Document:

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

This TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [·], by and between HCP, INC., a Maryland corporation (“HCP”), and QUALITY CARE PROPERTIES, INC., a Maryland corporation (“SpinCo”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, HCP has elected to be treated and operates as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“REIT”) and SpinCo will elect and intends to qualify as a REIT;

 

WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into the Separation and Distribution Agreement, pursuant to which HCP will contribute cash to SpinCo in exchange for SpinCo Common Stock and SpinCo Preferred Stock, and HCP and certain of its Subsidiaries will sell the SpinCo Assets to certain SpinCo Subsidiaries in exchange for (i) the assumption or incurrence, as applicable, by such SpinCo Subsidiaries of the SpinCo Liabilities, (ii) the transfer by such SpinCo Subsidiaries to HCP of shares of additional SpinCo Common Stock, and (iii) the transfer by such SpinCo Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to HCP of the SpinCo Cash Payment, all as more fully described and defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement (together with the other internal restructuring steps set forth in the Plan of Restructuring, the “Restructuring”);

 

WHEREAS, following the Restructuring, HCP intends to effect a distribution (the “Distribution”) to the holders of the outstanding shares of common stock of HCP (the “HCP Common Stock”), on a pro rata basis, of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of SpinCo Common Stock so that, following the Distribution, HCP and SpinCo will be two (2) independent, publicly traded companies;

 

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties that the Distribution will be a taxable distribution under Section 301 of the Code; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for certain Tax matters.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1      General. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the preamble.

 

 

“Affiliate” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Assumed Liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Business Day” or “Business Days” shall mean any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions located in the State of California are authorized or obligated by applicable Law or executive order to close.

 

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

 

“Dispute” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.4.

 

“Dispute Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.4.

 

“Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.

 

“Distribution Date” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Final Determination” shall mean the final resolution of liability for any Tax, which resolution may be for a specific issue or adjustment or for a taxable period, (i) by an acceptance on an IRS Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms thereto), or by a comparable form or agreement pursuant to the laws of a state, local, or non-United States taxing jurisdiction, except that acceptance on an IRS Form 870 or 870-AD or comparable form or agreement will not constitute a Final Determination to the extent that such form or agreement reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of Law) the right of the taxpayer to file a claim for refund or the right of the Taxing Authority to assert a further deficiency in respect of such issue or adjustment or for such taxable period (as the case may be); (ii) by a decision, judgment, decree, or other order of a court of competent jurisdiction which is or has become final and unappealable; (iii) by a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise pursuant to Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement pursuant to the laws of a state, local, or non-United States jurisdiction; (iv) by any allowance of a refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of a Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such refund may be recovered (including by way of offset) or, where such periods are undefined or indefinite, in accordance with ordinary course limitation periods, by the jurisdiction imposing such Tax; (v) by a final settlement resulting from a treaty-based competent authority determination; or (vi) by any other final disposition, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or by mutual agreement of the Parties.

 

“Governmental Authority” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“HCP 2010 REIT” shall mean HCP 2010 REIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, that has elected to be treated as a REIT.

 

“HCP Common Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.

 

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“HCP Group” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“HCP REIT Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of HCP that has elected to be treated as a REIT.

 

“IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Parent REIT” shall mean QCP HoldCo REIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which will elect and intends to qualify as a REIT.

 

“Party” shall mean HCP or SpinCo, as the context may require.

 

“Person” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Post-Closing Period” shall mean any Taxable year or other Taxable period beginning after the Distribution Date.

 

“Plan of Restructuring” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Pre-Closing Period” shall mean any Taxable year or other Taxable period that ends on or before the Distribution Date.

 

“REIT” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.

 

“Restructuring” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.

 

“Separation and Distribution Agreement” shall mean the Separation and Distribution Agreement by and between HCP and SpinCo dated [·], 2016, as may be amended.

 

“SpinCo” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals.

 

“SpinCo Assets” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“SpinCo Cash Payment” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“SpinCo Common Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“SpinCo Group” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“SpinCo Liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

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“SpinCo Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“SpinCo REIT Subsidiaries” shall mean HCP 2010 REIT, Parent REIT, and the SubREITs.

 

“SpinCo Subsidiaries” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Straddle Period” shall mean any Taxable period commencing on or prior to, and ending after, the Distribution Date.

 

“SubREITs” shall mean QCP AL REIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, QCP SNF West REIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, QCP SNF Central REIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and QCP SNF East REIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, each of which will elect and intends to qualify as a REIT.

 

“Subsidiary” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Tax” (and, with correlative meaning, “Taxable”) shall mean (i) any and all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes, including income, alternative or add-on minimum, gross receipts, profits, lease, service, service use, wage, employment, workers compensation, business occupation, environmental, estimated, excise, sales, use, transfer, license, payroll, franchise, severance, stamp, occupation, windfall profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, ad valorem, capital stock, paid in capital, recording, registration, property, real property gains, value added, business license, custom duties, built-in gains, prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 857(b)(6) of the Code), and other taxes, charges, fees, levies, imposts, duties or assessments of any kind whatsoever, imposed or required to be withheld by any Taxing Authority, including any interest, additions to Tax, or penalties applicable or related thereto, and (ii) any liability for the Taxes of any Person under Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or similar provision of state or local law).

 

“Tax Advisor” shall mean Tax counsel of recognized national standing or a “Big Four” accounting firm, in either case, with experience in the tax area involved in the Dispute or issue.

 

“Tax Contest” shall mean any audit, review, examination, dispute, suit, action, proposed assessment, or other administrative or judicial proceeding with respect to Taxes.

 

“Tax Return” shall mean any return, report, certificate, form, or similar statement or document (including any attachments thereto and any information return, amended tax return, claim for refund, or declaration of estimated tax) supplied to or filed with, or required to be supplied to or filed with, a Taxing Authority, or any bill for or notice related to ad valorem or other similar Taxes received from a Taxing Authority, in each case, in connection with the determination, assessment, or collection of any Tax or the administration of any laws, regulations, or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.

 

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“Taxing Authority” shall mean any Governmental Authority or other authority in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax or the administration of any laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.

 

“Transactions” shall have the meaning specified in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Transfer Taxes” shall mean all sales, use, privilege, transfer, documentary, stamp, recording, and similar Taxes and fees (including any penalties, interest or additions thereto) imposed upon any Party in connection with the Transactions.

 

“Treasury Regulations” shall mean the final and temporary (but not proposed) income Tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

 

Section 1.2      References; Interpretation. References in this Agreement to any gender include references to all genders, and references to the singular include references to the plural and vice versa. The word “including” when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, such Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words “hereof”, “hereby”, and “herein” and words of similar meaning when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular Article, Section, or provision of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

TAX RETURNS AND TAX PAYMENTS

 

Section 2.1      Filing of Tax Returns.

 

(a)     HCP will have the sole and exclusive responsibility for the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns that any member of the SpinCo Group is obligated to prepare and file for any Pre-Closing Period and any Straddle Period.  SpinCo, on behalf of each member of the SpinCo Group, hereby irrevocably authorizes and designates HCP as its agent, coordinator, and administrator for the purpose of taking any and all actions necessary to the filing of any such Tax Return and for the purpose of making payments to, or collecting refunds from, any Taxing Authority in respect of any such Tax Return. HCP shall have the exclusive right to prepare, file, prosecute, compromise, or settle any claim for refund for Taxes in respect of a Tax Return for which HCP bears responsibility under this Section 2.1(a) and to determine whether any refunds of such Taxes to which the HCP Group may be entitled shall be received by way of refund or credit against the Tax liability of the HCP Group.

 

(b)     SpinCo shall have the sole and exclusive responsibility for the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns that any member of the SpinCo Group is obligated to file for any Post-Closing Period.

 

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(c)     SpinCo shall prepare and file all necessary California BOE-100-B forms (Statements of Change in Control and Ownership of Legal Entities) within ninety (90) days of the Distribution.

 

Section 2.2      Transfer Taxes. All Transfer Taxes, if any, shall be paid by SpinCo, and SpinCo will prepare and file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such Transfer Taxes.  HCP shall use its reasonable best efforts to make available any materials reasonably requested by SpinCo with respect to Transfer Taxes or related planning.

 

Section 2.3      Amended Returns. Without the prior written consent of HCP, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, SpinCo shall not, and shall not permit any member of the SpinCo Group to, file any amended Pre-Closing Period Tax Return or Straddle Period Tax Return that includes a SpinCo REIT Subsidiary.

 

Section 2.4      Dispute Resolution. Subject to the final sentence of this Section 2.4, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any disagreement arising with respect to this Agreement, including any dispute in connection with a claim by a third party (a “Dispute”). Either Party may give the other Party written notice of any Dispute not resolved in the normal course of business. Subject to the final sentence of this Section 2.4, if the Parties cannot agree within thirty (30) Business Days following the date on which one Party gives such notice (the “Dispute Date”), then the Dispute shall be referred to a Tax Advisor acceptable to each of the Parties to act as an arbitrator in order to resolve the dispute. If the Parties are unable to agree upon a Tax Advisor within fifteen (15) calendar days, the Tax Advisor selected by HCP and the Tax Advisor selected by SpinCo shall jointly select a Tax Advisor that will resolve the dispute. Such Tax Advisor shall be empowered to resolve the Dispute, including by engaging nationally recognized accountants and other experts. The Tax Advisor chosen to resolve the Dispute shall furnish written notice to the Parties of its resolution of such Dispute as soon as practicable, but in no event later than forty-five (45) Business Days after its acceptance of the matter for resolution. Any such resolution by the Tax Advisor will be conclusive and binding on the Parties. Each of HCP and SpinCo shall bear fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate expenses of the Tax Advisor chosen to resolve the Dispute.

 

ARTICLE III

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 3.1      Covenants of HCP and SpinCo.

 

(a)     The Parties agree that the Distribution will be a taxable distribution under Section 301 of the Code, and the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries shall report the Distribution for all Tax purposes in all respects consistently with such treatment, and shall not take any position on any Tax Return that is inconsistent with such treatment.

 

(b)     Each Party shall use the value of the SpinCo Assets as determined by HCP for all Tax purposes in all respects, and shall not take any position on any Tax Return that is inconsistent with such value.

 

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Section 3.2      Covenants of HCP.

 

(a)        HCP shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with SpinCo and each SpinCo REIT Subsidiary, as necessary, to enable SpinCo and each SpinCo REIT Subsidiary to each qualify for taxation as a REIT and receive customary legal opinions concerning SpinCo’s or any of the SpinCo REIT Subsidiaries’ qualification and taxation as a REIT, including by providing information and representations to SpinCo or any of the SpinCo REIT Subsidiaries and their respective tax counsel with respect to the composition of HCP’s income and assets, composition of the holders of stock of HCP and HCP’s organization, operation, and qualification as a REIT.

 

(b)        HCP, and each HCP REIT Subsidiary through which HCP owned the SpinCo Assets prior to the Restructuring, shall use reasonable best efforts to maintain its REIT status for each of its taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2016, unless HCP or such HCP REIT Subsidiary obtains an opinion from a nationally recognized tax counsel or a private letter ruling from the IRS, on which SpinCo and the SpinCo REIT Subsidiaries can rely, substantially to the effect that HCP’s or such HCP REIT Subsidiary’s failure to maintain its REIT status will not prevent SpinCo or any SpinCo REIT Subsidiary from making a valid REIT election for any taxable year, or otherwise cause SpinCo or any SpinCo REIT Subsidiary to fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT for any taxable year, pursuant to Section 856(g)(3) of the Code.

 

Section 3.3      Covenants of SpinCo.

 

(a)     SpinCo and the SpinCo Subsidiaries shall report the Transactions for all Tax purposes in all respects consistently with the Tax treatment of the Transactions determined by HCP, in HCP’s sole discretion.  For the avoidance of doubt, this covenant includes the reporting of gain or loss attributable to any and all parts of the Transactions for all Tax purposes in all respects.

 

(b)     SpinCo and each SpinCo REIT Subsidiary shall take all actions, and refrain from taking all actions, as are necessary to ensure that SpinCo and each SpinCo REIT Subsidiary will qualify for taxation as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any and all Straddle Periods.

 

(c)     SpinCo and each SpinCo REIT Subsidiary shall accommodate all requests of HCP with respect to maintenance of the REIT status of SpinCo or a SpinCo REIT Subsidiary for any and all Straddle Periods.

 

(d)     Members of the SpinCo Group shall not sell or otherwise dispose of any SpinCo Asset:

 

(i)    listed on Schedule 3.3(d) to this Agreement until after the date set forth opposite such asset on Schedule 3.3(d);

 

(ii)   if such disposition would cause any member of the HCP Group to incur Tax attributable to a “prohibited transaction” under Section 857(b)(6) of the Code; or

 

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(iii)  if such sale or disposal would prevent any member of the HCP Group from engaging in or completing a “like-kind exchange” involving such SpinCo Asset under Section 1031 of the Code.

 

(e)     Neither SpinCo, Parent REIT, nor any of the SubREITs shall liquidate, merge, combine or otherwise restructure or elect to be treated as other than a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, without HCP’s consent, prior to the second (2nd) anniversary of the Distribution Date.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 4.1      Indemnification by SpinCo. SpinCo shall pay or cause to be paid, shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless all members of the HCP Group from and against:

 

(a)     all Taxes of any member of the HCP Group attributable to a breach of any covenant in Section 3.3;

 

(b)     any accounting, legal, and other professional fees and court costs incurred in connection with, evaluating, or defending against any claims that HCP expects could result in any member of the HCP Group becoming entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.1; and

 

(c)     any Taxes incurred by the HCP Group resulting from indemnification payments made pursuant to this Section 4.1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement,  HCP shall have sole discretion to select legal counsel, independent accountants, and other advisors, in each case at SpinCo’s full expense, to evaluate and defend against any claims that HCP reasonably expects could result in any member of the HCP Group becoming entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.1.  Furthermore, indemnification under this Agreement shall follow the procedures described in Section 9.4 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, except to the extent such procedures conflict with anything described herein.

 

ARTICLE V

 

TAX CONTESTS

 

Section 5.1      Notice of Tax Contests. SpinCo shall promptly notify HCP in writing upon receipt by SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group of a written communication from any Taxing Authority with respect to any Tax Contest concerning any Tax Return or otherwise concerning Taxes for which HCP may be liable under this Agreement or that impacts any portion of a Straddle Period or Pre-Closing Period.  HCP shall promptly notify SpinCo in writing upon receipt by HCP or any member of the HCP Group of a written communication from any Taxing Authority with respect to any Tax Contest concerning any Tax Return or otherwise concerning Taxes for which SpinCo may be liable under this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.2      Control of Contest by HCP. HCP shall have the sole responsibility and control over the handling of any Tax Contest, including the exclusive right to communicate with agents of the Taxing Authority, involving (a) any Pre-Closing Period Tax Return of SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group or otherwise relating to the SpinCo Assets or Assumed Liabilities for a Pre-Closing Period or (b) any Straddle Period Tax Return of SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group or otherwise relating to the SpinCo Assets or Assumed Liabilities for a Straddle Period. Upon SpinCo’s request, SpinCo shall be allowed to participate in, but not to control, at SpinCo’s expense, the handling of any such Tax Contest with respect to any item that may affect SpinCo’s liability for Taxes pursuant to this Agreement. HCP shall not settle or concede any such Tax Contest with respect to any item in excess of $50,000 for which SpinCo is liable hereunder without the prior written consent of SpinCo, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

COOPERATION

 

Section 6.1      General. Each Party shall, and shall cause all of such Party’s Subsidiaries and, to the extent capable of so doing, Affiliates to, fully cooperate with the other Party in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Return or the conduct of any Tax Contest (including, where appropriate or necessary, providing a power of attorney) concerning any issues or any other matter contemplated under this Agreement. Each Party shall make its employees and facilities available on a mutually convenient basis to facilitate such cooperation.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

RETENTION OF RECORDS; ACCESS

 

Section 7.1      Retention of Records; Access. The Parties shall (a) retain records, documents, accounting data, and other information (including computer data) necessary for the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns in respect of Taxes of either the HCP Group or the SpinCo Group for any Taxable period, or for any Tax Contests relating to such Tax Returns, and (b) using commercially reasonable efforts to do so within five (5) Business Days, give to the other Party reasonable access to such records, documents, accounting data, and other information (including computer data) and to its personnel (insuring their cooperation) and premises, for the purpose of the review or audit of such Tax Returns to the extent relevant to an obligation or liability of a Party under this Agreement or for purposes of the preparation or filing of any such Tax Return, the conduct of any Tax Contest or any other matter reasonably and in good faith related to the Tax affairs of the requesting Party. The requesting party shall bear all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection therewith. At any time after the Distribution Date that HCP or any member of the HCP Group proposes to destroy such material or information, HCP shall first notify SpinCo in writing and SpinCo shall be entitled to receive such materials or information proposed to be destroyed. At any time after the Distribution Date that SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group proposes to destroy such material or information, SpinCo shall first notify HCP in writing and HCP shall be entitled to receive such materials or information proposed to be destroyed.

 

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Section 7.2      Confidentiality; Ownership of Information; Privileged Information. The provisions of Article VIII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement relating to confidentiality of information, ownership of information, privileged information, and related matters shall apply with equal force to any records and information prepared and shared by and among the Parties in carrying out the intent of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3      Continuation of Retention of Information, Access Obligations. The obligations set forth above in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 shall continue until the longer of (a) the time of a Final Determination or (b) expiration of all applicable statutes of limitations to which the records and information relate. For purposes of the preceding sentence, each Party shall assume that no applicable statute of limitations has expired unless such Party has received notification or otherwise has actual knowledge that such statute of limitations has expired.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 8.1      Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations, agreements, commitments, writings, courses of dealing and understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

Section 8.2      Counterparts; Electronic Delivery.   This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other documents pursuant to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic means shall be deemed to be, and shall have the same legal effect as, execution by an original signature and delivery in person.

 

Section 8.3      Survival of Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, all representations, covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any such matter (including extensions thereof) and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their applicable terms.

 

Section 8.4      Notices. All notices, requests, permissions, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) five (5) Business Days following sending by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (b) when sent, if sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient, (c) when delivered, if delivered personally to the intended recipient, and (d) one (1) Business Day following sending by overnight delivery via a national courier service and, in each case, addressed to a Party at the following address for such Party (as updated from time to time by notice in writing to the other Party):

 

If to HCP:

 

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HCP, Inc. 
 1920 Main Street, Suite 1200

Irvine, CA 92614
 Attention:  [·]

E-mail:      [·]

Facsimile: [·]

 

If to SpinCo:

 

Quality Care Properties, Inc.
 [·]

Attention:  [·]

E-mail:      [·]

Facsimile: [·]

 

 

or to such other address and with such other copies as any Party hereto shall notify the other Parties hereto (as provided above) from time to time.

 

Section 8.5      Waivers. The failure of any Party to require strict performance by the other Party of any provision in this Agreement will not waive or diminish that Party’s right to demand strict performance thereafter of that or any other provision hereof.

 

Section 8.6      Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties hereto.

 

Section 8.7      Assignment; Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Rights. This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of the other Parties hereto, and any attempted assignment shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit, remedy, or claim hereunder.

 

Section 8.8      No Strict Construction. This Agreement shall be construed as if jointly drafted by the Parties and no rule of construction or strict interpretation shall be applied against either Party.

 

Section 8.9      Application to Present and Future Subsidiaries; Performance. This Agreement is being entered into by the Parties on behalf of themselves and their respective Subsidiaries. This Agreement shall constitute a direct obligation of each such entity and shall be deemed to have been readopted and affirmed on behalf of any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of any Party to this Agreement in the future.  Each Party shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Party.

 

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Section 8.10    Titles and Headings.  Titles and headings to Sections and Articles are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.11    Exhibits and Schedules. The exhibits and schedules, if any, attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference and shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein..

 

Section 8.12    Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive Laws of the State of California, without regard to any conflicts of law provisions thereof that would result in the application of the Laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 8.13    Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a nonappealable decision by a court, administrative agency or arbitrator to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either Party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the court, administrative agency or arbitrator shall interpret this Agreement so as to affect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.  If any sentence in this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only as broad as is enforceable.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

	
 
    	
HCP, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
QUALITY CARE PROPERTIES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

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Schedule 3.3(d)

Certain SpinCo Assets

 

14Exhibit

Exhibit 4.3
BACKCHANNEL, INC.
2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
As Adopted on September 6, 2012, and Amended on October 4, 2012
1.PURPOSE.  The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company, its Parent and Subsidiaries by offering eligible persons an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through the grant of Awards covering Shares.  Capitalized terms not defined in the text are defined in Section 14 hereof.  Although this Plan is intended to be a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Rule 701, grants may be made pursuant to this Plan that do not qualify for exemption under Rule 701 or Section 25102(o).  Any requirement of this Plan that is required in law only because of Section 25102(o) need not apply if the Committee so provides.
2.    SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
2.1    Number of Shares Available.  Subject to Sections 2.2 and 11 hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan will be 1,736,625 Shares.  Subject to Sections 2.2 and 11 hereof, Shares subject to Awards that are cancelled, forfeited, settled in cash, used to pay withholding obligations or pay the exercise price of an Option or that expire by their terms at any time will again be available for grant and issuance in connection with other Awards.  In the event that Shares previously issued under the Plan are reacquired by the Company pursuant to a forfeiture provision, right of first refusal, or repurchase by the Company, such Shares shall be added to the number of Shares then available for issuance under the Plan.  At all times the Company will reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as will be required to satisfy the requirements of all Awards granted and outstanding under this Plan.  In no event shall the total number of Shares issued (counting each reissuance of a Share that was previously issued and then forfeited or repurchased by the Company as a separate issuance) under the Plan upon exercise of ISOs exceed 10,000,000 Shares (adjusted in proportion to any adjustments under Section 2.2 hereof) over the term of the Plan (the “ISO Limit”).  Subject to Sections 2.2 and 11 hereof, in the event that the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan is increased, the ISO Limit shall be automatically increased by such number of Shares such that the ISO Limit equals (a) ten (10) multiplied by (b) the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.
2.2    Adjustment of Shares.  In the event that the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or other change in the capital structure of the Company affecting Shares without consideration, then in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan (a) the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, (b) the Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options and SARs, and (c) the Purchase Prices of and/or number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards will be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company and compliance with applicable securities laws; provided, however, that fractions of a Share will not be issued but will either be paid in cash at the Fair Market Value of such fraction of a Share or will be rounded down to the nearest whole Share, as determined by the Committee.
3.    PLAN FOR BENEFIT OF SERVICE PROVIDERS.

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3.1    Eligibility.  The Committee will have the authority to select persons to receive Awards.  ISOs (as defined in Section 4 hereof) may be granted only to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  NQSOs (as defined in Section 4 hereof) and all other types of Awards may be granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; provided such consultants render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction when Rule 701 is to apply to the Award granted for such services.  A person may be granted more than one Award under this Plan.
3.2    No Obligation to Employ.  Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without Cause.
4.    OPTIONS.  The Committee may grant Options to eligible persons described in Section 3 hereof and will determine whether such Options will be Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of the Code (“ISOs”) or Nonqualified Stock Options (“NQSOs”), the number of Shares subject to the Option, the Exercise Price of the Option, the period during which the Option may be exercised, and all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the following.
4.1    Form of Option Grant.  Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement which will expressly identify the Option as an ISO or an NQSO (“Stock Option Agreement”), and will be in such form and contain such provisions (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
4.2    Date of Grant.  The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option, unless a later date is otherwise specified by the Committee.  The Stock Option Agreement and a copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time after the granting of the Option.
4.3    Exercise Period.  Options may be exercisable within the time or upon the events determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement and may be awarded immediately but subject to repurchase pursuant to Section 10 hereof or may be exercisable within the times or upon the events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Stock Option Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted; and (b) no ISO granted to a person who directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary (“Ten Percent Stockholder”) will be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted.  The Committee also may provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines.
4.4    Exercise Price.  The Exercise Price of an Option will be determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value per Share unless expressly determined in writing by the Committee on the Option’s date of grant; provided that the Exercise Price of an ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be less than one hundred ten 

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percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.  Payment for the Shares purchased must be made in accordance with Section 8 hereof.
4.5    Method of Exercise.  Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a written stock option exercise agreement (the “Exercise Agreement”) in a form approved by the Committee (which need not be the same for each Participant).  The Exercise Agreement will state (a) the number of Shares being purchased, (b) the restrictions imposed on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if any, and (c) such representations and agreements regarding Participant’s investment intent and access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required or desirable by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws.  Each Participant’s Exercise Agreement may be modified by (i) agreement of Participant and the Company or (ii) substitution by the Company, upon becoming a public company, in order to add the payment terms set forth in Section 8.1 that apply to a public company and such other terms as shall be necessary or advisable in order to exercise a public company option.  Upon exercise of an Option, Participant shall execute and deliver to the Company the Exercise Agreement then in effect, together with payment in full of the Exercise Price for the number of Shares being purchased and payment of any applicable taxes.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 2.2 of the Plan.  Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
4.6    Termination.  Subject to earlier termination pursuant to Sections 11 and 13.1 hereof and notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth in the Stock Option Agreement, exercise of an Option will always be subject to the following terms and conditions
(a)    Other than Death or Disability or for Cause.  If the Participant is Terminated for any reason other than death, Disability or for Cause, then the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options only to the extent that such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares upon the Termination Date or as otherwise determined by the Committee.  Such Options must be exercised by the Participant, if at all, as to all or some of the Vested Shares calculated as of the Termination Date or such other date determined by the Committee, within three (3) months after the Termination Date (or within such shorter time period, not less than thirty (30) days, or within such longer time period, not exceeding five (5) years, after the Termination Date as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond three (3) months after the Termination Date deemed to be an NQSO) but in any event, no later than the expiration date of the Options.
(b)    Death or Disability.  If the Participant is Terminated because of Participant’s death or Disability (or the Participant dies within three (3) months after a Termination other than for Cause), then Participant’s Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares by Participant on the Termination Date or as otherwise determined by the Committee.  Such options must be exercised by Participant (or Participant’s legal representative or authorized assignee), if at all, as to all or some of the Vested Shares calculated as of the Termination Date or such other date determined by the Committee, within twelve (12) months after the Termination Date (or within such shorter time period, not less than six (6) months, or within such longer time period, after the Termination Date as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond (a) three (3) months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for any reason other than the Participant’s death or disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, or (b) twelve (12) months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for Participant’s disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, deemed to be an NQSO) but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options.

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(c)
    For Cause.  If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options, but not to an extent greater than such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares upon the Termination Date and Participant’s Options shall expire on such Participant’s Termination Date, or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee.
4.7    Limitations on Exercise.  The Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent Participant from exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable.
4.8    Limitations on ISOs.  The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of Shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) will not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).  If the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date of grant with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), then the Options for the first One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) worth of Shares to become exercisable in such calendar year will be ISOs and the Options for the amount in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) that become exercisable in that calendar year will be NQSOs.  In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 13.1 hereof) to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to ISOs, then such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.
4.9    Modification, Extension or Renewal.  The Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant’s rights under any Option previously granted.  Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended, renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code.  Subject to Section 4.10 hereof, the Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options without the consent of Participants by a written notice to them; provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the minimum Exercise Price that would be permitted under Section 4.4 hereof for Options granted on the date the action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price.
4.10    No Disqualification.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs will be interpreted, amended or altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify this Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the Participant, to disqualify any Participant’s ISO under Section 422 of the Code.
4.11    Information to Optionees.  If the Company is relying on the exemption from registration under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 12h-1(f)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act, then the Company shall provide the Required Information (as defined below) in the manner required by Rule 12h-1(f)(1) to all optionees every six months until the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or is no longer relying on the exemption pursuant to Rule 12h-1(f)(1); provided, that, prior to receiving access to the Required Information the optionee must agree to keep the Required Information confidential pursuant to a written agreement in the form provided by the Company.  For purposes of this Section 4.11, “Required Information” means the information described in Rules 701(e)(3), (4) and (5) under the Securities Act.

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5.    RESTRICTED STOCK.  A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company to sell to an eligible person Shares that are subject to certain specified restrictions.  The Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares the person may purchase, the Purchase Price, the restrictions to which the Shares will be subject, and all other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the following terms and conditions.
5    Form of Restricted Stock Award.  All purchases under a Restricted Stock Award made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement (“Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement”) that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.  The Restricted Stock Award will be accepted by the Participant’s execution and delivery of the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and full payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days from the date the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement is delivered to the person.  If such person does not execute and deliver the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement along with full payment for the Shares to the Company within such thirty (30) days, then the offer will terminate, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.
5.2    Purchase Price.  The Purchase Price of Shares sold pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted or at the time the purchase is consummated.  Payment of the Purchase Price must be made in accordance with Section 8 hereof.
5.3    ividends and Other Distributions.  Participants holding Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Committee provides otherwise at the time of award.  If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.
5.4    Restrictions.  Restricted Stock Awards may be subject to the restrictions set forth in Sections 9 and 10 hereof or, with respect to a Restricted Stock Award to which Section 25102(o) is to apply, such other restrictions not inconsistent with Section 25102(o).
6.    RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.
6.1    Awards of Restricted Stock Units.  A Restricted Stock Unit (“RSU”) is an Award covering a number of Shares that may be settled in cash, or by issuance of those Shares at a date in the future.  No Purchase Price shall apply to an RSU settled in Shares.  All grants of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
6.2    Form and Timing of Settlement.  To the extent permissible under applicable law, the Committee may permit a Participant to defer payment under a RSU to a date or dates after the RSU is earned, provided that the terms of the RSU and any deferral satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (or any successor) and any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.  Payment may be made in the form of cash or whole Shares or a combination thereof, all as the Committee determines.
7.    STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

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7.1    Awards of SARs.  Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) may be settled in cash, or Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock or RSUs), having a value equal to the value determined by multiplying the difference between the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price and the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is being settled.  All grants of SARs made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
7.2    Exercise Period and Expiration Date.  A SAR will be exercisable within the times or upon the occurrence of events determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement governing such SAR.  The Award Agreement shall set forth the Expiration Date; provided that no SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date the SAR is granted.
7.3    Exercise Price.  The Committee will determine the Exercise Price of the SAR when the SAR is granted, and which may not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and may be settled in cash or in Shares.
7.4    Termination.  Subject to earlier termination pursuant to Sections 11 and13.1 hereof and notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth in the Award Agreement, exercise of SARs will always be subject to the following terms and conditions.
(a)    Other than Death or Disability or for Cause.  If the Participant is Terminated for any reason other than death, Disability or for Cause, then the Participant may exercise such Participant’s SARs only to the extent that such SARs are exercisable as to vested Shares upon the Termination Date or as otherwise determined by the Committee.  SARs must be exercised by the Participant, if at all, as to all or some of the vested Shares calculated as of the Termination Date or such other date determined by the Committee, within three (3) months after the Termination Date (or within such shorter time period, not less than thirty (30) days, or within such longer time period, not exceeding five (5) years, after the Termination Date as may be determined by the Committee) but in any event, no later than the expiration date of the SARs.
(b)    Death or Disability.  If the Participant is Terminated because of Participant’s death or Disability (or the Participant dies within three (3) months after a Termination other than for Cause), then Participant’s SARs may be exercised only to the extent that such SARs are exercisable as to vested Shares by Participant on the Termination Date or as otherwise determined by the Committee.  Such SARs must be exercised by Participant (or Participant’s legal representative or authorized assignee), if at all, as to all or some of the vested Shares calculated as of the Termination Date or such other date determined by the Committee, within twelve (12) months after the Termination Date (or within such shorter time period, not less than six (6) months, or within such longer time period, not exceeding five (5) years, after the Termination Date as may be determined by the Committee) but in any event no later than the expiration date of the SARs.
(c)    For Cause.  If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the Participant may exercise such Participant’s SARs, but not to an extent greater than such SARs are exercisable as to vested Shares upon the Termination Date and Participant’s SARs shall expire on such Participant’s Termination Date, or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee.
8.    PAYMENT FOR PURCHASES AND EXERCISES.

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8.1    Payment in General.  Payment for Shares acquired pursuant to this Plan may be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the Participant by the Committee and where permitted by law:
(i)    by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company owed to the Participant;
(ii)    by surrender of shares of the Company that are clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests and:  (i) for which the Company has received “full payment of the purchase price” within the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares) or (ii) that were obtained by Participant in the public market;
(iii)    by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing interest at a rate sufficient to avoid imputation of income under Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code; provided, however, that Participants who are not employees or directors of the Company will not be entitled to purchase Shares with a promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other than the Shares; provided, further, that the portion of the Exercise Price or Purchase Price, as the case may be, equal to the par value (if any) of the Shares must be paid in cash or other legal consideration permitted by the laws under which the Company is then incorporated or organized;
(iv)    by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant from the Company for services rendered;
(v)    by participating in a formal cashless exercise program implemented by the Committee in connection with the Plan;
(vi)    subject to compliance with applicable law and solely in the discretion of the Committee, provided that a public market for the Company’s Common Stock exists, by exercising through a “same day sale” commitment from the Participant and a broker- dealer whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Award and to sell a portion of the Shares so purchased sufficient to pay the total Exercise Price or Purchase Price, and whereby the broker-dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the total Exercise Price or Purchase Price directly to the Company; or
(vii)    by any combination of the foregoing or any other method of payment approved by the Committee.
8.2    Withholding Taxes.
(d)    Withholding Generally.  Whenever Shares are to be issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan, the Company may require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable tax withholding requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such Shares.  Whenever, under this Plan, payments in satisfaction of Awards are to be made in cash by the Company, such payment will be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable tax withholding requirements.
(e)    Stock Withholding.  When, under applicable tax laws, a Participant incurs tax liability in connection with the exercise or vesting of any Award that is subject to tax withholding and the Participant is obligated to pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Committee may in its sole discretion allow the Participant to satisfy the minimum tax withholding 

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obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued up to the minimum number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined that is not more than the minimum amount to be withheld; or to arrange a mandatory “sell to cover” on Participant’s behalf (without further authorization) but in no event will the Company withhold Shares or “sell to cover” if such withholding would result in adverse accounting consequences to the Company.  Any elections to have Shares withheld or sold for this purpose will be made in accordance with the requirements established by the Committee for such elections and be in writing in a form acceptable to the Committee.
9.    RESTRICTIONS ON AWARDS.
9.1    Transferability.  Except as permitted by the Committee, Awards granted under this Plan, and any interest therein, will not be transferable or assignable by Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, with respect to NQSOs, by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the NQSOs are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (settlor), or by gift to “family member” as that term is defined in Rule 701, and may not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.  For the avoidance of doubt, the prohibition against assignment and transfer applies to a stock option and, prior to exercise , the shares to be issued on exercise of a stock option, and pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be understood to include, without limitation, a prohibition against any pledge, hypothecation, or other transfer, including any short position, any “put equivalent position” or any “call equivalent position” (in each case, as defined in Rule 16a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act.  During the lifetime of the Participant an Award will be exercisable only by the Participant or Participant’s legal representative and any elections with respect to an Award may be made only by the Participant or Participant’s legal representative.  The terms of an Option shall be binding upon the executor, administrator, successors and assigns of the Participant who is a party thereto.
9.2    Securities Law and Other Regulatory Compliance.  Although this Plan is intended to be a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, grants may be made pursuant to this Plan that do not qualify for exemption under Rule 701 or Section 25102(o).  Any requirement of this Plan which is required in law only because of Section 25102(o) need not apply with respect to a particular Award to which Section 25102(o) will not apply.  An Award will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable, and/or (b) compliance with any exemption, completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable.  The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance with the exemption, registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure so do.
9.3    Exchange and Buyout of Awards.  The Committee may, at any time or from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the respective Participants, to issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any or all outstanding Awards.  Without prior stockholder approval the Committee may reprice Options or SARs (and where such repricing is a reduction in the Exercise Price of outstanding Options or SARs, the consent of the affected Participants is 

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not required provided written notice is provided to them).  The Committee may at any time buy from a Participant an Award previously granted with payment in cash, Shares (including Restricted Stock) or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee and the Participant may agree.
10.    RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES.
10.1    Privileges of Stock Ownership.  No Participant will have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until such Shares are issued to the Participant.  After Shares are issued to the Participant, the Participant will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that if such Shares are Restricted Stock, then any new, additional or different securities the Participant may become entitled to receive with respect to such Shares by virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock.  The Participant will have no right to retain such stock dividends or stock distributions with respect to Unvested Shares that are repurchased as described in this Section 10.
10.2    Rights of First Refusal and Repurchase.  At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award Agreement (a) a right of first refusal to purchase all Shares that a Participant (or a subsequent transferee) may propose to transfer to a third party, provided that such right of first refusal terminates upon the Company’s initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act and (b) a right to repurchase Unvested Shares held by a Participant for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness owed to the Company by the Participant following such Participant’s Termination at any time.
10.3    Escrow; Pledge of Shares.  To enforce any restrictions on a Participant’s Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated.  The Committee may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificate.  Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participant’s obligation to the Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of the Participant’s Shares or other collateral.  In connection with any pledge of the Shares, Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve.  The Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.
10.4    Securities Law Restrictions.  All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable, including restrictions under any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed or quoted.
11.    CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

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11.1    Acquisitions or Other Combinations.  In the event that the Company is subject to an Acquisition or Other Combination, outstanding Awards acquired under the Plan shall be subject to the agreement evidencing the Acquisition or Other Combination, which need not treat all outstanding Awards in an identical manner.  Such agreement, without the Participant’s consent, shall provide for one or more of the following with respect to all outstanding Awards as of the effective date of such Acquisition or Other Combination:
(i)    The continuation of such outstanding Awards by the Company (if the Company is the successor entity).
(ii)    The assumption of outstanding Awards by the successor or acquiring entity (if any) in such Acquisition or Other Combination (or by any of its Parents, if any), which assumption, will be binding on all Participants; provided that the exercise price and the number and nature of shares issuable upon exercise of any such option or stock appreciation right, or any award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) and Section 409A of the Code.  For the purposes of this Section 10, an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Acquisition or Other Combination, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Acquisition or Other Combination, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Acquisition or Other Combination by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Acquisition or Other Combination is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Acquisition or Other Combination.
(iii)    The substitution by the successor or acquiring entity in such Acquisition or Other Combination (or by any of its Parents, if any) of equivalent awards with substantially the same terms for such outstanding Awards (except that the exercise price and the number and nature of shares issuable upon exercise of any such option or stock appreciation right, or any award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code).
(iv)    The full or partial exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of outstanding Awards.
(v)    The settlement of the full value of such outstanding Award (whether or not then vested or exercisable) in cash, cash equivalents, or securities of the successor entity (or its Parent, if any) with a Fair Market Value equal to the required amount, followed by the cancellation of such Awards; provided however, that such Award may be cancelled without consideration if such Award has no value, as determined by the Committee, in its discretion.  Subject to Section 409A of the Code, such payment may be made in installments and may be deferred until the date or dates when the Award would have become exercisable or vested.  Such payment may be subject to vesting based on the Participant’s continued service, provided that without the Participant’s consent, the vesting schedule shall not be less favorable to the Participant than the schedule under which the Award would have become vested or exercisable.  For purposes of this Section 11.1(e), the Fair Market value of any security shall be determined without regard to any vesting conditions that may apply to such security.

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(vi)    The cancellation of outstanding Awards in exchange for no consideration.
Immediately following an Acquisition or Other Combination, outstanding Awards shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent such Awards, have been continued, assumed or substituted, as described in Sections 11.1(a), (b) and/or (c).
11.2    Assumption of Awards by the Company.  The Company, from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another entity, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other entity or otherwise, by either (a) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution of such other entity’s award or (b) assuming and/or converting such award as if it had been granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under this Plan.  Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other entity had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant.  In the event the Company assumes an award granted by another entity, the terms and conditions of such award will remain unchanged (except that the exercise price and the number and nature of shares issuable upon exercise of any such option or stock appreciation right, or any award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code).  In the event the Company elects to grant a new Option or SAR rather than assuming an existing option or stock appreciation right, such new Option or SAR may be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price.
12.    ADMINISTRATION.
12.1    Committee Authority.  This Plan will be administered by the Committee or the Board if no Committee is created by the Board.  Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan.  Without limitation, the Committee will have the authority to:
(i)    construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan;
(ii)    prescribe, amend, expand, modify and rescind or terminate rules and regulations relating to this Plan;
(iii)    approve persons to receive Awards;
(iv)    determine the form and terms of Awards;
(v)    determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to Awards granted under this Plan;
(vi)    determine the Fair Market Value in good faith and interpret the applicable provisions of this Plan and the definition of Fair Market Value in connection with circumstances that impact the Fair Market Value, if necessary;
(vii)    determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, other Awards under this Plan or awards under any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company;

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(viii)    grant waivers of any conditions of this Plan or any Award;
(ix)    determine the terms of vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards to be granted pursuant to this Plan;
(x)    correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award, any Award Agreement, any Exercise Agreement or any Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement;
(xi)    determine whether an Award has been earned;
(xii)    extend the vesting period beyond a Participant’s Termination Date;
(xiii)    adopt rules and/or procedures (including the adoption of any subplan under this Plan) relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate requirements of local law and procedures outside of the United States;
(xiv)    delegate any of the foregoing to a subcommittee consisting of one or more executive officers pursuant to a specific delegation as may otherwise be permitted by applicable law; and
(xv)    make all other determinations necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of this Plan.
12.2    Committee Composition and Discretion.  The Board may delegate full administrative authority over the Plan and Awards to a Committee consisting of at least one member of the Board (or such greater number as may then be required by applicable law).  Unless in contravention of any express terms of this Plan or Award, any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award will be made in its sole discretion either (a) at the time of grant of the Award, or (b) subject to Section 4.9 hereof, at any later time.  Any such determination will be final and binding on the Company and on all persons having an interest in any Award under this Plan.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant an Award under this Plan, provided that each such officer is a member of the Board.
12.3    Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board, the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options and other equity awards otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
12.4    Governing Law.  This Plan and all agreements hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.
13.    EFFECTIVENESS, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
13.1    Adoption and Stockholder Approval.  This Plan will become effective on the date that it is adopted by the Board (the “Effective Date”).  This Plan will be approved by the stockholders of the Company (excluding Shares issued pursuant to this Plan), consistent with applicable 

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laws, within twelve (12) months before or after the Effective Date.  Upon the Effective Date, the Board may grant Awards pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that:  (a) no Option or SAR may be exercised prior to initial stockholder approval of this Plan; (b) no Option or SAR granted pursuant to an increase in the number of Shares approved by the Board shall be exercised prior to the time such increase has been approved by the stockholders of the Company; (c) in the event that initial stockholder approval is not obtained within the time period provided herein, all Awards for which only the exemption from California’s securities qualification requirements provided by Section 25102(o) can apply shall be canceled, any Shares issued pursuant to any such Award shall be canceled and any purchase of such Shares issued hereunder shall be rescinded; and (d) Awards (to which only the exemption from California’s securities qualification requirements provided by Section 25102(o) can apply) granted pursuant to an increase in the number of Shares approved by the Board which increase is not approved by stockholders within the time then required under Section 25102(o) shall be canceled, any Shares issued pursuant to any such Awards shall be canceled, and any purchase of Shares subject to any such Award shall be rescinded.
13.2    Term of Plan.  Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, this Plan will automatically terminate ten (10) years after the later of (i) the Effective Date, or (ii) the most recent increase in the number of Shares reserved under Section 2 that was approved by stockholders.
13.3    Amendment or Termination of Plan.  Subject to Section 4.9 hereof, the Board may at any time (a) terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including without limitation amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to this Plan and (b) terminate any and all outstanding Options or SARs upon a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, followed by the payment of creditors and the distribution of any remaining funds to the Company’s stockholders; provided, however, that the Board will not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend this Plan in any manner that requires such stockholder approval pursuant to Section 25102(o) or pursuant to the Code or the regulations promulgated under the Code as such provisions apply to ISO plans.  The termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Share previously issued or any Award previously granted under the Plan.
14.    DEFINITIONS.  For all purposes of this Plan, the following terms will have the following meanings.
“Acquisition,” for purposes of Section 11, means:
(i)    any consolidation or merger in which the Company is a constituent entity or is a party in which the voting stock and other voting securities of the Company that are outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such consolidation or merger represent, or are converted into, securities of the surviving entity of such consolidation or merger (or of any Parent of such surviving entity) that, immediately after the consummation of such consolidation or merger, together possess less than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all voting securities of such surviving entity (or of any of its Parents, if any) that are outstanding immediately after the consummation of such consolidation or merger;
(ii)    a sale or other transfer by the holders thereof of outstanding voting stock and/or other voting securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company, whether in one transaction or in a series of related transactions, pursuant to an agreement or agreements to which the Company is a party and that has been approved by the Board, and pursuant to which such outstanding voting securities are sold or 

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transferred to a single person or entity, to one or more persons or entities who are Affiliates of each other, or to one or more persons or entities acting in concert; or
(iii)    the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Company and/or any Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company, of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (or, if substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by one or more Subsidiaries, the sale or disposition (whether by consolidation, merger, conversion or otherwise) of such Subsidiaries of the Company), except where such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition is made to the Company or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company (an “Acquisition by Sale of Assets”).
“Affiliate” of a specified person means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified (where, for purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
“Award” means any award pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Plan, including any Option, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Appreciation Right or Restricted Stock Award.
“Award Agreement” means, with respect to each Award, the signed written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award as approved by the Committee.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” means Termination because of (a) Participant’s unauthorized misuse of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company’s trade secrets or proprietary information, (b) Participant’s conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, (c) Participant’s committing an act of fraud against the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company or (d) Participant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties that has had or will have a material adverse effect on the Company or Parent or Subsidiary of the Company’ reputation or business.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Committee” means the committee created and appointed by the Board to administer this Plan, or if no committee is created and appointed, the Board.
“Company” means Backchannel, Inc., or any successor corporation.
“Disability” means a disability, whether temporary or permanent, partial or total, as determined by the Committee.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exercise Price” means the price per Share at which a holder of an Option may purchase Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option.

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“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock determined as follows:
(i)    if such Common Stock is then publicly traded on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal;
(ii)    if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported by The Wall Street Journal (or, if not so reported, as otherwise reported by any newspaper or other source as the Committee may determine); or
(iii)    if none of the foregoing is applicable to the valuation in question, by the Committee in good faith.
“Option” means an award of an option to purchase Shares pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.
“Other Combination” for purposes of Section 11 means any (a) consolidation or merger in which the Company is a constituent entity and is not the surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or (b) any conversion of the Company into another form of entity; provided that such consolidation, merger or conversion does not constitute an Acquisition.
“Parent” of a specified entity means, any entity that, either directly or indirectly, owns or controls such specified entity, where for this purpose, “control” means the ownership of stock, securities or other interests that possess at least a majority of the voting power of such specified entity (including indirect ownership or control of such stock, securities or other interests).
“Participant” means a person who receives an Award under this Plan.
“Plan” means this 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
“Purchase Price” means the price at which a Participant may purchase Restricted Stock pursuant to this Plan.
“Restricted Stock” means Shares purchased pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award under this Plan.
“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Shares pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
“Restricted Stock Unit” or “RSU” means an award made pursuant to Section 6 hereof.
“Rule 701” means Rule 701 et seq. promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Section 25102(o)” means Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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“Shares” means shares of the Company’s Common Stock reserved for issuance under this Plan, as adjusted pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 11 hereof, and any successor security.
“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an award granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
“Subsidiary” means any entity (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain owns stock or other equity securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other equity securities in one of the other entities in such chain.
“Termination” or “Terminated” means, for purposes of this Plan with respect to a Participant, that the Participant has for any reason ceased to provide services as an employee, officer, director or consultant to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  A Participant will not be deemed to have ceased to provide services in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Committee; provided that such leave is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days (a) unless reinstatement (or, in the case of an employee with an ISO, reemployment) upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or (b) unless provided otherwise pursuant to formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company’s Board and issued and promulgated in writing.  In the case of any Participant on sick leave, military leave or an approved leave of absence, the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension of vesting of the Award while on leave from the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Option be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Stock Option Agreement.  The Committee will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to provide services and the effective date on which the Participant ceased to provide services (the “Termination Date”).
“Unvested Shares” means “Unvested Shares” as defined in the Award Agreement for an Award.
“Vested Shares” means “Vested Shares” as defined in the Award Agreement.
* * * * * * * * * * *

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