Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

ADAGENE INC.

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN

 

PREFACE

 

This Plan is divided into two separate equity programs: (1) the option and share appreciation rights grant program set forth in Section 5 under which Eligible Persons (as defined in Section 3) may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be granted Options and/or SARs, and (2) the share award program set forth in Section 6 under which Eligible Persons may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be awarded restricted or unrestricted Ordinary Shares. Section 2 of this Plan contains the general rules regarding the administration of this Plan. Section 3 sets forth the requirements for eligibility to receive an Award grant under this Plan. Section 4 describes the authorized shares of the Company that may be subject to Awards granted under this Plan. Section 7 contains other provisions applicable to all Awards granted under this Plan. Section 8 provides definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this Plan and not otherwise defined herein.

 

1.                                      PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.

 

The purpose of this Plan is to promote the success of the Company and the interests of its shareholders by providing a means through which the Company may grant equity-based incentives to attract, motivate, retain and reward certain officers, employees, directors and other eligible persons and to further link the interests of Award recipients with those of the Company’s shareholders generally.

 

2.                                      ADMINISTRATION.

 

2.1                               Administrator. This Plan shall be administered by and all Awards under this Plan shall be authorized by the Administrator. The “Administrator” means the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board or another committee (within its delegated authority) to administer all or certain aspects of this Plan. Any such committee shall be comprised solely of one or more directors or such number of directors as may be required under applicable law. A committee may delegate some or all of its authority to another committee so constituted. The Board or a committee comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent permitted by the Companies Law, Cap 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands and any other applicable law, to one or more officers of the Company, its powers under this Plan (a) to designate the officers and employees of the Company and its Affiliates who will receive grants of Awards under this Plan, and (b) to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms and conditions of, such Awards. The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different committees with administrative and grant authority under this Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company or the applicable charter of any Administrator, a majority of the members of the acting Administrator shall constitute a quorum, and the vote of a majority of the members present assuming the presence of a quorum or the unanimous written consent of the members of the Administrator shall constitute action by the acting Administrator.

 

2.2                               Plan Awards; Interpretation; Powers of Administrator. Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Administrator is authorized and empowered to do all on of Awards and the of this Plan (in the case of a committee or delegation to one or more officers, within the authority delegated to that committee or person(s)), including, without limitation, the authority to:

 

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(a)                                 determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Persons who will receive Awards;

 

(b)                                 grant Awards to Eligible Persons, determine the price and number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons, determine the other specific terms and conditions of Awards consistent with the express limits of this Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such Awards will become exercisable or will vest (which may include, without limitation, performance and/or time-based schedules) or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, establish any applicable performance targets, and establish the events of termination or reversion of such Awards;

 

(c)                                  approve the forms of Award Agreements, which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants;

 

(d)                                 construe and interpret this Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Company, its Affiliates, and Participants under this Plan, make factual determinations with respect to the administration of this Plan, further define the terms used in this Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Plan or the Awards;

 

(e)                                  cancel, modify, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding Awards, subject to any required consent under Section 7.7.4;

 

(f)                                   accelerate or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all outstanding Awards (within the maximum ten-year term of Awards under Sections 5.4.2 and 6.5) in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate (including, without limitation, in connection with a termination of employment or services or other events of a personal nature);

 

(g)                                  determine Fair Market Value for purposes of this Plan and Awards;

 

(h)                                 determine the duration and purposes of leaves of absence that may be granted to Participants without constituting a termination of their employment for purposes of this Plan;

 

(i)                                     determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof and authorize the termination, conversion, substitution or succession of awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 7.3; and

 

(j)                                    implement any procedures, steps, additional or different requirements as may be necessary to comply with any laws of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) that may be applicable to this Plan, any Award or any related documents, including but not limited to foreign exchange laws, tax laws and securities laws of the PRC.

 

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2.3                               Binding Determinations. Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Company, any Affiliate, the Board or the Administrator relating or pursuant to this Plan and within its authority hereunder or under applicable law shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with this Plan (or any Award), and all such persons shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors and officers liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time.

 

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

 

2.5                               Delegation. The Administrator may delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates or to third parties.

 

3.                                      ELIGIBILITY.

 

Awards may be granted under this Plan only to those persons that the Administrator determines to be Eligible Persons. An “Eligible Person” means any person who qualifies as one of the following at the time of grant of the respective Award:

 

(a)                                 an officer (whether or not a director) or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates;

 

(b)                                 any member of the Board; or

 

(c)                                  any director of one of the Company’s Affiliates, or any individual consultant or advisor who renders or has rendered bona fide services (other than services in connection with the offering or sale of securities of the Company or one of its Affiliates, as applicable, in a capital raising transaction or as a market maker or promoter of that entity’s securities) to the Company or one of its Affiliates.

 

An advisor or consultant may be selected as an Eligible Person pursuant to clause (c) above only if such person’s participation in this Plan would not adversely affect (1) the Company’s eligibility to rely on the Rule 701 exemption from registration under the Securities Act for the offering of shares issuable under this Plan by the Company, or (2) the Company’s compliance with any other applicable laws.

 

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An Eligible Person may, but need not, be granted one or more Awards pursuant to Section 5 and/or one or more Awards pursuant to Section 6. An Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under this Plan may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards under this Plan if the Administrator so determines. However, a person’s status as an Eligible Person is not a commitment that any Award will be granted to that person under this Plan. Furthermore, an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under Section 5 is not necessarily entitled to an Award under Section 6, or vice versa, unless otherwise expressly determined by the Administrator.

 

Each Award granted under this Plan must be approved by the Administrator at or prior to the grant of the Award.

 

4.                                      SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

 

4.1                               Shares Available. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3.1, the shares that may be delivered under this Plan will be the Company’s authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares (and any of its Ordinary Shares held as treasury shares). The Ordinary Shares issued and delivered may be issued and delivered for any lawful consideration.

 

4.2                               Share Limit. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3.1 and further subject to the share counting rules of Section 4.3, the maximum number of Ordinary Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan will not exceed 11,391,131 shares (the “Share Limit”) in the aggregate. As required under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.422- 2(b)(3)(i), in no event will the number of Ordinary Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan exceed the Share Limit.

 

4.3                               Replenishment and Reissue of Unvested Awards. To the extent that an Award is settled in cash or a form other than Ordinary Shares, the shares that would have been delivered had there been no such cash or other settlement shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance under this Plan. No Award may be granted under this Plan unless, on the date of grant, the sum of (a) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares issuable at any time pursuant to such Award, plus (b) the number of Ordinary Shares that have previously been issued pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan, plus (c) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares that may be issued at any time after such date of grant pursuant to Awards that are outstanding on such date, does not exceed the Share Limit. Ordinary Shares that are subject to or underlie Options or SARs granted under this Plan that expire or for any reason are canceled or terminated without having been exercised (or Ordinary Shares subject to or underlying the unexercised portion of such Options or SARs in the case of Options or SARs that were partially exercised), as well as Ordinary Shares that are subject to Share Awards made under this Plan that are forfeited to the Company or otherwise repurchased by the Company prior to the vesting of such shares for a price not greater than the original purchase or issue price of such shares (as adjusted pursuant to Section 7.3.1) will again, except to the extent prohibited by law or applicable listing or regulatory requirements, be available for subsequent Award grants under this Plan. Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under this Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or one of its Affiliates to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award, shall be available for subsequent Awards under this Plan. In the case of an exercise of a SAR, only the number of shares actually issued in respect of such exercise shall be charged against this Plan’s Share Limit. Adjustments to the Share Limit pursuant to this Section 4.3 are subject to any applicable limitations of the Code in the case of Awards intended to be Incentive Stock Options.

 

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4.4                               Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve a number of Ordinary Shares sufficient to cover the Company’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver shares with respect to Awards then outstanding under this Plan.

 

5.                                      OPTION AND SAR GRANT PROGRAM.

 

5.1                               Option and SAR Grants in General. Each Option or SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator. The Award Agreement evidencing an Option or SAR shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Award, as well as any other terms, provisions, or restrictions that the Administrator may impose on the Option or SAR or any Ordinary Shares subject to the Option or SAR; in each case subject to the applicable provisions and limitations of this Section 5 and the other applicable provisions and limitations of this Plan. The Administrator may require that the recipient of an Option or SAR promptly execute and return to the Company his or her Award Agreement evidencing the Award. In addition, the Administrator may require that the spouse of any married recipient of an Option or SAR also promptly execute and return to the Company the Award Agreement evidencing the Award granted to the recipient or such other spousal consent form that the Administrator may require in connection with the grant of the Award.

 

5.2                               Incentive Stock Option Status. The Administrator will designate each Option granted under this Plan to a U.S. resident as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option, and such designation shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Option granted under this Plan to a U.S. resident that is not expressly designated in the applicable Award Agreement as an Incentive Stock Option will be deemed to be designated a Nonqualified Option under this Plan and not an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5.5 in addition to the provisions of this Plan applicable to Options generally. The Administrator may designate any Option granted under this Plan to a non-U.S. resident in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to options in the jurisdiction in which such person is a resident.

 

5.3                               Option or SAR Price.

 

5.3.1                     Option Pricing Limits. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 5.3.1, the Administrator will determine the purchase price per share of the Ordinary Shares covered by each Option (the “exercise price” of the Option) at the time of the grant of the Option, which exercise price will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In no case will the exercise price of an Option be less than the greatest of:

 

(a)                                 the par value of an Ordinary Share;

 

(b)                                 in the case of an Incentive Stock Option and subject to clause (c) below, 100% of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of grant; or

 

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(c)                                  in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant described in Section 5.5.4, 110% of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date of grant.

 

5.3.2                     Payment Provisions. The Company will not be obligated to deliver certificates for the Ordinary Shares to be purchased upon the exercise of an Option unless and until it receives full payment of the exercise price therefor, all related withholding obligations under Section 7.6 have been satisfied, and all other conditions to the exercise of the Option set forth herein or in the Award Agreement have been satisfied. The purchase price of any Ordinary Shares purchased upon the exercise of an Option must be paid in full at the time of each purchase in such lawful consideration as may be permitted or required by the Administrator, which may include, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods:

 

(a)                                 cash, check payable to the order of the Company, or electronic funds transfer;

 

(b)                                 notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator;

 

(c)                                  the delivery of previously owned Ordinary Shares;

 

(d)                                 by a reduction in the number of Ordinary Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award;

 

(e)                                  subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise”; or

 

(f)                                   if authorized by the Administrator or specified in the applicable Award Agreement, by a promissory note of the Participant consistent with the requirements of Section 5.3.3.

 

In no event shall any shares newly-issued by the Company be issued for less than the minimum lawful consideration for such shares or for consideration other than consideration permitted by applicable law. Ordinary Shares used to satisfy the exercise price of an Option (whether previously- owned shares or shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the terms of the Option) shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Administrator may eliminate or limit a Participant’s ability to pay the purchase or exercise price of any Award by any method other than cash payment to the Company. The Administrator may take all actions necessary to alter the method of Option exercise and the exchange and transmittal of proceeds with respect to Participants resident in the PRC not having permanent residence in a country other than the PRC in order to comply with applicable PRC foreign exchange and tax regulations and any other applicable PRC laws and regulations.

 

5.3.3                     Acceptance of Notes to Finance Exercise. The Company may, with the Administrator’s approval in each specific case, accept one or more promissory notes from any Eligible Person in connection with the exercise of any Option; provided that any such note shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

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(a)                                 The principal of the note shall not exceed the amount required to be paid to the Company upon the exercise, purchase or acquisition of one or more Awards under this Plan and the note shall be delivered directly to the Company in consideration of such exercise, purchase or acquisition.

 

(b)                                 The initial term of the note shall be determined by the Administrator; provided that the term of the note, including extensions, shall not exceed a period of five years.

 

(c)                                  The note shall provide for full recourse to the Participant and shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Administrator, but not less than the interest rate necessary to avoid the imputation of interest under the Code or other applicable tax law, rules or regulations, and to avoid any adverse accounting consequences in connection with the exercise, purchase or acquisition.

 

(d)                                 If the employment or services of the Participant by or to the Company and its Affiliates terminates, the unpaid principal balance of the note shall become due and payable on the 30th business day after such termination; provided, however, that if a sale of the shares acquired on exercise of the Option would cause such Participant to incur liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the unpaid balance shall become due and payable on the 10th business day after the first day on which a sale of such shares could have been made without incurring such liability assuming for these purposes that there are no other transactions (or deemed transactions) in securities of the Company by the Participant subsequent to such termination.

 

(e)                                  If required by the Administrator or by applicable law, the note shall be secured by a pledge of any shares or rights financed thereby or other collateral, in compliance with applicable law.

 

The terms, repayment provisions, and collateral release provisions of the note and the pledge securing the note shall conform with all applicable rules and regulations, including those of the Federal Reserve Board of the United States and any applicable law, as then in effect.

 

5.3.4                     Base Price of SARs. The Administrator will determine the base price per share of the Ordinary Shares covered by each SAR at the time of the grant of the SAR, which base price will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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5.4                               Vesting; Term; Exercise Procedure.

 

5.4.1                     Vesting. Except as provided in Section 5.8, an Option or SAR may be exercised only to the extent that it is vested and exercisable. The Administrator will determine the vesting and/or exercisability provisions of each Option or SAR (which may be based on performance criteria, passage of time or other factors or any combination thereof), which provisions will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides, once exercisable an Option or SAR will remain exercisable until the expiration or earlier termination of the Option or SAR.

 

5.4.2                     Term. Each Option and SAR shall expire not more than 10 years after its date of grant. Each Option and SAR will be subject to earlier termination as provided in or pursuant to Sections 5.6 and 7.3 or the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

5.4.3                     Exercise Procedure. Any exercisable Option or SAR will be deemed to be exercised when (a) the applicable exercise procedures in the related Award Agreement have been satisfied (or, in the absence of any such procedures in the related Award Agreement, the Company has received written notice of such exercise from the Participant), and (b) in the case of an Option, the Company has received any required payment made in accordance with Section 5.3 and Section 7.6, and (c) in the case of an Option or SAR, the Company has received any written statement required pursuant to Section 7.5.1.

 

5.4.4                     Fractional Shares/Minimum Issue. Fractional share interests will be disregarded, but may be accumulated. The Administrator, however, may determine that cash, other securities, or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests. No Option or SAR may be exercised as to fewer than 100 shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7.3.1) at one time unless the number as to which the Award is exercised is the total number at the time then subject to the vested and exercisable portion of the Award.

 

5.5                               Limitations on Grant and Terms of Incentive Stock Options.

 

5.5.1                     US$100,000 Limit. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares with respect to which incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year exceeds US$100,000, taking into account both Ordinary Shares subject to Incentive Stock Options under this Plan and shares subject to incentive stock options under all other plans of the Company or any of its Affiliates, such options will be treated as Nonqualified Options. For this purpose, the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to options will be determined as of the date the options were awarded. In reducing the number of options treated as incentive stock options to meet the US$100,000 limit, the most recently granted options will be reduced (recharacterized as Nonqualified Options) first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the US$100,000 limit, the Administrator may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which Ordinary Shares are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option.

 

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5.5.2                     Other Code Limits. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to individuals that are employees of the Company or one of its Affiliates and satisfy the other eligibility requirements of the Code. Any Award Agreement relating to Incentive Stock Options will contain or shall be deemed to contain such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the Option be an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

5.5.3                     ISO Notice of Sale Requirement. Any Participant who exercises an Incentive Stock Option shall give prompt written notice to the Company of any sale or other transfer of the Ordinary Shares acquired on such exercise if the sale or other transfer occurs within (a) one year after the exercise date of the Option, or (b) two years after the grant date of the Option.

 

5.5.4                     Limits on 10% Holders. No Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any person who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) outstanding shares of the Company (or any of its Affiliates) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company (or any of its Affiliates), unless the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to the Incentive Stock Option and the Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable more than five years after the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted.

 

5.6                               Effects of Termination of Employment on Options and SARs.

 

5.6.1                     Dismissal for Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or any of its Affiliates is terminated by such entity for Cause, the Participant’s Option or SAR will terminate on the Participant’s Severance Date, whether or not the Option or SAR is then vested and/or exercisable.

 

5.6.2                     Death or Disability. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement (consistent with applicable securities laws) and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates as a result of the Participant’s death or Total Disability:

 

(a)                                 the Participant (or his or her Personal Representative or Beneficiary, in the case of the Participant’s Total Disability or death, respectively), will have until the date that is 12 months after the Participant’s Severance Date to exercise the Participant’s Option or SAR (or portion thereof) to the extent that it was vested and exercisable on the Severance Date;

 

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(b)                                 the Option or SAR, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the Participant’s Severance Date, shall terminate on the Severance Date; and

 

(c)                                  the Option or SAR, to the extent exercisable for the 12-month period following the Participant’s Severance Date and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 12-month period.

 

5.6.3                     Other Terminations of Employment. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement (consistent with applicable securities laws) and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates for any reason other than a termination by such entity for Cause or because of the Participant’s death or Total Disability:

 

(a)                                 the Participant will have until the date that is 3 months after the Participant’s Severance Date to exercise his or her Option or SAR (or portion thereof) to the extent that it was vested and exercisable on the Severance Date;

 

(b)                                 the Option or SAR, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the Participant’s Severance Date, shall terminate on the Severance Date; and

 

(c)                                  the Option or SAR, to the extent exercisable for the 3-month period following the Participant’s Severance Date and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 3-month period.

 

5.7                               Option and SAR Repricing/Cancellation and Regrant/Waiver of Restrictions. Subject to Section 4 and Section 7.7 and the specific limitations on Options and SARs contained in this Plan, the Administrator from time to time may authorize, generally or in specific cases only, for the benefit of any Eligible Person, any adjustment in the exercise or base price, the vesting schedule, the number of shares subject to, or the term of, an Option or SAR granted under this Plan by cancellation of an outstanding Option or SAR and a subsequent regranting of the Option or SAR, by amendment, by substitution of an outstanding Option or SAR, by waiver or by other legally valid means. Such amendment or other action may result in, among other changes, an exercise or base price that is higher or lower than the exercise or base price of the original or prior Option or SAR, provide for a greater or lesser number of Ordinary Shares subject to the Option or SAR, or provide for a longer or shorter vesting or exercise period.

 

5.8                               Early Exercise Options and SARs. The Administrator may, in its discretion, designate any Option or SAR as an “early exercise Option” or “early exercise SAR” which, by express provision in the applicable Award Agreement, may be exercised prior to the date such Option or SAR has vested. If the Participant elects to exercise all or a portion of an early exercise Option or SAR before it is vested, the Ordinary Shares acquired under the Option or SAR which are attributable to the unvested portion of the Option or SAR shall be Restricted Shares. The applicable Award Agreement will specify the extent (if any) to which and the time (if ever) at which the Participant will be entitled to dividends, voting and other rights in respect of such Restricted Shares prior to vesting, and the restrictions imposed on such shares and the conditions of release or lapse of such restrictions. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, such Restricted Shares shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 6.6 through 6.9, below.

 

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6.                                      SHARE AWARD PROGRAM.

 

6.1                               Share Awards in General. Each Share Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator. The Award Agreement evidencing a Share Award shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Share Award, as well as any other terms, provisions, or restrictions that the Administrator may impose on the Share Award; in each case subject to the applicable provisions and limitations of this Section 6 and the other applicable provisions and limitations of this Plan. The Administrator may require that the recipient of a Share Award promptly execute and return to the Company his or her Award Agreement evidencing the Share Award. In addition, the Administrator may require that the spouse of any married recipient of a Share Award also promptly execute and return to the Company the Award Agreement evidencing the Share Award granted to the recipient or such other spousal consent form that the Administrator may require in connection with the grant of the Share Award.

 

6.2                               Types of Share Awards. The Administrator shall designate whether a Share Award shall be a Restricted Share Award, and such designation shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.3                               Purchase Price.

 

6.3.1                     Pricing Limits. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 6.3, the Administrator will determine the purchase price per share of the Ordinary Shares covered by each Share Award at the time of grant of the Award. In no case will such purchase price be less than the par value of the Ordinary Shares.

 

6.3.2                     Payment Provisions. The Company will not be obligated to record in the Company’s register of members, or issue certificates evidencing, Ordinary Shares awarded under this Section 6 unless and until it receives full payment of the purchase price therefor and all other conditions to the purchase, as determined by the Administrator, have been satisfied, at which point the relevant shares shall be issued and noted in the Company’s register of members. The purchase price of any shares subject to a Share Award must be paid in full at the time of the purchase in such lawful consideration as may be permitted or required by the Administrator, which may include, without limitation, one or a combination of the methods set forth in clauses (a) through (f) in Section 5.3.2 and/or past services rendered to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

6.4                               Vesting. The restrictions imposed on the Ordinary Shares subject to a Restricted Share Award (which may be based on performance criteria, passage of time or other factors or any combination thereof) will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.5                               Term. A Share Award shall either vest or be repurchased by the Company as provided in Section 6.8 not more than 10 years after the date of grant. Each Share Award will be subject to earlier termination as provided in or pursuant to Sections 6.8 and 7.3. Any payment of cash or delivery of shares in payment for a Share Award may be delayed until a future date if specifically authorized by the Administrator in writing and by the Participant.

 

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6.6                               Share Certificates; Fractional Shares. Share certificates evidencing Restricted Shares will bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed hereunder and will be held by the Company or by a third party designated by the Administrator until the restrictions on such shares have lapsed, the shares have vested in accordance with the provisions of the Award Agreement and Section 6.4, and any related loan has been repaid. Fractional share interests will be disregarded, but may be accumulated. The Administrator, however, may determine that cash, other securities, or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests.

 

6.7                               Dividend and Voting Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant holding Restricted Shares will be entitled to cash dividend and voting rights for all Restricted Shares issued even though they are not vested, but such rights will terminate immediately as to any Restricted Shares which cease to be eligible for vesting or are repurchased by the Company.

 

6.8                               Termination of Employment; Return to the Company. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides, Restricted Shares subject to an Award that remain subject to vesting conditions that have not been satisfied by the time specified in the applicable Award Agreement (which may include, without limitation, the Participant’s Severance Date), will not vest and will be reacquired by the Company in such manner and on such terms as the Administrator provides, which terms shall include, to the extent not prohibited by law, return or repayment of the lower of (a) the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Shares at the time of the termination, or (b) if applicable, the original purchase price of the Restricted Shares, without interest. The Award Agreement shall specify any other terms or conditions of the repurchase if the Award fails to vest. Any other Share Award that has not been exercised as of a Participant’s Severance Date shall terminate on that date unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.9                               Waiver of Restrictions. Subject to Sections 4 and 7.7 and the specific limitations on Share Awards contained in this Plan, the Administrator from time to time may authorize, generally or in specific cases only, for the benefit of any Eligible Person, any adjustment in the vesting schedule, or the restrictions upon or the term of, a Share Award granted under this Plan by amendment, by substitution of an outstanding Share Award, by waiver or by other legally valid means.

 

7.                                      PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS.

 

7.1                               Rights of Eligible Persons, Participants and Beneficiaries.

 

7.1.1                     Employment Status. No Person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an Award (or additional Awards, as the case may be) under this Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than this Plan) to the contrary.

 

7.1.2                     No Employment/Service Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan (or in any other documents under this Plan or related to any Award) shall confer upon any Eligible Person or Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to change such person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause at any time. Nothing in this Section 7.1.2, or in Section 7.3 or 7.15, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract. An Award Agreement shall not constitute a contract of employment or service.

 

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7.1.3                     Plan Not Funded. Awards payable under this Plan will be payable in Ordinary Shares or from the general assets of the Company, and (except as to the share reservation provided in Section 4.4) no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit will be made to assure payment of such Awards. No Participant, Beneficiary or other person will have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including Ordinary Shares, except as expressly provided) of the Company or any of its Affiliates by reason of any Award hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan will create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any of its Affiliates and any Participant, Beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a Participant, Beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award hereunder, such right will be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

7.1.4                     Charter Documents. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, as may lawfully be amended from time to time, may provide for additional restrictions and limitations with respect to the Ordinary Shares (including additional restrictions and limitations on the voting or transfer of Ordinary Shares) or priorities, rights and preferences as to securities and interests prior in rights to the Ordinary Shares. These restrictions and limitations are in addition to (and not in lieu of) those set forth in this Plan or any Award Agreement and are incorporated herein by this reference.

 

7.2                               No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions.

 

7.2.1                     Limit on Exercise and Transfer. Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 7.2, by applicable law and by the Award Agreement, as the same may be amended:

 

(a)                                 all Awards are non-transferable and will not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge;

 

(b)                                 Awards will be exercised only by the Participant; and

 

(c)                                  amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an Award will be delivered only to (or for the account of), and, in the case of Ordinary Shares, registered in the name of, the Participant.

 

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In addition, the shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

7.2.2                     Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer. The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 7.2.1 will not apply to:

 

(a)                                 transfers to the Company;

 

(b)                                 transfers by gift or domestic relations order to one or more “family members” (as that term is defined in SEC Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Participant, including transfers to a trust in which the Participant (or other family member) has more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which the Participant (or other family member) controls the management of assets, or an entity in which the Participant (or other family member) owns more than 50% of the voting interest, so long as such transfer is expressly authorized by the Administrator and is in compliance with all applicable laws;

 

(c)                                  the designation of a Beneficiary to receive benefits if the Participant dies or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercises by the Participant’s Beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated Beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or

 

(d)                                 if the Participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant by the Participant’s duly authorized legal representative.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 7.2.2 to the contrary, but subject to compliance with all applicable laws, Incentive Stock Options and Restricted Share Awards will be subject to any and all transfer restrictions under the Code applicable to such awards or necessary to maintain the intended tax consequences of such Awards. Notwithstanding clause (b) above but subject to compliance with all applicable laws, any contemplated transfer by gift or domestic relations order to one or more family members of a Participant as referenced in clause (b) above is subject to the condition precedent that the transfer be approved by the Administrator in order for it to be effective. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, withhold its approval of any such proposed transfer.

 

7.3                               Adjustments; Changes in Control.

 

7.3.1                     Adjustments. Subject to Section 7.3.2 below, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any reclassification, recapitalization, share split (including a share split in the form of a share dividend) or reverse share split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any split-up, spin-off, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Ordinary Shares; or any exchange of Ordinary Shares or other securities of the Company, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Ordinary Shares; then the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares of Ordinary Shares (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 this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of Ordinary Shares (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding Awards, (3) the grant, purchase, exercise or base price of any outstanding Awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or vesting of any outstanding Awards, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding Awards.

 

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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 Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust the performance standards applicable to any then-outstanding performance-based Awards to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this 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 and Section 409A 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 2.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances pursuant to this Section 7.3.1, and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, in no event shall a conversion of one or more outstanding shares of the Company’s preferred share (if any) or any new issuance of securities by the Company for consideration be deemed, in and of itself, to require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7.3.1.

 

7.3.2                     Consequences of a Change in Control Event. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event, the Administrator may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding Awards (or the cash, securities or other property deliverable to the holder(s) of any or all outstanding Awards) based upon, to the extent relevant in the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Ordinary Shares upon or in respect of such event.

 

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In addition, subject to Sections 7.3.4 and 7.3.5, upon (or, as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this acceleration, immediately prior to) the occurrence of a Change in Control Event:

 

(a)                                 each Option and SAR will become immediately vested and exercisable; and

 

(b)                                 Restricted Shares will immediately vest free of forfeiture restrictions and/or restrictions giving the Company the right to repurchase the shares at their original purchase price;

 

provided,  however, that such acceleration provision shall not apply, unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, with respect to any Award to the extent that the Administrator 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.

 

The foregoing Change in Control Event provisions shall not in any way limit the authority of the Administrator to accelerate the vesting of one or more Awards (as to all or only a portion of any Award) in such circumstances (including, but not limited to, a Change in Control Event) as the Administrator may determine to be appropriate, regardless of whether accelerated vesting of all or a portion of the Award(s) is otherwise required or contemplated by the foregoing in the circumstances.

 

The Administrator may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash, securities or other property settlement. In the case of Options and SARs, but without limitation on other methodologies, the Administrator may base such settlement solely upon the excess (if any) of the amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or base price of the Option or SAR, as applicable, to the extent of the then vested and exercisable shares subject to the Option or SAR.

 

In any of the events referred to in this Section 7.3.2, the Administrator may take such action contemplated by this Section 7.3.2 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Administrator 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 the foregoing, the Administrator may deem an acceleration to occur immediately prior to the applicable event and/or reinstate the original terms of the Award if an event giving rise to an acceleration does not occur.

 

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7.3.3                     Early Termination of Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event, each then-outstanding Award (whether or not vested and/or exercisable, but after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances pursuant to Sections 7.3.2, 7.3.4 and 7.3.5) shall terminate, subject to any provision that has been expressly made by the Administrator, through a plan of reorganization or otherwise, for the survival, substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of such Award and provided that, in the case of Options and SARs that will not survive or be substituted for, assumed, exchanged, or otherwise continued or settled in the Change in Control Event, the holder of such Award shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding and vested Options and SARs (the vested portion of such Options and SARs determined after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances pursuant to Sections 7.3.2, 7.3.4 and 7.3.5) in accordance with their terms before the termination of the Awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of accelerated vesting and the impending termination be required and any acceleration may be made contingent upon the actual occurrence of the event). For purposes of this Section 7.3, an Award shall be deemed to have been “assumed” if (without limiting other circumstances in which an Award is assumed) the Award continues after the Change in Control Event, and/or is assumed and continued by a Parent (as such term is defined in the definition of Change in Control Event) following a Change in Control Event, and confers the right to purchase or receive, as applicable and subject to vesting and the other terms and conditions of the Award, for each Ordinary Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether cash, shares, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by the shareholders of the Company for each Ordinary Share sold or exchanged in such transaction (or the consideration received by a majority of the shareholders participating in such transaction if the shareholders were offered a choice of consideration); provided, however, that if the consideration offered for an Ordinary Share in the transaction is not solely the ordinary or common shares of a successor company or a Parent, the Administrator may provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise or payment of the Award, for each share subject to the Award, to be solely ordinary or common shares (as applicable) of the successor company or a Parent equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by the shareholders participating in the Change in Control Event.

 

7.3.4                     Other Acceleration Rules. The Administrator may override the provisions of this Section 7.3 as to any Award by express provision in the applicable Award Agreement and may accord any Participant a right to refuse any acceleration, whether pursuant to the Award Agreement or otherwise, in such circumstances as the Administrator may approve. The portion of any Incentive Stock Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control Event (or such other circumstances as may trigger accelerated vesting of the Incentive Stock Option) shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option only to the extent the applicable US$100,000 limitation on Incentive Stock Options is not exceeded. To the extent exceeded, the accelerated portion of the Option shall be exercisable as a Nonqualified Option.

 

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7.3.5                     Golden Parachute Limitation. Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Section 7.3 to the contrary, in no event shall any Award or payment be accelerated under this Section 7.3 to an extent or in a manner so that such Award or payment, together with any other compensation and benefits provided to, or for the benefit of, the Participant under any other plan or agreement of the Company or one of its Affiliates, would not be fully deductible by the Company or one of its Affiliates for federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Code. If a holder of an Award would be entitled to benefits or payments hereunder and under any other plan or program that would constitute “parachute payments” as defined in Section 280G of the Code, then the holder may by written notice to the Company designate the order in which such parachute payments will be reduced or modified so that the Company or one of its Affiliates is not denied federal income tax deductions for any “parachute payments” because of Section 280G of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant is a party to an employment or other agreement with the Company or one of its Affiliates, or is a participant in a severance program sponsored by the Company or one of its Affiliates that contains express provisions regarding Section 280G and/or Section 4999 of the Code (or any similar successor provision), or the applicable Award Agreement includes such provisions, the Section 280G and/or Section 4999 provisions of such employment or other agreement or plan, as applicable, shall control as to the Awards held by that Participant (for example, and without limitation, a Participant may be a party to an employment agreement with the Company or one of its Affiliates that provides for a “gross-up” as opposed to a “cut-back” in the event that the Section 280G thresholds are reached or exceeded in connection with a change in control and, in such event, the Section 280G and/or Section 4999 provisions of such employment agreement shall control as to any Awards held by that Participant).

 

7.4                               Termination of Employment or Services.

 

7.4.1                     Events Not Deemed a Termination of Employment. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides with respect to a particular Award, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Company or an Affiliate terminates but immediately thereafter the Participant continues in the employ of or service to another Affiliate or the Company, as applicable, the Participant shall be deemed to have not had a termination of employment or service for purposes of this Plan and the Participant’s Awards. Unless the express policy of the Company or the Administrator otherwise provides, a Participant’s employment relationship with the Company or any of its Affiliates shall not be considered terminated solely due to any sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence authorized by the Company or any Affiliate or the Administrator; provided  that, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law, such leave is for a period of not more than three months. In the case of any Participant on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of or service with the Company or any of its Affiliates will be suspended until the Participant returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires. In no event shall an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term of the Award set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

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7.4.2                     Effect of Change of Affiliate Status. For purposes of this Plan and any Award, if an entity ceases to be an Affiliate, a termination of employment or service will be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Person in respect of such Affiliate who does not continue as an Eligible Person in respect of another Affiliate that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status unless the Affiliate that is sold, spun-off or otherwise divested (or its successor or a direct or indirect parent of such Affiliate or successor) assumes the Eligible Person’s award(s) in connection with such transaction.

 

7.4.3                     Administrator Discretion. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.6 or 6.8, in the event of, or in anticipation of, a termination of employment or service with the Company or any of its Affiliates for any reason, the Administrator may accelerate the vesting and exercisability of all or a portion of the Participant’s Award, and/or, subject to the provisions of Sections 5.4.2 and 7.3, extend the exercisability period of the Participant’s Option or SAR upon such terms as the Administrator determines and expressly sets forth in or by amendment to the Award Agreement.

 

7.4.4                     Termination of Consulting or Affiliate Services. If the Participant is an Eligible Person solely by reason of clause (c) of Section 3, the Administrator shall be the sole judge of whether the Participant continues to render services to the Company or any of its Affiliates, unless a written contract or the Award Agreement otherwise provides. If, in these circumstances, the Company or any Affiliate notifies the Participant in writing that a termination of the Participant’s services to the Company or any Affiliate has occurred for purposes of this Plan, then (unless the contract or the Award Agreement otherwise expressly provides), the Participant’s termination of services with the Company or Affiliate for purposes of this Plan shall be the date specified by the Company or Affiliate in the notice.

 

7.5                               Compliance with Laws.

 

7.5.1                     General. This Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under this Plan, and the offer, issuance and delivery of Ordinary Shares, the acceptance of promissory notes and/or the payment of money under this Plan or under Awards are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, applicable foreign laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities laws, and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

7.5.2                     Compliance with Securities Laws. No Participant shall sell, pledge or otherwise transfer Ordinary Shares acquired pursuant to an Award or any interest in such shares except in accordance with the express terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any attempted transfer in violation of this Section 7.5 shall be void and of no effect. Without in any way limiting the provisions set forth above, no Participant shall make any disposition of all or any portion of Ordinary Shares acquired or to be acquired pursuant to an Award, except in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and unless and until:

 

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(a)                                 there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement;

 

(b)                                 such disposition is made in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

(c)                                  such Participant notifies the Company of the proposed disposition and furnishes the Company with a statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and, if requested by the Company, furnishes to the Company an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company’s counsel, that such disposition will not require registration under the Securities Act and will be in compliance with all applicable state securities laws.

 

Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, neither the Company or any Affiliate has any obligation to register the Ordinary Shares or file any registration statement under either federal or state securities laws, nor does the Company or any Affiliate make any representation concerning the likelihood of a public offering of the Ordinary Shares or any other securities of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

7.5.3                     Share Legends. All certificates evidencing Ordinary Shares issued or delivered under this Plan shall bear the following legends and/or any other appropriate or required legends under applicable laws:

 

“OWNERSHIP OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND ANY INTEREST THEREIN ARE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER UNDER APPLICABLE LAW AND UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE COMPANY, INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON SALE, ASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER DISPOSITION.”

 

“THE SHARES ARE SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND CALL RIGHTS TO REPURCHASE THE SHARES UNDER THE COMPANY’S SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS WITH THE COMPANY THEREUNDER.”

 

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (“ACT”), AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY. SUCH LOCK-UP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.”

 

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“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE ACT, NOR HAVE THEY BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. NO TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES WILL BE PERMITTED UNLESS A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT IS IN EFFECT AS TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRANSFER IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT, OR IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY, REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS UNNECESSARY IN ORDER FOR SUCH TRANSFER TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT AND WITH ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS.”

 

7.5.4                     Confidential Information. Any financial or other information relating to the Company obtained by Participants in connection with or as a result of this Plan or their Awards shall be treated as confidential.

 

7.6                               Tax Withholding. Upon any exercise, vesting, or payment of any Award or upon the disposition of Ordinary Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to satisfaction of the holding period requirements of Section 422 of the Code, the Company or any of its Affiliates shall have the right at its option to:

 

(a)                                 require the Participant (or the Participant’s Personal Representative or Beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of at least the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company or Affiliate may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment;

 

(b)                                 deduct from any amount otherwise payable (in respect of an Award or otherwise) in cash to the Participant (or the Participant’s Personal Representative or Beneficiary, as the case may be) the minimum amount of any taxes which the Company or Affiliate may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment; or

 

(c)                                  reduce the number of Ordinary Shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire shares held by the Participant) the appropriate number of Ordinary Shares, valued at their then Fair Market Value, to satisfy the minimum withholding obligation.

 

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In any case where a tax is required to be withheld (including taxes in the PRC where applicable) in connection with the delivery of Ordinary Shares under this Plan (including the sale of Ordinary Shares as may be required to comply with foreign exchange rules in the PRC for Participants resident in the PRC), the Administrator may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 7.5) grant (either at the time of the Award or thereafter) to the Participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Administrator may establish, to have the Company reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares, valued in a consistent manner at their Fair Market Value or at the sales price in accordance with authorized procedures for cashless exercises, necessary to satisfy the minimum applicable withholding obligation on exercise, vesting or payment. In no event shall the shares withheld exceed the minimum whole number of shares required for tax withholding under applicable law. The Company may, with the Administrator’s approval, accept one or more promissory notes from any Eligible Person in connection with taxes required to be withheld upon the exercise, vesting or payment of any Award under this Plan; provided that any such note shall be subject to terms and conditions established by the Administrator and the requirements of applicable law. Any such note need not otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 5.3.3.

 

7.7                               Plan and Award Amendments, Termination and Suspension.

 

7.7.1                     Board Authorization. The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this Plan, in whole or in part. No Awards may be granted during any period that the Board suspends this Plan.

 

7.7.2                     Shareholder Approval. To the extent then required by applicable law or any applicable listing agency or required under Sections 162, 422 or 424 of the Code or other applicable tax law, rules or regulations, to preserve the intended tax consequences of this Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to this Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval.

 

7.7.3                     Amendments to Awards. Without limiting any other express authority of the Administrator under (but subject to) the express limits of this Plan, the Administrator by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on Awards to Participants that the Administrator in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a Participant, and (subject to the requirements of Sections 2.2 and 7.7.4) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of Awards.

 

7.7.4                     Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards. No amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan or amendment of any outstanding Award 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 this Plan prior to the effective date of such change. Changes, settlements and other actions contemplated by Section 7.3 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 7.7.

 

7.8                               Privileges of Share Ownership. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Administrator, a Participant will not be entitled to any privilege of share ownership as to any Ordinary Shares not actually delivered to and held of record by the Participant. Except as expressly required by Section 7.3.1, no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a shareholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery.

 

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7.9                               Share-Based Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Other Company. Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee share options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares or other share-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Persons in respect of the Company or one of its Affiliates, in connection with a distribution, merger, amalgamation or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Company or one of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the shares or assets of the employing entity. The Awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided the Awards reflect only adjustments giving effect to the assumption or substitution consistent with the conversion applicable to the Ordinary Shares in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security. Any shares that are delivered and any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company, as a result of the assumption by the Company of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired company (or previously granted by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Company or one of its Affiliates in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not be counted against the Share Limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under this Plan.

 

7.10                        Effective Date of the Plan. This Plan is effective upon the Effective Date, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve months after the date the Board approves this Plan.

 

7.11                        Term of the Plan. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, this Plan will terminate at the close of business on the day before the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date. After the termination of this Plan either upon such stated expiration date or its earlier termination by the Board, no additional Awards may be granted under this Plan, but previously granted Awards (and the authority of the Administrator with respect thereto, including the authority to amend such Awards) shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

7.12                        Governing Law/Severability.

 

7.12.1              Choice of Law. This Plan, the Awards, all documents evidencing Awards and all other related documents will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

7.12.2              Severability. If it is determined that any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement is invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Plan and/or the Award Agreement, as applicable, will continue in effect provided that the essential economic terms of this Plan and the Award can still be enforced.

 

7.13                        Captions. Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings will not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.

 

7.14                        Non-Exclusivity of Plan. Nothing in this Plan will limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Administrator to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Ordinary Shares, under any other plan or authority.

 

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7.15                        No Restriction on Corporate Powers. The existence of this 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: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s or any Affiliate’s capital structure or its business; (b) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Company or any Affiliate; (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference shares ahead of or affecting the Company’s authorized shares or the rights thereof; (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate; (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Company or any Affiliate’s assets or business; or (f) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Company or any Affiliate. 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 Administrator, or the Company or any employees, officers or agents of the Company or any Affiliate, as a result of any such action.

 

7.16                        Other Company Compensation or Benefit Programs. Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under an Award made pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Company or any Affiliate, except where the Administrator or the Board expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing. Awards under this Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, awards or commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

7.17                        Clawback Policy. The Awards granted under this Plan are subject to the terms of the Company’s recoupment, clawback or similar policy as it may be in effect from time to time, as well as any similar provisions of applicable law, any of which could in certain circumstances require repayment or forfeiture of Awards or any Ordinary Shares or other cash or property received with respect to the Awards (including any value received from a disposition of the shares acquired upon payment of the Awards).

 

8.                                      DEFINITIONS.

 

“Administrator” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.1.

 

“Affiliate” means (a) any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain, or (b) any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

“Award” means an award of any Option, SAR or Share Award, or any combination thereof, whether alternative or cumulative, authorized by and granted under this Plan.

 

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“Award Agreement” means any writing, approved by the Administrator, setting forth the terms of an Award that has been duly authorized and approved.

 

“Award Date” means the date upon which the Administrator took the action granting an Award or such later date as the Administrator designates as the Award Date at the time of the grant of the Award.

 

“Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts designated by a Participant, or, in the absence of a designation, entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution, to receive the benefits specified in the Award Agreement and under this Plan if the Participant dies, and means the Participant’s executor or administrator if no other Beneficiary is designated and able to act under the circumstances.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause” with respect to a Participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or another applicable contract with the Participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a “for cause” termination has on the Participant’s Awards) a termination of employment or service based upon a finding by the Company or any of its Affiliates, acting in good faith and based on its reasonable belief at the time, that the Participant:

 

(a)                                 has been negligent in the discharge of his or her duties to the Company or any Affiliate, has refused to perform stated or assigned duties or is incompetent in or (other than by reason of a disability or analogous condition) incapable of performing those duties;

 

(b)                                 has been dishonest or committed or engaged in an act of theft, embezzlement or fraud, a breach of confidentiality, an unauthorized disclosure or use of inside information, customer lists, trade secrets or other confidential information;

 

(c)                                  has breached a fiduciary duty, or willfully and materially violated any other duty, law, rule, regulation or policy of the Company or any of its Affiliates; or has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor (other than minor traffic violations or similar offenses);

 

(d)                                 has materially breached any of the provisions of any agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates;

 

(e)                                  has engaged in unfair competition with, or otherwise acted intentionally in a manner injurious to the reputation, business or assets of, the Company or any of its Affiliates; or

 

(f)                                   has improperly induced a vendor or customer to break or terminate any contract with the Company or any of its Affiliates or induced a principal for whom the Company or any Affiliate acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.

 

A termination for Cause shall be deemed to occur (subject to reinstatement upon a contrary final determination by the Administrator) on the date on which the Company or any Affiliate first delivers written notice to the Participant of a finding of termination for Cause.

 

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“Change in Control Event” means any of the following:

 

(a)                                 Approval by shareholders of the Company (or, if no shareholder approval is required, by the Board alone) of the complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, other than in the context of a Business Combination that does not constitute a Change in Control Event under paragraph (c) below;

 

(b)                                 The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a “Person”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (1) the then-outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this paragraph (b), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control Event; (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate or a successor, (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a Business Combination, (E) any acquisition by a Person described in and satisfying the conditions of Rule 13d-1(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (F) any acquisition by a Person who is the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares and/or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities on the Effective Date (or an affiliate, heir, descendant, or related party of or to such Person);

 

(c)                                  Consummation of a reorganization, amalgamation, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting shares or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company (a “Subsidiary”), a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or shares of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Ordinary Shares and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding ordinary or common shares and the combined voting power of the then- outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries (a “Parent”)), and (2) no Person (excluding any individual or entity described in clauses (C), (E) or (F) of paragraph (b) above) beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding ordinary or common shares of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that the ownership in excess of 50% existed prior to the Business Combination;

 

26

 

provided, however, that a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control Event if it is in connection with the underwritten public offering of the Company’s securities.

 

“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Company” means Adagene Inc., an exempted company organized under the Companies Law, Cap 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands, and its successors.

 

“Effective Date” means the date the Board approved this Plan.

 

“Eligible Person” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3 of this Plan. “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

“Fair Market Value,” for purposes of this Plan and unless otherwise determined or provided by the Administrator in the circumstances, means as follows:

 

(a)                                 If the Ordinary Shares are listed or admitted to trade on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange (the “Exchange”), the Fair Market Value shall equal the closing price of an Ordinary Share as reported on the composite tape for securities on the Exchange for the date in question, or, if no sales of Ordinary Shares were made on the Exchange on that date, the closing price of an Ordinary Share as reported on said composite tape for the next preceding day on which sales of Ordinary Shares were made on the Exchange. The Administrator may, however, provide with respect to one or more Awards that the Fair Market Value shall equal the closing price of an Ordinary Share as reported on the composite tape for securities listed on the Exchange on the last trading day preceding the date in question or the average of the high and low trading prices of an Ordinary Share as reported on the composite tape for securities listed on the Exchange for the date in question or the most recent trading day.

 

(b)                                 If the Ordinary Shares are not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the value as reasonably determined by the Administrator for purposes of the Award in the circumstances (with the expectation being that, in the case of a valuation as of a transaction in which Ordinary Shares or similar securities are being sold or exchanged, such determination by the Administrator will be principally based on the value of the consideration received by the holders of the securities sold or exchanged in such transaction).

 

The Administrator 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 Administrator 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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Any determination as to Fair Market Value made pursuant to this Plan shall be made without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and shall be conclusive and binding on all persons with respect to Awards granted under this Plan.

 

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated and intended as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the award of which contains such provisions (including but not limited to the receipt of shareholder approval of this Plan, if the award is made prior to such approval) and is made under such circumstances and to such persons as may be necessary to comply with that section.

 

“Nonqualified Option” means an Option that is not an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and includes any Option designated or intended as a Nonqualified Option and any Option designated or intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to meet the applicable legal requirements thereof.

 

“Option” means an option to purchase Ordinary Shares granted under Section 5 of this Plan. The Administrator will designate any Option granted to an employee of the Company or an Affiliate as a Nonqualified Option or an Incentive Stock Option and may also designate any Option as an Early Exercise Option.

 

“Ordinary Shares” means the Company’s Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards, or become subject to Awards, pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 7.3.1 of this Plan.

 

“Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted and holds an Award under this Plan.

 

“Personal Representative” means the person or persons who, upon the disability or incompetence of a Participant, has acquired on behalf of the Participant, by legal proceeding or otherwise, the power to exercise the rights or receive benefits under this Plan by virtue of having become the legal representative of the Participant.

 

“Plan” means this Adagene Inc. Share Incentive Plan, as it may hereafter be amended from time to time.

 

“Public Offering Date” means the date the Ordinary Shares are first registered under the Exchange Act and listed or quoted on a recognized national securities exchange.

 

“Restricted Shares” means Ordinary Shares awarded to a Participant under this Plan, subject to payment of such consideration and such conditions on vesting (which may include, among others, the passage of time, specified performance objectives or other factors) and such transfer and other restrictions as are established in or pursuant to this Plan and the related Award Agreement, to the extent such remain unvested and restricted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Restricted Share Award” means an award of Restricted Shares.

 

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“SAR” means a share appreciation right, representing the right, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, to receive a payment, in cash and/or Ordinary Shares (as specified in the applicable Award Agreement), equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of an Ordinary Share on the date the SAR is exercised over the “base price” of the SAR, which base price shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“Severance Date” with respect to a particular Participant means, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement:

 

(a)                                 if the Participant is an Eligible Person under clause (a) of Section 3 and the Participant’s employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates terminates (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant is actually employed by the Company or such Affiliate (unless, immediately following such termination of employment, the Participant is a member of the Board or, by express written agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates, continues to provide other services to the Company or any Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination of employment but shall be determined in accordance with clause (b) or (c) below, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s other services);

 

(b)                                 if the Participant is not an Eligible Person under clause (a) of Section 3 but is an Eligible Person under clause (b) thereof, and the Participant ceases to be a member of the Board (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant is actually a member of the Board (unless, immediately following such termination, the Participant is an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates or, by express written agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates, continues to provide other services to the Company or any Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination but shall be determined in accordance with clause (a) above or (c) below, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment or other services);

 

(c)                                  if the Participant is not an Eligible Person under clause (a) or clause (b) of Section 3 but is an Eligible Person under clause (c) thereof, and the Participant ceases to provide services to the Company or any of its Affiliates as determined in accordance with Section 7.4.4 (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant actually provides services to the Company or such Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3 (unless, immediately following such termination, the Participant is an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates or is a member of the Board, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination of services but shall be determined in accordance with clause (a) or (b) above, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment or membership on the Board).

 

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“Share Award” means an award of Ordinary Shares under Section 6 of this Plan. A Share Award may be a Restricted Share Award or an award of unrestricted Ordinary Shares.

 

“Total Disability” means a “total and permanent disability” within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and, with respect to Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, such other disabilities, infirmities, afflictions, or conditions as the Administrator may include.

 

30Exhibit 10.3

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of           (the “Effective Date”), by and between Adagene Inc. a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company” and, together with all of its direct or indirect parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, or subsidiaries or affiliates of its parent companies, collectively referred to as the “Company Group”), and                   , an individual (the “Executive”).

 

RECITALS

 

THE PARTIES ENTER THIS AGREEMENT on the basis of the following facts, understandings and intentions:

 

A.  The Company desires that the Executive be employed by the Company to carry out the duties and responsibilities described below, all on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

B.  The Executive desires to accept such employment on such terms and conditions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals incorporated herein and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Retention and Duties.

 

1.1                               Retention.  The Company does hereby hire, engage and employ the Executive for the Period of Employment (as defined in Section 2) on the terms and conditions expressly set forth in this Agreement.  The Executive does hereby accept and agree to such hiring, engagement and employment, on the terms and conditions expressly set forth in this Agreement.  The Executive agrees to commence active employment with the Company on               (the “Hire Date”).

 

1.2                               Duties.  During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall serve the Company as its                           and shall have such powers, duties and obligations consistent with such position as the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) shall determine from time to time.  The Executive shall be subject to such directives of the Board and the corporate policies of the Company as they are in effect from time to time throughout the Period of Employment (including, without limitation, the Company’s business conduct and ethics policies, as they may change from time to time).  During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall report solely to

 

1.3                               No Other Employment; Minimum Time Commitment.  During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall both (i) devote substantially all of the Executive’s business time, energy and skill to the performance of the Executive’s duties for the Company, and (ii) hold no other employment.  The Executive’s service on the boards of directors (or similar body) of other business entities is subject to the approval of the Board.  The Company shall have the right to require the Executive to resign from any board or similar body which he may then serve if the Board reasonably determines in writing that the Executive’s service on such board or body interferes with the effective discharge of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or that any business related to such service is then in competition with any business of the Company or any of its affiliates, successors or assigns.

 

1.4                               No Breach of Contract.  The Executive hereby represents to the Company that: (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Executive and the Company and the performance by the Executive of the Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any other agreement or policy to which the Executive is a party or otherwise bound; (ii) that the Executive has no information (including, without limitation, confidential information and trade secrets) relating to any other person or entity which would prevent, or be violated by, the Executive entering into this Agreement or carrying out his duties hereunder; (iii) that the Executive is not bound by any confidentiality, trade secret or similar agreement (other than this Agreement) with any other person or entity.

 

1.5                               Location.  The Executive acknowledges that the Company’s principal executive offices are currently located in Suzhou, the People’s Republic of China.  The Executive’s principal place of employment shall be                    in US.  The Executive agrees that he will be regularly present at the Company’s principal executive offices.  The Executive acknowledges that he may be required to travel from time to time in the course of performing his duties for the Company in Suzhou,                  month in Suzhou per year.

 

2.                                      Period of Employment.  The “Period of Employment” shall be a period of twelve (12) months commencing on the Hire Date and ending at the close of business on the day which is twelve (12) months after the Hire Date (the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that this Agreement shall be automatically renewed, and the Period of Employment shall be automatically extended for one (1) additional year on the Termination Date and each anniversary of the Termination Date thereafter, unless either party gives notice, in writing, at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of this Agreement and the Period of Employment (including any renewal thereof) of such party’s desire to terminate the Agreement or modify its terms.  The term “Period of Employment” shall include any extension thereof pursuant to the preceding sentence.  Provision of notice that the Period of Employment shall not be extended or further extended, as the case may be, shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement and shall not constitute “Constructive Termination” for purposes of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Period of Employment is subject to earlier termination as provided below in this Agreement.

 

3.                                      Compensation.

 

3.1                               Base Salary.  The Executive’s base salary (the “Base Salary”) during the Period of Employment shall be paid                        in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices in effect from time to time, but not less frequently than in monthly installments.  The Executive’s Base Salary for the first twelve (12) months of the Period of Employment shall be at an annualized rate of US$                           . The Company will review the Executive’s Base Salary at least annually.  The Company will set the Executive’s rate of Base Salary for any portion of the Period of Employment after the first twelve (12) months thereof.

 

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3.2                               Incentive Bonus.  During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual incentive bonus of        % of the Base Salary under any incentive program applicable to executive officers of the Company and approved by the Board (the “Incentive Bonus”). Each annual bonus earned by Executive, if any, will be due and payable on the first regular payroll date following the 60th day after the end of the applicable calendar year (and in all events not later than March 15 of the year that follows the applicable calendar year).  Any annual bonus paid to Executive shall be subject to applicable deductions and withholdings.

 

3.3                               Stock Option.

 

Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, an option to purchase                        (                ) shares of Common Stock, exercisable at fair market value and determined at the time of your acceptance of this offer, vesting in                                     years starting on the first anniversary of your employment. Upon termination for cause, the Company may purchase all issued shares at cost and all remaining options will expire. “Cause” means (i) your willful misconduct or gross negligence, or (ii) your breach of your confidentiality agreement with the Company. Options will be issued pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan and incentive stock option agreement.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Anniversary Date” means the last day of each twelve (12)-month anniversary of the Hire Date.

 

4.                                      Benefits.

 

4.1                               Retirement, Welfare and Fringe Benefits.  During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee pension and welfare benefit plans and programs, and fringe benefit plans and programs, made available by the Company to the Company’s employees generally, in accordance with the eligibility and participation provisions of such plans and as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time.

 

4.2                               Reimbursement of Business Expenses.  The Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in carrying out the Executive’s duties for the Company under this Agreement and reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses the Executive incurs during the Period of Employment in connection with carrying out the Executive’s duties for the Company, subject to the Company’s expense reimbursement policies in effect from time to time.

 

4.3                               Vacation and Other Leave.  During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall accrue and be entitled to take paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policies in effect from time to time, including the Company’s policies regarding vacation accruals; provided that the Executive’s rate of vacation accrual during the Period of Employment shall be no less than        days per year.  The Executive shall also be entitled to all other holiday and leave pay generally available to other executives of the Company.

 

4.4                               Allowance.  The Employee will be entitled to reimbursement of relocation-related expenses US$          in connection with his relocation from the United States to China,  provided that the Employee completes such moving prior to          ; and      (     ) months tent up to RMB      per month for the period commencing on              and ending on            ; and provided that the Employee shall promptly submit and document any such reimbursable expenses in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies as in effect from time to time to facilitate the timely reimbursement of such expenses; provided, further, that if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated prior to the third (3rd) Anniversary Date, the Employee shall be responsible for repayment of this relocation benefits on a pro-rated basis to the Company upon termination. (the Employee shall refund the full amount of the foregoing reimbursements to the Company immediately upon termination.)

 

The Employee will be eligible to participate in the employee health (Company will pay the health plan up to US$           per year) and other benefit plans, policies and practices now or hereafter maintained by or on behalf of the Company on such terms as are generally applicable to the Company’s employees.                round trips per year from US to China will be granted by company.

 

5.                                      Termination.

 

5.1                               Termination by the Company.  The Executive’s employment by the Company, and the Period of Employment, may be terminated at any time by the Company: (i) with Cause (as defined in Section 5.5), or (ii) with no less than sixty (60) days advance notice to the Executive, without Cause, or (iii) in the event of the Executive’s death, or (iv) in the event that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive has a Disability (as defined in Section 5.5).

 

5.2                               Termination by the Executive.  The Executive’s employment by the Company, and the Period of Employment, may be terminated by the Executive with no less than sixty (60) days advance notice to the Company; provided, however, that in the case of a Constructive Termination (as defined herein), the Executive may provide immediate written notice if the Company fails to, or cannot, reasonably cure the event that gives rise to the Constructive Termination within the time period prescribed for such cure in the definition of Constructive Termination below.

 

5.3                               Benefits Upon Termination.  If the Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated during the Period of Employment for any reason by the Company or by the Executive, or upon or following the expiration of the Period of Employment (in any case, the date that the Executive’s employment by the Company terminates is referred to as the “Severance Date”), the Company shall have no further obligation to make or provide to the Executive, and the Executive shall have no further right to receive or obtain from the Company, any payments or benefits except as follows:

 

(a)                                 The Company shall pay the Executive (or, in the event of his death, the Executive’s estate) any Accrued Obligations (as defined in Section 5.5);

 

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(b)                                 If, during the Period of Employment, the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of an Involuntary Termination (as defined in Section 5.5) and if the Severance Date occurs after the last day of the eighteenth (18th) month anniversary of the Hire Date (the “Cutoff Date”), the  Company shall pay the Executive (in addition to the Accrued Obligations), subject to tax withholding and other authorized deductions, an amount equal to the Executive’s Base Salary (at the rate in effect immediately prior to the termination of the Executive’s employment) for a period equal to the applicable Severance Period (as defined below).  Such amount is referred to hereinafter as the “Severance Benefit.”  Any Severance Benefit due to Executive pursuant to this Section 5.3(b)(i) shall be paid in equal monthly installments during the applicable Severance Period, with the first such installment to be paid in the month following the month in which Executive’s Separation from Service occurs (and in all events no portion of the Severance Benefit will be paid more than twelve (12) months after the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Severance Date occurs).   As used herein, “Severance Period” means one (1) month plus one (1) additional month for each full year of employment of the Executive by the Company between the Cutoff Date and the Severance Date, if any, but in no event exceeding six (6) months; a “Separation from Service” occurs when Executive dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3, if the Executive breaches his obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement at any time, from and after the date of such breach, the Executive will no longer be entitled to, and the Company will no longer be obligated to pay, any remaining unpaid portion of the Severance Benefit. The foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3 shall not affect: (i) the Executive’s receipt of benefits otherwise due terminated employees consistent with the terms of the applicable Company welfare benefit plan or applicable law.

 

5.4                               Release; Exclusive Remedy.

 

(a)                              This Section 5.4 shall apply notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement or any stock option or other equity-based award agreement to the contrary.  As a condition precedent to any Company obligation to the Executive pursuant to Section 5.3(b) or any other obligation to accelerate vesting of any equity-based award in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall, upon or promptly following his last day of employment with the Company (and in all events within twenty-one (21) days after his last day of employment with the Company), provide the Company with an irrevocable general release of claims acceptable to the Board, and such release agreement shall have not been revoked by the Executive pursuant to any revocation rights afforded by applicable law.

 

(b)                                 The Executive agrees that the payments contemplated by Section 5.3 (and any applicable acceleration of vesting of an equity-based award in accordance with the terms of such award in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment) shall constitute the exclusive and sole remedy for any termination of his employment and the Executive covenants not to assert or pursue any other remedies, at law or in equity, with respect to any termination of employment.  The Company and Executive acknowledge and agree that there is no duty of the Executive to mitigate damages under this Agreement.  All amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 5.3 shall be paid without regard to whether the Executive has taken or takes actions to mitigate damages.

 

5.5                               Certain Defined Terms.

 

(a)                                 As used herein, “Accrued Obligations” means:

 

(i)                     any Base Salary that had accrued but had not been paid (including accrued and unpaid vacation time) on or before the Severance Date; and

 

(ii)                  any Incentive Bonus payable pursuant to Section 3.2 with respect to any fiscal year in the Period of Employment preceding the year in which the Severance Date occurs to the extent earned by but not previously paid to the Executive; and

 

(iii)               any reimbursement due to the Executive pursuant to Section 4.2 for expenses incurred by the Executive on or before the Severance Date.

 

(b)                                 As used herein, “Cause” shall mean, as reasonably determined by the Board (excluding the Executive, if he is then a member of the Board):  (i) personal dishonesty, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation by the Executive; (ii) indictment or conviction of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; (iii)  Executive’s willful refusal to comply with the lawful requests made of Executive by the Board; (iv) gross negligence of Executive in the performance of his duties, after written notice to Executive and Executive’s failure to fully cure such gross negligence within thirty (30) days after receipt of such written notice by Executive unless the gross negligence is not reasonably susceptible of cure; (v) material violation of the Company’s policies, procedures and approval practices, as generally in effect from time to time, after written notice to Executive and Executive’s failure to fully cure such violations within thirty (30) days after receipt of such written notice by Executive unless the violation is not reasonably susceptible of cure; (vi) a material breach by Executive of any material provision of this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company after written notice to Executive and Executive’s failure to fully cure such breach within thirty (30) days receipt of the written notice by Executive unless the breach is not reasonably susceptible of cure; and (viii) insolvency, bankruptcy or dissolution of the Company.

 

(c)                                  As used herein, “Constructive Termination” shall mean a resignation by the Executive after the occurrence of any of the following (without the Executive’s express written consent): (i) a material reduction of the Executive’s duties, position or responsibilities relative to the Executive’s duties, position or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction, or the removal of the Executive from such duties, position and responsibilities, unless the Executive is provided with substantially comparable duties, position and responsibilities; (ii) a material reduction of the facilities and perquisites (including without limitation office space, location and administrative support) available to the Executive immediately prior to such reduction; (iii) a material reduction by the Company of the Executive’s Base Salary or Incentive Bonus opportunity as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; or (iv) a material reduction by the Company in the kind or level of employee benefits to which the Executive is entitled immediately prior to such reduction with the result that the Executive’s overall benefits package is materially reduced; provided, however, that any such condition or conditions, as applicable, shall not constitute grounds for Constructive Termination unless both (x) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of the condition claimed to constitute grounds for Constructive Termination within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such condition(s) (such notice to be delivered in accordance with Section 17), and (y) the Company fails to remedy such condition(s) within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company shall not constitute a Constructive Termination unless such termination occurs not more than ninety (90) days following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute grounds for Constructive Termination.

 

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(d)                                 As used herein, “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental impairment which, as reasonably determined by the Board, renders the Executive unable to perform the essential functions of his employment with the Company, even with reasonable accommodation that does not impose an undue hardship on the Company, for more than one hundred twenty (120) days in any 12-month period, unless a longer period is required by applicable law, in which case that longer period would apply.

 

(e)                                  As used herein, “Involuntary Termination” shall mean a Constructive Termination, or a termination of the Executive by the Company without Cause.  For purposes of clarity, the term Involuntary Termination does not include a termination of the Executive’s employment due to the Executive’s death or Disability.

 

5.6.                            Notice of Termination.  Any termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall be communicated by written notice of termination from the terminating party to the other party.  The notice of termination shall indicate the specific provision(s) of this Agreement relied upon in effecting the termination.

 

6.                                      Confidentiality; Inventions; Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.

 

6.1                               Confidential Information.

 

(a)                                 Company Information.  The Executive hereby agrees at all times during the term of his employment and after termination, to hold in the strictest confidence, and not to use, except for the benefit of the Company Group, or to disclose to any person, corporation or other entity without written consent of the Company, any Confidential Information. The Executive understands that “Confidential Information” means any proprietary or confidential information of the Company Group, its affiliates, their clients, customers or partners, and the Company Group’s licensors, including, without limitation, technical data, trade secrets, research and development information, product plans, services, customer lists and customers (including, but not limited to, customers of the Company Group on whom the Executive called or with whom the Executive became acquainted during the term of his employment), supplier lists and suppliers, software, developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings, engineering, hardware configuration information, personnel information, marketing, finances, information about the suppliers, joint ventures, licensors, licensees, distributors and other persons with whom the Company Group does business, information regarding the skills and compensation of other employees of the Company Group or other business information disclosed to the Executive by or obtained by the Executive from the Company Group, its affiliates, or their clients, customers or partners either directly or indirectly in writing, orally or by drawings or observation of parts or equipment.

 

(b)                                 Company Property.  The Executive understands that all documents (including computer records, facsimile and e-mail) and materials created, received or transmitted in connection with his work or using the facilities of the Company Group are property of the Company Group and subject to inspection by the Company Group, at any time. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (or at any other time when requested by the Company), the Executive will promptly deliver to the Company all documents and materials of any nature pertaining to his work with the Company and will provide written certification of his compliance with this Agreement. Under no circumstances will the Executive have, following his termination, in his possession any property of the Company Group, or any documents or materials or copies thereof containing any Confidential Information. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive hereby agrees to sign and deliver the “Termination Certification” attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

(c)                                  Former Employer Information.  The Executive hereby agrees that he or she will not, during his employment with the Company, improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former employer or other person or entity and that he or she will not bring onto the premises of the Company Group any unpublished document or proprietary information belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or entity. The Executive hereby agrees to indemnify the Company Group and hold it harmless from all claims, liabilities, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs for resolving disputes, arising out of or in connection with any violation or claimed violation of a third party’s rights resulting from any use by the Company Group of such proprietary information or trade secrets improperly used or disclosed by the Executive.

 

(d)                                 Third Party Information.  The Executive recognizes that the Company Group has received and in the future will receive from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Company Group’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. The Executive hereby agrees to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying out his work for the Company consistent with the Company Group’s agreement with such third party.

 

6.2                               Inventions.

 

(a)                                 Inventions Retained and Licensed.  The Executive has attached hereto, as Exhibit B, a list describing all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, improvements, and trade secrets, which were made by the Executive prior to his employment with the Company which belong to the Executive, which relate to the Company Group’s proposed or current business, products or research and development, and which are not assigned to any member of the Company Group hereunder (collectively referred to as “Prior Inventions”); or, if no such list is attached, The Executive hereby represents that there are no such Prior Inventions. The Executive hereby agrees that he or she will not incorporate any Prior Inventions into any products, processes or machines of the Company Group; provided, however, that if in the course of the Executive’s employment with the Company, he or she incorporates into a product, process or machine of the Company Group a Prior Invention owned by the Executive or in which he or she has an interest, the Executive hereby represents that he or she has all necessary rights, powers and authorization to use such Prior Invention in the manner it is used and such use will not infringe any right of any company, entity or person and, in such a circumstance, each member of the Company Group is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process or machine. The Executive hereby agrees to indemnify the Company Group and hold it harmless from all claims, liabilities, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs for resolving disputes, arising out of or in connection with any violation or claimed violation of a third party’s rights resulting from any use, sublicensing, modification, transfer, or sale by the Company Group of such Prior Invention.

 

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(b)                                 Assignment of Inventions.  The Executive hereby agrees that he or she will promptly make full written disclosure to the Company and the Company Group, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Company and the Company Group, and hereby assign to the Company and the Company Group, or their respective designee, all of his right, title, and interest in and to any and all inventions, ideas, information, designs, original works of authorship, processes, formulas, computer software programs, databases, mask works, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under patent, copyright, or similar laws in China or anywhere else in the world, which he or she may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time he or she is in the employ of the Company (whether or not during business hours) that are either related to the scope of his employment with the Company or make use, in any manner, of the resources of the Company Group (collectively referred to as “Inventions”).  The Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company or the Company Group shall be the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in the Inventions created hereunder. In the event the foregoing assignment of Inventions to the Company or the Company Group is ineffective for any reason, each member of the Company Group is hereby granted and shall have a royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use, and sell such Inventions as part of or in connection with any product, process or machine. Such exclusive license shall continue in effect for the maximum term as may now or hereafter be permissible under applicable law. Upon expiration, such license, without further consent or action on the Executive’s part, shall automatically be renewed for the maximum term as is then permissible under applicable law, unless, within the six-month period prior to such expiration, the Company and the Executive have agreed that such license will not be renewed. The Executive also hereby forever waives and agrees never to assert any and all rights he or she may have in or with respect to any Inventions even after termination of his employment with the Company. The Executive hereby further acknowledges that all Inventions created by him (solely or jointly with others) are, to the extent permitted by applicable law, “works made for hire” or “inventions made for hire,” as those terms are defined in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) Copyright Law, the PRC Patent Law and the Regulations on Computer Software Protection, respectively, and all titles, rights and interests in or to such Inventions are or shall be vested in the Company.

 

(c)                                  Remuneration.  The Executive hereby agrees that the remuneration received by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement with the Company includes any bonuses or remuneration which the Executive may be entitled to under applicable PRC law for any “works made for hire,” “inventions made for hire” or other Inventions assigned to the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(d)                                 Maintenance of Records.  The Executive hereby agrees to keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Inventions. The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other format that may be specified by the Company. The records will be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all times.

 

(e)                                  Patent and Copyright Registrations.  The Executive hereby agrees to assist the Company, or its respective designees, at the expense of the Company, in every proper way to secure the Company’s rights in the Inventions in any and all countries, to further evidence, record and perfect any grant or assignment by the Executive of the Inventions hereunder and to perfect, obtain, maintain, enforce and defend any rights so granted or assigned, including the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions. The Executive hereby further agrees that his obligations to execute or cause to be executed, when it is in his power to do so, any such instrument or papers shall continue after the termination of this Agreement. The Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as the Executive’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in the Executive’s behalf and stead to execute and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the foregoing with the same legal force and effect as if executed by the Executive.

 

6.3                               Conflicting Employment.  The Executive hereby agrees that, during the term of his employment with the Company, he or she will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity related to the business in which the Company Group is now involved or becomes involved during the term of the Executive’s employment, nor will the Executive engage in any other activities that conflict with his obligations to the Company without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

6.4                               Non-Competition.

 

(a)                                 The Executive hereby agrees that during the course of his employment and for a period of two (2) years immediately following the termination of his relationship with the Company for any reason, whether with or without good cause or for any or no cause, at the option either of the Company or himself, with or without notice, the Executive will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, (i) serve as a partner, employee, consultant, officer, director, manager, agent, associate, investor, or otherwise for, or lend his name (or any part, variant or formative thereof), (ii) directly or indirectly, own, purchase, organize or take preparatory steps for the organization of, (iii) build, design, finance, acquire, lease, operate, manage, invest in, work or consult for or otherwise affiliate himself with, any business, in competition with or otherwise similar to the business of the Company Group, (iv) deal, directly or indirectly, in a competitive manner with any customers doing business with the Company Group, or (v) transfer, sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate, give, create a security interest in or lien on, place in trust (voting or otherwise), or in any other way dispose of any equity interest in the Company Group beneficially owned by the Executive, as the case may be, to any person which is competitive with any significant aspect of the business of the Company Group. The foregoing covenant shall cover the Executive’s activities in every part of the Territory in which he or she may conduct business during the term of such covenant as set forth above. “Territory” shall mean (i) the People’s Republic of China (for the avoidance of doubt, including Hong Kong, Macau and the islands of Taiwan), (ii) the United States of America, and (iii) all other countries of the world; provided that, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 6.4(a), the Company derives at least five percent (5%) of its gross revenues from such geographic area prior to the date of the termination of the Executive’s relationship with the Company.

 

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(b)                                 The Executive hereby acknowledges that he or she will derive significant value from the Company’s agreement to provide him with that Confidential Information of the Company Group to enable him to optimize the performance of his duties for the Company. The Executive hereby further acknowledges that his fulfillment of the obligations contained in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, his obligation neither to disclose nor to use the Confidential Information of the Company Group other than for the Company Group’s exclusive benefit and his obligation not to compete contained in subsection (a) above, is necessary to protect the Confidential Information of the Company Group and, consequently, to preserve the value and goodwill of the Company Group. The Executive hereby further acknowledges the time, geographic and scope limitations of his obligations under subsection (a) above are reasonable, especially in light of the Company Group’s desire to protect their Confidential Information, and that the Executive will not be precluded from gainful employment if he or she is obligated not to compete with the Company Group during the period and within the Territory as described above.

 

(c)                                  The covenants contained in subsection (a) above shall be construed as a series of separate covenants, one for each city, county and state of any geographic area in the Territory. Except for geographic coverage, each such separate covenant shall be deemed identical in terms to the covenant contained in subsection (a) above. If, in any arbitration proceeding, the arbitration panel refuses to enforce any of such separate covenants (or any part thereof), then such unenforceable covenant (or such part) shall be eliminated from this agreement to the extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants (or portions thereof) to be enforced. In the event the provisions of subsection (a) above are deemed to exceed the time, geographic or scope limitations permitted by applicable law, then such provisions shall be reformed to the maximum time, geographic or scope limitations, as the case may be, then permitted by such law.

 

(d)                                 The Executive hereby further agrees that he or she will be compensated by the Company in the total amount equal to the greater of (i) one month’s salary or (ii) the minimum amount of compensation required by applicable law (hereinafter referred to as the “Compensation”) upon the termination of his employment with the Company for the covenants that the Executive makes in this Section 6.4. The Compensation will be paid by four installments, of which the first installment equal to 1/4 of the total amount of the Compensation will be paid within three months after the employment is terminated and each of the other three installments equal to 1/4 of the total amount of the Compensation will be paid per three months thereafter.

 

6.5                               Notification of New Employer.  In the event that the Executive leaves the employ of the Company, The Executive hereby grants consent to notification by the Company to his new employer about his rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

6.6                               Non-Solicitation.  The Executive hereby agrees that for a period of two (2) years immediately following the termination of his relationship with the Company for any reason, whether with or without cause, he or she shall not either directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any employees of the Company Group to leave their employment, or take away such employees, or attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, encourage or take away employees of the Company Group and/or any suppliers, customers or consultants of the Company Group, either for his or herself or for any other person or entity.

 

6.7                               Non-Disparagement.  The Executive hereby agrees that for a period of two (2) years immediately following the termination of his relationship with the Company for any reason, whether with or without cause, he shall not make any derogatory public statement concerning the financial performance, products, services, the Board or management personnel of the Company or any member of the Company Group, or Executive’s employment.  Nothing in this Section 6.7 shall prohibit Executive from providing truthful testimony in any legal, administrative or regulatory proceeding and Executive may at all times respond truthfully to a lawfully-issued subpoena, court order or governmental inquiry or as otherwise may be required by law, provided, however, upon receiving such lawfully-issued subpoena or court order, Executive shall promptly provide reasonable written notice to the Company and cooperate with the Company to the extent reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of any proprietary or trade secret information of the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, and the privacy rights of any employee or director of the Company or any member of the Company Group. subsidiaries

 

6.8                               Representations.  The Executive hereby agrees to execute any proper oath or verify any proper document required to carry out the terms of this Agreement. The Executive hereby represents that the Executive’s performance of all the terms of this Agreement will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by the Executive in confidence or in trust prior to his employment by the Company. The Executive has not entered into, and hereby agrees that he or she will not enter into, any oral or written agreement in conflict with this Section 6.

 

7.                                      Withholding Taxes.  Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Company may withhold (or cause there to be withheld, as the case may be) from any amounts otherwise due or payable under or pursuant to this Agreement such national, provincial, local or any other income, employment, or other taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

8.                                      Assignment.  This Agreement is personal in its nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that in the event of a merger, consolidation, or transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company with or to any other individual(s) or entity, this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of such successor and such successor shall discharge and perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company hereunder.

 

9.                                      Number and Gender.  Where the context requires, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and any gender shall include all other genders.

 

10.                               Section Headings.  The section headings of, and titles of paragraphs and subparagraphs contained in, this Agreement are for the purpose of convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation thereof.

 

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11.                               Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

12.                               Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable.

 

13.                               Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, including the documents referred to herein, embodies the entire agreement of the parties hereto respecting the matters within its scope.  This Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements of the parties hereto that directly or indirectly bears upon the subject matter hereof (including, without limitation, any offer letter or previous employment agreement).  Any prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals or understandings relating to the subject matter hereof shall be deemed to have been merged into this Agreement, and to the extent inconsistent herewith, such negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals, or understandings shall be deemed to be of no force or effect.  There are no representations, warranties, or agreements, whether express or implied, or oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly set forth herein.

 

14.                               Modifications.  This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed (in whole or in part), except by a formal, definitive written agreement expressly referring to this Agreement, which agreement is executed by both of the parties hereto.

 

15.                               Waiver.  Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence.  No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

 

16.                               Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

17.                               Notices.

 

(a)                                 All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and made if (i) delivered by hand, (ii) otherwise delivered against receipt therefor, or (iii) sent by internationally recognized courier with next-day or second-day delivery.  Any notice shall be duly addressed to the parties as follows:

 

(i)             if to the Company:

 

Address:

 

Peter Luo

Xinghu Street 218, Building C14, 4th floor

Suzhou, Jiangsu, China 215123

 

(ii)          if to the Executive:

 

(b)                                 Any party may alter the address to which communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address in conformity with the provisions of this Section 17 for the giving of notice.  Any communication shall be effective when delivered by hand, when otherwise delivered against receipt therefor, or three (3) business days after being sent in accordance with the foregoing.

 

18.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.  Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

19.                               Legal Counsel; Mutual Drafting.  Each party recognizes that this is a legally binding contract and acknowledges and agrees that they have had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of their choice.  Each party has cooperated in the drafting, negotiation and preparation of this Agreement.  Hence, in any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same shall not be construed against either party on the basis of that party being the drafter of such language.  The Executive agrees and acknowledges that he has read and understands this Agreement, is entering into it freely and voluntarily, and has been advised to seek counsel prior to entering into this Agreement and has had ample opportunity to do so.

 

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20.                               CODE SECTIONS 409A AND 457A.

 

(a)                                 It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) (“Code Section 409A”) and with Section 457A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) (“Code Section 457A”) so as not to subject Executive to payment of any additional tax, penalty or interest imposed under Code Section 409A or Code Section 457A.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted to avoid the imputation of any such additional tax, penalty or interest under Code Section 409A or Code Section 457A yet preserve (to the nearest extent reasonably possible) the intended benefit payable to Executive.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of Executive’s Separation from Service, the Executive shall not be entitled to any severance payments pursuant to Section 5.3(b) until the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after Executive’s Separation from Service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of Executive’s death.  Any amounts otherwise payable to Executive upon or in the six (6) month period following the Executive’s Separation from Service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 20(b) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after Executive’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of Executive’s death).  The provisions of this Section 20(b) shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Code Section 409A.

 

(c)                                  To the extent that any benefits or reimbursements pursuant to Section 4.2 or 4.4 are taxable to Executive, any reimbursement payment due to Executive pursuant to any such provision shall be paid to Executive on or before the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expense was incurred.  The benefits and reimbursements pursuant to such provisions are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that Executive receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits or reimbursements that Executive receives in any other taxable year.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

	
 
    	
COMPANY
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
ADAGENE INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
A Cayman Islands Company
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    

 

[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

TERMINATION CERTIFICATE

 

B-1

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS

 

	
Title
    	
 
    	
Date
    	
 
    	
Identifying Number
   or Brief Description
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

B-1

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