Document:

krus-ex45_6.htm

 

Exhibit 4.5

KURA SUSHI USA, INC.

2018 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

(As Amended and Restated As of January 29, 2021)

 

 

 

 

 

 

KURA SUSHI USA, INC.

2018 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

(As amended and restated as of january 29, 2021)

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

	
 
	
 
	
Page

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
1.
	
Purpose
	
1

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
2.
	
Definitions
	
1

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
3.
	
Administration
	
6

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
4.
	
Shares Subject to Plan
	
7

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
5.
	
Eligibility
	
9

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
6.
	
Specific Terms of Awards
	
9

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
7.
	
Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards
	
15

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
8.
	
Change in Control
	
18

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
9.
	
General Provisions
	
19

 

 

 

			
	
 
	
-i-
	
 

 

 

 

 

KURA SUSHI USA, INC.

2018 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF JANUARY 29, 2021)

 

1.Purpose.  The purpose of this KURA SUSHI USA, INC. 2018 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN (As Amended And Restated As Of January 29, 2021) (the “Plan”) is effective as of January 29, 2021 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) to assist KURA SUSHI USA, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and its Related Entities (as hereinafter defined) in attracting, motivating, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives and other employees, officers, directors, consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company or its Related Entities by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company in order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and the Company’s stockholders, and providing such persons with performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of stockholder value.

2.Definitions.  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof and elsewhere herein.

(a)“Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Share granted as a bonus or in lieu of another Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award or Performance Award, together with any other right or interest relating to Shares or other property (including cash), granted to a Participant under the Plan.

(b)“Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder.

(c)“Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts that have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 9(b) hereof.  If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

(d)“Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d‐3 under the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.

(e)“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(f)“Cause” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the meaning specified in the Award Agreement.  In the absence of any definition in the Award Agreement, “Cause” shall have the equivalent meaning or the same meaning as “cause” or “for cause” set forth in any employment, consulting, or other agreement for the performance of services between the 

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Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the failure or refusal by the Participant to perform his or her duties as reasonably assigned by the Company (or a Related Entity) and such failure or refusal is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof is delivered to the Participant by the Company (or a Related Entity), (ii) any material violation or breach by the Participant of any rules, regulations, policies, procedures or guidelines established by the Company (or a Related Entity) from time to time and such violation or breach is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof is delivered to the Participant by the Company (or a Related Entity), (iii) any material violation or breach by the Participant of any agreement entered into by and between the Participant and the Company (or a Related Entity) (including, without limitation, an employment agreement, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreement, non-competition agreement and/or non-solicitation agreement), and such violation or breach is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within the time period, if any, set forth in such agreement for the cure thereof, provided that such time period shall in no case be less than fifteen (15) days, (iv) any act of the Participant which could be expected to materially injure the business, business relationships or reputation of the Company (or a Related Entity), (v) any material violation by the Participant of any legal duty owed to the Company (or a Related Entity) and such violation is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof is delivered to the Participant by the Company (or a Related  Entity), (vi) any act by the Participant of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company (or a Related Entity), (vii) chronic addiction to alcohol, drugs or other similar substances, or (viii) the commission by the Participant of any felony. The good faith determination by the Committee of whether the Participant’s services were terminated by the Company (or a Related Entity) for “Cause” (whether under this Plan or any other applicable agreement to which the Participant is a party) shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.

(g)“Change in Control” means a Change in Control as defined in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

(h)“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

(i)“Committee” means a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that if the Board fails to designate a committee or if there are no longer any members on the committee so designated by the Board, or for any other reason determined by the Board, then the Board shall serve as the Committee.  In the event that the Company becomes a Publicly Held Corporation (as hereinafter defined), then the Committee shall consist of at least two directors, each of whom shall be (i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of  Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act, unless administration of the Plan by “non-employee directors” is not then required in order for exemptions under Rule 16b-3 to apply to transactions under the Plan, and (ii) “Independent”, the failure of the Committee to be so comprised shall not invalidate any Award that otherwise satisfies the terms of the Plan.

(j)“Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

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(k)“Consultant” means any consultant or advisor who is a natural person and who provides services to the Company or any Subsidiary, so long as such person (i) renders bona fide services that are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction, (ii) does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities and (iii) otherwise qualifies as a de facto employee or consultant under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares of stock on a Form S-8 registration statement.

(l)“Continuous Service” means the uninterrupted provision of services to the Company or any Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider.  Continuous Service shall not be considered to be interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entities, or any successor entities, in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement).  An approved leave of absence shall include furlough, sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.

(m)“Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.

(n)“Disability” means a permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee.

(o)“Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof, to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares, or other periodic payments.

(p)“Effective Date” means June 16, 2018, the effective date of the Plan, which was the date the Plan, prior to its amendment effective as of January 29, 2021, was approved and adopted by the Board.

(q)“Eligible Person” means each officer, Director, Employee, Consultant and other person who provides services to the Company or any Related Entity.  The foregoing notwithstanding, only Employees of the Company, or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company (as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively), shall be Eligible Persons for purposes of receiving any Incentive Stock Options.  An Employee on leave of absence, including furlough, may, in the discretion of the Committee, be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.

(r)“Employee” means any person, including an officer or Director, who is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, or is a prospective employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (conditioned upon and effective not earlier than, such person becoming an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary).  The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Subsidiary shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

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(s)“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

(t)“Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of Shares, Awards or other property as determined by the Committee, or under procedures established by the Committee.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of a Share as of any given date after which the Company is a Publicly Held Corporation shall be the closing sale price per Share reported on a consolidated basis for stock listed on the principal stock exchange or market on which Shares are traded on the date immediately preceding the date as of which such value is being determined (or as of such later measurement date as determined by the Committee on the date the Award is authorized by the Committee), or, if there is no sale on that date, then on the last previous day on which a sale was reported.

(u)“Good Reason” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the meaning specified in the Award Agreement.  In the absence of any definition in the Award Agreement, “Good Reason” shall have the equivalent meaning or the same meaning as “good reason” or “for good reason” set forth in any employment, consulting or other agreement for the performance of services between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in such agreement, such term shall mean (i) a material breach by the Company (or a Related Entity) of its obligations to the Participant under his or her written employment, consulting or other agreement for the performance of services with the Company (or a Related Entity) (excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith); (ii) any material reduction of the Participant’s base salary or consulting fees during the term of the Participant’s services with the Company (or a Related Entity) other than as agreed to by the Participant or in connection with an across the Board salary reduction for the Company’s management team; or (iii) the Company’s or Related Entity’s requiring the Participant to be based at any office or location outside of a fifty (50) mile radius from the location(s) of the Participant’s employment or service as identified and set forth in the Participant’s employment, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company or a Related Entity without the consent of the Participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Good Reason shall not be deemed to exist unless the Participant shall provide notice of the existence of an event constituting Good Reason within ninety (90) days of Participant’s knowledge of the existence such event and afford the Company thirty (30) days to cure such event, if curable.

(v)“Incentive Stock Option” means any Option intended to be designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

(w)“Independent” when referring to either the Board or members of the Committee, shall have the same meaning as used in the rules of the Listing Market.

(x)“Listing Market” means the national securities exchange on which any securities of the Company are listed for trading, and if not listed for trading, by the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

(y)“Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Shares or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.

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(z)“Optionee” means a person to whom an Option is granted under this Plan or any person who succeeds to the rights of such person under this Plan.

(aa)“Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 56(i) hereof.

(bb)“Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

(cc)“Performance Award” means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof.

(dd)“Performance Period” means that period established by the Committee at the time any Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.

(ee)“Performance Share” means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(ff)“Performance Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property (including cash) other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

(gg)“Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, and shall include a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

(hh)“Publicly Held Corporation” shall mean a company that has issued securities under an initial public offering under the Exchange Act and is traded on at least one Listing Market.

(ii)“Related Entity” means any Subsidiary, and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity designated by the Board, in which the Company  or a Subsidiary holds a  substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly.

(jj)“Restricted Stock” means any Share issued with such risks of forfeiture and other restrictions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose (including any restriction on the right to vote such Share and the right to receive any dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

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(kk)“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award granted to a Participant under Section 6(d) hereof.

(ll)“Restricted Stock Unit” means a right to receive Shares, including Restricted Stock, cash measured based upon the value of Shares or a combination thereof, at the end of a specified deferral period.

(mm)“Restricted Stock Unit Award” means an Award of Restricted Stock Unit granted to a Participant under Section 6(e) hereof.

(nn)“Restriction Period” means the period of time specified by the Committee that Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose.

(oo)“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(pp)“Shares” means the shares of Common Stock, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Shares pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.

(qq)“Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.

(rr)“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or in which the Company has the right to receive fifty percent (50%) or more of the distribution of profits or fifty percent (50%) or more of the assets on liquidation or dissolution, or any other corporation or other entity that is an affiliate, as that term is defined in Rule 405 of under the Securities Act of 1933, controlled by the Company directly, or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries.

(ss)“Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, Awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future Awards, by a company (i) acquired by the Company or any Related Entity, (ii) which becomes a Related Entity after the date hereof, or (iii) with which the Company or any Related Entity combines.

3.Administration.

(a)Authority of the Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly provided in this Plan, the Board may exercise any power or authority granted to the Committee under this Plan and in that case, references herein shall be deemed to include references to the Board.  The Committee shall have full and final authority, subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select Eligible Persons to become Participants, grant Awards, determine the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards, prescribe Award Agreements (which need 

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not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, construe and interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and correct defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein, and to make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  In exercising any discretion granted to the Committee under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee shall not be required to follow past practices, act in a manner consistent with past practices, or treat any Eligible Person or Participant in a manner consistent with the treatment of any other Eligible Persons or Participants.  Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons or entities, including the Company, any Subsidiary or any Participant or Beneficiary, or any transferee under Section 9(b) hereof or any other person claiming rights from or through any of the foregoing persons or entities.

(b)Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority.  In the event that the Company becomes a Publicly Held Corporation, the Committee, and not the Board, shall exercise sole and exclusive discretion (i) on any matter relating to a Participant then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company to the extent necessary in order that transactions by such Participant shall be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) with respect to any Award to an Independent Director.  Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Related Entities, Eligible Persons, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees under Section 9(b) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and stockholders.  The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.  The Committee may delegate to members of the Board, or officers or managers (including, without limitation, human resources managers and/or directors) of the Company or any Related Entity, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions as the Committee may determine to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company.  The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.

(c)Limitation of Liability.  The Committee and the Board, and each member thereof, shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or Employee, the Company’s independent auditors, Consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan.  Members of the Committee and the Board, and any officer or Employee acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee or the Board, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

4.Shares Subject to Plan.

(a)Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery Under Plan.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for delivery under the Plan shall be 1,350,000 shares of Common Stock.  Any Shares delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

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(b)Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards.  No Award may be granted if the number of Shares to be delivered in connection with such an Award exceeds the number of Shares remaining available for delivery under the Plan, minus the number of Shares deliverable in settlement of or relating to then outstanding Awards.  The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of Shares actually delivered differs from the number of Shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

(c)Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards and Adjustments to Limits.

(i)If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate without issuance of such Shares, or any Award is settled for cash or otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the Shares subject to such Award, the Shares to which those Awards were subject, shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, termination, non-issuance or cash settlement, again be available for delivery with respect to Awards under the Plan, subject to Section 4(c)(iv) below.

(ii)Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Shares shall not be available for future grant: (A) Shares tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price of an Option or other Award, and (B) Shares withheld by the Company or otherwise received by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with an Award. In addition, all Shares covered by a Stock Appreciation Right (including Shares subject to a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right that were issued upon the net settlement or net exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right) shall be counted against the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

(iii)Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan or authorized for delivery to a Participant in any period.  Additionally, in the event that an entity acquired by the Company or any Related Entity or with which the Company or any Related Entity combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by its stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for delivery pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan if and to the extent that the use of such Shares would not require approval of the Company’s stockholders under the rules of the Listing Market.  Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.

(iv)Any Share that again becomes available for delivery pursuant to this Section 4(c)4(iv) shall be added back as one (1) Share.

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(v)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4(c) to the contrary but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) hereof, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan as a result of the exercise of the Incentive Stock Options shall be 1,350,000 Shares.  In no event shall any Incentive Stock Options be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

(vi)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4 to the contrary, but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9(c) hereof, in any fiscal year of the Company during any part of which the Plan is in effect, no Participant who is a Director but is not also an Employee or Consultant may be granted any Awards that have a “fair value” as of the date of grant, as determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (or any other applicable accounting guidance), that exceeds $100,000 in the aggregate.

5.Eligibility.  Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.

6.Specific Terms of Awards. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6.

(a)General.  (i) The Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 9(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan.  Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Delaware law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (as opposed to the exercise) of any Award.

(ii)  As specified in Section 9(f) and except as provided in Section 9(c), the Committee may not, without the prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, re-price any previously granted “underwater” Option or Stock Appreciation Right by (aa) amending or modifying the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to lower the exercise price; (bb) canceling the Option or Stock Appreciation Right and granting either (A) replacement Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having a lower exercise price, or (B) Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Other Stock-Based Award in exchanges; or (cc) cancelling or repurchasing the Options or Stock appreciation Rights for cash or other securities. An Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed “underwater” at any time when the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by such Award is less than the exercise price of the Award.

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6(a)(iii), no Award shall be granted with terms providing for any right of vesting, exercise or lapse of vesting requirements earlier than a date that is at least one (1) year following the date of grant (or, in the case of vesting based upon performance objectives, exercise and vesting restrictions cannot lapse earlier than the one (1) year anniversary measured from the date of the commencement of the period over which performance is measured). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Awards that do not 

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comply with the one (1) year minimum vesting and exercise requirements may be granted: (aa) Substitute Awards; (bb) any Awards the Committee may grant up to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan (for purposes of counting Shares against the five percent (5%) limitation, the Share counting rules under Section 4 shall apply); and (cc) Awards granted to Directors who are not Employees so long as the Awards provide for a right of exercise or lapse of any vesting obligations no earlier than the next annual stockholder meeting date following the grant date, so long as the next annual stockholder meeting date is at least fifty (50) weeks after the immediately preceding annual stockholder meeting date. 

(b)Options.  The Committee is authorized to grant Options to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:

(i)Exercise Price.  Other than in connection with Substitute Awards, the exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option and shall not, in any event, be less than the par value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option.  If an Employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Employee, the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted.

(ii)Time and Method of Exercise.  The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the method by which notice of exercise is to be given and the form of exercise notice to be used, the time or times at which Options shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the methods by which the exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including in the discretion of the Committee a cashless exercise procedure), the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares (including without limitation the withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award), other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or a Related Entity, or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis provided that such deferred payments are not in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act, or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law), and the methods by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.

(iii)Form of Settlement.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall be in the form of Restricted Stock or other similar securities.

(iv)Incentive Stock Options.  The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.  Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive 

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Stock Options (including any Stock Appreciation Right issued in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested, or consents to, the change that will result in such disqualification.  Thus, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 422 of the Code, Options granted as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following special terms and conditions:

	
 
	
(A)
	
the Option shall not be exercisable for more than ten years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) for no more than five (5) years from the date of grant;

	
 
	
(B)
	
the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and all other option plans of the Company (and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) that become exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year shall not (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed $100,000; and

	
 
	
(C)
	
if Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are disposed of within two (2) years following the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted or one year following the transfer of such Shares to the Participant upon exercise, the Participant shall, promptly following such disposition, notify the Company in writing of the date and terms of such disposition and provide such other information regarding the disposition as the Committee may reasonably require.

(c)Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to any Eligible Person in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option (a “Tandem Stock Appreciation Right”), or without regard to any Option (a “Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right”), in each case upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, including the following:

(i)Right to Payment.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee.  The grant price of a Stock Appreciation 

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Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant, in the case of a Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right, or less than the associated Option exercise price, in the case of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right.

(ii)Other Terms.  The Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which Stock Appreciation Rights shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right.

(iii)Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be granted at the same time as the related Option is granted or, for Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Option.  Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option may be exercised only when the related Option would be exercisable and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the related Option exceeds the exercise price at which Shares can be acquired pursuant to the Option.  In addition, if a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right exists with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option, then an exercise or termination of such Option shall not reduce the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies until the number of Shares then exercisable under such Option equals the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies. Any Option related to a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised, and any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the related Option has been exercised.

(d)Restricted Stock Awards.  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Awards to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:

(i)Grant and Restrictions.  Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, or as otherwise provided in this Plan during the Restriction Period.  The terms of any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in a written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan.  The restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter.  Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement relating to a Restricted Stock Award, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the Committee).  During the period that the Restricted Stock Award is subject to a risk of forfeiture, subject to Section 9(b) below and except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, 

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transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant or Beneficiary.

(ii)Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service during the applicable Restriction Period, the Participant’s Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has not lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided that the Committee may provide, by resolution or other action or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock Awards shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

(iii)Certificates for Stock.  Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.  If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

(iv)Dividends and Splits.  As a condition to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a Share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional Shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards under the Plan, or except as otherwise provided in the last sentence of Section 6(h) hereof, may require that payment be delayed (with or without interest at such rate, if any, as the Committee shall determine) and remain subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such cash dividend is payable, in each case in a manner that does not violate the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares distributed in connection with a stock split or stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Shares or other property have been distributed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividend amounts with respect to any Shares of Restricted Stock shall be accrued and not paid to a Participant until all conditions or restrictions relating to such Shares of Restricted Stock have been satisfied. 

(e)Restricted Stock Unit Award.  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Unit Awards to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:

(i)Award and Restrictions.  Satisfaction of a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Unit Award by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant in a manner that does not violate the requirements of Section 409A of the Code).  In addition, a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at other specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or 

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otherwise, as the Committee may determine.  A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be satisfied by delivery of Shares, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of Shares covered by the Restricted Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.  Prior to satisfaction of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award carries no voting or dividend or other rights associated with Share ownership.  Prior to satisfaction of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement and as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, a Restricted Stock Unit Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant or any Beneficiary.

(ii)Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award Agreement evidencing the Restricted Stock Unit Award), the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award that is at that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has not lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by resolution or other action or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of any Restricted Stock Unit Award.

(iii)Dividend Equivalents.  Except as otherwise provided in the last sentence of Section 6(h) hereof, any Dividend Equivalents that are granted with respect to any Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be deferred with respect to such Restricted Stock Unit Award and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units, other Awards or other investment vehicles, as the Committee shall determine, and paid and settled upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as provided in Section 6(g)(i) hereof.

(f)Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations.  The Committee is authorized to grant Shares to any Eligible Persons as a bonus, or to grant Shares or other Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, provided that, in the case of Eligible Persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Shares or other Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.  Shares or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee.

(g)Dividend Equivalents.  The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to any Eligible Person entitling the Eligible Person to receive cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property equal in value to the dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares, or other periodic payments.  Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. Section 6(g)(ii) shall apply to Dividend Equivalents on Awards Restricted Stock Units. Except as otherwise provided in the last sentence of Section 6(h) hereof, the Committee shall provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed to the Participant when the restrictions applicable thereto have been satisfied, or whether such Dividend Equivalents shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, 

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as the Committee may specify.  Any such determination by the Committee shall be made at the grant date of the applicable Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Dividend Equivalents credited in connection with an Award that vests based on the achievement of performance goals shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Award with respect to which such Dividend Equivalents have been credited, and (ii) Dividend Equivalents with respect to any Shares underlying any Award shall be accrued but not paid to a Participant until all conditions or restrictions relating to such Award have been satisfied.

(h)Performance Awards.  The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Person payable in cash, Shares, or other Awards, on terms and conditions established by the Committee.  The performance criteria to be achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance Award; provided, however, that a Performance Period shall not be shorter than twelve (12) months nor longer than five (5) years.  Except as provided in Section 8 or as may be provided in an Award Agreement, Performance Awards will be distributed only after the end of the relevant Performance Period.  The performance goals to be achieved for each Performance Period shall be conclusively determined by the Committee and may be based upon any other criteria that the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine should be used for that purpose.  The amount of the Award to be distributed shall be conclusively determined by the Committee.  Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis in a manner that does not violate the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(i)Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to any Eligible Person such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.  Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan, and such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan.  Except as otherwise provided in the last sentence of Section 6(h) hereof, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards.  Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(i) shall be purchased for such consideration, (including without limitation loans from the Company or a Related Entity provided that such loans are not in violation of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law) paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, as the Committee shall determine.

7.Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.

(a)Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards.  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Related Entity, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Related Entity, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Related Entity.  Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time.  If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another 

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Award or award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award.  In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Related Entity, in which the value of Shares subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units), provided that any such determination to grant an Award in lieu of cash compensation must be made in a manner intended to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code.

(b)Term of Awards.  The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceed a period of ten (10) years (or in the case of an Incentive Stock Option such shorter term as may be required under Section 422 of the Code).

(c)Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Related Entity upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, provided that any determination to pay in installments or on a deferred basis shall be made by the Committee at the date of grant.  Any installment or deferral provided for in the preceding sentence shall, however, subject to the terms of the Plan, be subject to the Company’s compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and all applicable rules of the Listing Market, and in a manner intended to be exempt from or otherwise satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  Subject to Section 7(e) of this Plan, the settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Shares in connection with such settlement, in the sole discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control).  Any such settlement shall be at a value determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, which, without limitation, may in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be limited to the amount if any by which the Fair Market Value of a Share on the settlement date exceeds the exercise or grant price.  Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 7(e) of this Plan, including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award Agreement) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee.  The acceleration of the settlement of any Award, and the payment of any Award in installments or on an deferred basis, all shall be done all in a manner that is intended to be exempt from or otherwise satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  The Committee may, without limitation, make provision for the payment or crediting of a reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Shares.

(d)Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability.  If the Company becomes a Publicly Held Corporation, it is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from Section 16 pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant).  Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 then applicable to any such 

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transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).  

(e)Code Section 409A.  

(i)The Award Agreement for any Award that the Committee reasonably determines to constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Code (a “Section 409A Plan”), and the provisions of the Section 409A Plan applicable to that Award, shall be construed in a manner consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and the Committee, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, may amend any Award Agreement (and the provisions of the Plan applicable thereto) if and to the extent that the Committee determines that such amendment is necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  

(ii)If any Award constitutes a Section 409A Plan, then the Award shall be subject to the following additional requirements, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 409A of the Code:

	
 
	
(A)
	
Payments under the Section 409A Plan may be made only upon (aa) the Participant’s “separation from service”, (bb) the date the Participant becomes “disabled”, (cc) the Participant’s death, (dd) a “specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule)” specified in the Award Agreement at the date of the deferral of such compensation, (ee) a “change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company, or (ff) the occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency”;

	
 
	
(B)
	
The time or schedule for any payment of the deferred compensation may not be accelerated, except to the extent provided in applicable Treasury Regulations or other applicable guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service;

	
 
	
(C)
	
Any elections with respect to the deferral of such compensation or the time and form of distribution of such deferred compensation shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A(a)(4) of the Code; and

	
 
	
(D)
	
In the case of any Participant who is “specified employee”, a distribution on account of a “separation from service” may not be made before the date which is six (6) months after the date of the Participant’s “separation from service” (or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death).

For purposes of the foregoing, the terms in quotations shall have the same meanings as those terms have for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and the limitations set forth herein shall be applied in such manner (and only to the extent) as shall be necessary to comply with any requirements of Section 409A of the Code that are applicable to the Award.

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(iii)Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement, the Company does not make any representation to any Participant or Beneficiary that any Awards made pursuant to this Plan are exempt from, or satisfy, the requirements of, Section 409A of the Code, and the Company shall have no liability or other obligation to indemnify or hold harmless the Participant or any Beneficiary for any tax, additional tax, interest or penalties that the Participant or any Beneficiary may incur in the event that any provision of this Plan, or any Award Agreement, or any amendment or modification thereof, or any other action taken with respect thereto, is deemed to violate any of the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

8.Change in Control.

(a)Effect of “Change in Control.”  If and only to the extent provided in any employment or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Related Entity, or in any Award Agreement, or to the extent otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and without any requirement that each Participant be treated consistently, upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control,” as defined in Section 8(b):

(i)Any Option or Stock Appreciation Right that was not previously vested and exercisable as of the time of the Change in Control shall (aa) if not assumed or substituted in connection with the Change in Control, become immediately vested and exercisable, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof, and (bb) if assumed and substituted in connection with a Change in Control, shall become (to the extent not previously vested pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement) fully vested and exercisable, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof, upon the date of the Participant’s termination of employment without Cause or for Good Reason during the twenty-four (24) month period following the date of the Change in Control.

(ii)Any restrictions, deferral of settlement, and forfeiture conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or an Other Stock-Based Award subject only to future service requirements granted under the Plan shall (aa) if not assumed or substituted in connection with the Change in Control, lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in Control, and (bb) if assumed and substituted in connection with the Change in Control, lapse and such Awards shall become (to the extent not previously vested pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement) fully vested on the date of the Participant’s termination of employment without Cause or for Good Reason during the twenty-four (24) month period following the date of the Change in Control, in each case except to the extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.

(iii)With respect to any outstanding Award subject to achievement of performance goals and conditions under the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, consider such Awards to have been earned and payable based on achievement of performance goals or based upon target performance (either in full or pro-rata based on the portion of the Performance Period completed as of the Change in Control).

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(b)Definition of “Change in Control”.  Unless otherwise specified in any employment or other agreement for services between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary, or in an Award Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

(i)Approval by the Board of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of corporate transaction or series of transactions, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation or other transaction do not, immediately thereafter, own more than fifty percent (50%) of the capital stock in the Company, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other transaction, or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (unless such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, liquidation, dissolution or sale is subsequently abandoned);

(ii)The acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person, entity or “group”, within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act, of more than fifty percent (50%) of either the then outstanding capital stock of the Company (hereinafter referred to as the ownership of a “Controlling Interest”) excluding, for this purpose, any acquisitions by (A) the Company, (B) any person, entity or “group” that as of the date on which the Awards are granted owns beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13(d)(3) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act) of a Controlling Interest, or (C) any employee benefit plan of the Company; or

(iii)Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by the person or persons), outside of the ordinary course of business, substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions.

9.General Provisions.

(a)Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements.  The Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required action with respect to the Listing Market, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee, may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations.

(b)Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries.  No Award or other right or interest granted under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any party, or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be 

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exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative, except that Awards and other rights (other than Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent such transfers are permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an Award Agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon), are by gift or pursuant to a domestic relations order, and are to a “Permitted Assignee” that is a permissible transferee under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares of stock on a Form S-8 registration statement.  For this purpose, a “Permitted Assignee” shall mean (i) the Participant’s spouse, children or grandchildren (including any adopted and step children or grandchildren), parents, grandparents or siblings, (ii) a trust for the benefit of one or more of the Participant or the persons referred to in clause (i), (iii) a partnership, limited liability company or corporation in which the Participant or the persons referred to in clause (i) are the only partners, members or stockholders, or (iv) a foundation in which any person or entity designated in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above control the management of assets.  A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

(c)Adjustments.

(i)Adjustments to Awards.  In the event that any extraordinary dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares and/or such other securities of the Company or any other issuer, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem appropriate and equitable, substitute, exchange or adjust any or all of (A) the number and kind of Shares which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted thereafter, (B) the number and kind of Shares subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, (C) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award, and (D) any other aspect of any Award that the Committee determines to be appropriate.

(ii)Other Adjustments.  The Committee and/or the Board is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including Awards subject to satisfaction of performance goals, or performance goals and conditions relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Related Entity or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any Related Entity, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in view of the Committee’s assessment of the business strategy of the Company, any Related Entity or business unit thereof, performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances deemed relevant.

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(d)Award Agreements.  Each Award Agreement shall either be (i) in writing in a form approved by the Committee and executed by the Company by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (ii) an electronic notice in a form approved by the Committee and recorded by the Company (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking one or more types of Awards as the Committee may provide; in each case and if required by the Committee, the Award Agreement shall be executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the Award in such form and manner as the Committee may require.  The Committee may authorize any officer of the Company to execute any or all Award Agreements on behalf of the Company.  The Award Agreement shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the Award as established by the Committee consistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(e)Taxes.  The Company and any Related Entity are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Shares, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company or any Related Entity and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.  This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.  The amount of withholding tax paid with respect to an Award by the withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award or by delivering Shares already owned shall not exceed the minimum statutory withholding required with respect to that Award.

(f)Changes to the Plan and Awards.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan, without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation (including, without limitation, Rule 16b-3) or the rules of the Listing Market, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to stockholders for approval; provided that, except as otherwise permitted by the Plan or Award Agreement, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under the terms of any previously granted and outstanding Award.  The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award Agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in the Plan; provided that, except as otherwise permitted by the Plan or Award Agreement, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee or the Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under terms of such Award.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Committee shall not be authorized to amend any outstanding Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price or grant price without the prior approval of the stockholders of the Company.  In addition, the Committee shall not be authorized to cancel outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights replaced with Awards having a lower exercise price without the prior approval of the stockholders of the Company.

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(g)Limitation on Rights Conferred Under Plan.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder or under any Award shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a Related Entity to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s Continuous Service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and Employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any Related Entity including, without limitation, any right to receive dividends or distributions, any right to vote or act by written consent, any right to attend meetings of stockholders or any right to receive any information concerning the Company’s or any Related Entity’s business, financial condition, results of operation or prospects, unless and until such time as the Participant is duly issued Shares on the stock books of the Company or any Related Entity in accordance with the terms of an Award.  None of the Company, its officers or its directors shall have any fiduciary obligation to the Participant with respect to any Awards unless and until the Participant is duly issued Shares pursuant to the Award on the stock books of the Company in accordance with the terms of an Award.  Neither the Company, nor any Related Entity, nor any of the their respective officers, directors, representatives or agents is granting any rights under the Plan to the Participant whatsoever, oral or written, express or implied, other than those rights expressly set forth in this Plan or the Award Agreement.

(h)Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts.  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or obligation to deliver Shares pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or Related Entity that issues the Award; provided that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the obligations of the Company or Related Entity under the Plan.  Such trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each affected Participant.  The trustee of such trusts may be authorized to dispose of trust assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative investments, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify and in accordance with applicable law.

(i)Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem.

(j)Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration.  Fractional Shares may be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.

(k)Clawback and Recapture.  Awards under the Plan will be subject to any clawback or recapture policy that the Company may adopt from time to time in response Section 

- 22 -

 

 

10D of the Exchange Act or otherwise, whether or not based on an incorrect determination that financial or other criteria were met, and shall include the requirement that Awards be repaid to the Company after they have been paid or distributed. 

(l)Governing Law.  Except as otherwise provided in any Award Agreement, the validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan, and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws, and applicable federal law.

(m)Non-U.S. Laws.  The Committee shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which the Company or its Related Entities may operate to assure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants performing services in such countries and to meet the objectives of the Plan.

(n)Construction and Interpretation.  Whenever used herein, nouns in the singular shall include the plural, and the masculine pronoun shall include the feminine gender. Headings of Articles and Sections hereof are inserted for convenience and reference and constitute no part of the Plan.

(o)Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

(p)Plan Effective Date and Stockholder Approval; Termination of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, subject to subsequent approval, within twelve (12) months of its adoption by the Board, by stockholders of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable  requirements under the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may be listed or quoted, and other laws, regulations, and obligations of the Company applicable to the Plan.  The Plan shall terminate at the earliest of (i) such time as no Shares remain available for issuance under the Plan, (ii) termination of this Plan by the Board, or (iii) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.  Awards outstanding upon expiration of the Plan shall remain in effect until they have been exercised or terminated, or have expired.

* * *

 

 

- 23 -EX-4.1

 Exhibit 4.1 

SPECIMEN UNIT CERTIFICATE 
  

			
	NUMBER U–[    ]	  	UNITS
		
	SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS	  	CUSIP [    ]

 SOAR ACQUISITION TECHNOLOGY CORP. 

UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE AND ONE-THIRD OF ONE 

REDEEMABLE WARRANT, EACH WHOLE WARRANT ENTITLING THE HOLDER TO PURCHASE 

ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT [                ] is the owner of Units.

 Each unit (“Unit”) consists of one (1) Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share
(“Ordinary Shares”), of SOAR Technology Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and one-third (1/3) of one redeemable warrant (each
whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Each whole Warrant will become exercisable thirty (30) days after the
Company’s completion of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (each, a “Business Combination”) and will expire
unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation (the “Expiration
Date”). The Ordinary Shares and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to [                ],
2021, unless J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC elect to allow earlier separate trading, subject to the Company’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Current Report on Form
8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. No
fractional Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Warrants are exercisable. The terms of the Warrants are governed by the Warrant Agreement, dated as of
[                ], 2021 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Company and
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the
Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any holder of the Warrants on written request and without cost. 

The Units represented by this certificate will automatically separate into the Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants comprising such Units
after completion of a Business Combination. 
 This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by
the Registrar of the Company. 
 This certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York. 
 Witness the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. 

 

							
	 By:
	 	 	  		  	 
		 	 Chief Executive Officer
	  		  	 Transfer Agent

 SOAR TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION CORP. 

The Company will furnish without charge to each unitholder who so requests a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights of each class of shares or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out
in full according to applicable laws or regulations: 
  

											
	 TEN
 COM
	  	—	  	as tenants in common	  	 UNIF GIFT
 MIN ACT
	  	—	  	Custodian
						
		  		  		  		  		  	(Cust)                 (Minor)
						
	 TEN
 ENT
	  	—	  	as tenants by the entireties	  		  		  	under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
						
	JT TEN	  	—	  	as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common	  		  		  	(State)

 Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. 

For value received, hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto 

(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S)) 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES), INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S)) 

Units represented by the within Certificate, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said Units on the
books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises. 
  

							
	Dated:	 	  
	 		  	Notice: The signature(s) to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

			
	Signature(s) Guaranteed:	 	
		
	  
	 	
	THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN	 	
	ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,	 	
	STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN	 	
	ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH	 	
	MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE	 	
	GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO	 	
	S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES	 	
	EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE).	 	

 As more fully described in, and subject to the terms and conditions described in, the Company’s final
prospectus for its initial public offering, dated [                ], 2021, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro rata portion of certain
funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not
consummate an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (as the same may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, the “amended and restated memorandum and articles of association”), (ii) the Company redeems the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the amended and
restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of the Ordinary Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the
Company’s initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within the time period set forth therein or (B) with respect to any other provision relating
to the rights of holders of the Ordinary Shares, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective Ordinary Shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks
shareholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

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