Document:

Exhibit 10.5

 

2021 EQUITY COMPENSATION
PLAN 

 

Section 1. Purpose

 

The
2021 Equity Compensation Plan (the "Plan") is hereby established to foster and promote the long-term success of Hanover Bancorp,
Inc. (the "Company"), the holding company of Hanover Community Bank (the “Bank”), and its shareholders by providing
members of management, including employees and management officials, with an equity interest in the Company. The Plan will assist the
Company in attracting and retaining the highest quality of experienced persons to serve as employees and Directors and in aligning the
interests of such persons more closely with the interests of the Company's shareholders by encouraging such parties to maintain an equity
interest in the Company.

 

Section 2. Definitions

 

Capitalized
terms not specifically defined elsewhere herein shall have the following meaning:

 

"Act"
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Award”
means the grant of Options, Restricted Stock, Performance Units or Deferred Stock hereunder.

 

"Board"
means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Change
in Control” means any of the following:

 

		(i)	a reorganization,
                                            merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or
                                            a similar transaction, in any case in which the holders of the voting stock of the Company
                                            prior to such transaction do not hold (in substantially the same proportion) a majority of
                                            the voting power of the resulting entity (or an entity that wholly owns the resulting entity);

 

		(ii)	individuals who constitute the Incumbent
                                            Board (as herein defined) of the Company cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof;
                                            or

 

		(iii)	any person becomes the beneficial
                                            owner of securities representing 25% or more of the combined voting stock of the Company
                                            other than (1) the Participant or any group that includes the Participant or (2) an
                                            entity referred to in the parenthetical to clause (i) of this definition.

 

For
these purposes, “Incumbent Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company on the date hereof and any person who
becomes a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by a voting of at least three-quarters of the directors
comprising the Incumbent Board or whose nomination for election by members or stockholders was approved by the same nominating
committee serving under an Incumbent Board. However, the Incumbent Board will not include anyone who becomes a member of the
Board of Directors as a result of either (i) an actual or threatened election contest or proxy or consent solicitation on behalf of
anyone other than the Board of the Directors, including as a result of any appointment, nomination or other agreement intended to
avoid or settle a contest or solicitation, or (ii) agreement with any third party.

 

     

     

    

 

“Committee”
means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such successor committee of the Board undertaking the responsibilities currently exercised
by the Compensation Committee. Each member of the Committee shall at all times qualify as a "Non-Employee Director" within
the meaning of SEC Rule 16b-3(b)(3).

 

"Common
Stock" or "Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

"Company"
means Hanover Bancorp, Inc. and any present or future subsidiary or parent corporation(s) of Hanover Bancorp, Inc. (as defined in Section
424 of the Code) or any successor to such corporations.

 

"Disability"
shall mean the Participant’s inability for a period of three (3) consecutive months, or for six (6) months during any twelve (12)
month period, to perform the requirements of the Participant’s position with the Company due to physical or mental impairment.
For purposes of Restricted Stock Awards under Section 7, “Disability” shall be as defined in Section 7.3(a). The determination
of whether a Disability exists will be made by the Committee.

 

"Fair
Market Value" means, with respect to shares of Common Stock, the fair market value as determined by the Committee in good faith
and in a manner established by the Committee from time to time, taking into account such factors as the Committee shall deem relevant,
including the tangible book value of the Common Stock and, to the extent the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange,
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the closing price of the Common Stock on the date the Fair Market Value is determined.

 

“Incumbent
Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company on the date of Board approval of this Plan, provided that any person becoming
a director subsequent to such date whose election was approved by a vote of at least three quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent
Board, or whose nomination for election by stockholders was approved by the same nominating committee serving under an Incumbent Board,
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board.

 

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"Management
Official" means an employee of the Company, a non-employee member of the Board, a member of any advisory committee or any other
service provider to the Company.

 

"Non-Qualified
Stock Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to a Participant under the Plan which is not intended to
meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

"Option"
means a Non-Qualified Stock Option granted hereunder.

 

"Participant"
means a Management Official selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.

 

“Performance
Cycle or Cycle” means the period selected by the Committee during which the performance of the Company is measured for the purpose
of determining the extent to which an award of Performance Units has been earned. Applicable performance goals relating to each Performance
Cycle shall be established not later than the earlier of (1) 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such
Performance Units or (2) the time 25% of such performance period has elapsed.

 

“Performance
Goals” means the objectives established by the Committee for a Performance Cycle, for the purpose of determining and measuring
the extent to which Performance Units, which have been contingently awarded for such Cycle, have been earned. The Committee may use one
or more of the following as Performance Goals: (1) earnings or earnings growth; (2) earnings per share; (3) return on equity, assets,
capital employed or investment; (4) revenues or revenue growth; (5) gross profit; (6) gross margin; (7) net income or net income per
common share; (8) operating margin; (9) operating cash flow; (10) stock price appreciation and total shareholder return, (11) economic
profit or value created, (12) interest expense, (13) strategic business criteria, (14) efficiency ratio, (15) growth in assets, loan
and/or deposits, (16) net interest margin, (17) loan production volume, (18) asset quality, including net charge offs, levels of classified
assets and non-performing loan levels, (19) interest rate risk sensitivity, (21) capital compliance, or any combination of any of the
forgoing. Targeted level or levels of performance with respect to such business criteria may be established at such levels and in such
terms as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, including in absolute terms, as a goal relative to performance in prior periods,
or as a goal compared to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index covering multiple companies. Performance Goals
may be particular to a Participant, the Company, subsidiary or other business segment of the Company, or may be based on the performance
of the Company as a whole.

 

“Performance
Units or Units” means a fixed or variable dollar or Common Stock share denominated Unit contingently awarded under Section 8 of
the Plan.

 

"Plan"
means the 2021 Equity Compensation Plan.

 

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“Restricted
Stock Award” means a grant of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 8 hereof.

 

“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

"Termination
for Cause" means termination because of Participant's intentional failure to perform stated duties, personal dishonesty, willful
violation of any law, rule regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease and desist order issued by any
regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Participant or the Company.

 

Section 3. Administration

 

(a)
        The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Among other things, the Committee shall have
authority, subject to the terms of the Plan, to grant Awards, to determine the type of Award granted, to determine the individuals to
whom and the time or times at which Awards may be granted, to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder, including
whether to impose a vesting period more stringent than the minimum set forth in Section 10(a), and if the Award is an Option, the exercise
price thereof, subject to the requirements of this Plan.

 

(b)       Subject
to the other provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to adopt, amend, alter and repeal such administrative rules,
guidelines and practices governing the operation of the Plan as it shall from time to time consider advisable, to interpret the provisions
of the Plan and any Award and to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply
any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any grant agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem appropriate
to carry the Plan into effect, in its sole and absolute discretion. The Committee's decision and interpretations shall be final and binding.
Any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote or by the unanimous
written consent of its members.

 

(c)       The
Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely
upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent.

 

Section 4. Eligibility
and Participation

 

Management
Officials of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. The Participants under the Plan shall be selected from time to
time by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from among those eligible, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion the
numbers of shares to be covered by the Award or Awards granted to each Participant.

 

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Section 5. Shares
of Stock Available for Awards

 

(a)       The
maximum number of shares of Common Stock or equivalents which may be issued under the Plan is 427,500 subject to the adjustments as provided
in this Section 5 and Section 10, to the extent applicable. If an Award granted under this Plan expires or terminates before exercise
or is forfeited for any reason, without a payment in the form of Common Stock being granted to the Participant, the shares of Common
Stock subject to such Award, to the extent of such expiration, termination or forfeiture, shall again be available for subsequent Award
grant under the Plan. Shares withheld pursuant to Section 11(g) in connection with tax obligations shall not be available for subsequent
Awards under the Plan.

 

(b)       In
the event that any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or combination, extraordinary cash dividend, creation of a class
of equity securities, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange
of shares, warrants or rights offering to purchase Common Stock at a price substantially below Fair Market Value, or other similar transaction
affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is required in order to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be granted
or made available under the Plan to Participants, the Committee shall proportionately and appropriately adjust equitably any or all of
(i) the maximum number and kind of shares of Common Stock in respect of which Awards may be granted under the Plan to Participants, (ii)
the number and kind of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Options held by Participants, and (iii) the exercise price with
respect to any Options held by Participants, without changing the aggregate purchase price as to which such Options remain exercisable,
and if considered appropriate, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment with respect to any outstanding Options held by a
Participant, provided that no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section if such adjustment would cause the Plan to fail to comply
with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Act or any successor or replacement regulation, to the extent then applicable to the Company.
No fractional Shares shall be issued on account of any such adjustment.

 

(c)       Any
adjustments under this Section will be made by the Committee, whose determination as to what adjustments, will be made and the extent
thereof will be final, binding and conclusive.

 

Section 6. Non-Qualified
Stock Options

 

6.1       Grant
of Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

Subject
to the provisions hereof, the Committee may, from time to time, grant Non-Qualified Stock Options to Participants upon such terms and
conditions as the Committee may determine, and may grant Non-Qualified Stock Options in exchange for and upon surrender of previously
granted Options under this Plan. Non-Qualified Stock Options granted under this Plan are subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

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(a)       Price.
The purchase price per share of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of each Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be determined by
the Committee on the date the option is granted. The purchase price shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market
Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Shares may be purchased only upon full payment of the purchase price. The purchase price
may be paid in cash, through the surrender of outstanding shares of Common Stock at then current Fair Market Value, or I such other manner
as is approved by the Committee.

 

(b)       Terms
of Options. The term during which each Non-Qualified Stock Option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee, but in no
event shall a Non-Qualified Stock Option be exercisable in whole or in part more than ten (10) years from the date of grant.

 

(c)       Termination
of Service. Except as provided herein, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, upon the termination of the service of a Participant
for any reason other than Disability, death or Termination for Cause, the Participant's Non-Qualified Stock Options shall be exercisable
only as to those shares which were immediately exercisable by the participant at the date of termination and only for one (1) year from
the date of such termination. In the event of death or termination of service of a Participant as a result of Disability of the Participant,
all Non-Qualified Stock Options held by the Participant, whether or not exercisable at such time, shall be exercisable by the Participant
or his legal representatives, or beneficiaries of the Participant for one (1) year from the date of such termination. Notwithstanding
any other provisions set forth herein to the contrary nor any provision contained in any agreement relating to the award of an option,
in the event of a Termination for Cause, all of the Participant's Non-Qualified Stock Options shall immediately expire upon such Termination
for Cause and shall not be exercisable, regardless of whether such Non-Qualified Stock Options were vested.

 

(d)       
Transferability. Except as provided for hereunder, no Option granted under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant,
and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prevent transfers
by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

Section
7. Restricted Stock

 

7.1       Grant
of Restricted Stock Awards

 

(a)       Grants.
The Committee may grant Restricted Stock Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock, subject to the right of the Company
to require forfeiture of such shares from the Participant in the event that conditions specified by the Committee in the applicable Restricted
Stock Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Committee for such
Restricted Award. During the restricted period, shares constituting a Restricted Stock Award may not be transferred, although a Participant
shall be entitled to exercise other indicia of ownership, including the right to vote such shares and receive any dividends declared
on such shares.

 

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(b)       Terms
and Conditions. Subject to Section 7.2, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award,
including the conditions for forfeiture.

 

(c)       Stock
Certificates. The Company may cause shares issued as part of a Restricted Stock Award to be issued in either book entry form or certificated
form. Shares issued in book entry form will be maintained in an account at the Company’s transfer agent, and only released to a
Participant upon satisfaction of any required restrictions. Any stock certificates issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall
be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, deposited by the Participant, together
with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the
Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant
has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Committee, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise
rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of
an effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the Participant’s estate.

 

7.2       Distribution
of Restricted Stock Awards

 

(a)       Restricted
Stock Awards shall not be distributed and the restrictions pertaining to such award shall not expire earlier than:

 

(1)       upon the completion or satisfaction of the conditions specified by the Committee in the Award;

 

(2)       a Participant’s separation from service;

 

(3)       the date a Participant becomes disabled (as defined in Section 7.3(a));

 

(4)       upon the death of a Participant; or

 

(5)       a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the
ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, as described in Section 10(c) or, if in conflict therewith, to the
extent necessary, by the Secretary of Treasury under regulations issued under Code section 409A.

 

(b)       A
payment of a Participant’s vested interest in a Restricted Stock Award may, in the discretion of the Committee, be made in the
event of a Participant’s Disability, upon the occurrence of a Change-in-Control or Unforeseeable Emergency (as defined below).
Payments in settlement of a Participant’s vested interest in a Restricted Stock Award shall be made as soon as practicable
after such occurrence or after the Participant otherwise vests in such Award. For the purposes of section 409A of the Code, the
entitlement to a series of installment payments will be treated as the entitlement to a single payment.

 

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(c)       Other provisions
of the Plan notwithstanding, if, upon the written application of a Participant, the Committee determines that the Participant has an
Unforeseeable Emergency (as defined in Section 7.3(b)), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, direct the payment to the Participant
of all or a portion of the balance of his or her vested interest in a Restricted Stock Award in a lump sum payment, provided that any
such withdrawal shall be limited by the Committee to the amount reasonably necessary to meet the emergency, including amounts needed
to pay any income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the payment. No payment may be made to the extent that such
emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s
assets or to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not cause severe financial hardship.

 

7.3       Definitions
for Restricted Stock Awards

 

For purposes of
this Section 7, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)       “Disability” shall mean (i) the inability of a Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason
of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) if the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical
or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve
(12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering
employees of the Company.

 

(b)       “Unforeseeable Emergency” shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness
or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Code section 152(a)) of the Participant,
loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a
result of events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

Section
8. Performance Units

 

8.1
        Authority of Committee

 

Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine (i) the Participants who shall receive
Performance Units and the number of Units awarded for each Performance Cycle; (ii) the duration of each Performance Cycle; and (iii)
the value of or valuation methodology for each Performance Unit. Performance Units may be denominated in fixed or variable dollar
amounts or may be made equal to one or more shares of Common Stock. There may be more than one Performance Cycle in existence at any
one time, and the duration of such Performance Cycles may differ, as determined by the Committee.

 

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8.2
        Performance Goals

 

The
Committee shall establish Performance Goals for each Cycle on the basis of such criteria and to accomplish such objectives as the Committee
may from time to time select. During any Cycle, the Committee may adjust the Performance Goals for such Cycle as it deems equitable in
recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Corporation or changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles.

 

8.3
        Terms and Conditions

 

The
Committee shall determine the number of Performance Units that have been earned on the basis of the Company's performance in relation
to the established Performance Goals. Performance Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, except
as herein provided, during the Performance Cycle. Payment for Performance Units shall be in cash or shares of Common Stock, in such proportions
as the Committee shall determine.

 

8.4
        Termination

 

A
Participant must be a Management Official at the end of a Performance Cycle to be entitled to payment of Performance Units in respect
of such Cycle; provided, however, that in the event a Participant ceases to be a Management Official with the Committee’s consent
before the end of such Cycle, or upon the occurrence of a Participant's death or Disability prior to the end of such Cycle, the Committee,
in its discretion and after taking into consideration the performance of such Participant and the performance of the Company during the
Cycle, may authorize payment to such Participant (or the Participant's legal representative) of all or a portion of the Performance Units
deemed by the Committee to have been earned by the Participant through the date of termination.

 

Section
9. Deferred Stock

 

9.1       Awards
of Deferred Stock.  

 

The Committee is
authorized to grant Deferred Stock to Participants, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

9.2       Awards
and Restrictions.

 

Issuance of
Stock will occur upon expiration of the deferral period, which shall not be less than as set forth in Section 11(a), specified for
an Award of Deferred Stock by the Committee at the time of award (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant).
In addition, Deferred Stock shall be subject to such restrictions, risk of forfeiture and other terms, if any, as the Committee may
impose, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier or later specified time, separately or
in combination, in installments or otherwise, and under such other circumstances as the Committee may determine at the date of grant
or thereafter. Deferred Stock may be satisfied by delivery of Stock, other Awards, or a combination thereof, as determined by the
Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

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9.3       Forfeiture.

 

Except as otherwise
determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment or service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which
forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award document evidencing the Deferred Stock), all Deferred Stock that is at that time
subject to such forfeiture conditions shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award
document, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Deferred Stock will lapse in
whole or in part, including in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes. Deferred Stock subject to a risk of forfeiture
may be called “restricted stock units” or otherwise designated by the Committee.

 

9.4       Dividend
Accruals.

 

Cash or stock dividends
on the specified number of shares of Stock covered by an Award of Deferred Stock shall be deferred with respect to such Deferred Stock,
either as a cash deferral or as additional shares of Restricted Stock, if related to a stock dividend, until the end of the deferral
period applicable to the Deferred Stock on which the dividend was paid.

 

Section 10.
Extension

 

The
Committee may, in its sole discretion, extend the dates during which all or any particular Option or Options granted under the Plan may
be exercised; provided, however, that no such extension shall be permitted if it would cause Options issued under the Plan to fail to
comply with Section 409A of the Code. An election to defer the lapse of restrictions on a Restricted Stock Award shall not take effect
until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made and in the event that an election to defer the lapse of
restrictions is made other than in the event of death, Disability or the occurrence of an Unforeseeable Emergency, payment of such award
must be deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date that restrictions would have otherwise lapsed. Nothing contained
in this provision, or elsewhere in this Plan, shall be construed to provide the Committee with authority to change the exercise price
of any Award, other than in connection with any adjustment provided for under Section 5(b) hereof, or such changes as may be approved
by the Company’s shareholders.

 

Section 11.
General Provisions Applicable to Awards 

 

(a)       Each
Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by a writing delivered to the Participant specifying the terms and conditions thereof and
containing such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee considers necessary or
advisable to achieve the purposes of the Plan or comply with applicable tax and regulatory laws and accounting principles.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Award shall be subject to a vesting requirement (or, in the case of Deferred Stock, a deferral
period) of not less than one year.

 

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(b)       Each
Award may be granted alone, in addition to or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the
Committee need not treat Participants uniformly. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan or a particular Award, any determination with
respect to an Award may be made by the Committee at the time of grant or at any time thereafter.

 

(c)       In
the event of a consolidation, reorganization, merger or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, in each case in
which outstanding shares of Common Stock are exchanged for securities, cash or other property of any other corporation or business entity
or in the event of a liquidation of the Company, the Committee will provide for any one or more of the following actions, as to outstanding
Awards: (i) provide that such Awards shall be assumed, or equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation
(or an affiliate thereof), , (ii) upon written notice to the Participants, provide that all unexercised Options will terminate immediately
prior to the consummation of such transaction unless exercised (to the extent then exercisable) by the Participant within a specified
period following the date of such notice, (iii) in the event of a merger or consolidation, make or provide for a cash payment to the
Participants equal to the difference between (A) the value of the consideration to be received by the shareholders of the Company upon
consummation of the transaction (the “Merger Price”) times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Options
(to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Merger Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding
Options in exchange for the termination of such Options, or (iv) provide that all or any outstanding Awards shall become exercisable
in full, or that the restrictions on such Awards shall lapse, immediately prior to such event.

 

(d)       For
purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of service of a Participant:

 

(i)       a
transfer to the employment of the Company from a subsidiary or from the Company to a subsidiary, or from one subsidiary to another, or

 

(ii)       an
approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the Participant's right
to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted
or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing.

 

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(e)       The
Committee may at any time, and from time to time, amend, modify or terminate the Plan or any outstanding Award held by a Participant,
including substituting therefore another Award of the same or a different type or changing the date of exercise or realization, provided
that the Participant's consent to each action shall be required unless the Committee determines that the action, taking into account
any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant, and further provided that no amendment increasing the
number of shares subject to the Plan or decreasing the exercise price for any Option provided for under the Plan may be effectuated without
the approval of the shareholders of the Company; provided, however, that no such amendment or modification will be effective if such
amendment or modification would cause the Plan to fail to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Act or any successor or
replacement regulation, to the extent than applicable to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, absent shareholder approval, no
Option may be: (i) amended to reduce the exercise price; (ii) cancelled in exchange for the grant of any new Option with a lower exercise
price; (iii) cancelled in exchange for cash, other property or the grant of any new Award at a time when the exercise price of the Option
is greater than the current Fair Market Value of the Common Stock; or (iv) involved in any other transaction that would be considered
a form of repricing under applicable accounting rules and/or the applicable exchange listing requirements, nor shall the Committee have
any authority to adjust or amend any Award if any such amendment would cause the Award to fail to comply with or be exempt from Section
409A.

 

(f)       The
Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate the Plan (in whole or in part) with respect to one or more Participants and distribute
to such affected Participants their vested interest in any Restricted Stock Award in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable following
such termination, but if, and only if, (i) all nonqualified defined contribution deferred compensation plans maintained by the Company
and its Affiliates are terminated, (ii) no payments other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the Plan if the termination
had not occurred are made within twelve (12) months of the termination of the Plan, (iii) all payments of the vested interest in Restricted
Stock Awards are made within twenty-four (24) months of the termination of the Plan, and (iv) the Company acknowledges to the Participants
that it will not adopt any new nonqualified defined contribution deferred compensation plans at any time within five (5) years following
the date of the termination of the Plan.

 

(g)       Tax
Withholding

 

		(i)	In General.    The
                                            Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all Awards made under the Plan, or to
                                            require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make
                                            adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any, required by
                                            law to be withheld by the Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant
                                            thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares
                                            of Stock
from an escrow, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Company’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied
by the Participant.

 

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		(ii)	Withholding in Shares.    The
Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise
or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value,
as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of the Company. The Fair Market Value of any
shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable
maximum statutory withholding rates.

 

Section 11.
Miscellaneous

 

(a)       No
person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant
the right to continued employment or service on the Company's Board. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss
a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.

 

(b)       Nothing
contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements.

 

(c)       Subject
to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder (including, without limitation, any
rights to receive dividends, or non-cash distributions with respect to such shares) with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be
distributed under the Plan until he or she becomes the holder thereof.

 

(d)       Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary expressed in this Plan, any provisions hereof that vary from or conflict with any applicable Federal or State
securities laws (including any regulations promulgated thereunder) shall be deemed to be modified to conform to and comply with such
laws.

 

(e)       No
member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination taken or granted in good faith with respect to this Plan nor
shall any member of the Committee be liable for any agreement issued pursuant to this Plan or any grants under it. Each member of the
Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against any losses incurred in such administration of the Plan unless his action constitutes
serious and willful misconduct.

 

(f)       Awards
may not be granted under the Plan more than ten (10) years after approval of the Plan by the Company's Board, but then outstanding Awards
may extend beyond such date.

 

    -13-

     

    

 

(g)       To
the extent that State laws shall not have been preempted by any laws of the United States, the Plan shall be construed, regulated, interpreted
and administered according to the other laws of the State of New York.

 

(h)       A
Participant in the Plan shall have no right to receive payment (in any form) with respect to his or her Restricted Stock Award until
legal and contractual obligations of the Company relating to establishment of the Plan and the making of such payments shall have been
complied with in full. In addition, the Company shall impose such restrictions on stock delivered to a Participant hereunder and any
other interest constituting a security as it may deem advisable in order to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the requirements
of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the stock is then listed or quoted, any applicable state securities laws,
any provision of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or any other law, regulation, or binding contract to which
the Company is a party.

 

(i)
        This Plan shall be interpreted to avoid any penalty sanctions under Section 409A of
the Code (“Section 409A”) and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

    -14-decarbiv-ex41_83.htm

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

[Form of Unit Certificate]

NUMBER UNITS
U-

 

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

CUSIP [            ]

DECARBONIZATION PLUS ACQUISITION CORPORATION IV

UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE AND
ONE-HALF OF ONE REDEEMABLE WARRANT TO PURCHASE ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE

THIS CERTIFIES THAT                                        is the owner of                                                       Units.

Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one (1) Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a “Class A Ordinary Share”), of Decarbonization Plus acquisition Corporation IV, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Class A Ordinary Share (subject to adjustment) for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Only whole Warrants are exercisable. Each Warrant will become exercisable on the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the Company’s completion of a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (each a “Business Combination”) or (ii) twelve (12) months from the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation (the “Expiration Date”). The Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to                  , 2021, unless Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. elect to allow earlier separate trading, subject to the Company’s filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of                   , 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.

Upon the consummation of a Business Combination, the Units represented by this certificate will automatically separate into the Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants comprising such Units. 

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent, and Registrar of the Company.

This certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

Witness the facsimile signature of its duly authorized officers.

 

 

	
Secretary
	
 
	
Chief Executive Officer
	
 

 

 

 

 

 

Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation IV

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

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

 

	
TEN COM
	
–
	
as tenants in common
	
 
	
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT
	
–
	
                       Custodian                           

	
TEN ENT
	
–
	
as tenants by the entireties
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
(Cust)                                           (Minor)

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
JT TEN
	
–
	
as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 

(State)

 

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

For value received,                           hereby sell, assign and transfer unto                                             

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

	
Dated:
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

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

	
 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

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

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated                  , 2021, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the Class A Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial Business Combination within the period of time set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Memorandum and Articles”), (ii) the Company redeems the Class A Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Memorandum and Articles (A) that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Class A ordinary shares if it does not consummate an initial business combination within the time period set forth therein or (B) any other provision relating to the rights of holders of  Class A Ordinary Shares or pre-initial business combination activity or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder approval of the proposed initial Business Combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial Business Combination.  In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

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