Document:

Exhibit 10.11

 

TELA BIO, INC. 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE AND

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

TELA Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the individual listed below (“Participant”) an option to purchase the number of Shares set forth below (the “Option”). The Option is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”), the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”) and the Plan, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Grant Notice and the Agreement.

 

	
Participant:
    	
 
    	
[         ]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Grant Date:
    	
 
    	
[         ]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Exercise Price Per Share:
    	
 
    	
[         ]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Total Number of Shares Subject to Option:
    	
 
    	
[         ]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Expiration Date:
    	
 
    	
[         ]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Type of Option:
    	
 
    	
o   Incentive Stock Option

 

o   Non-Qualified Stock Option
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Vesting Schedule:
    	
 
    	
[               ]
    

 

By Participant’s signature below, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and the Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and the Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing the Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan.

 

	
TELA   BIO, INC.
    	
 
    	
PARTICIPANT
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

EXHIBIT A

TO STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

Pursuant to the Grant Notice to which this Agreement is attached, the Company has granted to Participant an Option under the Plan to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

1.             Award of Option.  In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice, the Company has granted to Participant the Option to purchase any part or all of the aggregate number of Shares set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement.

 

2.             Date of Grant; Term of Option.  The Option is granted on the Grant Date and may not be exercised later than the Expiration Date, subject to earlier termination in accordance with the Plan and this Agreement.

 

3.             Option Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Share of the Shares subject to the Option (the “Exercise Price”) shall be as set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

4.             Vesting and Exercise of Option.  The Option will become vested and exercisable only in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, as follows:

 

(a)           Vesting.  Subject to the continued service of the Participant by the Company through the relevant vesting dates, the Option shall become vested and exercisable on in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

(b)           Service with Affiliates.  Solely for purposes of this Agreement, service with the Company will be deemed to include service with any Affiliate of the Company (for only so long as such entity remains an Affiliate of the Company).

 

(c)           Effect of Termination of Service on the Option.

 

(i)            Forfeiture of Unvested Option.  If the Participant’s service terminates or is terminated for any reason, the unvested portion of the Option, and any unvested Restricted Stock acquired by Participant pursuant to an early exercise of the Option as permitted under Section 4(g), shall be forfeited immediately with no further compensation due to the Participant.

 

(ii)           Vested Portion of the Option.  If the Participant’s service terminates or is terminated for any reason, the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable for such period as set forth in Section 7 of the Plan.

 

(d)           Method of Exercise.  The Participant may exercise the Option by delivering a payment of the Exercise Price, any required tax withholding and written notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with Section 5(d) of the Plan. Such notice must also be accompanied by:

 

(i)            a joinder to any shareholder, voting or similar agreement entered into by the stockholders of the Company (if not already party thereto) agreeing to be bound by the terms thereof; and

 

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(ii)           any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes or intent of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Partial Exercise.  The Option may be exercised in whole or in part; provided, however, that any exercise may apply only with respect to a whole number of Shares.

 

(f)            Restrictions on Exercise.  The Option may not be exercised, and any purported exercise will be void, if the issuance of Shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any law, regulation or exchange listing requirement.  The Board may from time to time modify the terms of the Option or impose additional conditions on the exercise of the Option as it deems necessary or appropriate to facilitate compliance with any law, regulation or exchange listing requirement.  As a further condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Participant to make any representation or warranty as may be required by or advisable under any applicable law or regulation.

 

(g)           Early Exercise.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, prior to the Expiration Date (or such earlier date on which the Option terminates in accordance with the Plan and this Agreement), Participant may exercise an unvested portion of the Option in exchange for Restricted Stock subject to the same vesting terms as the unvested portion of the Option so exercised.

 

5.             Non-Transferability of Option.  The Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, gifted, transferred or disposed of in any manner either voluntarily or involuntarily by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

6.             Investment Representations.  The Participant represents and warrants to the Company that the Participant is acquiring the Option (and upon exercise of the Option, will be acquiring Shares) for investment for the Participant’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution thereof. As a further condition to the exercise of the Option, the Board may require that certain agreements, undertakings, representations, certificates, legends and/or information or other matters, as the Board may deem necessary or advisable, be executed, agreed to and/or provided to the Company to assure compliance with all such applicable laws or regulations.

 

7.             Tax Consequences.  The Participant acknowledges that the Company has not advised the Participant regarding the Participant’s income tax liability in connection with the grant of the Option and that the Company does not guarantee any particular tax treatment.  The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has reviewed with the Participant’s own tax advisors the tax treatment of the Option (including the purchase and sale of Shares subject hereto) and is relying solely on those advisors in that regard.  The Participant understands that the Participant (and not the Company) will be responsible for the Participant’s own tax liabilities arising in connection with the Option.

 

8.             No Continuation of Service.  Neither the Plan nor this Agreement will confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employment or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or limit in any respect the right of the Company or its Affiliates to discharge the Participant at any time, with or without Cause and with or without notice.

 

9.             Withholding.  The Company is hereby authorized to withhold from any consideration payable or property transferable to the Participant any taxes required to be withheld by applicable law in connection with the exercise of the Option or the vesting or disposition of the Shares subject to the Option.

 

10.          The Plan.  The Participant has received a copy of the Plan, has read the Plan and is familiar with its terms, and hereby accepts the Option subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan.  Pursuant to the Plan, the Board is authorized to interpret the Plan and to adopt rules and regulations not inconsistent with the Plan as it deems appropriate.  The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding,

 

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conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board with respect to questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

 

11.          Entire Agreement.  The Grant Notice and this Agreement, together with the Plan, and any other exhibits attached hereto, represents the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreement, written or otherwise, relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

12.          Amendment.  Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Grant Notice or in the Plan, or as would otherwise not have a material adverse effect on the Participant, this Agreement may only be amended by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

13.          Governing Law.  This Agreement will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the application of the principles of conflicts of laws.

 

14.          Execution.  The Grant Notice may be executed, including execution by facsimile or electronic signature, in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

 

15.          Incentive Stock Options.  Participant acknowledges that to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares (determined as of the time the option with respect to the Shares is granted) with respect to which Incentive Stock Options, including the Option (if applicable), are exercisable for the first time by Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000 or if for any other reason such Incentive Stock Options do not qualify or cease to qualify for treatment as “incentive stock options” under Section 422 of the Code, such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. Participant further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking the Option and other stock options into account in the order in which they were granted, as determined under Section 422(d) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Participant also acknowledges that an Incentive Stock Option exercised more than three months after Participant’s termination of service, other than by reason of death or disability, will be taxed as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

16.          Notification of Disposition.   If the Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option, Participant shall give prompt written notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any Shares acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two years from the Grant Date or (b) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to Participant. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by Participant in such disposition or other transfer.

 

A-3Exhibit 10.12

 

TELA BIO, INC.

 

2019 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

1.                                      Purpose.  The purpose of the TELA Bio, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Participating Subsidiaries with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of shares of Common Stock.  The Company intends that the Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code, and the Plan shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with that intent.

 

2.                                      Definitions.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

 

“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

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

 

“Company” means TELA Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation, including any successor thereto.

 

“Compensation” means base salary, wages, annual cash incentive compensation and commissions paid to an Eligible Employee by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary as compensation for services to the Company or Participating Subsidiary, before deduction for any salary deferral contributions made by the Eligible Employee to any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan, and including overtime, but excluding vacation pay, holiday pay, jury duty pay, funeral leave pay, education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group insurance or benefit program, travel expenses, business and relocation expenses, income received in connection with stock options or other equity or equity-based awards, incentive compensation (other than annual cash incentive compensation), and one-time bonuses (e.g., retention or sign on bonuses).

 

“Corporate Transaction” means a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or other corporate event described in Section 424 of the Code.

 

“Designated Broker” means the financial services firm or other agent designated by the Company to maintain ESPP Share Accounts on behalf of Participants who have purchased shares of Common Stock under the Plan.

 

“Effective Date” means the day prior to the Public Trading Date, provided that the Board has adopted the Plan prior to or on such date and subject to the Plan obtaining shareholder approval in accordance with Section 19.10.

 

“Employee” means any person who renders services to the Company or a Participating Subsidiary as an employee pursuant to an employment relationship with such employer.  For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary that meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2).  Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months, or such other period of time specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2), and the individual’s right to re-employment is not guaranteed by statute or contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such

 

 

three-month period, or such other period specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2).

 

“Eligible Employee” means an Employee who (i) has been continuously employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary for at least two (2) years (or such lesser period determined by the Committee) and (ii) is customarily employed for at least twenty (20) hours per week and for more than five (5) months in any calendar year.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may exclude from participation in the Plan or any Offering Employees who are (x) “highly compensated employees” of the Company or a Participating Subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code) or a sub-set of such highly compensated employees, or (y) citizens or residents of a foreign jurisdiction where the grant of an option under the Plan to such Employee would be prohibited under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction or the grant of an option under the Plan to such Employee in compliance with the laws of such foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

“Enrollment Form” means an agreement pursuant to which an Eligible Employee may elect to enroll in the Plan, authorize a new level of payroll deductions, or stop payroll deductions and withdraw from an Offering Period.

 

“ESPP Share Account” means an account into which Common Stock purchased with accumulated payroll deductions at the end of an Offering Period are held on behalf of a Participant.

 

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

 

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, (i) if the shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including, without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market, the closing price of a share of Common Stock (or if no sales were reported, the closing price on the date immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, or (ii) in the absence of an established market for the shares, an amount determined in good faith by the Committee, with such determination conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

“Offering” means the grant of rights to an Eligible Employee to purchase shares of Common Stock during an Offering Period in accordance with the Plan.

 

“Offering Date” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period, as designated by the Committee.

 

“Offering Period” means a period of twelve (12) months beginning on or about each January 1st; provided that, pursuant to Section 5, the Committee may change the duration of future Offering Periods (subject to a maximum Offering Period of twenty-seven (27) months) and/or the start and end dates of future Offering Periods.

 

“Participant” means an Eligible Employee who is actively participating in the Plan.

 

“Participating Subsidiaries” means the Subsidiaries that the Committee has designated as eligible to participate in the Plan, and such other Subsidiaries that may be designated by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion.

 

“Plan” means this TELA Bio, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as set forth herein, and as amended from time to time.

 

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“Public Trading Date” shall mean the first date upon which the Common Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system, or, if earlier, the date on which the Company becomes a “publicly held corporation” for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(c)(1).

 

“Purchase Date” means the last Trading Day of each Offering Period.

 

“Purchase Price” means an amount equal to the lesser of (i) ninety-five percent (95%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Date and (ii) ninety-five percent (95%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date; provided that, the Purchase Price per share of Common Stock will in no event be less than the par value of the Common Stock.

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation, domestic or foreign, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in an unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain; provided, however, that a limited liability company or partnership may be treated as a Subsidiary to the extent that either (i) such entity is treated as a disregarded entity under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(a) by reason of the Company or any other Subsidiary that is a corporation being the sole owner of such entity, or (b) such entity elects to be classified as a corporation under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(a) and such entity would otherwise qualify as a Subsidiary. In all cases, the determination of whether an entity is a Subsidiary shall be made in accordance with Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

“Trading Day” means any day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange or national market system, a business day, as determined by the Committee in good faith.

 

3.                                      Administration.  The Committee shall administer the Plan and shall have the authority to construe and interpret the Plan, prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to the Plan’s administration and take any other actions necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan, and to ensure compliance with Section 423 of the Code and other applicable law.  The Committee’s decisions shall be final and binding on all persons.  All expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company.

 

4.                                      Eligibility.

 

4.1                               Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with Section 423 of the Code, any individual who is an Eligible Employee as of the first day of the enrollment period designated by the Committee for a particular Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in such Offering Period, subject to requirements under Section 423 of the Code.

 

4.2                               Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan if (i) immediately after the grant of the option, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (ii) such option would permit his or her rights to purchase stock under all “employee stock purchase plans” of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as specified by Section 423(b)(8) of the Code to accrue at a rate that exceeds $25,000 of the Fair Market Value of such stock (determined as

 

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of the Offering Date of the Offering Period during which the option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

 

5.                                      Offering Periods.  The Plan shall be implemented by a series of Offering Periods, commencing at such time as determined by the Committee.  The Committee shall have the authority to change the duration, frequency, start and end dates of Offering Periods.

 

6.                                      Participation.

 

6.1                               Enrollment and Payroll Deductions.  An Eligible Employee may elect to participate in the Plan by completing an Enrollment Form and submitting it to the Company, in accordance with the enrollment procedures established by the Committee.  Participation in the Plan is entirely voluntary.  By submitting an Enrollment Form, an Eligible Employee authorizes payroll deductions from his or her pay check in an amount equal to (i) a whole percentage of his or her Compensation (no less than 1% and no greater than 10% (or such other maximum percentage as the Committee may establish from time to time before an Offering Period begins)) or (ii) a fixed dollar amount, in each case, on each pay day occurring during an Offering Period.  Payroll deductions shall commence on the first payroll date following the Offering Date and end on the last payroll date on or before the Purchase Date.  The Company shall maintain records of all payroll deductions but shall have no obligation to pay interest on payroll deductions or to hold such amounts in a trust or in any segregated account.  Unless expressly permitted by the Committee, a Participant may not make any separate contributions or payments to the Plan.

 

6.2                            Election Changes.  During an Offering Period, a Participant may decrease or increase his or her rate of payroll deductions applicable to such Offering Period only once.  To make such a change, the Participant must submit a new Enrollment Form authorizing the new rate of payroll deductions at least fifteen (15) days before the Purchase Date.  Any such change of payroll deductions during an Offering Period shall be effective with the first full payroll period that commences at least five (5) business days after the Company’s receipt of the Participant’s new Enrollment Form.  A Participant may decrease or increase his or her rate of payroll deductions for future Offering Periods by submitting a new Enrollment Form authorizing the new rate of payroll deductions at least fifteen (15) days before the start of the next Offering Period.

 

6.3                            Automatic Re-Enrollment.  The deduction rate selected by a Participant in an Enrollment Form shall remain in effect for subsequent Offering Periods, unless the Participant (i) submits a new Enrollment Form authorizing a new level of payroll deductions in accordance with Section 6.2, (ii) withdraws from the Plan in accordance with Section 10, or (iii) terminates employment or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan.

 

7.                                      Grant of Option.  On each Offering Date, each Participant in the applicable Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase, on the Purchase Date, a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions during the Offering Period by the applicable Purchase Price (rounded down to the nearest whole share of Common Stock); provided that in no event shall any Participant purchase more than 1,079 shares of Common Stock during an Offering Period (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 18 and the limitations set forth in Section 13).

 

8.                                      Exercise of Option/Purchase of Shares.  A Participant’s option to purchase shares of Common Stock will be exercised automatically on the Purchase Date of each Offering Period.  The Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions will be used to purchase the maximum number of whole shares of Common Stock that can be purchased with the amounts in the Participant’s notional account.  No fractional shares may be purchased.

 

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9.                                      Transfer of Shares.  As soon as reasonably practicable after each Purchase Date, the Company will arrange for the delivery to each Participant of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of his or her option. The Committee may permit or require that the shares of Common Stock be deposited directly into an ESPP Share Account established in the name of the Participant with a Designated Broker and may require that the shares of Common Stock be retained with such Designated Broker for a specified period of time. Participants will not have any voting, dividend or other rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to any option granted hereunder until such shares have been delivered pursuant to this Section 9.

 

10.                               Withdrawal.

 

10.1                        Withdrawal Procedure. A Participant may withdraw from an Offering by submitting a revised Enrollment Form to the Committee indicating his or her election to withdraw at least fifteen (15) days before the Purchase Date.  The accumulated payroll deductions held on behalf of a Participant in his or her notional account (that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock) shall be paid to the Participant promptly following receipt of the Participant’s Enrollment Form indicating his or her election to withdraw and the Participant’s option shall be automatically terminated.  If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, no payroll deductions will be made during any succeeding Offering Period, unless the Participant re-enrolls in accordance with Section 6.1.

 

10.2                        Effect on Succeeding Offering Periods.  A Participant’s election to withdraw from an Offering Period will not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in succeeding Offering Periods that commence following the completion of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

 

11.                               Termination of Employment; Change in Employment Status. Upon termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason, including death, disability or retirement, or a change in the Participant’s employment status following which the Participant is no longer an Eligible Employee, the Participant will be deemed to have withdrawn from the Plan and the payroll deductions in the Participant’s notional account that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock shall be returned to the Participant, or in the case of the Participant’s death, to the person(s) entitled to such amounts under Section 17, and the Participant’s option shall be automatically terminated.

 

12.                               Interest.  No interest shall accrue on or be payable with respect to the payroll deductions of a Participant in the Plan.

 

13.                               Shares Reserved for Plan.

 

13.1                        Number of Shares.  A total of 107,887 shares of Common Stock have been authorized and reserved for issuance under the Plan.  In addition to the foregoing, subject to prior approval by the Board in each instance, on or about December 1, 2020 and on each anniversary of such date thereafter prior to the termination of the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance under the Plan shall be increased by a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the lesser of (i) 107,887 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 1% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year, and (iii) such smaller number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board.  Such shares of Common Stock may be newly issued shares, treasury shares or shares acquired on the open market.

 

13.2                        Over-Subscribed Offerings. The number of shares of Common Stock which a Participant may purchase in an Offering under the Plan may be reduced if the Offering is over-subscribed.  No option

 

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granted under the Plan shall permit a Participant to purchase shares of Common Stock which, if added together with the total number of shares of Common Stock purchased by all other Participants in such Offering, would exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock remaining available under the Plan.  If the Committee determines that, on a particular Purchase Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock then available under the Plan, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as practicable and as the Committee determines to be equitable.

 

14.                               Transferability.  No payroll deductions credited to a Participant or any rights with respect to the exercise of an option or any rights to receive Common Stock hereunder may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant, other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 17.  Any attempt to assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of such rights or amounts shall be without effect.

 

15.                               Application of Funds.  All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose to the extent permitted by applicable law, and the Company shall not be required to segregate such payroll deductions or contributions.

 

16.                               Statements.  Upon request by a Participant, he or she will be provided with a statement which shall set forth the contributions made by the Participant to the Plan, the Purchase Price of any shares of Common Stock purchased with accumulated funds, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased, and any payroll deduction amounts remaining in the Participant’s notional account.

 

17.                               Designation of Beneficiary.  A Participant may file a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any cash withheld through payroll deductions and credited to the Participant’s notional account in the event of the Participant’s death prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period.

 

18.                               Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Corporate Transactions.

 

18.1                        Adjustments.  In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other change in the Company’s structure affecting the Common Stock occurs, then in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, the Committee will, in such manner as it deems equitable, adjust the number of shares and class of Common Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option under the Plan, and the numerical limits of Section 7 and Section 13.

 

18.2                        Dissolution or Liquidation.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date that occurs before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. Before the new Purchase Date, the Committee will provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.

 

18.3                        Corporate Transaction.  In the event of a Corporate Transaction, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of such successor corporation.  If the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute the option, the Offering Period with respect to which the option relates will be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date

 

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that occurs before the date of the Corporate Transaction. Prior to the new Purchase Date, the Committee will provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.

 

19.                               General Provisions.

 

19.1                        Equal Rights and Privileges.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary and in accordance with Section 423 of the Code, all Eligible Employees who are granted options under the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges.

 

19.2                        No Right to Continued Service.  Neither the Plan nor any compensation paid hereunder will confer on any Participant the right to continue as an Employee or in any other capacity.

 

19.3                        Rights as Shareholder.  A Participant will become a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock that are purchased pursuant to options granted under the Plan when the shares are transferred to the Participant’s ESPP Share Account.

 

19.4                        Successors.  The Plan shall be binding on the Company and its successors.

 

19.5                        Compliance with Law.  The obligations of the Company with respect to payments under the Plan are subject to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.  Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an option granted under the Plan unless the issuance and exercise of such option, and the issuance and delivery of the shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed.

 

19.6                        Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions.  Each Participant shall give the Company prompt written notice of any disposition or other transfer of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option acquired under the Plan, if such disposition or transfer is made within two years after the Offering Date or within one year after the Purchase Date.

 

19.7                        Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date and, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 19.8, shall have a term of ten (10) years.

 

19.8                        Amendment or Termination.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason.  If the Plan is terminated, the Committee may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or once shares of Common Stock have been purchased on the next Purchase Date (which may, in the discretion of the Committee, be accelerated) and all amounts that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock will then be returned to Participants.

 

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

 

19.10                 Shareholder Approval.  The Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

19.11                 Section 423 of the Code.  The Plan is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code and will be interpreted accordingly; provided that the Company does not guarantee any particular tax treatment with respect to an option granted under this Plan.

 

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19.12                 Withholding.  To the extent required by applicable federal, state or local law, a Participant must make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the payment of any withholding or similar tax obligations that arise in connection with the Plan.  At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations.

 

19.13                 Severability.  If any provision of the Plan shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, and the Plan shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

 

19.14                 Headings.  The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of the Plan.

 

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