) or as otherwise contemplated by Section 7 below, the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (A) amend the terms of outstanding Stock Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price or base value of such Stock Options or SARs, (B) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs in exchange for Stock Options or SARs with an exercise price or base value that is less than the exercise price or base value of the original Stock Options or SARs, or (C) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs that have an exercise price or base value greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such cancellation in exchange for cash or other consideration.

 

7.                                      EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

 

(a)                                 Covered Transactions.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement or by the Administrator, the following provisions will apply in the event of a Covered Transaction:

 

(1)                                 Assumption or Substitution.  If the Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or surviving entity, the Administrator may provide for (A) the assumption or continuation of some or all outstanding Awards or any portion thereof or (B) the grant of new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor.

 

(2)                                 Cash-Out of Awards.  Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may provide for payment (a “cash-out”), with respect to some or all Awards or any portion thereof, equal in the case of each affected Award or portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock times the number of shares of Stock

 

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subject to the Award or such portion, over (B) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, under the Award or such portion (in the case of a SAR, the aggregate base value above which appreciation is measured), in each case on such payment terms (which need not be the same as the terms of payment to holders of Stock) and other terms, and subject to such conditions, as the Administrator determines; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, that if the exercise or purchase price (or base value) of an Award is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock, the Award may be cancelled with no payment due hereunder or otherwise in respect of such Award.

 

(3)                                 Acceleration of Certain Awards.  Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may provide that any Award requiring exercise will become exercisable, in full or in part, and/or that the delivery of any shares of Stock remaining deliverable under any outstanding Award of Stock Units (including Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards to the extent consisting of Stock Units) will be accelerated, in full or in part, in each case on a basis that gives the holder of the Award a reasonable opportunity, as determined by the Administrator, following exercise of the Award or the delivery of the shares, as the case may be, to participate as a stockholder in the Covered Transaction.

 

(4)                                 Termination of Awards upon Consummation of a Covered Transaction.  Except as the Administrator may otherwise determine in any case, each Award will automatically terminate (and in the case of outstanding shares of Restricted Stock, will automatically be forfeited) immediately upon consummation of the Covered Transaction, other than any Award that is assumed or substituted pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) above.

 

(5)                                 Additional Limitations.  Any share of Stock and any cash or other property or other award delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(1), Section 7(a)(2) or Section 7(a)(3) above with respect to an Award may, in the discretion of the Administrator, contain such restrictions, if any, as the Administrator deems appropriate to reflect any performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was subject and that did not lapse (and were not satisfied) in connection with the Covered Transaction.  For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a cash-out under Section 7(a)(2) above or an acceleration under Section 7(a)(3) above will not, in and of itself, be treated as the lapsing (or satisfaction) of a performance or other vesting condition.  In the case of Restricted Stock that does not vest and is not forfeited in connection with the Covered Transaction, the Administrator may require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid in respect of such Stock in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate to carry out the intent of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 Changes in and Distributions with Respect to Stock.

 

(1)                                 Basic Adjustment Provisions.  In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in the Company’s capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of the Accounting Rules, the Administrator shall make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number of shares of Stock specified in Section 4(a) that may be issued under the Plan and to the maximum share limits described in Section 4(d), and shall make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or securities underlying Awards then outstanding or

 

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subsequently granted, any exercise or purchase prices (or base values) relating to Awards and any other provision of Awards affected by such change.

 

(2)                                 Certain Other Adjustments.  The Administrator may also make adjustments of the type described in Section 7(b)(1) above to take into account distributions to stockholders other than those provided for in Section 7(a) and 7(b)(1), or any other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan, having due regard for the qualification of ISOs under Section 422 and the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent applicable.

 

(3)                                 Continuing Application of Plan Terms.  References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7.

 

8.                                      LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK

 

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of Stock previously delivered under the Plan until: (i) the Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of delivery listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied or waived.  The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an Award or the delivery of shares of Stock under an Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law.  Any Stock required to be issued to Participants under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or delivery of stock certificates.  In the event that the Administrator determines that stock certificates will be issued to Participants under the Plan, the Administrator may require that certificates evidencing Stock issued under the Plan bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending lapse of the applicable restrictions.

 

9.                                      AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be permitted by law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any future grants of Awards; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan the Administrator may not, without the Participant’s consent, alter the terms of an Award so as to affect materially and adversely the Participant’s rights under the Award, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the right to do so at the time the Award was granted.  Any amendments to the Plan will be conditioned upon stockholder approval only to the extent, if any, such approval is required by law (including the Code) or applicable stock exchange requirements, as determined by the Administrator.

 

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10.                               OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

 

The existence of the Plan or the grant of any Award will not affect the Company’s right to award a person bonuses or other compensation in addition to Awards under the Plan.

 

11.                               MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a)                                 Waiver of Jury Trial.  By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant waives any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan and any Award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury.  By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit disputes arising under the terms of the Plan or any Award made hereunder to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any eligible individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an Award hereunder.

 

(b)                                 Limitation of Liability.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Administrator, will be liable to any Participant, to any permitted transferee, to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or any permitted transferee, or to any other holder of an Award by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Award.

 

12.                               ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-PLANS

 

The Administrator may at any time and from time to time establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan (for local-law compliance purposes or other administrative reasons determined by the Administrator) by adopting supplements to the Plan containing, in each case, such limitations on the Administrator’s discretion under the Plan, and such additional terms and conditions, as the Administrator deems necessary or desirable.  Each supplement so established will be deemed to be part of the Plan but will apply only to Participants within the group to which the supplement applies (as determined by the Administrator).

 

13.                               GOVERNING LAW

 

(a)                                 Certain Requirements of Corporate Law.  Awards will be granted and administered consistent with the requirements of applicable Massachusetts law relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is listed or entered for trading, in each case as determined by the Administrator.

 

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(b)           Other Matters.  Except as otherwise provided by the express terms of an Award agreement, under a sub-plan described in Section 12 or as provided in Section 13(a) above, the domestic substantive laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts govern the provisions of the Plan and of Awards under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

(c)           Jurisdiction.  By accepting an Award, each Participant will be deemed to (a) have submitted irrevocably and unconditionally to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award; (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or an Award, except in the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts; and (c) waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that he or she is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts that his or her property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that the Plan or an Award or the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Definition of Terms

 

The following terms, when used in the Plan, have the meanings and are subject to the provisions set forth below:

 

“Accounting Rules”:  Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topics 505 and 718, as applicable, or any successor provision.

 

“Administrator”:  The Compensation Committee, except that the Compensation Committee may delegate (i) to one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board, including the full Board) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine; and (ii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate.  In the event of any delegation described in the preceding sentence, the term “Administrator” will include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation.

 

“Award”:  Any or a combination of the following:

 

(i) Stock Options.

 

(ii) SARs.

 

(iii) Restricted Stock.

 

(iv) Unrestricted Stock.

 

(v) Stock Units, including Restricted Stock Units.

 

(vi) Performance Awards.

 

(vii) Awards (other than Awards described in (i) through (vi) above) that are convertible into or otherwise based on Stock.

 

“Board”:  The Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause”:  In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment or severance-benefit agreement that contains a definition of “Cause,” the definition set forth in such agreement applies with respect to such Participant for purposes of the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect.  In every other case, “Cause” means, as determined by the Administrator, (i) a substantial failure of the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or substantial negligence in the performance of such duties and responsibilities; (ii) the commission by the Participant of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Participant of theft, fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust or any act of dishonesty involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) a significant violation by the Participant of the code of conduct of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any material policy of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or of any statutory or common law

 

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duty of loyalty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (v) breach of any of the terms of the Plan or any Award made under the Plan, or of the terms of any other agreement between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the Participant; or (vi) other conduct by the Participant that could be expected to be harmful to the business, interests or reputation of the Company.

 

“Code”:  The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect.

 

“Compensation Committee”:  The Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

“Company”:  Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation.

 

“Covered Transaction”:  Any of (i) a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s then outstanding common stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert, (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets, or (iii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company.  Where a Covered Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the Administrator), the Covered Transaction will be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.

 

“Date of Adoption”:  The earlier of the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders or adopted by the Board, as determined by the Committee.

 

“Director”:  A member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

“Employee”:  Any person who is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

“Employment”:  A Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, so long as the Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services in a capacity described in Section 5 to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  If a Participant’s employment or other service relationship is with any subsidiary of the Company and that entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company, the Participant’s Employment will be deemed to have terminated when the entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or any of its remaining subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in construing the provisions of any Award relating to the payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (subject to Section 409A) upon a termination or cessation of Employment, references to termination or cessation of employment, separation from service, retirement or similar or correlative terms will be construed to require a “separation from service” (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations) from the Company and from all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations.  The Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a

 

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“separation from service” has occurred.  Any such written election will be deemed a part of the Plan.

 

“Fair Market Value”:  As of a particular date, (i) the closing price for a share of Stock reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any other national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the immediately preceding date on which a closing price was reported or (ii) in the event that the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Stock determined by the Administrator consistent with the rules of Section 422 and Section 409A to the extent applicable.

 

“ISO”:  A Stock Option intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422.  Each Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan will be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be an NSO unless, as of the date of grant, it is expressly designated as an ISO.

 

“NSO”:  A Stock Option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422.

 

“Participant”:  A person who is granted an Award under the Plan.

 

“Performance Award”:  An Award subject to Performance Criteria.

 

“Performance Criteria”:  Specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an Award.  A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss and may be applied to the Participant individually, or to a business unit or division or the Company as a whole and may relate to any or any combination of the following (measured either absolutely or by reference to an index or indices or the performance of one or more companies and determined either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or geographical basis or in combinations thereof): achievement of research, clinical trial or other drug development objectives; achievement of regulatory objectives; achievement of manufacturing and/or supply chain objectives; sales; revenues; assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization, whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per share basis; return on equity, investment, capital or assets; one or more operating ratios; borrowing levels, leverage ratios or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow; stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures, licenses and strategic alliances; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations; or recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of debt or equity) or refinancings.  The Administrator may provide that one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to such Award will be adjusted to reflect events (including, but not limited to, the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, mergers, acquisitions, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes, each as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) occurring during the applicable performance period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria.

 

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“Plan”:  The Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Incentive Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect.

 

“Restricted Stock”:  Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be forfeited, redelivered or offered for sale to the Company if specified service or performance-based conditions are not satisfied.

 

“Restricted Stock Unit”:  A Stock Unit that is, or as to which the delivery of Stock or cash in lieu of Stock is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions.

 

“SAR”:  A right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Stock of equivalent value) equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation under the SAR is to be measured.

 

“Section 409A”:  Section 409A of the Code.

 

“Section 422”:  Section 422 of the Code.

 

“Section 162(m)”:  Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

“Stock”:  Common stock of the Company, par value $            per share.

 

“Stock Option”:  An option entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the exercise price.

 

“Stock Unit”:  An unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of Stock, to deliver Stock or cash measured by the value of Stock in the future.

 

“Substitute Awards”:  Awards issued under the Plan in substitution for equity awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition.

 

“Unrestricted Stock”:  Stock not subject to any restrictions under the terms of the Award.

 

15

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