Document:

exh10_1.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

NINE MILE SOFTWARE, INC.

2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION.

 

On August 11, 2011, the Board adopted amendments to this 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, which shall govern all grants of Awards made after this amendment and restatement, and which shall become effective upon its approval by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). For the terms and conditions of the Plan applicable to Awards granted before the Effective Date, refer to the version of the Plan in effect as of the date such Award was granted.

 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by offering Participants the opportunity to share in such long-term success by acquiring a proprietary interest in the Company.

 

The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for discretionary long-term incentive Awards in the form of Options (which may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options), Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Grants, Restricted Stock Units and Cash Bonus Awards.

 

The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California (except its choice-of-law provisions). Capitalized terms shall have the meaning provided in Section 2 unless otherwise provided in this Plan or any related Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.

 

(a) “Applicable Laws” means all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements relating to the administration of stock plans, including, but not limited to, all applicable U.S. federal and state laws, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, and the applicable laws, rules, regulations or requirements of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan or where Participants reside or provide services, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.

 

(b) “Award” means an Option, SAR, Stock Grant, Restricted Stock Unit or Cash Bonus Award.

 

(c) “Award Agreement” means any Stock Option Agreement, SAR Agreement, Stock Grant Agreement, Restricted Stock Unit Agreement or any written document that evidences a Cash Bonus Award granted under the Plan. Award Agreements shall consist of either (1) a written award agreement in a form approved by the Committee and executed by the Company by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (2) an electronic notice of award grant 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 award grants under the Plan generally, as the Committee may provide and, in each case and if required by the Committee, 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 (other than the particular Award recipient) to execute any or all Award Agreements on behalf of the Company.

 

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

 

  

  

  

 

(e) “Cash Bonus Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10(b) of the Plan.

 

(f) “Cashless Exercise” means, to the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides and as permitted by Applicable Laws, a program approved by the Committee in which payment of the aggregate Exercise Price and/or satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form

 prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to sell Shares subject to an Option and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company.

 

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder.

 

(h) “Committee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.

 

(i) “Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock.

 

(j) “Company” means Nine Mile, Inc., a Nevada corporation.

 

(k) “Consultant” means an individual who provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary, other than as an Employee or Director.

 

(l) “Covered Employees” means those persons who the Committee determines are subject to the limitations of Code Section 162(m).

 

(m) “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(n) “Disability” means that the Participant is classified as disabled under the long-term disability policy of the Company or, if no such policy applies, the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided, however, that with respect to an Option intended to qualify as an ISO, “Disability” shall mean a “permanent and total disability” within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

(o) “Employee” means any individual who is a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary (including any Director that is also an Employee).

 

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

 

(q) “Exercise Price” means, in the case of an Option, the amount for which a Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, means an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value at the time such SAR is exercised in determining the amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.

 

(r) “Fair Market Value” means, unless otherwise determined or provided by the Committee in the circumstances, the last price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) through the NASDAQ Global Market Reporting System (the “Global Market”) for the date in question or, if no sales of Common Stock were reported by FINRA on the Global Market on that date, the last price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by FINRA through the Global Market for the next preceding day on which sales of Common Stock were reported by FINRA. The Committee may, however, provide with respect to one or more Awards that the Fair Market Value shall equal the last price for a share of Common Stock as furnished by FINRA through the Global Market on the last trading day preceding the date in question or the average of the high and low trading prices of a share of Common Stock as furnished by FINRA through the Global Market for the date in question or the most recent trading day. If the Common Stock is no longer listed or is no longer actively traded on the Global Market as of the applicable date, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the value as reasonably determined by the Committee for purposes of the Award in the circumstances. The Committee also may adopt a different methodology for determining Fair Market Value with respect to one or more Awards if a different methodology is necessary or advisable to secure any intended favorable tax, legal or other treatment for the particular Award(s) (for example, and without limitation, the Committee may provide that Fair Market Value for purposes of one or more Awards will be based on an average of closing prices (or the average of high and low daily trading prices) for a specified period preceding the relevant date).

 

  

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(s) “Fiscal Year” means the Company’s fiscal year.

 

(t) “Grant Date” means the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant an Award or such later date as the Committee may specify in making such determination.

 

(u) “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an incentive stock option described in Code Section 422.

 

(v) “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

(w) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” or “NSO” means a stock option that is not an ISO.

 

(x) “Option” means an ISO or NSO granted under the Plan entitling the Participant to purchase Shares.

 

(y) “Parent” means any corporation or other entity that beneficially owns directly or indirectly a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting stock or voting power. An entity that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

 

(z) “Participant” means an Employee or Consultant who has been selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan or any individual, estate or other entity that holds an Award.

 

(aa) “Performance Goals” means one or more objective measurable performance goals established by the Committee with respect to a Performance Period based upon one or more of the following criteria: (i) operating income; (ii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (iii) earnings; (iv) cash flow; (v) market share; (vi) sales or revenue; (vii) expenses; (viii) cost of goods sold; (ix) profit/loss or profit margin; (x) working capital; (xi) return on equity or assets; (xii) earnings per share; (xiii) total shareholder return; (xiv) price/earnings ratio; (xv) debt or debt-to-equity; (xvi) accounts receivable; (xvii) writeoffs; (xviii) cash; (xix) assets; (xx) liquidity; (xxi) operations; (xxii) intellectual property (e.g., patents); (xxiii) product development; (xxiv) manufacturing, production or inventory; (xxv) mergers and acquisitions or divestitures; and/or (xxvi) individual performance objective. Any criteria used may be measured, as applicable, (a) in absolute terms, (b) in relative terms (including but not limited to, the passage of time and/or against other companies or financial metrics), (c) on a per share and/or share per capita basis, (d) against the performance of the Company as a whole or against particular entities, segments, operating units or products of the Company and /or (e) on a pre-tax or after tax basis. Awards issued to persons who are not Covered Employees may take into account any other factors deemed appropriate by the Committee.

 

  

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(bb) “Performance Period” means any period not exceeding 60 months as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee may establish different Performance Periods for different Participants, and the Committee may establish concurrent or overlapping Performance Periods.

 

(cc) “Plan” means this Nine Mile, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive  Plan as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(dd) “Re-Price” means that the Company has lowered or reduced the Exercise Price of outstanding Options and/or outstanding SARs for any Participant(s) whether through amendment, cancellation or replacement grants, or any other means.

 

(ee) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share awarded under the Plan and represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

 

(ff) “Restricted Stock Unit Agreement” means the agreement described in Section 9 evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award.

 

(gg) “SAR Agreement” means the agreement described in Section 7 evidencing a Stock Appreciation Right.

(hh) “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(ii) “Section 16 Persons” means those officers, directors or other persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

(kk) “Share” means one share of Common Stock.

 

(ll) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a stock appreciation right awarded under the Plan.

 

(mm) “Stock Grant” means Shares awarded under the Plan pursuant to Section 8.

 

(nn) “Stock Grant Agreement” means the agreement described in Section 8 evidencing a Stock Grant.

 

(oo) “Stock Option Agreement” means the agreement described in Section 6 evidencing an Option.

 

(pp) “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company. An entity that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.

 

(qq) “10-Percent Stockholder” means an individual who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company or of its parent corporation or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code). In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d) shall be applied.

 

  

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(rr) “Termination of Service” means (i) in the case of an Employee, a cessation of the employee-employer relationship between the Employee and the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason, including but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability, or retirement, but excluding any such termination where there is a simultaneous reemployment by the Company or a Subsidiary and excluding any bona fide and Company (or Subsidiary) approved leave of absence; and (ii) in the case of a Consultant, a cessation of the service relationship (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) between the Consultant and the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason, including but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death or disability, but excluding any such termination where there is a simultaneous re-engagement of the Consultant by the Company or a Subsidiary. For purposes of the Plan and any Award, if an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, a Termination of Service shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Employee and Consultant in respect of such Subsidiary who does not continue as an Employee or Consultant in respect of the Company or another Subsidiary that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status.

 

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION.

 

(a) Committee Composition. The Board or a Committee appointed by the Board shall administer the Plan. The Committee shall generally have membership composition which enables (i) Awards to Section 16 Persons to qualify as exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and (ii) Awards to Covered Employees to qualify as performance-based compensation as provided under Code Section 162(m). However, the Board may also appoint one or more separate Committees, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not qualify under Rule 16b-3 or Code Section 162(m), that may administer the Plan with respect to Participants who are not Section 16 Persons or Covered Employees, respectively, may grant Awards under the Plan to such Participants and may determine all terms of such Awards. Members of any such Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and shall be subject to removal by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of any Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to the Committee.

 

The Board and any Committee appointed to administer the Plan is referred to herein as the “Committee.”

 

(b) Authority of the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full authority, in its sole discretion, to take any actions it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Such actions shall include:

(i) selecting Participants who are to receive Awards under the Plan;

 

(ii) determining the Fair Market Value for purposes of any Award;

 

(iii) determining the type of and number of securities to be subject to each Award, and the Grant Date, vesting requirements and other features and conditions of such Awards;

 

(iv) approving the forms of Award Agreements to be used under the Plan;

 

(v) amending any outstanding Awards;

 

  

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(vi) accelerating the vesting or extending the post-termination exercise term of Awards at any time and under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate (including, without limitation, in connection with a termination of employment or services or other events of a personal nature) subject to any required consent under Section 15;

 

(vii) construing and interpreting the Plan and any agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and Participants under the Plan;

 

(viii) correcting any defect, supplying any omission or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement;

 

(ix) adopting such rules or guidelines as it deems appropriate to implement the Plan;

 

(x) authorizing any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously authorized by the Committee;

 

(xi) adjusting the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award, adjusting the price of any or all outstanding Awards or otherwise changing previously imposed terms and conditions, in such circumstances as the Committee may deem appropriate, in each case subject to Sections 5 and 15, and provided that in no case (except due to an adjustment contemplated by Section 11 or any Re-Pricing that may be approved by shareholders) shall such an adjustment constitute a Re-Pricing (by amendment, substitution, cancellation and regrant, exchange or other means) of the per share Exercise Price of any Option or SAR;

 

(xii) determining whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 13 hereof and authorizing the termination, conversion, substitution or succession of Awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 13;

 

(xiii) acquiring or settling (subject to Sections 13 and 15) rights under Awards in cash, stock of equivalent value, or other consideration, provided, however, that in no case without stockholder approval shall the Company effect a Re—Pricing of an Option or SAR granted under the Plan by purchasing the Option or SAR at a time when the Exercise Price of the Award is greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock;

 

(xiv) making all other decisions relating to the operation of the Plan; and

 

(xv) adopting such plans or subplans as may be deemed necessary or appropriate to comply with the laws of other countries, allow for tax-preferred treatment of Awards or otherwise provide for the participation by Participants who reside outside of the U.S.

 

The Committee’s determinations under the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.

 

(c) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Laws, each member of the Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan or any Award Agreement, and (ii) from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

  

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(d) Reliance on Experts. In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under the Plan, the Committee may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including employees and professional advisors to the Company. No director, officer or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith.

 

SECTION 4. GENERAL.

 

(a) General Eligibility. Only Employees and Consultants shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Non-Employee Directors are not eligible for Award grants under the Plan.

 

(b) Incentive Stock Options. Only Participants who are Employees of the Company, a “parent corporation” of the Company (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) or a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition, a 10-Percent Stockholder shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the requirements set forth in Code Section 422(c)(5) are satisfied.

 

(c) Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(i) Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 4(c) or required by Applicable Law: (A) all Awards are non-transferable and shall not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge; (B) Awards shall be exercised only by the Participant; and (C) amounts payable or Shares issuable pursuant to any Award shall be delivered only to (or for the account of) the Participant.

 

(ii) The Committee may permit Awards to be exercised by and paid to, or otherwise transferred to, other persons or entities pursuant to such conditions and procedures, including limitations on subsequent transfers, as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish in writing. Any permitted transfer shall be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and shall not be for value (other than nominal consideration, settlement of marital property rights, or for interests in an entity in which more than 50% of the voting interests are held by the Participant or by the Participant’s family members).

 

(iii) The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 4(c) shall not apply to:

 

	  	
(A)

	
transfers to the Company (for example, in connection with the expiration or termination of the Award),

 

	  	
(B)

	
the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of the Participant’s death or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercise by the Participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution,

 

	  	
(C)

	
subject to any applicable limitations on ISOs, transfers to a family member (or former family member) pursuant to a domestic relations order if approved or ratified by the Company,

 

  

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(D)

	
if the Participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the participant by his or her legal representative, or

 

	  	
(E)

	
the authorization by the Committee of Cashless Exercise procedures with third parties who provide financing for the purpose of (or who otherwise facilitate) the exercise of Awards consistent with applicable laws and the express authorization of the Committee.

 

(d) Beneficiaries. If permitted by the Committee in the Award Agreement, a Participant under the Plan may name a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom any vested but unpaid Award shall be paid in the event of the Participant’s death. Each such designation shall revoke all prior beneficiary designations by the Participant and shall be effective only if given in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee. In the absence of any such designation, any vested benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate and, subject to the terms of the Plan and of the applicable Award Agreement, any unexercised vested Award may be exercised by the administrator or executor of the Participant’s estate.

 

(e) No Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant, or a transferee of a Participant, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Common Stock covered by an Award until such person has satisfied all of the terms and conditions to receive such Common Stock, has satisfied any applicable withholding or tax obligations relating to the Award and the Shares have been issued (as evidenced by an appropriate entry on the books of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).

 

(f) Termination of Service. The Committee shall establish the effect of a Termination of Service on the rights and benefits under each Award under the Plan and in so doing may make distinctions based upon, inter alia, the cause of termination and type of Award.

 

(g) Consideration. The purchase price for any Award granted under the Plan or the Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to an award, as applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as determined by the Committee.

 

SECTION 5. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN AND SHARE LIMITS.

 

(a) Basic Limitation. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares. The aggregate number of Shares reserved for Awards under the Plan is 10,000,000, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11.

 

(b) Share Count. Shares issued pursuant to Awards other than Options or SARs will count against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan as two (2) Shares for every one (1) Share issued in connection with the Award. Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Options or SARs will count against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan as one (1) Share for every one Share to which such exercise relates. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the total number of Shares subject to SARs that are settled in Shares shall be counted in full against the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan, regardless of the number of Shares actually issued upon settlement of the SARs. If Awards are settled in cash, the Shares that would have been delivered had there been no cash settlement shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Except as provided in the next sentence, if Awards are forfeited or are terminated for any reason before vesting or being exercised, then the Shares underlying such Awards shall again become available for Awards under the Plan; provided that any one (1) Share issued pursuant to a Stock Grant or subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award that is forfeited or terminated shall be credited as two (2) Shares when determining the number of Shares that shall again become available for Awards under the Plan if upon grant, the Shares underlying such forfeited or terminated Awards were counted as two (2) Shares against the Plan reserve. Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under the Plan, as well as any Shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award, shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan. Refer to Section 15(i) for application of the foregoing share limits with respect to substituted awards.

 

  

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(c) Reservation of Shares; No Fractional Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to cover the Company’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver Shares with respect to Awards then outstanding under the Plan (exclusive of any dividend equivalent obligations to the extent the Company has the right to settle such rights in cash). No fractional Shares shall be delivered under the Plan. The Committee may pay cash in lieu of any fractional Shares in settlements of Awards under the Plan.

 

SECTION 6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

 

(a) Stock Option Agreement. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced and governed exclusively by a Stock Option Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical. The Stock Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option is an ISO or an NSO.

 

(b) Number of Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Option, which number is subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.

 

(c) Exercise Price. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Option’s Exercise Price which shall be established by the Committee and is subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11. The Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (110% for an ISO granted to a 10-Percent Stockholder) on the Grant Date.

 

(d) Exercisability and Term. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable and/or any performance conditions or Performance Goals pursuant to Section 10 that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the maximum term of the Option; provided that the maximum term of an Option shall in no event exceed seven (7) years from the Grant Date. A Stock Option Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement and may provide for tolling of vesting in the event of a Participant’s leave of absence. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or the Stock Option Agreement, no Option can be exercised after the expiration date provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.

 

(e) Method of Exercise. An Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company or the Company’s designee (or, subject to Applicable Laws and if the Company permits, by electronic or voice methods) of the number of Shares to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price, plus any required withholdings (unless satisfactory arrangements have been made to satisfy such withholdings). The Company reserves the right to delay issuance of the Shares until the such payment obligations are fully satisfied.

 

  

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(f) Payment for Option Shares. The Exercise Price of an Option shall be paid in cash at the time of exercise, except as follows and if so provided for in the applicable Stock Option Agreement:

 

(i) Cashless Exercise. Payment of all or a part of the Exercise Price may be made through Cashless Exercise.

(ii) Other Forms of Payment. Payment may be made in any other form that is consistent with Applicable Laws, regulations and rules and approved by the Committee.

 

In the case of an ISO granted under the Plan, except to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, payment shall be made only pursuant to the express provisions of the applicable Stock Option Agreement. In the case of an NSO granted under the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion at any time, accept payment in any form(s) described in this Section 6(f).

 

SECTION 7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

 

(a) SAR Agreement. Each SAR granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. A SAR Agreement may provide for a maximum limit on the amount of any payout notwithstanding the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

(b) Number of Shares. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains, which number is subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.

 

(c) Exercise Price. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price, which is subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11. A SAR Agreement may specify an Exercise Price that varies in accordance with a predetermined formula while the SAR is outstanding, provided that in all cases the Exercise Price of a SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.

 

(d) Exercisability and Term. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the SAR is to become exercisable and/or any performance conditions or Performance Goals pursuant to Section 10 that must be satisfied before the SAR is exercised. The SAR Agreement shall also specify the maximum term of the SAR which shall not exceed seven (7) years from the Grant Date. A SAR Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement and may provide for tolling of vesting in the event of a Participant’s leave of absence. SARs may be awarded in combination with Options or Stock Grants, and such an Award shall provide that the SARs will not be exercisable unless the related Options or Stock Grants are forfeited. A SAR may be included in an ISO only at the time of grant but may be included in an NSO at the time of grant or at any subsequent time, but not later than six months before the expiration of such NSO. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or the SAR Agreement, no SAR can be exercised after the expiration date provided in the applicable SAR Agreement.

 

  

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(e) Exercise of SARs. Upon exercise of a SAR, the Participant (or any person having the right to exercise the SAR after Participant’s death) shall receive from the Company (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant of the SAR, in its sole discretion. The amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of Shares received upon exercise of SARs shall, in the aggregate, be equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value (on the date of exercise) of the Shares subject to the SARs exceeds the Exercise Price of the Shares.

 

SECTION 8. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR STOCK GRANTS.

 

(a) Time, Amount and Form of Awards. Awards under this Section 8 may be granted in the form of a Stock Grant. A Stock Grant may be awarded in combination with NSOs, and such an Award may provide that the Stock Grant will be forfeited in the event that the related NSOs are exercised.

 

(b) Stock Grant Agreement. Each Stock Grant awarded under the Plan shall be evidenced and governed exclusively by a Stock Grant Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Each Stock Grant shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan that the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in the applicable Stock Grant Agreement. The provisions of the Stock Grant Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

(c) Number of Shares. Each Stock Grant Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which the Stock Grant pertains, which number is subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.

 

(d) Vesting Conditions. The Committee shall determine the vesting schedule of each Stock Grant. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Stock Grant Agreement which may include performance conditions or Performance Goals pursuant to Section 10. Except for any accelerated vesting required or permitted pursuant to Section 12 and except as otherwise provided in the following provisions of this Section 8(d), and subject to such additional vesting requirements or conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to the Award, each Stock Grant under this Plan shall be subject to the following minimum vesting requirements: (a) if the Stock Grant includes a performance-based vesting condition, the Stock Grant shall not vest earlier than the first anniversary of the Grant Date and vesting shall occur only if the Participant is an Employee or Consultant of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on such vesting date; and (b) if the Stock Grant does not include a performance-based vesting condition, the Stock Grant shall not vest more rapidly than in monthly installments over the three-year period immediately following the Grant Date and vesting of any vesting installment of the Stock Grant shall occur only if the Participant is an Employee or Consultant of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on the date such installment is scheduled to vest; provided that the Committee may accelerate or provide in the applicable Award Agreement for the accelerated vesting of any Stock Grant in connection with a change in control of the Participant’s employer (or a parent thereof) or the termination of the Participant’s employment due to the Participant’s death, disability or retirement. The Committee may, however, accelerate or provide in the applicable Award Agreement for the accelerated vesting of any Stock Grant, and/or any Restricted Stock Unit Award as provided in Section 9(c), in circumstances not contemplated by the preceding sentence, and/or provide for a vesting schedule for such Stock Grant or Restricted Stock Unit Award that is shorter than the minimum schedule contemplated by the preceding sentence, in such circumstances as the Committee may deem appropriate; provided, however, that the total number of Shares subject to the portion of any such Stock Grant and any such Restricted Stock Unit Award that vests earlier than the minimum vesting dates that would be applicable pursuant to the minimum vesting requirements of the preceding sentence (or, as to any accelerated vesting, provides for accelerated vesting other than in the circumstances contemplated by the preceding sentence) shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the Plan’s aggregate Share limit set forth in Section 5(a).

 

  

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(e) Voting and Dividend Rights. The holder of a Stock Grant awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company’s other stockholders, except as otherwise stated in the Stock Grant Agreement. A Stock Grant Agreement may require that the holder of such Stock Grant invest any cash dividends received in additional Shares subject to the Stock Grant. Such additional Shares and any Shares received as a dividend pursuant to the Stock Grant shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Stock Grant with respect to which the dividends were paid.

 

SECTION 9. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.

 

(a) Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Each Restricted Stock Unit granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Such Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Unit Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

(b) Number of Shares. Each Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall specify the number of Restricted Stock Units to which the Restricted Stock Unit Award pertains, which number is subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.

 

(c) Vesting Conditions. The Committee shall determine the vesting schedule of each Restricted Stock Unit Award. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement which may include performance conditions or Performance Goals pursuant to

 

Section 10. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be subject to the same minimum vesting provisions applicable to Stock Grants as set forth in Section 8(d), including (without limitation) the Committee’s discretion under the last sentence of Section 8(d) to grant Awards that do not comply with such minimum vesting provisions, subject to the Share limit set forth in such sentence.

 

(d) Form and Time of Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units may be made in the form of (i) cash, (ii) Shares or (iii) any combination of both, as determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, in its sole discretion. Vested Restricted Stock Units may be settled in a lump sum or in installments. The distribution may occur or commence when the vesting conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock Units have been satisfied or have lapsed, or, if the Committee so provides in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, it may be deferred, in accordance with Applicable Laws, to any later date. The amount of a deferred distribution may be increased by an interest factor or by dividend equivalents, as determined by the Committee and provided in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

 

  

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(e) Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Stock Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or forfeiture, any Restricted Stock Unit awarded under the Plan may, at the Committee’s discretion, carry with it a right to dividend equivalents. Such right entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one Share while the Restricted Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted into additional Restricted Stock Units and may be made subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Restricted Stock Units to which they attach. Settlement of dividend equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of Shares, or in a combination of both.

 

(f) Creditors’ Rights. A holder of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

 

SECTION 10. PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS; CASH BONUS AWARDS.

 

(a) General. The Committee may, in its discretion, include performance conditions in an Award. If performance conditions are included in Awards to Covered Employees and such Awards are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), then such Awards will be subject to the achievement of Performance Goals with respect to a Performance Period established by the Committee. Such Awards shall be granted and administered pursuant to the requirements of Code Section 162(m). Performance Goals shall be adjusted to mitigate the unbudgeted impact of material, unusual or nonrecurring gains and losses, accounting changes or other extraordinary events not foreseen at the time the targets were set unless the Committee provides otherwise at the time of establishing the targets. Before any Shares underlying an Award or any Award payments are released to a Covered Employee with respect to a Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing that the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have been satisfied. Awards with performance conditions that are granted to Participants who are not Covered Employees need not comply with the requirements of Code Section 162(m).

 

(b) Cash Bonus Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Cash Bonus Awards under the Plan to one or more Employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Cash Bonus Awards may be subject to performance conditions as described in Section 10(a) above and, to the extent such Cash Bonus Awards are granted to Covered Persons and intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m), shall be subject to the requirements of Section 162(m), including without limitation, the establishment of Performance Goals and certification of performance by the Committee as set forth above. In addition, the aggregate amount of compensation to be paid to any one participant in respect of all Cash Bonus Awards payable only in cash and not related to shares of Common Stock and granted to that participant in any one calendar year shall not exceed $5,000,000. Awards that are cancelled during the year shall be counted against this limit to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code.

(c) Expiration of Grant Authority. As required pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Committee’s authority to grant new awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (other than Options and SARs with an Exercise Price that is not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date) shall terminate upon the first meeting of the Company’s shareholders that occurs in 2015.

 

  

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SECTION 11. PROTECTION AGAINST DILUTION.

 

(a) Adjustments. Subject to Section 12, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to): any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any spin-off, split-up, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock; or any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Common Stock; then the Committee shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of Shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards (including the specific Share limits, maximums and numbers of Shares set forth elsewhere in the Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of Shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding Awards, (3) the grant, purchase, or Exercise Price of any outstanding Awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or payment of any outstanding Awards, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by the Plan and the then-outstanding Awards.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any event or transaction described in the preceding paragraph or a sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company as an entirety, the Company shall equitably and proportionately adjust the Performance Goals applicable to any then-outstanding performance-based Awards to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by the Plan and the then-outstanding performance-based Awards.

 

It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated by the preceding two paragraphs be made in a manner that satisfies applicable legal, tax (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Section 424 of the Code, Section 409A of the Code and Section 162(m) of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment) requirements.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 3, any good faith determination by the Committee as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances pursuant to this Section 11(a), and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

(b) Participant Rights. Except as provided in this Section 11, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. If by reason of an adjustment pursuant to this Section 11 a Participant’s Award covers additional or different shares of stock or securities, then such additional or different shares and the Award in respect thereof shall be subject to all of the terms, conditions and restrictions which were applicable to the Award and the Shares subject to the Award prior to such adjustment.

 

  

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SECTION 12. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

 

Upon the occurrence of any of the following: any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company; a sale of all or substantially all the business, stock or assets of the Company; a dissolution of the Company; or any other event in which the Company does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Common Stock); then the Committee may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding Share-based Awards or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding Share-based Awards, based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Common Stock upon or in respect of such event. Upon the occurrence of any event described in the preceding sentence, then, unless the Committee has made a provision for the substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of the Award or the Award would otherwise continue in accordance with its terms in the circumstances, each Award shall terminate upon the related event; provided that the holder of an Option or SAR shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding vested Options and SARs in accordance with their terms before the termination of such Awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of the impending termination be required).

 

The Committee may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement and, in the case of Options, SARs or similar rights, but without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess if any of the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the Exercise Price of the Award.

 

In any of the events referred to in this Section 12, the Committee may take such action contemplated by this Section 12 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Committee deems the action necessary to permit the Participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying Shares.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 3, any good faith determination by the Committee pursuant to its authority under this Section 12 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

SECTION 13. LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS.

 

(a) Participant Rights. A Participant’s rights, if any, in respect of or in connection with any Award are derived solely from the discretionary decision of the Company to permit the individual to participate in the Plan and to benefit from a discretionary Award. By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant expressly acknowledges that there is no obligation on the part of the Company to continue the Plan and/or grant any additional Awards. Any Award granted hereunder is not intended to be compensation of a continuing or recurring nature, or part of a Participant’s normal or expected compensation, and in no way represents any portion of a Participant’s salary, compensation, or other remuneration for purposes of pension benefits, severance, redundancy, resignation or any other purpose.

 

Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to give any individual a right to remain an employee, consultant or director of the Company, a Parent, or any Subsidiary. The Company and its Parent and Subsidiaries reserve the right to terminate the service of any person at any time, and for any reason, subject to Applicable Laws, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and any applicable written employment agreement (if any), and such terminated person shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived any claim to damages or specific performance for breach of contract or dismissal, compensation for loss of office, tort or otherwise with respect to the Plan or any outstanding Award that is forfeited and/or is terminated by its terms or to any future Award.

 

  

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(b) Shareholders’ Rights. Except as provided in Section 9(f), a Participant shall have no dividend rights, voting rights or other rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by his or her Award prior to the issuance of such Shares (as evidenced by an appropriate entry on the books of the Company or a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date when such Shares are issued, except as expressly provided in Sections 9(f) and 11.

 

(c) Regulatory Requirements. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the obligation of the Company to issue Shares or other securities under the Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Shares or other securities pursuant to any Award prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such Shares or other securities, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing. The person acquiring any securities under the Plan will, if requested by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, provide such assurances and representations to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

SECTION 14. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

 

(a) General. A Participant shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with his or her Award. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any amount payable under the Plan, including delivery of Shares to be made pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan, all federal, state, city, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment and the Company may take any such actions as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.

 

(b) Share Withholding. The Committee may (i) permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her withholding or income tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her, or (ii) permit a Participant to satisfy such obligations by Cashless Exercise or by surrendering all or a portion of any Shares that he or she previously acquired; provided that Shares withheld or previously owned Shares that are tendered shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s tax withholding obligations at the minimum statutory withholding rates, including, but not limited to, U.S. federal and state income taxes, payroll taxes and foreign taxes, if applicable, unless the previously owned Shares have been held for a minimum duration determined satisfactory as established by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion. Any payment of taxes by assigning Shares to the Company may be subject to restrictions, including, but not limited to, any restrictions required by rules of the SEC. If any Shares are used to satisfy withholding taxes, such Shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value thereof on the date when the withholding for taxes is required to be made.

 

  

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SECTION 15. DURATION AND AMENDMENTS; MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a) Term of the Plan. The Plan shall terminate on July 15, 2021 and may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to this Section 15.

 

(b) Amendment or Termination of the Plan. The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend the Plan, in whole or in part. No awards may be granted during any period that the Board suspends the Plan. To the extent then required by Applicable Laws or required under Sections 162, 422 or 424 of the Code to preserve the intended tax consequences of the Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to the Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval.

 

(c) Amendments to Awards. Without limiting any other express authority of the Committee under (but subject to) the express limits of the Plan, the Committee by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on Awards to Participants that the Committee in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a Participant, and (subject to the requirements of Sections 3 and 15(d)) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of Awards. Any amendment or other action that would constitute a Re-Pricing of an Award is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3(b).

 

(d) Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or amendment of any outstanding Award Agreement shall, without written consent of the Participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the Participant any rights or benefits of the Participant or obligations of the Company under any Award granted under the Plan prior to the effective date of such change. Changes, settlements and other actions contemplated by Section 11 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 15.

 

 (e) Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California (except its choice-of-law provisions) and applicable U.S. Federal Laws.

 

(f) Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Plan shall continue in effect.

 

(g) Section Headings. Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

 

(h) No Corporate Action Restriction. The existence of the Plan, the Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder shall not limit, affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Board or the shareholders of the Company to make or authorize: (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the capital structure or business of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the capital stock (or the rights thereof) of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iv) any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary, (v) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Company or any Subsidiary. No Participant, beneficiary or any other person shall have any claim under any Award or Award agreement against any member of the Board or the Committee, or the Company or any employees, officers or agents of the Company or any Subsidiary, as a result of any such action.

 

  

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(i) Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Stock Options or Awards Granted by Other Company. Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee, director and/or consultant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other stock-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Employees or Consultants in respect of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in connection with a distribution, merger or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the stock or assets of the granting entity. The Awards so granted may reflect the original terms of the related award being assumed or substituted for and need not comply with other specific terms of the Plan, with Common Stock substituted for the securities covered by the original award and with the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to such awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction. Any shares that are delivered and any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company, as a result of any such assumption or substitution in connection with any such transaction shall not be counted against the Share limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

18Exhibit 10.1

 

RULES FOR THE GRANT OF QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

TO PARTICIPANTS IN FRANCE UNDER

THE TORNIER N.V. 2010 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.             Introduction.

 

(a)           The Board of Directors of Tornier N.V. (the “Company”) has established the Tornier N.V. 2010 Incentive Plan, (the “Plan”) for the benefit of certain individuals employed by the Company and its Affiliates, including Affiliates and branches of the Company in France (“French Entities”).

 

(b)           Section 4.2 of the Plan specifically authorizes the Committee (as defined in the Plan) to amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to Participants resident outside of the United States or employed by a non-U.S. Affiliate in order to comply with local legal requirements, to otherwise protect the Company’s or Affiliate’s interests, or to meet objectives of the Plan, and may, where appropriate, establish one or more subplans (including the adoption of any required rules and regulations) for the purposes of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws.  The Committee has determined that it is advisable to establish a sub-plan of the Plan for the purpose of granting stock options which may qualify for the favorable tax and social security treatment in France under Sections L. 225-177 to L. 225-186-1 of the French commercial code (“Qualified Options”).  The terms of the Plan (as set forth in Appendix 1), along with the additional rules contained herein, shall collectively constitute the Rules for the Grant of Qualified Stock Options to Participants in France under the Tornier N.V. 2010 Incentive Plan (the “French Options Sub-Plan”).  Under the French Options Sub-Plan, the Company may only grant Qualified Options; the provisions of the Plan permitting the grant of any other type of Award shall not be applicable.

 

2.             Definitions.

 

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Plan.  The terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)           “Closed Period” shall mean the specific periods as set forth by Section L. 225-177 of the French commercial code during which Qualified Options cannot be granted.

 

(1)           Ten (10) quotation days preceding and following the disclosure to the public of the consolidated financial statements or the annual statements of the Company; or

 

(2)           The period as from the date the corporate management of the Company (involved in the governance of the Company, such as the Board, Committee, supervisory directorate, etc.) has been disclosed information which could, if disclosed to the public, significantly impact the trading price of the Company’s Common Stock, until ten (10) quotation days after 

 

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the day such information is disclosed to the public; or

 

(3)           Twenty (20) quotation days following the issuance of a coupon granting the right to receive dividends (i.e., the ex-dividend date) or to purchase shares of Stock (i.e., a rights offering).

 

If French law or regulations are amended after adoption of this French Options Sub-Plan to modify the definition and/or applicability of the Closed Period to Qualified Options, such amendment shall become applicable to any Qualified Options to be granted under this French Options Sub-Plan, to the extent permitted or required by French law.

 

(b)           “Disability” shall mean disability as determined in categories 2 and 3 under Section L. 341-4 of the French Social Security Code, as amended, and subject to the fulfillment of related conditions.

 

(c)           “Effective Grant Date” shall mean the date on which a Qualified Option is effectively granted (i.e., the date on which the condition precedent of the expiration of a Closed Period applicable to the Qualified Option, if any, is satisfied, which is the first day after any Closed Period).  Such condition precedent shall be satisfied when the Board, Committee or other authorized corporate body shall determine that the granting of Qualified Options is no longer prevented under a Closed Period (i.e., the first date following the expiration of the Closed Period which would not be a prohibited Date of Grant pursuant to French Closed Periods or the next immediately succeeding trading day if such date is not a trading day provided such date is not prohibited under the Plan rules and U.S. securities rules).  If the Grant Date does not occur within a Closed Period, the “Effective Grant Date” shall be the same day as the “Grant Date” without any need for Board or Committee action.

 

(d)           “Exercise Price” shall mean the purchase price of each share of Stock subject to a Qualified Option.

 

(e)           “Forced Retirement” shall mean forced retirement as determined under Section L. 1237-5 of the French labor code, as amended, and subject to the fulfillment of related conditions.

 

(g)           “French Entity” shall mean:

 

(i)            an Affiliate incorporated in France of which the Company holds at least, either directly or indirectly, 10% of the share capital, or

 

(ii)           a French branch of the Company.

 

(h)           “French Participant” shall mean:

 

(i)            an Employee of a French Entity who is resident in France for French tax purposes and/or is subject to the French social security regime and has been granted a Qualified Option and is employed under the terms and 

 

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conditions of an employment contract (“contrat de travail”) with a French Entity;

 

(ii)           a Managing Director who has been granted a Qualified Option; and

 

(iii)          in exceptional and specific circumstances, and to the extent permissible under French tax and social security laws, including guidelines and specific tax or social security rulings issued by French tax and social security authorities, any individual who is otherwise employed by the Company or one of its Affiliates even if the individual is not a tax resident of France and/or subject to French social contribution regime at the Grant Date.

 

(i)            “Grant Date” or “Effective Grant Date” shall mean the date on which the Committee both:

 

(i)            designates the French Participant; and

 

(ii)            specifies the terms and conditions of the Qualified Option, including the number of shares of Stock subject to the award and the Exercise Price.

 

(j)            “Managing Director” shall mean any person who serves in one of the following positions for a French Entity:

 

(i)             Président du Conseil d’Administration;

 

(ii)            Directeur Général;

 

(iii)           Directeur Général Délégué;

 

(iv)          Membre du Directoire; or

 

(v)           Gérant de Sociétés par actions.

 

(k)           “Qualified Option” shall mean a stock option granted under the French Options Sub-Plan to:

 

(i)             acquire shares of Stock repurchased by the Company prior to the date on which the option becomes exercisable (hereinafter a “purchase stock option); and

 

(ii)            subscribe to newly-issued shares of Stock (hereinafter a “subscription stock option”).

 

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3.             Eligibility.

 

Notwithstanding any other term of this French Options Sub-Plan, the Company may grant Qualified Options only to Employees of a French Entity and/or to Managing Directors who hold less than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Stock and who otherwise satisfy the eligibility conditions of the Section 5 of the Plan.

 

4.             Term of Option.

 

The term of each Qualified Option shall be stated in the Award Agreement and shall have a maximum term of nine years and six months from the Effective Grant Date or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

 

5.             Modifications to Grant Terms.

 

Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan, the terms and conditions of a Qualified Option may not be modified after the Effective Grant Date, except as provided under Sections 7 to 10 of this French Options Sub-Plan, or as otherwise in keeping with French law.

 

6.             Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

(a)           The Exercise Price for a Qualified Option (or the method for determining the Exercise Price) shall be fixed by the Committee on the Grant Date or on the Effective Grant Date if this date occurs after the Grant Date.  The Exercise Price shall be stated in the Award Agreement or other grant materials distributed to employees, and a Qualified Option shall be considered as granted on the Effective Grant Date.

 

In no event shall the Exercise Price per Share be less than the greatest of:

 

(i)            with respect to a purchase stock option, the higher of either 95% of the average of the closing price of such shares of Stock during the 20 days of quotation immediately preceding the Effective Grant Date or 95% of the average of the purchase price paid for such shares of Stock by the Company;

 

(ii)           with respect to a subscription stock option, 95% of the average of the closing price of such shares of Stock during the 20 days of quotation immediately preceding the Effective Grant Date; and

 

(iii)          100% of the Fair Market Value per Share as defined under the Plan, as determined on the Effective Grant Date.

 

(b)           Upon exercise of a Qualified Option, payment of the full Exercise Price shall be paid by cash (only) or through a cashless exercise method if it occurs more than four years after the grant of the Qualified Options.  No delivery, surrender or attestation to the ownership of previously owned shares of Stock may be used by a French Participant to pay the Exercise Price. 

 

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The net exercise arrangement as described in Section 6.4(b) of the Plan also shall not be available to a French Participant.

 

(c)           The Company shall not grant a Qualified Option during a Closed Period.

 

(d)           The shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of a Qualified Option shall be recorded in an account in the name of the French Participant with a broker or in such other manner as the Company may otherwise determine in order to ensure compliance with applicable law and with applicable holding periods.

 

7.             Exercise Dates.

 

(a)           A Qualified Option shall vest and be exercisable pursuant  to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the French Options Sub-Plan and the Award Agreement delivered to the French Participant.  The vesting and exercisability of a Qualified Option may not be modified except as provided in Sections 8 to 10 of this French Options Sub-Plan or to the extent authorized by and permitted under French law.

 

To obtain the French-qualified treatment, a French Participant shall not sell or transfer shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of a Qualified Option before the expiration of the applicable holding period for Qualified Options set forth in Section 163 bis C of the French Tax Code, as amended, except as provided in this French Options Sub-Plan, or as otherwise in keeping with French law.  To prevent a French Participant from selling the shares of Stock subject to a Qualified Option before the expiration of the applicable holding period, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, restrict the vesting and/or exercisability of a Qualified Option and/or the sale of shares of Stock until the expiration of the applicable holding period, as set forth in the Award Agreement to be delivered to the French Participant.  In any case, the restriction on the sale of the shares of Stock shall not exceed three (3) years from the date of exercise of a Qualified Option.  However, a French Participant may be permitted to exercise a vested Qualified Option or sell the shares of Stock subject to a Qualified Option before the expiration of the applicable holding period in the cases of Disability, death, Forced Retirement or dismissal, as defined in Section 91-ter of Exhibit II to the French Tax Code, as amended, and subject to very strict conditions and as set forth in the Award Agreement to be delivered to the French Participant.

 

(b)           If a French Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate by reason of Disability, the disabled French Participant’s Qualified Option shall benefit from the favorable tax and social security contributions treatment, irrespective of the date of sale of the shares of Stock, but only in the specific circumstances as provided for by Section 163 bis C of the French Tax Code, as amended.

 

(c)           To the extent and as long as applicable to Qualified Options granted by the Company, a specific holding period for the shares of Stock or a restriction on exercise of the Qualified Options shall be imposed in the Award Agreement for any French Participant who qualifies as a Managing Director or who has a comparable position at the level of the Company.

 

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8.             Death.

 

If a French Participant’s service to the Company or a French Entity terminates by reason of his or her death, the French Participant’s Qualified Options shall thereafter become fully vested and exercisable in full (with respect to all Qualified Options, vested or unvested at the time of death) by the French Participant’s heirs (as determined by will or by the laws of descent and distribution in France) for a six month period beginning on the date of the French Participant’s death.  The six-month exercise period shall apply without regard to the term of a Qualified Option as described in Section 4 above. Any Qualified Option which remains unexercised shall expire six months following the date of the French Participant’s death.

 

9.             Adjustments Upon a Change in Control and Change in Shares.

 

(a)           Adjustments of Qualified Options issued hereunder shall be made to preclude the dilution or enlargement of benefits under the Qualified Option only in the event of the transactions by the Company listed under Section L. 225-181 of the French commercial code and in case of a repurchase of shares of Stock by the Company at a price which is higher than the stock quotation price in the open market, and according to the provisions of Section L. 228-99 of French commercial code, as well as according to specific decrees.  In the event of an adjustment other than described above, the Qualified Options may no longer qualify for favorable tax and social security treatment under French law.

 

(b)           In the event that a significant decrease in the value of Qualified Options granted to French Participants occurs or is likely to occur as a result of a Change in Control of the Company, or a corporate transaction as described in Sections 3.5 and 12 of the Plan, the Committee, if appropriate, may, in its discretion, authorize the immediate vesting and exercise of Qualified Options before the date on which any such Change in Control or corporate transaction becomes effective as well as the lapse of any other form of restriction.  If this occurs, the Qualified Options may not receive favorable tax and social security treatment pursuant to French law.

 

10.        Disqualification of Qualified Options.

 

If Qualified Options are otherwise modified or adjusted in a manner in keeping with the terms of the Plan or as mandated as a matter of law and the modification or adjustment is contrary to the terms and conditions of this French Options Sub-Plan, Options may no longer qualify as French-qualified options.  If Qualified Options no longer qualify for preferential tax and social security treatment, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, lift, shorten or terminate certain restrictions applicable to the vesting of the Qualified Options, the exercisability of the Qualified Options, or the sale of the shares of Stock which may have been imposed under this French Options Sub-Plan or in the Award Agreement delivered to the French Participant.

 

11.          Interpretation.

 

(a)           It is intended that the Qualified Options granted under the French Options Sub-Plan shall qualify for the favorable tax and social security treatment applicable to options granted under Sections L. 225-177 to L. 225-186-1 of the French commercial code, and in accordance 

 

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with the relevant provisions set forth by French tax law and the French tax administration, but no undertaking is made to maintain such status.  The terms of the French Options Sub-Plan shall be interpreted accordingly and in accordance with the relevant provisions set forth by French tax and social security laws, as well as the French tax and social security administrations and the relevant guidelines released by the French tax and social security authorities and subject to the fulfillment of legal, tax and reporting obligations.

 

(b)           In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the French Options Sub-Plan and the Plan, the provisions of this French Options Sub-Plan shall control for any grants of Qualified Options made thereunder to French Participants.

 

12.          Employment Rights.

 

The adoption of this French Options Sub-Plan shall not confer upon the French Participants or any employees of a French Entity, any employment rights and shall not be construed as a part of any employment contracts that a French Entity has with its employees.

 

13.          Non-Transferability.

 

Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary and, except in the case of death and in accordance with local applicable laws, the Qualified Options shall not be transferred to any third party.  In addition, the Qualified Options are only exercisable by the French Participant during the lifetime of the French Participant.

 

14.          Amendments.

 

Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board or Committee reserves the right to amend and/or terminate the French Options Sub-Plan at any time in its sole discretion.

 

15.          Number of Shares Granted and Shareholders Authorization.

 

The Plan and the share limitations set forth in Sections 3.1 and 16 of the Plan have been authorized and approved by the Company’s shareholders, and shall apply to the grants to French Participants under this French Options Sub-Plan.  The authorization and approval of the Company’s shareholders is intended to meet the requirements of Sections L. 225-177-1 and L. 225-179 of the French commercial code, to the extent applicable to grants made by the Company.

 

16.          Effective Date.

 

This French Options Sub-Plan shall be effective and shall apply to grants of Qualified Options made on or after May 3, 2011.

 

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