AGILE THERAPEUTICS, INC. 2014 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN ARTICLE ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS

Contract Categories: Human Resources - Bonus & Incentive Agreements
EX-10.4 10 a2220115zex-10_4.htm EX-10.4

Exhibit 10.4

 

AGILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2014 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

I.                                        PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

 

This Incentive Compensation Plan is intended to promote the interests of Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible persons in the Corporation’s service with the opportunity to participate in one or more cash or equity incentive compensation programs designed to encourage them to continue their service relationship with the Corporation.

 

The Plan serves as the successor to the Predecessor Plans, and no further equity awards are to be made under the Predecessor Plans on or after the Plan Effective Date.  All options and other equity awards outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date were transferred to this Plan as part of the initial share reserve hereunder and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and no provision of this Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of those options or other equity awards with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder.

 

Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the attached Appendix.

 

II.                                   STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

 

A.                                    The Plan shall be divided into three separate equity incentive programs:

 

·                                          the Discretionary Grant Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock or stock appreciation rights tied to the value of such Common Stock,

 

·                                          the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of Common Stock pursuant to restricted stock awards, restricted stock units or other stock-based awards which vest upon the completion of a designated service period or the attainment of pre-established performance milestones, or such shares of Common Stock may be issued through direct purchase or as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), and

 


 

·                                          the Incentive Bonus Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be provided with incentive bonus opportunities through performance unit awards and special cash incentive programs tied to the attainment of pre-established performance milestones.

 

B.                                    The provisions of Articles One and Five shall apply to all incentive compensation programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons under the Plan.

 

III.                              ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

A.                                    The Primary Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority to administer the Discretionary Grant, Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs with respect to Section 16 Insiders. Administration of the Discretionary Grant, Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in those programs may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in the Primary Committee or a Secondary Board Committee, or the Board may retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all such persons.  However, all awards under the Plan to non-employee Board members shall be made by the Primary Committee (or subcommittee thereof).  The Primary Committee shall be comprised solely of independent directors, as determined in accordance with the governance standards established by the Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded (the “Independent Directors”).  Any Awards made to the members of the Primary Committee must be authorized by a disinterested majority of the Independent Directors.

 

B.                                    Members of the Primary Committee or any Secondary Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be removed by the Board at any time.  The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of any Secondary Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to such committee.

 

C.                                    Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority (subject to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for proper administration of the Discretionary Grant, Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs and to make such determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the provisions of those programs and any outstanding Awards thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Discretionary Grant, Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs under its jurisdiction or any Award thereunder.

 

D.                                    Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee shall constitute service as a Board member, and the members of each such committee shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service on such committee.  No member of the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award made thereunder.

 

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IV.                               ELIGIBILITY

 

A.                                    The persons eligible to participate in the Plan are as follows:

 

(i)                                     Employees,

 

(ii)                                  non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and

 

(iii)                               consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

 

B.                                    The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to determine, (i) with respect to Awards made under the Discretionary Grant Program, which eligible persons are to receive such Awards, the time or times when those Awards are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by each such Award, the time or times when the Award is to become exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to an Award, the maximum term for which such Award is to remain outstanding and the status of a granted option as either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option, (ii) with respect to Awards made under the Stock Issuance Program, which eligible persons are to receive such Awards, the time or times when the Awards are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such Award, the vesting and issuance schedule (if any) applicable to the shares which are the subject of such Award and the cash consideration (if any) payable for those shares, and (iii) with respect to Awards under the Incentive Bonus Program, which eligible persons are to receive such Awards, the time or times when the Awards are to be made, the performance objectives for each such Award, the amounts payable at designated levels of attained performance, any applicable service vesting requirements, the payout schedule for each such Award and the form (cash or shares of Common Stock) in which the Award is to be settled.

 

C.                                    The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion to grant options or stock appreciation rights in accordance with the Discretionary Grant Program, to effect stock issuances and other stock-based awards in accordance with the Stock Issuance Program and to grant incentive bonus awards in accordance with the Incentive Bonus Program.

 

V.                                    STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

A.                                    The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including treasury shares and shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open market.  The number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall initially be limited to 2,255,050(1) shares.  Such share reserve is comprised of (i) 1,387,291 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding awards under the Predecessor Plans that are transferred to the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section

 

(1)  All share numbers in the Plan reflect the 1.4 for 1 stock split effected by the Company on May 7, 2014.

 

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V.B of Article Five, plus (ii) 167,759 shares of Common Stock that are available for issuance under the Predecessor Plans as of the Plan Effective Date, plus (iii) an additional 700,000 shares of Common Stock.  The transfer of outstanding shares and awards from the Predecessor Plans shall be effected as of the Plan Effective Date, and the Predecessor Plans shall terminate at that time.

 

B.                                    The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day in January each calendar year during the term of the Plan, beginning with the 2015 calendar year, by an amount equal to four percent (4%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as measured as of the last trading day in the immediately preceding calendar year, or such lesser number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, but in no event shall any such annual increase exceed 1,500,000 shares.

 

C.                                    The Plan serves as the successor to the Predecessor Plans, and no further stock option grants or stock issuances are to be made under those Predecessor Plans on or after the Plan Effective Date. All options outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date were transferred to this Plan as part of the initial share reserve hereunder and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and no provision of this Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of those options with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder. To the extent any options outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date expire or terminate unexercised, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to those expired or terminated options at the time of expiration or termination shall be available for one or more Awards made under this Plan.

 

D.                                    The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Options granted under Plan shall not exceed 2,255,050 shares.  Such share limitation shall automatically be increased on the first trading day in January each calendar year, beginning with the 2015 calendar year, by the number of shares of Common Stock added to the share reserve on that day pursuant to the provisions of Section V. B. of this Article One.

 

E.                                     Each person participating in the Plan shall be subject the following limitations:

 

·                                          no one person participating in the Plan may receive stock options and stand-alone stock appreciation rights for more than 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year;

 

·                                          no one person participating in the Plan may receive direct stock issuances (whether vested or unvested) or stock-based awards (other than stock options and stand-alone stock appreciation rights) for more than 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year; and

 

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·                                          for Awards denominated in terms of cash (whether payable in cash, Common Stock or a combination of both) and subject to one or more performance-vesting conditions, the maximum dollar amount for which such Awards may be made to such person in any calendar year shall not exceed 1,500,000 dollars for each calendar year within the applicable performance measurement period, with any such performance period not to exceed five (5) years and with pro-ration based on the foregoing dollar amount in the event of any fractional calendar year included within such performance period.

 

F.                                      Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Awards made under the Plan (including the options transferred from the Predecessor Plans) shall be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those Awards are forfeited or cancelled for any reason prior to the issuance of the shares of Common Stock subject to those Awards. Such shares shall be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for award and issuance under the Plan as follows:

 

(i)                                     for each share of Common Stock subject to such an expired, forfeited, cancelled or terminated Award made under the Discretionary Grant Program (including the options transferred from the Predecessor Plans), one share of Common Stock shall become available for subsequent award and issuance under the Plan,

 

(ii)                                  for each share of Common Stock subject to a forfeited or cancelled Full Value Award made under the Stock Issuance or Incentive Bonus Program, one share shall become available for subsequent award and issuance, and

 

(iii)                               for each unvested share of Common Stock issued under the Discretionary Grant or Stock Issuance Program for cash consideration not less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Award date and subsequently repurchased by the Corporation, at a price per share not greater than the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Plan, one share shall become available for subsequent award and issuance under the Plan.

 

G.                                    Should the exercise price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock subject to such option, then the authorized reserve of Common Stock under the Plan shall be reduced by the net number of shares issued under the exercised stock option, and not by the gross number of shares for which that option is exercised.  Upon the exercise of any stock appreciation right under the Plan, the share reserve shall be reduced by the net number of shares actually issued by the Corporation upon such exercise, and not the gross number of shares as to which such right is exercised.  If shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan are withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, exercise or vesting of an Award, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the net number of

 

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shares issued, exercised or vesting under such Award, calculated in each instance after any such share withholding.

 

H.                                   Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, or should the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution, or should there occur any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (including, without limitation, a Change in Control transaction), then equitable adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of securities by which the share reserve is to increase automatically each calendar year pursuant to the provisions Article One, Section V. B., (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Options granted under the Plan, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may receive Common Stock-denominated Awards under the Plan per calendar year, (v) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may receive stock options and stock appreciation rights under the Plan per calendar year, (vi) the maximum number and/or class of securities that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Options granted under the Plan, (vii) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise or base price per share in effect under each outstanding Award under the Discretionary Grant Program, (vii) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding Award under the Stock Issuance Program and the cash consideration (if any) payable per share, (viii) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding Award under the Incentive Bonus Program denominated in shares of Common Stock and (ix) the number and/or class of securities subject to the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Plan and the repurchase price payable per share.  The adjustments shall be made in such manner as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits under the Plan and outstanding Awards.  The adjustments shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

I.                                        Outstanding Awards under the Plan shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

VI.                               PROHIBITION ON REPRICING PROGRAMS

 

The Plan Administrator shall not (i) implement any cancellation/regrant program pursuant to which outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan are cancelled and new options or stock appreciation rights are granted in replacement with a lower exercise price per share, (ii) cancel outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan with exercise or base prices per share in excess of the then current Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock for consideration payable in cash, equity securities of the Corporation or in the form of any other Award under the Plan, except in connection with a Change in Control

 

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transaction, or (iii) otherwise directly reduce the exercise price in effect for outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan, without in each such instance obtaining stockholder approval.

 

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ARTICLE TWO
DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM

 

I.                                        OPTION TERMS

 

Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.  Each document evidencing an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such options.

 

A.                                    Exercise Price.

 

1.                                      The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator; but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date.

 

2.                                      The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of the documents evidencing the option, be payable in one or more of the forms specified below:

 

(i)                                     cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

 

(ii)                                  shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation’s earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date,

 

(iii)                               shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the option but withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the exercise price, with such withheld shares to be valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or

 

(iv)                              to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions to (a) a brokerage firm (reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation for purposes of administering such procedure in compliance with the Corporation’s pre-clearance/pre-notification policies) to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (b) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.

 

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Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

 

B.                                    Exercise and Term of Options.  Each option shall be exercisable at such time or times, during such period and for such number of shares as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option.  However, no option shall have a term in excess of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

 

C.                                    Effect of Termination of Service.

 

1.                                      The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options granted pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program that are outstanding at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service or death:

 

(i)                                     Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service for any reason shall remain exercisable for such period of time thereafter as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option, but no such option shall be exercisable after the expiration of the option term.

 

(ii)                                  Any option held by the Optionee at the time of the Optionee’s death and exercisable in whole or in part at that time may be subsequently exercised by the personal representative of the Optionee’s estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance or by the Optionee’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of that option.

 

(iii)                               Should the Optionee’s Service be terminated for Misconduct or should the Optionee otherwise engage in Misconduct while holding one or more outstanding options granted under this Article Two, then all of those options shall terminate immediately and cease to be outstanding.

 

(iv)                              During the applicable post-Service exercise period, the option may not be exercised for more than the number of vested shares for which the option is at the time exercisable.  No additional shares shall vest under the option following the Optionee’s cessation of Service, except to the extent (if any) specifically authorized by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion pursuant to an express written agreement with the Optionee.  Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any shares for which the option has not been exercised.

 

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2.                                      The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion, exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the option remains outstanding, to:

 

(i)                                     extend the period of time for which the option is to remain exercisable following the Optionee’s cessation of Service from the limited exercise period otherwise in effect for that option to such greater period of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond the expiration of the option term,

 

(ii)                                  include an automatic extension provision whereby the specified post-Service exercise period in effect for any option granted under this Article Two shall automatically be extended by an additional period of time equal in duration to any interval within the specified post-Service exercise period during which the exercise of that option or the immediate sale of the shares acquired under such option could not be effected in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, but in no event shall such an extension result in the continuation of such option beyond the expiration date of the term of that option, and/or

 

(iii)                               permit the option to be exercised, during the applicable post-Service exercise period, not only with respect to the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which such option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service but also with respect to one or more additional installments in which the Optionee would have vested had the Optionee continued in Service.

 

D.                                    Stockholder Rights.  The holder of an option shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

 

E.                                     Repurchase Rights.  The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock.  Should the Optionee cease Service while such shares are unvested, the Corporation shall have the right to repurchase any or all of those unvested shares at a price per share equal to the lower of (i) the exercise price paid per share or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the time of repurchase.  The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.

 

F.                                      Transferability of Options. The transferability of options granted under the Plan shall be governed by the following provisions:

 

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(i)                                     Incentive Options:   During the lifetime of the Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of inheritance following the Optionee’s death.

 

(ii)                                  Non-Statutory Options.  Non-Statutory Options shall be subject to the same limitation on transfer as Incentive Options, except that the Plan Administrator may structure one or more Non-Statutory Options so that the option may be assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee’s lifetime to one or more Family Members of the Optionee or to a trust established exclusively for the Optionee and/or one or more such Family Members, to the extent such assignment is in connection with the Optionee’s estate plan or pursuant to a domestic relations order.  The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

 

(iii)                               Beneficiary Designations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding options under this Article Two (whether Incentive Options or Non-Statutory Options), and those options shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding those options.  Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred options subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred option, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which the option may be exercised following the Optionee’s death.

 

II.                                   INCENTIVE OPTIONS

 

The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive Options.  Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the provisions of Articles One, Two and Five shall be applicable to Incentive Options.  Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.

 

A.                                    Eligibility.  Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.

 

B.                                    Dollar Limitation.  The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).

 

To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such options are granted.

 

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C.                                    10% Stockholder.  If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option grant date.

 

III.                              STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

A.                                    Authority.  The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant stock appreciation rights in accordance with this Section III to selected Optionees or other individuals eligible to receive option grants under the Discretionary Grant Program.

 

B.                                    Types.  Two types of stock appreciation rights shall be authorized for issuance under this Section III: (i) tandem stock appreciation rights (“Tandem Rights”) and (ii) stand-alone stock appreciation rights (“Stand-alone Rights”).

 

C.                                    Tandem Rights.  The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Tandem Rights.

 

1.                                      One or more Optionees may be granted a Tandem Right, exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish, to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of Common Stock or the surrender of that option in exchange for a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value (on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which the Optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested shares.

 

2.                                      No such option surrender shall be effective unless it is approved by the Plan Administrator, either at the time of the actual option surrender or at any earlier time.  If the surrender is so approved, then the distribution to which the Optionee shall accordingly become entitled under this Section III may be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the option surrender date, in cash or partly in shares and partly in cash, as the Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion deem appropriate.

 

3.                                      If the surrender of an option is not approved by the Plan Administrator, then the Optionee shall retain whatever rights the Optionee had under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) on the option surrender date and may exercise such rights at any time prior to the later of (i) five (5) business days after the receipt of the rejection notice or (ii) the last day on which the option is otherwise exercisable in accordance with the terms of the instrument evidencing such option, but in no event may such rights be exercised more than ten (10) years after the date of the option grant.

 

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D.                                    Stand-Alone Rights.  The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Stand-alone Rights:

 

1.                                      One or more individuals eligible to participate in the Discretionary Grant Program may be granted a Stand-alone Right not tied to any underlying option under this Discretionary Grant Program.  The Stand-alone Right shall relate to a specified number of shares of Common Stock and shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish.  In no event, however, may the Stand-alone Right have a maximum term in excess of ten (10) years measured from the grant date.  Upon exercise of the Stand-alone Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the exercise date) of the shares of Common Stock underlying the exercised right over (ii) the aggregate base price in effect for those shares.

 

2.                                      The number of shares of Common Stock underlying each Stand-alone Right and the base price in effect for those shares shall be determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion at the time the Stand-alone Right is granted.  In no event, however, may the base price per share be less than the Fair Market Value per underlying share of Common Stock on the grant date.  In the event outstanding Stand-alone Rights are to be assumed in connection with a Change in Control transaction or otherwise continued in effect, the shares of Common Stock underlying each such Stand-alone Right shall be adjusted immediately after such Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which those shares of Common Stock would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time.  Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to the base price per share in effect under each outstanding Stand-alone Right, provided the aggregate base price shall remain the same.  To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding Stand-alone Rights under the Discretionary Grant Program, substitute, for the securities underlying those assumed rights, one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in the Change in Control transaction.

 

3.                                      Stand-alone Rights shall be subject to the same transferability restrictions applicable to Non-Statutory Options and may not be transferred during the holder’s lifetime, except if such assignment is in connection with the holder’s estate plan and is to one or more Family Members of the holder or to a trust established for the holder and/or one or more such Family Members or pursuant to a domestic relations order covering the Stand-alone Right as marital property.  In addition, one or more beneficiaries may be designated for an outstanding Stand-alone Right in accordance with substantially the same terms and provisions as set forth in Section I.F of this Article Two.

 

4.                                      The distribution with respect to an exercised Stand-alone Right may be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date, in

 

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cash or partly in shares and partly in cash, as the Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion deem appropriate.

 

5.                                      The holder of a Stand-alone Right shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the Stand-alone Right unless and until such person shall have exercised the Stand-alone Right and become a holder of record of the shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of such Stand-alone Right.

 

E.                                     Post-Service Exercise.  The provisions governing the exercise of Tandem, and Stand-alone Stock Appreciation Rights following the cessation of the recipient’s Service shall be substantially the same as those set forth in Section I.C of this Article Two for the options granted under the Discretionary Grant Program.

 

F.                                      Net Counting.  Upon the exercise of any Tandem or Stand-alone Right under this Section III, the share reserve under Section V of Article One shall be reduced by the net number of shares actually issued by the Corporation upon such exercise and not by the gross number of shares as to which such right is exercised.

 

IV.                               CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

A.                                    In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding option or stock appreciation right under the Discretionary Grant Program shall automatically accelerate so that each such option or stock appreciation right shall, immediately prior to the effective date of that Change in Control, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option or stock appreciation right and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock.  However, an outstanding option or stock appreciation right shall not become exercisable on such an accelerated basis if and to the extent:  (i) the Plan Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, that such option or stock appreciation right is to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or is otherwise to be continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction, or (ii) the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion that such option or stock appreciation right is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Change in Control on any shares as to which the option or stock appreciation right is not otherwise at that time exercisable and provides for subsequent payout of that spread in accordance with the same exercise/vesting schedule applicable to those shares, but only if such replacement cash program would not result in the treatment of the option or stock appreciation right as an item of deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A or (iii) the acceleration of such option or stock appreciation right is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time of the grant. 

 

B.            To the extent the Plan Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, that any option or stock appreciation right outstanding under the Discretionary Grant Program on the date of a Change in Control is not to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect or replaced with a cash incentive program in accordance with Section IV.A. of this Article Two, the holder of any such option or stock appreciation right shall be entitled to receive, upon consummation of the Change in Control, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the spread, if any, existing on the shares of Common Stock subject to the option or stock appreciation right at the time of the Change in Control over the aggregate exercise or base price in effect for such option or stock appreciation right.  The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to determine, in its sole discretion, that any option or stock appreciation right outstanding under the Discretionary Grant Program on the date of such Change in Control that is not to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect or replaced with a cash incentive program in accordance with Section IV.A. of this Article Two shall be subject to cancellation and termination, without cash payment or other consideration due the award holder, if the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of such Change in Control is less than the per share exercise or base price in effect for such option or stock appreciation right.

 

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C.                                    All outstanding repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program shall automatically terminate, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of a Change in Control, except to the extent: (i) the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion that those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.

 

D.                                    Immediately following the consummation of the Change in Control, all outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

 

E.                                     Each option or stock appreciation right which is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at the time.  Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to (i) the exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities available for issuance over the remaining term of the Plan, (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted Awards under the Plan per calendar year, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which Incentive Options may be granted under the Plan, and (v) the number and/or class of securities subject to the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Plan and the repurchase price payable per share.  To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide in the document evidencing the Change in Control transaction that the successor corporation, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program, shall substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

 

F.                                      The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall, immediately prior to the effective date of a Change in Control, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights and may be exercised as to any or

 

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all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock, whether or not those options or stock appreciation rights are to be assumed in the Change in Control transaction or otherwise continued in effect.  In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those rights shall immediately terminate upon the consummation of the Change in Control transaction, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full.

 

G.                                    The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights in the event the Optionee’s Service is subsequently terminated by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of any Change in Control transaction in which those options or stock appreciation rights do not otherwise fully accelerate.  In addition, the Plan Administrator may structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights so that those rights shall immediately terminate with respect to any shares held by the Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination, and the shares subject to those terminated repurchase rights shall accordingly vest in full at that time.

 

H.                                   The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation is not exceeded.  To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-Statutory Option under the Federal tax laws.

 

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ARTICLE THREE

 

STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM

 

I.                                        STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS

 

Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program, either as vested or unvested shares, through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option grants. Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance Agreement which complies with the terms specified below.  Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance Program pursuant to share right awards, restricted stock units or performance shares which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those Awards upon the attainment of designated performance goals or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those awards or units.

 

A.                                    Issue Price.

 

1.                                      The issue price per share shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the issuance date.

 

2.                                      Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for any of the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate in each individual instance:

 

(i)                                     cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

 

(ii)                                  past services rendered to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary); or

 

(iii)                               any other valid consideration under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

B.                                    Transferability.  Awards under the Stock Issuance Program shall be transferable by will and by the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the recipient, such Awards shall be transferable, by gift or pursuant to a domestic relations order, to a Family Member to the extent and in the manner determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the applicable agreement evidencing the Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the recipient of an Award under the Stock Issuance Program may designate a beneficiary of the

 

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recipient’s Award in the event of the recipient’s death on a beneficiary designation form provided by the Plan Administrator.

 

C.                                    Vesting Provisions.

 

1.                                      Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and immediately vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over the Participant’s period of Service or upon the attainment of specified performance objectives.  The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to any unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Stock Issuance Agreement.  Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance Program pursuant to restricted stock units or performance shares which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those Awards upon the attainment of designated performance goals or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those Awards, including (without limitation) a deferred distribution date following the termination of the Participant’s Service.

 

2.                                      The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more Awards under the Stock Issuance Program so that the shares of Common Stock subject to those Awards shall vest (or vest and become issuable) upon the achievement of certain pre-established corporate performance objectives based on one or more Performance Goals and measured over the performance period (not to exceed five (5) years) specified by the Plan Administrator at the time of the Award.

 

3.                                      Any new, substituted or additional securities or other property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction, extraordinary dividend or distribution or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting requirements applicable to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock and (ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.  Equitable adjustments to reflect each such transaction shall also be made by the Plan Administrator to the repurchase price payable per share by the Corporation for any unvested securities subject to its existing repurchase rights under the Plan, provided the aggregate repurchase price shall in each instance remain the same.

 

4.                                      The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the Stock Issuance Program, whether or not the Participant’s interest in those shares is vested.  Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such shares and to receive any regular cash dividends paid on such shares, subject to any applicable vesting requirements, including (without limitation) the requirement that any dividends paid on shares subject to performance-vesting conditions shall be held in escrow by the Corporation and shall not vest or actually be paid to the Award holder

 

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prior to the time those shares vest. The Participant shall not have any stockholder rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a restricted stock unit or share right award until that award vests and the shares of Common Stock are actually issued thereunder. However, dividend-equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of Common Stock, on outstanding restricted stock unit or share right awards, subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate; provided, however, that no such dividend-equivalent units relating to restricted stock unit or share right awards subject to performance-vesting conditions shall vest or otherwise become payable prior to the time the underlying award (or portion thereof to which such dividend-equivalents units relate) vests upon the attainment of the applicable performance goals and shall accordingly be subject to cancellation and forfeiture to the same extent as the underlying award.

 

5.                                      Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program or should the performance objectives not be attained with respect to one or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation, and the Participant shall have no further stockholder rights with respect to those shares.  To the extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to the Participant for consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent, the Corporation shall repay to the Participant the lower of (i) the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares or (ii) the Fair Market Value of those shares at the time of cancellation.

 

6.                                      The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant’s Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those shares.  Any such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant’s interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies.  Such waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant’s cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance objectives. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of Performance Goals may be waived with respect to Awards which were intended at the time of grant to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).

 

7.                                      Outstanding Awards of restricted stock units or performance shares under the Stock Issuance Program shall automatically terminate, and no shares of Common Stock shall actually be issued in satisfaction of those Awards, if the performance goals or Service requirements established for such Awards are not attained or satisfied.  The Plan Administrator, however, shall have the discretionary authority to issue vested shares of Common Stock under one or more outstanding Awards of restricted stock units or performance shares as to which the designated performance goals or Service requirements have not been attained or satisfied.  However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of Performance Goals may be waived with respect to Awards which were intended, at the time those Awards were made, to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).

 

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8.                                      The following additional requirements shall be in effect for any performance shares awarded under this Article Three:

 

(i)                                     At the end of the performance period, the Plan Administrator shall determine the actual level of attainment for each performance objective and the extent to which the performance shares awarded for that period are to vest and become payable based on the attained performance levels.

 

(ii)                                  The performance shares which so vest shall be paid as soon as practicable following the end of the performance period, unless such payment is to be deferred for the period specified by the Plan Administrator at the time the performance shares are awarded or the period selected by the Participant in accordance with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

(iii)                               Performance shares may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock or (iii) any combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(iv)                              Performance shares may also be structured so that the shares are convertible into shares of Common Stock, but the rate at which each performance share is to so convert shall be based on the attained level of performance for each applicable performance objective.

 

II.                                   CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

A.                                    Each Award outstanding under the Stock Issuance Program on the effective date of an actual Change in Control transaction may, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, be (i) assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction, or (ii) replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock at the time of the Change in Control and provides for the subsequent vesting and payment of that value in accordance with the same vesting schedule in effect for those shares at the time of such Change in Control.  However, to the extent that the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion that any Award outstanding under the Stock Issuance Program on the effective date of such Change in Control Transaction is not to be so assumed, continued or replaced, that Award shall vest in full immediately prior to the effective date of the actual Change in Control transaction and the shares of Common Stock underlying the portion of the Award that vests on such accelerated basis shall be issued in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, unless such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the Stock Issuance Agreement.

 

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B.                                    All of the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance Program shall terminate automatically, and all the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in Control, except to the extent (i) the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion that those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction,  or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the Stock Issuance Agreement.

 

C.                                    Each outstanding Award under the Stock Issuance Program which is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be adjusted immediately after the consummation of that Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which the shares of Common Stock subject to that Award immediately prior to the Change in Control would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the cash consideration (if any) payable per share thereunder, provided the aggregate amount of such cash consideration shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide in the document evidencing the Change in Control transaction that the successor corporation, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding Awards, shall substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

 

D.                                    The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more unvested Awards under the Stock Issuance Program so that the shares of Common Stock subject to those Awards shall automatically vest (or vest and become issuable) in whole or in part immediately upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of that Change in Control transaction.  The Plan Administrator’s authority under this Section II.D shall also extend to any Awards under the Stock Issuance Program which are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), even though the actual vesting of those Awards pursuant to this Section II.D may result in their loss of performance-based status under Code Section 162(m).

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

 

INCENTIVE BONUS PROGRAM

 

I.                                        INCENTIVE BONUS TERMS

 

The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to implement one or more of the following incentive bonus programs under the Plan:

 

(i)                                     cash bonus awards (“Cash Awards”),

 

(ii)                                  performance unit awards (“Performance Unit Awards”), and

 

(iii)                               dividend equivalent rights (“DER Awards”)

 

A.                                    Cash Awards.  The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority under the Plan to make Cash Awards which are to vest in one or more installments over the Participant’s continued Service with the Corporation or upon the attainment of specified performance objectives.  Each such Cash Award shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.

 

1.                                      The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to each Cash Award shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Incentive Bonus Award Agreement.

 

2.                                      The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more Cash Awards so that those Awards shall vest upon the achievement of pre-established corporate performance objectives based upon one or more Performance Goals measured over the performance period (not to exceed five (5) years) specified by the Plan Administrator at the time of the Award.

 

3.                                      Outstanding Cash Awards shall automatically terminate, and no cash payment or other consideration shall be due the holders of those Awards, if the performance objectives or Service requirements established for those Awards are not attained or satisfied. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the cancellation and termination of one or more unvested Cash Awards which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant’s Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those Awards.  Any such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant’s interest in the Cash Award as to which the waiver applies.  Such wavier may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant’s cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance objectives. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of Performance Goals may be waived with respect to Awards which were intended, at the time those Awards

 

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were made, to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except in the event of the Participant’s cessation of Service by reason of death or Permanent Disability or as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Four.

 

4.                                      Cash Awards which become due and payable following the attainment of the applicable performance objectives or satisfaction of the applicable Service requirement (or the waiver of such goals or Service requirement) may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the payment date or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

B.                                    Performance Unit Awards.  The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to make Performance Unit Awards in accordance with the terms of this Article Four.  Each such Performance Unit Award shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.

 

1.                                      A Performance Unit shall represent either (i) a unit with a dollar value tied to the level at which pre-established corporate performance objectives based on one or more Performance Goals are attained or (ii) a participating interest in a special bonus pool tied to the attainment of pre-established corporate performance objectives based on one or more Performance Goals. The amount of the bonus pool may vary with the level at which the applicable performance objectives are attained, and the value of each Performance Unit which becomes due and payable upon the attained level of performance shall be determined by dividing the amount of the resulting bonus pool (if any) by the total number of Performance Units issued and outstanding at the completion of the applicable performance period.

 

2.                                      Performance Units may also be structured to include a Service requirement which the Participant must satisfy following the completion of the performance period in order to vest in the Performance Units awarded with respect to that performance period.

 

3.                                      Performance Units which become due and payable following the attainment of the applicable performance objectives and the satisfaction of any applicable Service requirement may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the payment date or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

C.                                    DER Awards.  The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to make DER Awards in accordance with the terms of this Article Four.  Each such DER Award shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.

 

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1.                                      The DER Awards may be made as stand-alone awards or in tandem with other Awards made under the Plan.  The term of each such DER Award shall be established by the Plan Administrator at the time of grant, but no DER Award shall have a term in excess of ten (10) years.

 

2.                                      Each DER shall represent the right to receive the economic equivalent of each dividend or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than shares of Common Stock), which is made per issued and outstanding share of Common Stock during the term the DER remains outstanding. A special account on the books of the Corporation shall be maintained for each Participant to whom a DER Award is made, and that account shall be credited per DER with each such dividend or distribution made per issued and outstanding share of Common Stock during the term of that DER remains outstanding.

 

3.                                      Payment of the amounts credited to such book account may be made to the Participant either concurrently with the actual dividend or distribution made per issued and outstanding share of Common Stock or may be deferred for a period specified by the Plan Administrator at the time the DER Award is made or selected by the Participant in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.  In no event, however, shall any DER Award made with respect to an Award subject to performance-vesting conditions under the Stock Issuance or Incentive Bonus Program vest or become payable prior to the vesting of that Award (or the portion thereof to which the DER Award relates) upon the attainment of the applicable performance goals and shall accordingly be subject to cancellation and forfeiture to the same extent as the underlying Award in the event those performance conditions are not attained.

 

4.                                      Payment may be paid in (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock or (iii) a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If payment is to be made in the form of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock into which the cash dividend or distribution amounts are to be converted for purposes of the Participant’s book account may be based on the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of conversion, a prior date or an average of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock over a designated period, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

5.                                      The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more DER Awards so that those Awards shall vest only after the achievement of pre-established corporate performance objectives based upon one or more Performance Goals measured over the performance period (not to exceed five (5) years) specified by the Plan Administrator at the time the Award is made.

 

II.                                   CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

A.                                    The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more Awards under the Incentive Bonus Program so that those Awards shall automatically vest in whole or in part immediately prior to the effective date of an actual Change

 

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in Control transaction or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of such Change in Control. To the extent any such Award is, at the time of such Change in Control, subject to a performance-vesting condition tied to the attainment of one or more specified performance goals, then that performance vesting condition shall automatically be cancelled on the effective date of such Change in Control, and such Award shall thereupon be converted into a Service-vesting Award that will vest upon the completion of a Service period co-terminous with the portion of the performance period (and any subsequent Service vesting component that was originally part of that Award) remaining at the time of the Change in Control.

 

B.                                    The Plan Administrator’s authority under Section II.A above shall also extend to any Award under the Incentive Bonus Program intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), even though the automatic vesting of that Award may result in the loss of performance-based status under Code Section 162(m).

 

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ARTICLE FIVE

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

I.                                        DEFERRED COMPENSATION

 

A.                                    The Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion,  structure one or more awards under the Stock Issuance Program so that the Participants may be provided with an election to defer the compensation associated with those awards for federal income tax purposes.  Any such deferral opportunity shall comply with all applicable requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

B.                                    To the extent the Corporation maintains one or more separate non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements which allow the participants the opportunity to make notional investments of their deferred account balances in shares of Common Stock, the Plan Administrator may authorize the share reserve under the Plan to serve as the source of any shares of Common Stock that become payable under those deferred compensation arrangements.  In such event, the share reserve under the Plan shall be reduced on a share-for-share basis for each share of Common Stock issued under the Plan in settlement of the deferred compensation owed under those separate arrangements.

 

C.                                    To the extent there is any ambiguity as to whether any provision of any award made under the Plan that is deemed to constitute a deferred compensation arrangement under Code Section 409A would otherwise contravene one or more requirements or limitations of such Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, such provision shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that complies with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

 

II.                                   TAX WITHHOLDING

 

A.                                    The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the issuance, exercise or vesting of an Award under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable income and employment tax withholding requirements.

 

B.                                    The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide any or all holders of Non-Statutory Options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units or any other share right awards pursuant to which vested shares of Common Stock are to be issued under the Plan and any or all Participants to whom vested or unvested shares of Common Stock are issued in a direct issuance under the Stock Issuance Program with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part of the Withholding Taxes to which such holders may become subject in connection with the exercise of their options or stock appreciation rights, the issuance to them

 

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of vested shares or the subsequent vesting of unvested shares issued to them.  Such right may be provided to any such holder in either or both of the following formats:

 

Stock Withholding:  The election to have the Corporation withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of such Non-Statutory Option or stock appreciation right or upon the issuance of fully-vested shares, a portion of those shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder.  The shares of Common Stock so withheld shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan.

 

Stock Delivery:  The election to deliver to the Corporation, at the time the Non-Statutory Option or stock appreciation right is exercised,  the vested shares are issued or the unvested shares subsequently vest, one or more shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such holder (other than in connection with the exercise, share issuance or share vesting triggering the Withholding Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder.  The shares of Common Stock so delivered shall neither reduce the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan nor be added to the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan

 

III.                              ASSUMPTION OR SUBSTITUTION OF OPTIONS

 

A.                                    The shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan may, in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator, be used to fund one or more shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of (i) any Code Section 422 incentive stock option originally granted by a corporation or other entity acquired by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), whether by merger or asset or stock sale, and assumed by the Corporation in connection with that acquisition or (ii) any Incentive Option granted under this Plan in substitution for such incentive stock option of the acquired entity.  Any such assumption or substitution of options shall not be deemed to contravene the option exercise price requirements of Section I.A of Article Two, even if the exercise price per share of Common Stock under the assumed or substituted option is less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date such assumption or substitution is effected, provided all of the following requirements are satisfied:

 

(i)                                     The excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the assumed or substituted option immediately after the assumption or substitution over the aggregate exercise price in effect for those shares is not greater than the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares of stock subject to the option immediately prior to such assumption or substitution over the aggregate exercise price payable for those shares.

 

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(ii)                                  The ratio of the exercise price to the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the assumed or substituted option immediately after such assumption or substitution is no more favorable to the Optionee than the ratio of the exercise price to the fair market value per share immediately prior to such assumption or substitution.

 

(iii)                               The assumed or substituted option does not provide the Optionee with any additional benefits the Optionee did not otherwise have under the option immediately prior to the assumption or substitution.

 

(iv)                              In the case of a substitution, the option granted by the acquired entity must be cancelled at the time of such substitution, and the Optionee must have no further rights under that cancelled option.

 

IV.                               SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

 

Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator’s discretion, be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant’s interest in such shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.

 

V.                                    EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

 

A.                                    The Plan shall become effective on the Plan Effective Date.

 

B.                                    The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor Plans, and no further option grants, restricted stock unit awards or other stock-based awards shall be made under the Predecessor Plans.  All awards outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date shall be transferred to the Plan at that time and shall be treated as outstanding awards under the Plan.  However, each outstanding award so transferred shall continue to be governed solely by the terms of the documents evidencing such award, and no provision of the Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of such transferred awards with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder.  Should any of those transferred awards expire or terminate unexercised, the shares of Common Stock subject to those awards at the time of expiration or termination shall be available for subsequent award and issuance under the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section V.E of Article One.

 

C.                                    The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) [          ], 2024, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been issued as fully vested shares or (iii) the termination of all outstanding Awards in connection with a Change in Control.  Should the Plan terminate on [           ], 2024, then all Awards outstanding at that time shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the documents evidencing those Awards.

 

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VI.                               AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

 

A.                                    The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects.  However, no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to Awards at the time outstanding under the Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or modification.  In addition, amendments to the Plan will be subject to stockholder approval to the extent required under applicable law or regulation or pursuant to the listing standards of the Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded, and no amendment that would reduce or limit the scope of the prohibition on repricing programs set forth in Section V of Article Two or otherwise eliminated such prohibition shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders.

 

B.                                    The Primary Committee of the Board shall have the discretionary authority to adopt and implement from time to time such addenda or subplans to the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to bring the Plan into compliance with applicable laws and regulations of any foreign jurisdictions in which grants or awards are to be made under the Plan and/or to obtain favorable tax treatment in those foreign jurisdictions for the individuals to whom the grants or awards are made.

 

C.                                    Awards may be made under the Plan that involve shares of Common Stock in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan, provided no shares shall actually be issued pursuant to those Awards until the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan is sufficiently increased by stockholder approval of an amendment of the Plan authorizing such increase.  If stockholder approval is required and is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date the first excess Award is made, then all Awards granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.

 

D.                                    The provisions of the Plan and the outstanding Awards under the Plan shall, in the event of any ambiguity, be construed, applied and interpreted in a manner so as to ensure that all Awards and Award Agreements provided to Optionees or Participants who are subject to U.S. income taxation either qualify for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or comply with those requirements; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not make any representations that any Awards made under the Plan will in fact be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise comply with those requirements, and each Optionee and Participant shall accordingly be solely responsible for any taxes, penalties or other amounts which may become payable with respect to his or her Awards by reason of Section 409A of the Code.

 

VII.                          USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

 

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VIII.                     REGULATORY APPROVALS

 

A.                                    The implementation of the Plan, the grant of any Award and the issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection with the issuance, exercise or vesting of any Award made under the Plan shall be subject to the Corporation’s procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the Awards made under the Plan and the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to those Awards.

 

B.                                    No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of applicable securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any Stock Exchange on which Common Stock is then listed for trading.

 

IX.                              NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

 

Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such person’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.

 

X.                                   RECOUPMENT

 

Optionees and Participants shall be subject to any clawback, recoupment or other similar policy adopted by the Board as in effect from time to time, and Awards and any cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or amounts due, paid or issued to the holder of an Award shall be subject to the terms of such policy, as in effect from time to time.

 

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APPENDIX

 

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

 

A.                                    Award shall mean any of the following awards authorized for issuance or grant under the Plan: stock options, stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances, restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards, performance shares, performance units, dividend-equivalent rights and cash incentive awards.

 

B.                                    Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

 

C.                                    Change in Control shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the award agreement for the particular award or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the award agreement for purposes of defining such term, and in the absence of such a Change in Control definition shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

 

(i)                                     the closing of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the Corporation’s stockholders, unless securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction,

 

(ii)                                  the closing of a stockholder-approved sale, transfer or other disposition (including in whole or in part through one or more licensing arrangements) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets,

 

(iii)                               the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than the Corporation or a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Corporation) acquires directly or indirectly beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such transaction or

 

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series of related transactions, whether such transaction involves a direct issuance from the Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Corporation’s existing stockholders, or

 

(iv)                              a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination.

 

D.                                    Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

E.                                     Common Stock shall mean the Corporation’s common stock.

 

F.                                      Corporation shall mean Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Agile Therapeutics, Inc. which has by appropriate action assumed the Plan.

 

G.                                    Discretionary Grant Program shall mean the discretionary grant program in effect under Article Two of the Plan pursuant to which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to one or more eligible individuals.

 

H.                                   Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

 

I.                                        Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall have received written notice of the option exercise.

 

J.                                        Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular trading hours (i.e., before after-hours trading begins) on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers (if primarily traded on the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market) or as officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on any other Stock Exchange on which the Corporation’s common stock is then primarily traded.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

K.                                   Family Member means, with respect to a particular Optionee or Participant, any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former

 

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spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

 

L.                                     Full Value Award means any of the following Awards made under the Stock Issuance or Incentive Bonus Programs that are settled in shares of Common Stock: restricted stock awards (unless issued for cash consideration equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the award date), restricted stock unit awards, performance shares, performance units, cash incentive awards and any other Awards under the Plan other than (i) stock options and stock appreciation rights issued under the Discretionary Grant Program and (ii) dividend equivalent rights under the Incentive Bonus Program.

 

M.                                 Incentive Bonus Program shall mean the incentive bonus program in effect under Article Four of the Plan.

 

N.                                    Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

O.                                    Involuntary Termination shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the award agreement for the particular award or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the award agreement for purposes of defining such term, and in the absence of such an Involuntary Termination definition shall mean the termination of the Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:

 

(i)                                     such individual’s involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for reasons other than Misconduct, or

 

(ii)                                  such individual’s voluntary resignation following (A) a change in his or her position with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) which materially reduces his or her duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he or she reports, (B) a reduction in his or her level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of such individual’s place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) without the individual’s consent.

 

P.                                      Misconduct shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the award agreement for the particular award or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the award agreement for purposes of defining such term, and in the absence of such a Misconduct definition shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner.  The foregoing definition shall

 

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not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss any Optionee, Participant or other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan, to constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.

 

Q.                                    1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

R.                                    Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

S.                                      Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under the Discretionary Grant Program.

 

T.                                     Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, 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.

 

U.                                    Participant shall mean any person who is issued (i) shares of Common Stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units or other stock-based awards under the Stock Issuance Program or (ii) an incentive bonus award under the Incentive Bonus Program.

 

V.                                    Performance Goals shall mean any of the following performance criteria upon which the vesting of one or more Awards under the Plan may be based: (i) revenue, organic revenue, net sales, or new-product revenue or net sales, (ii) achievement of specified milestones in the discovery and development of the Corporation’s technology or of one or more of the Corporation’s products, (iii) achievement of specified milestones in the commercialization of one or more of the Corporation’s products, (iv) achievement of specified milestones in the manufacturing of one or more of the Corporation’s products, (v) expense targets, (vi) share price, (vii) total shareholder return, (viii) earnings per share, (ix) operating margin, (x) gross margin, (xi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity, or sales), (xii) productivity ratios, (xiii) operating income, (xiv) net operating profit, (xv) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes), (xvi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow and cash flow return on capital), (xvii) earnings before or after interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and/or stock-based compensation expense, (xviii) economic value added, (xix) market share, (xx) working capital targets, (xxi) achievement of specified milestones relating to corporate partnerships, collaborations, license transactions, distribution arrangements, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions or similar business transactions, and (xxii) employee retention and recruiting and human resources management. In addition, such performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of the Corporation’s performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other entities and may also be based on the performance of any of the Corporation’s business

 

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units or divisions or any Parent or Subsidiary.  Performance goals may include a minimum threshold level of performance below which no award will be earned, levels of performance at which specified portions of an award will be earned and a maximum level of performance at which an award will be fully earned.  Each applicable performance goal may be structured at the time of the Award to provide for appropriate adjustments or exclusions for one or more of the following items: (A) asset impairments or write-downs; (B) litigation or governmental investigation expenses and any judgments, verdicts and settlements in connection therewith; (C) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; (D) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (E) any extraordinary or nonrecurring items; (F) items of income, gain, loss or expense attributable to the operations of any business acquired by the Corporation or costs and expenses incurred in connection with mergers and acquisitions; (G) items of income, gain, loss or expense attributable to one or more business operations divested by the Corporation or the gain or loss realized upon the sale of any such business the assets thereof, (H) accruals for bonus or incentive compensation costs and expenses associated with cash-based awards made under the Plan or other bonus or incentive compensation plans of the Corporation, and (I) the impact of foreign currency fluctuations or changes in exchange rates.

 

W.                                 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled have the meaning assigned to such term in the award agreement for the particular award or in any other agreement incorporated by reference into the award agreement for purposes of defining such term, and in the absence of such a definition shall mean the inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

 

X.                                    Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan as set forth in this document and as subsequently amended or restated from time to time.

 

Y.                                    Plan Administrator shall mean the particular entity, whether the Primary Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee, which is authorized to administer the Discretionary Grant, Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under those programs with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction.

 

Z.                                     Plan Effective Date shall mean the date upon which the Plan shall become effective and shall be coincident with the Underwriting Date.

 

AA.                           Predecessor Plans shall mean the Corporation’s 1997 and 2008 Equity Incentive Plans as each such Plan is in effect immediately prior to the Plan Effective Date.

 

BB.                           Primary Committee shall mean the committee of two (2) or more non-employee Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Grant, Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs with respect to Section 16 Insiders.

 

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CC.                           Secondary Committee shall mean a committee of one or more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Grant, Stock Issuance and Incentive Bonus Programs with respect to eligible persons other than Section 16 Insiders.

 

DD.                           Section 16 Insider shall mean an officer or director of the Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

 

EE.                             Service shall mean the performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance. For purposes of the Plan, an Optionee or Participant shall be deemed to cease Service immediately upon the occurrence of the either of the following events: (i) the Optionee or Participant no longer performs services in any of the foregoing capacities for the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary or (ii) the entity for which the Optionee or Participant is performing such services ceases to remain a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, even though the Optionee or Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity. Service shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however, that should such leave of absence exceed three (3) months, then for purposes of determining the period within which an Incentive Option may be exercised as such under the federal tax laws, the Optionee’s Service shall be deemed to cease on the first day immediately following the expiration of such three (3)-month period, unless Optionee is provided with the right to return to Service following such leave either by statute or by written contract. Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Optionee or Participant is on a leave of absence.

 

FF.                               Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange.

 

GG.                           Stock Issuance Agreement shall mean the agreement entered into by the Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

 

HH.                         Stock Issuance Program shall mean the stock issuance program in effect under Article Three of the Plan.

 

II.                                   Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, 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.

 

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JJ.                                   10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

 

KK.                         Underwriting Agreement shall mean the agreement between the Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the initial public offering of the Common Stock.

 

LL.                             Underwriting Date shall mean the date on which the Underwriting Agreement is executed and priced in connection with the initial public offering of the Common Stock.

 

MM.                     Withholding Taxes shall mean the applicable federal and state income and employment withholding taxes to which the holder of an Award under the Plan may become subject in connection with the issuance, exercise, vesting or settlement of that Award.

 

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AGILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                    The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the services of selected Employees, non-employee members of the Board (or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary) and consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

 

B.                                    Optionee is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the Corporation’s grant of an option to Optionee.

 

C.                                    All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in the attached Appendix.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

1.                                      Grant of Option.  The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee, as of the Grant Date, an option to purchase up to the number of Option Shares specified in the Grant Notice.  The Option Shares shall be purchasable from time to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 2 at the Exercise Price.

 

2.                                      Option Term.  This option shall have a maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Paragraph 5 or 6.

 

3.                                      Limited Transferability.

 

(a)                                 This option shall be neither transferable nor assignable by Optionee other than by will or the laws of inheritance following Optionee’s death and may be exercised, during Optionee’s lifetime, only by Optionee.  However, Optionee may designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of this option, and this option shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding this option.  Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred option subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which this option may, pursuant to Paragraph 5, be exercised following Optionee’s death.

 

(b)                                 If this option is designated a Non-Statutory Option in the Grant Notice, then this option may be assigned in whole or in part during Optionee’s lifetime to one or more of the Optionee’s Family Members or to a trust established for the exclusive benefit of Optionee and/or one or more such Family Members, to the extent such assignment is in

 


 

connection with the Optionee’s estate plan or pursuant to a domestic relations order.  The assigned portion shall be exercisable only by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to such assignment.  The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for this option immediately prior to such assignment.

 

4.                                      Dates of Exercise.  This option shall become exercisable for the Option Shares in one or more installments in accordance with the Exercise Schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.  As the option becomes exercisable for such installments, those installments shall accumulate, and the option shall remain exercisable for the accumulated installments until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the option term under Paragraph 5 or 6.

 

5.                                      Cessation of Service.  The option term specified in Paragraph 2 shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:

 

(a)                                 Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason (other than death, Permanent Disability or Misconduct) while this option is outstanding, then Optionee (or any person or persons to whom this option is transferred pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph 3) shall have a period of three (3) months (commencing with the first date following such cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option, but in no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.

 

(b)                                 Should Optionee die while this option is outstanding, then this option may be exercised by (i) the personal representative of Optionee’s estate or (ii) the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance following Optionee’s death or to whom the option is transferred during Optionee’s lifetime pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph 3, as the case may be. However, if Optionee dies while holding this option and has an effective beneficiary designation in effect for this option at the time of his or her death, then the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries shall have the exclusive right to exercise this option following Optionee’s death.  Any such right to exercise this option shall lapse, and this option shall cease to be outstanding, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period following the date of Optionee’s death or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

(c)                                  Should Optionee cease Service by reason of Permanent Disability while this option is outstanding, then Optionee (or any person or persons to whom this option is transferred pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph 3) shall have a period of twelve (12) months (commencing with the first date following such cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option.  In no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.

 

(d)                                 During the limited period of post-Service exercisability, this option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of Option Shares for which this option is, at the time of Optionee’s cessation of Service, vested and exercisable pursuant to the Exercise Schedule specified in the Grant Notice or the special vesting acceleration provisions of Paragraph 6.  This option shall not vest or become exercisable for any additional Option Shares,

 

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whether pursuant to the normal Exercise Schedule specified in the Grant Notice or the special vesting acceleration provisions of Paragraph 6, following the Optionee’s cessation of Service, except to the extent (if any) specifically authorized by the Plan Administrator pursuant to an express written agreement with the Optionee.  Upon the expiration of such limited exercise period or (if earlier) upon the Expiration Date, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any exercisable Option Shares for which the option has not otherwise been exercised.

 

(e)                                  Should Optionee’s Service be terminated for Misconduct or should Optionee otherwise engage in any Misconduct while this option is outstanding, then this option shall terminate immediately and cease to remain outstanding.

 

6.                                      Change in Control.

 

(a)                                 This option, to the extent outstanding at the time of a Change in Control but not otherwise fully exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that this option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control, become exercisable for all of the Option Shares at the time subject to this option and may be exercised for any or all of those Option Shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock.  However, this option shall not become exercisable on such an accelerated basis, if and to the extent, the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion that this option is to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or is otherwise to be continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

 

(b)                                 If this option is outstanding at the time of a Change in Control and the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion that this option is not to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction in accordance with Paragraph 6(a) above, the Optionee shall be entitled to receive, upon consummation of the Change in Control, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the spread existing on the Option Shares at the time of the Change in Control (the excess of the Fair Market Value of those shares over the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such shares), if any.

 

(c)                                  Immediately following the Change in Control, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

 

(d)                                 If this option is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect, then this option shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at the time, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same.  To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole

 

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discretion, provide in the document evidencing the Change in Control transaction, that the successor corporation, in connection with the assumption or continuation of this option, shall substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control.

 

(e)                                  If this Option is assumed by the successor corporation (or the parent thereof) in connection with a Change in Control or is otherwise to be continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction, then none of the Option Shares shall, in accordance with Paragraph 6(a) above, vest on an accelerated basis upon the occurrence of that Change in Control, and Optionee shall accordingly continue, over his or her period of Service following the Change in Control, to vest in the Option Shares in one or more installments in accordance with the Exercise Schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.  However, upon an Involuntary Termination of Optionee’s Service within twelve (12) months following such Change in Control, all the Option Shares at the time subject to this option (as so assumed or continued in effect) shall automatically vest in full on an accelerated basis so that this option shall immediately become exercisable for all the Option Shares as fully-vested shares and may be exercised for any or all of those Option Shares as vested shares.

 

(f)                                   This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

7.                                      Adjustment in Option Shares.  Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, or should the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution or should there occur any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (including, without limitation, a Change in Control transaction), then equitable adjustments shall be made to (i) the total number and/or class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise Price in order to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or enlargement of benefits hereunder.

 

8.                                      Stockholder Rights.  The holder of this option shall not have any stockholder rights with respect to the Option Shares until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the Exercise Price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

 

9.                                      Manner of Exercising Option.

 

(a)                                 In order to exercise this option with respect to all or any part of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time exercisable, Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) must take the following actions:

 

(i)                                     Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised or comply with

 

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such other procedures as the Corporation may establish for notifying the Corporation of the exercise of this option for one or more Option Shares.

 

(ii)                                  Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased shares in one or more of the following forms:

 

(A)                               cash or check made payable to the Corporation;

 

(B)                               shares of Common Stock held by Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation’s earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date;

 

(C)                               shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the option but withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the exercise price, with such withheld shares to be valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or

 

(D)                               through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (i) to a brokerage firm (reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation for purposes of administering such procedure in accordance with the Corporation’s pre-clearance/pre-notification policies) to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (ii) to the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm on such settlement date in order to complete the sale.

 

Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of Exercise delivered to the Corporation in connection with the option exercise.

 

(iii)                               Furnish to the Corporation appropriate documentation that the person or persons exercising the option (if other than Optionee) have the right to exercise this option.

 

(iv)                              Make appropriate arrangements with the Corporation (or Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the

 

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satisfaction of all applicable income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable to the option exercise.

 

(b)                                 As soon as practical after the Exercise Date, the Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising this option) a certificate for the purchased Option Shares, with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.

 

(c)                                  In no event may this option be exercised for any fractional shares.

 

10.                               Compliance with Laws and Regulations.

 

(a)                                 The exercise of this option and the issuance of the Option Shares upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and Optionee with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of such exercise and issuance.

 

(b)                                 The inability of the Corporation to obtain approval from any regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to this option shall relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of the Common Stock as to which such approval shall not have been obtained.  The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts to obtain all such approvals.

 

11.                               Successors and Assigns.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in Paragraphs 3 and 6, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns and Optionee, Optionee’s assigns, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of Optionee’s estate and any beneficiaries of this option designated by Optionee.

 

12.                               Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed to Optionee at the address indicated below Optionee’s signature line on the Grant Notice.  All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.

 

13.                               Construction.  This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan.  All decisions of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in this option.

 

14.                               Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without resort to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules.

 

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15.                               Excess Shares.  If the Option Shares covered by this Agreement exceed, as of the Grant Date, the number of shares of Common Stock which may without stockholder approval be issued under the Plan, then this option shall be void with respect to those excess shares, unless stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan is obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

16.                               Recoupment.  The Option Shares covered by this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback, recoupment or other similar policy adopted by the Board as in effect from time to time, and this option and any cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or amounts due, paid or issued to Optionee shall be subject to the terms of such policy, as in effect from time to time.

 

17.                               Additional Terms Applicable to an Incentive Option.  In the event this option is designated an Incentive Option in the Grant Notice, the following terms and conditions shall also apply to the grant:

 

(a)                                 This option shall cease to qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent) this option is exercised for one or more Option Shares: (A) more than three (3) months after the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability or (B) more than twelve (12) months after the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee by reason of Permanent Disability.

 

(b)                                 No installment under this option shall qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent) the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of the Common Stock for which such installment first becomes exercisable hereunder would, when added to the aggregate value (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock or other securities for which this option or any other Incentive Options granted to Optionee prior to the Grant Date (whether under the Plan or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) first become exercisable during the same calendar year, exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate.  Should such One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation be exceeded in any calendar year, this option shall nevertheless become exercisable for the excess shares in such calendar year as a Non-Statutory Option.

 

(c)                                  Should the exercisability of this option be accelerated upon a Change in Control, then this option shall qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option only to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of the Common Stock for which this option first becomes exercisable in the calendar year in which the Change in Control transaction occurs does not, when added to the aggregate value (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock or other securities for which this option or one or more other Incentive Options granted to Optionee prior to the Grant Date (whether under the Plan or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) first become exercisable during the same calendar year, exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate.  Should the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000)

 

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limitation be exceeded in the calendar year of such Change in Control, the option may nevertheless be exercised for the excess shares in such calendar year as a Non-Statutory Option.

 

(d)                                 Should Optionee hold, in addition to this option, one or more other options to purchase Common Stock which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year as this option, then the foregoing limitations on the exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such options are granted.

 

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APPENDIX

 

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:

 

A.                                    Agreement shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.

 

B.                                    Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

 

C.                                    Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

 

(i)                                     the closing of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the Corporation’s stockholders, unless securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction,

 

(ii)                                  the closing of a stockholder-approved sale, transfer or other disposition (including in whole or in part through one or more licensing arrangements) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets,

 

(iii)                               the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than the Corporation or a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Corporation) acquires directly or indirectly beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions, whether such transaction involves a direct issuance from the Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Corporation’s existing stockholders, or

 

(iv)                              a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least

 

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a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination.

 

D.                                    Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

E.                                     Common Stock shall mean shares of the Corporation’s common stock.

 

F.                                      Corporation shall mean Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Agile Therapeutics, Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

 

G.                                    Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

 

H.                                   Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the option shall have been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Agreement.

 

I.                                        Exercise Price shall mean the exercise price per Option Share as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

J.                                        Exercise Schedule shall mean the schedule set forth in the Grant Notice pursuant to which the option is to become exercisable for the Option Shares in one or more installments over the Optionee’s period of Service.

 

K.                                   Expiration Date shall mean the date on which the option expires as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

L.                                     Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on that Stock Exchange and published in The Wall Street Journal.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

(ii)                                  If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any other Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange and published in The Wall Street Journal.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market

 

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Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

M.                                 Family Member shall mean any of the following members of the Optionee’s family: any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, bother-in-law or sister-in-law.

 

N.                                    Grant Date shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

O.                                    Grant Notice shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.

 

P.                                      Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

Q.                                    Involuntary Termination shall have the meaning assigned to such term or substantially similar term (e.g. a definition of a resignation for “good reason”) set forth in any employment agreement between Optionee and the Corporation.  To the extent not otherwise defined in any employment agreement between Optionee and the Corporation, the term Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of Optionee’s Service by reason of:

 

(i)                                     Optionee’s involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for reasons other than Misconduct, or

 

(ii)                                  Optionee’s voluntary resignation following (A) a change in Optionee’s position with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) which materially reduces Optionee’s duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which Optionee reports, (B) a reduction in Optionee’s level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of Optionee’s place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) without Optionee’s consent.

 

R.                                    Misconduct shall have the meaning assigned to such term or substantially similar term (e.g. a definition of a termination for “cause”) set forth in any employment agreement between Optionee and the Corporation.  To the extent not otherwise defined in any employment agreement between Optionee and the Corporation, the term Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by Optionee of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by Optionee adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner.

 

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The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss Optionee or any other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan or this Agreement, to constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.

 

S.                                      Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

T.                                     Notice of Exercise shall mean the notice of option exercise in the form prescribed by the Corporation.

 

U.                                    Option Shares shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

V.                                    Optionee shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

W.                                 Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, 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.

 

X.                                    Permanent Disability shall mean the inability of Optionee to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

 

Y.                                    Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

Z.                                     Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or a committee of the Board acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.

 

AA.                           Service shall mean the Optionee’s performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established) in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor.  Service shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however, that for a leave which exceeds ninety (90) days, Service shall be deemed, for purposes of determining the period within which any outstanding option held by the Optionee in question may be exercised as an Incentive Option, to cease on the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave, unless the Optionee’s right to return to Service following such leave is guaranteed by law or statute.  Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Optionee is on a leave of absence.

 

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BB.                           Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange.

 

CC.                           Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, 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.

 

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AGILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                    The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the services of selected Employees, non-employee members of the Board (or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary) and consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

 

B.                                    Optionee is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the Corporation’s grant of an option to Optionee.

 

C.                                    All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in the attached Appendix.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

1.                                      Grant of Option.  The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee, as of the Grant Date, an option to purchase up to the number of Option Shares specified in the Grant Notice.  The Option Shares shall be purchasable from time to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 2 at the Exercise Price.

 

2.                                      Option Term.  This option shall have a maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Paragraph 5 or 6.

 

3.                                      Limited Transferability.

 

(a)                                 This option shall be neither transferable nor assignable by Optionee other than by will or the laws of inheritance following Optionee’s death and may be exercised, during Optionee’s lifetime, only by Optionee.  However, Optionee may designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of this option, and this option shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding this option.  Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred option subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which this option may, pursuant to Paragraph 5, be exercised following Optionee’s death.

 

(b)                                 This option may be assigned in whole or in part during Optionee’s lifetime to one or more of the Optionee’s Family Members or to a trust established for the exclusive benefit of Optionee and/or one or more such Family Members, to the extent such assignment is in connection with the Optionee’s estate plan or pursuant to a domestic relations order.  The assigned portion shall be exercisable only by the person or persons who acquire a

 


 

proprietary interest in the option pursuant to such assignment.  The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for this option immediately prior to such assignment.

 

4.                                      Dates of Exercise.  This option shall become exercisable for the Option Shares in one or more installments in accordance with the Exercise Schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.  As the option becomes exercisable for such installments, those installments shall accumulate, and the option shall remain exercisable for the accumulated installments until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the option term under Paragraph 5 or 6.

 

5.                                      Cessation of Board Service.  The option term specified in Paragraph 2 shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:

 

(a)                                 Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason (other than death, Permanent Disability or Misconduct) while this option is outstanding, then Optionee (or any person or persons to whom this option is transferred pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph 3) shall have a period of three (3) months (commencing with the first date following such cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option, but in no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.

 

(b)                                 Should Optionee die while this option is outstanding, then this option may be exercised by (i) the personal representative of Optionee’s estate or (ii) the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance following Optionee’s death or to whom the option is transferred during Optionee’s lifetime pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph 3, as the case may be. However, if Optionee dies while holding this option and has an effective beneficiary designation in effect for this option at the time of his or her death, then the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries shall have the exclusive right to exercise this option following Optionee’s death.  Any such right to exercise this option shall lapse, and this option shall cease to be outstanding, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period following the date of Optionee’s death or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

(c)                                  Should Optionee cease Service by reason of Permanent Disability while this option is outstanding, then Optionee (or any person or persons to whom this option is transferred pursuant to a permitted transfer under Paragraph 3) shall have a period of twelve (12) months (commencing with the first date following such cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option.  In no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.

 

(d)                                 During the limited period of post-Service exercisability, this option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of Option Shares for which this option is, at the time of Optionee’s cessation of Service, vested and exercisable pursuant to the Exercise Schedule specified in the Grant Notice or the special vesting acceleration provisions of Paragraph 6.  This option shall not vest or become exercisable for any additional Option Shares, whether pursuant to the normal Exercise Schedule specified in the Grant Notice or the special

 

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vesting acceleration provisions of Paragraph 6, following the Optionee’s cessation of Service, except to the extent (if any) specifically authorized by the Plan Administrator pursuant to an express written agreement with the Optionee.  Upon the expiration of such limited exercise period or (if earlier) upon the Expiration Date, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any exercisable Option Shares for which the option has not otherwise been exercised.

 

(e)                                  Should Optionee’s Service terminate as a result of Misconduct or should Optionee otherwise engage in any Misconduct while this option is outstanding, then this option shall terminate immediately and cease to remain outstanding.

 

6.                                      Change in Control.

 

(a)                                 This option, to the extent outstanding at the time of a Change in Control but not otherwise fully exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that this option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control, become exercisable for all of the Option Shares at the time subject to this option and may be exercised for any or all of those Option Shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock.

 

(b)                                 To the extent this option is outstanding at the time of a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator shall have the authority to determine, in its sole discretion, if this option is to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction. If this option is outstanding at the time of a Change in Control and is not assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction, the Optionee shall be entitled to receive, upon consummation of the Change in Control, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the spread existing on the Option Shares at the time of the Change in Control (the excess of the Fair Market Value of those shares over the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such shares), if any.

 

(c)                                  Immediately following the Change in Control, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

 

(d)                                 If this option is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect, then this option shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at the time, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same.  To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide in the document evidencing the Change in Control transaction, that the successor corporation shall, in connection with the assumption or continuation of this option,

 

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substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control.

 

(e)                                  This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

7.                                      Adjustment in Option Shares.  Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, or should the value of outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution or should there occur any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (including, without limitation, a Change in Control transaction), then equitable adjustments shall be made to (i) the total number and/or class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise Price in order to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or enlargement of benefits hereunder.

 

8.                                      Stockholder Rights.  The holder of this option shall not have any stockholder rights with respect to the Option Shares until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the Exercise Price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

 

9.                                      Manner of Exercising Option.

 

(a)                                 In order to exercise this option with respect to all or any part of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time exercisable, Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) must take the following actions:

 

(i)                                     Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised or comply with such other procedures as the Corporation may establish for notifying the Corporation of the exercise of this option for one or more Option Shares.

 

(ii)                                  Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased shares in one or more of the following forms:

 

(A)                               cash or check made payable to the Corporation;

 

(B)                               shares of Common Stock held by Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation’s earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date;

 

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(C)                               shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the option but withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the exercise price, with such withheld shares to be valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or

 

(D)                               through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (i) to a brokerage firm (reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation for purposes of administering such procedure in accordance with the Corporation’s pre-clearance/pre-notification policies) to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (ii) to the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm on such settlement date in order to complete the sale.

 

Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of Exercise delivered to the Corporation in connection with the option exercise.

 

(iii)                               Furnish to the Corporation appropriate documentation that the person or persons exercising the option (if other than Optionee) have the right to exercise this option.

 

(b)                                 As soon as practical after the Exercise Date, the Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising this option) a certificate for the purchased Option Shares, with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.

 

(c)                                  In no event may this option be exercised for any fractional shares.

 

10.                               Compliance with Laws and Regulations.

 

(a)                                 The exercise of this option and the issuance of the Option Shares upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and Optionee with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of such exercise and issuance.

 

(b)                                 The inability of the Corporation to obtain approval from any regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to this option shall relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of the Common Stock as to which such

 

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approval shall not have been obtained.  The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts to obtain all such approvals.

 

11.                               Successors and Assigns.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in Paragraphs 3 and 6, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns and Optionee, Optionee’s assigns, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of Optionee’s estate and any beneficiaries of this option designated by Optionee.

 

12.                               Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed to Optionee at the address indicated below Optionee’s signature line on the Grant Notice.  All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.

 

13.                               Construction.  This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan.  All decisions of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in this option.

 

14.                               Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without resort to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules.

 

15.                               Excess Shares.  If the Option Shares covered by this Agreement exceed, as of the Grant Date, the number of shares of Common Stock which may without stockholder approval be issued under the Plan, then this option shall be void with respect to those excess shares, unless stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan is obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

16.                               Recoupment.  The Option Shares covered by this Agreement shall be subject to any clawback, recoupment or other similar policy adopted by the Board as in effect from time to time, and this option and any cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or amounts due, paid or issued to Optionee shall be subject to the terms of such policy, as in effect from time to time.

 

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APPENDIX

 

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:

 

A.                                    Agreement shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.

 

B.                                    Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

 

C.                                    Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

 

(i)                                     the closing of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the Corporation’s stockholders, unless securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction,

 

(ii)                                  the closing of a stockholder-approved sale, transfer or other disposition (including in whole or in part through one or more licensing arrangements) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets,

 

(iii)                               the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than the Corporation or a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Corporation) acquires directly or indirectly beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions, whether such transaction involves a direct issuance from the Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Corporation’s existing stockholders, or

 

(iv)                              a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least

 

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a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination.

 

D.                                    Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

E.                                     Common Stock shall mean shares of the Corporation’s common stock.

 

F.                                      Corporation shall mean Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Agile Therapeutics, Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

 

G.                                    Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the option shall have been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Agreement.

 

H.                                   Exercise Price shall mean the exercise price per Option Share as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

I.                                        Exercise Schedule shall mean the schedule set forth in the Grant Notice pursuant to which the option is to become exercisable for the Option Shares in one or more installments over the Optionee’s period of Service.

 

J.                                        Expiration Date shall mean the date on which the option expires as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

K.                                   Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on that Stock Exchange and published in The Wall Street Journal.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

(ii)                                  If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any other Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange and published in The Wall Street Journal.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

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L.                                     Family Member shall mean any of the following members of the Optionee’s family: any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, bother-in-law or sister-in-law.

 

M.                                 Grant Date shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

N.                                    Grant Notice shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.

 

O.                                    Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by Optionee of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by Optionee adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner.

 

P.                                      Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

Q.                                    Notice of Exercise shall mean the notice of option exercise in the form prescribed by the Corporation.

 

R.                                    Option Shares shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

S.                                      Optionee shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

T.                                     Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, 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.

 

U.                                    Permanent Disability shall mean the inability of Optionee to perform his or her usual duties as a member of the Board by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve (12) months or more.

 

V.                                    Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

W.                                 Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or a committee of the Board acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.

 

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X.                                    Service shall mean the Optionee’s performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established) in the capacity of a non-employee member of the board of directors.

 

Y.                                    Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Z.                                     Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, 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.

 

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AGILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT ISSUANCE AGREEMENT

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                    The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the services of selected Employees, non-employee members of the Board (or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary) and consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

 

B.                                    Participant is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the Corporation’s issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Participant under the Stock Issuance Program.

 

C.                                    All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in the attached Appendix A.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

1.                                      Grant of Restricted Stock Units.  The Corporation hereby awards to the Participant, as of the Award Date, Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of Common Stock on the specified issuance date following the vesting of that unit.  The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the awarded Restricted Stock Units, the applicable vesting schedule for those shares, the date on which those vested shares shall become issuable to Participant and the remaining terms and conditions governing the award (the “Award”) shall be as set forth in this Agreement.

 

AWARD SUMMARY

 

Award Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares Subject to Award:

 

[             ] shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”)

 

 

 

Vesting Schedule:

 

The Shares shall vest in a series of four successive equal annual installments upon the Participant’s completion of each year of Service over the four year period measured from the Award Date. However, one or more Shares may be subject to accelerated vesting in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 5 of this Agreement.

 


 

Issuance Schedule:

 

Each Share in which the Participant vests in accordance with the Vesting Schedule above shall be issued, subject to the Corporation’s collection of all applicable Withholding Taxes, on the date that particular Share vests or as soon after that scheduled vesting date as administratively practicable, but in no event later than the later of (i) the close of the calendar year in which such vesting date occurs or (ii) the fifteenth day of the third calendar month following such vesting date (the “Issue Date”). The issuance of the Shares shall be subject to the Corporation’s collection of all applicable Withholding Taxes. The procedures pursuant to which the applicable Withholding Taxes are to be collected are set forth in Paragraph 7 of this Agreement. Any Shares which vest pursuant to the accelerated vesting provisions of Paragraph 5 of this Agreement shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of that paragraph.

 

2.                                      Limited Transferability.  Prior to the actual issuance of the Shares which vest hereunder, the Participant may not transfer any interest in the Award or the underlying Shares; provided, however, any Shares which vest hereunder but which otherwise remain unissued at the time of the Participant’s death may be transferred pursuant to the provisions of the Participant’s will or the laws of inheritance or to the Participant’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of this Award.  The Participant may also direct the Corporation to issue stock certificates for any Shares which in fact vest and become issuable hereunder to one or more designated Family Members or a trust established for the Participant and/or his or her Family Members.  The Participant may make a beneficiary designation or certificate directive for this Award at any time by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator or its designee.

 

3.                                      Cessation of Service.  Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 5 below, should the Participant cease Service for any reason prior to vesting in one or more Shares subject to this Award, then the Award will be immediately cancelled with respect to those unvested Shares, and the number of Restricted Stock Units will be reduced accordingly.  The Participant shall thereupon cease to have any right or entitlement to receive any Shares under those cancelled units.

 

4.                                      Stockholder Rights.  The holder of this Award shall not have any stockholder rights, including voting or dividend rights, with respect to the Shares subject to the Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of those Shares following their actual issuance upon the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes.

 

5.                                      Change in Control.

 

(a)                                 Any Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award at the time of a Change in Control may be assumed by the successor entity or otherwise continued in full force and effect.  In the event of such assumption or continuation of the Award, no accelerated vesting of the Restricted Stock Units shall occur at the time of the Change in Control.

 

(b)                                 In the event the Award is assumed or otherwise continued in effect, the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award shall be adjusted immediately after the consummation of the Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into

 

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which the Shares subject to those units immediately prior to the Change in Control would have been converted in consummation of that Change in Control had those Shares actually been issued and outstanding at that time.

 

(c)                                  Any restricted stock units which are assumed or otherwise continued in effect in connection with a Change in Control shall be subject to accelerated vesting in accordance with the following provision:

 

·                                          If an Involuntary Termination of the Participant’s Service occurs within twelve (12) months following the Change in Control, then the Participant shall immediately vest in all of the Shares subject to the Award.  The Shares that vest in accordance with the foregoing shall be issued to the Participant, subject to the Corporation’s collection of all applicable Withholding Taxes, on the date of such Involuntary Termination or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, but in no event later than the close of the calendar year in which such Involuntary Termination occurs or (if later) the fifteenth day of the third calendar month following the date of such termination.

 

(d)                                 If the Restricted Stock Units subject to this Award at the time of the Change in Control are not assumed or otherwise continued in effect in accordance with Paragraph 5(a), then those units will vest immediately upon the closing of the Change in Control. The Shares subject to those vested units will be issued immediately at that time or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, but in no event more than fifteen (15) business days after such closing, or will otherwise be converted into the right to receive the same consideration per share of Common Stock payable to the other shareholders of the Corporation in consummation of the Change in Control and distributed at the same time as such stockholder payments, but the distribution to the Participant shall in no event be made later than the later of (i) the close of the calendar year in which the Change in Control is effected or (ii) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) calendar month following the effective date of such Change in Control.

 

(e)                                  This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

6.                                      Adjustment in Shares.  Should any change be made to the outstanding Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares, spin-off transaction or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, or should the value of the outstanding shares of Common Stock be substantially reduced as a result of a spin-off transaction or an extraordinary dividend or distribution or should there occur any merger, consolidation or other reorganization (including, without limitation, a Change in Control transaction) then equitable adjustments shall be made to the total number and/or class of securities issuable pursuant to this Award in such manner as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate in order to reflect such change and thereby prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits hereunder.

 

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7.                                      Collection of Withholding Taxes.

 

(a)                                 Upon the applicable Issue Date, the Corporation shall issue to or on behalf of the Participant a certificate (which may be in electronic form) for the applicable number of underlying shares of Common Stock, subject, however, to the Corporation’s collection of the applicable Withholding Taxes.

 

(b)                                 Until such time as the Corporation provides the Participant with written or electronic notice to the contrary, the Corporation shall collect the Withholding Taxes required to be withheld with respect to the issuance of the vested Shares hereunder through an automatic share withholding procedure pursuant to which the Corporation will withhold, at the time of such issuance, a portion of the Shares with a Fair Market Value (measured as of the issuance date) equal to the amount of those taxes (the “Share Withholding Method”); provided, however, that the amount of any Shares so withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the Corporation’s required tax withholding obligations using the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes that are applicable to supplemental taxable income.  The Participant shall be notified in writing or electronically in the event such Share Withholding Method is no longer available.

 

(c)                                  Should any Shares be distributed at a time that the Share Withholding Method is not available, then the Withholding Taxes required to be withheld with respect to those Shares shall be collected from the Participant through either of the following alternatives:

 

·                                          the Participant’s delivery of his or her separate check payable to the Corporation in the amount of such taxes, or

 

·                                          the use of the proceeds from a next-day sale of the Shares issued to the Participant, provided and only if (i) such a sale is permissible under the Corporation’s trading policies governing the sale of Common Stock, (ii) the Participant makes an irrevocable commitment, on or before the Issue Date for those Shares, to effect such sale of the Shares and (iii) the transaction is not otherwise deemed to constitute a prohibited loan under Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph 7, the employee portion of the federal, state and local employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the vesting of the Shares (the “Employment Taxes”) shall in all events be collected from the Participant no later than the last business day of the calendar year in which the Shares vest hereunder.  Accordingly, to the extent the Issue Date for one or more vested Shares is to occur in a year subsequent to the calendar year in which those Shares vest, the Participant shall, on or before the last business day of the calendar year in which the Shares vest, deliver to the Corporation a check payable to its order in the dollar amount equal to the Employment Taxes required to be withheld with respect to those Shares.

 

(e)                                  Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 5, the settlement of all Restricted Stock Units which vest under the Award shall be made solely in shares of Common Stock.  In no event, however, shall any fractional shares be issued.  Accordingly, the total

 

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number of shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Award shall, to the extent necessary, be rounded down to the next whole share in order to avoid the issuance of a fractional share.

 

8.                                      Compliance with Laws and Regulations.  The issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Award shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and the Participant with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of such issuance.

 

9.                                      Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices.  Except to the extent electronic notice is expressly authorized hereunder, any notice required to be given or delivered to the Participant shall be in writing and addressed to the Participant at the address indicated below the Participant’s signature line on this Agreement.  All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery (or electronic delivery to the extent authorized hereunder) or upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.

 

10.                               Successors and Assigns.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns and the Participant, the Participant’s assigns, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of the Participant’s estate and any beneficiaries of the Award designated by the Participant.

 

11.                               Construction.  This Agreement and the Award evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan.  All decisions of the Committee with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Award.

 

12.                               Code Section 409A  It is the intention of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall comply with the requirements of the short-term deferral exception to Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(4).  Accordingly, to the extent there is any ambiguity as to whether one or more provisions of this Agreement would otherwise contravene the requirements or limitations of Code Section 409A applicable to such short-term deferral exception, then those provisions shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that does not result in a violation of the requirements or limitations of Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations thereunder that apply to such exception.

 

13.                               Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without resort to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules.

 

14.                               Employment at Will.  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or

 

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Subsidiary employing or retaining the Participant) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.

 

15.                               Recoupment.  This Award shall be subject to any clawback, recoupment or other similar policy adopted by the Board as in effect from time to time, and this Award and any cash, shares of common stock or other property or amounts due, paid or issued to Participant shall be subject to the terms of such policy, as in effect from time to time.

 

6

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year first indicated above.

 

 

AGILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [                            ], PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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APPENDIX A

 

DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:

 

A.                                    Agreement shall mean this Restricted Stock Unit Issuance Agreement.

 

B.                                    Award shall mean the award of Restricted Stock Units made to the Participant pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

C.                                    Award Date shall mean the date the Restricted Stock Units are awarded to Participant pursuant to the Agreement and shall be the date indicated in Paragraph 1 of the Agreement.

 

D.                                    Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

 

E.                                     Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

 

(i)                                     the closing of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the Corporation’s stockholders, unless securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction,

 

(ii)                                  the closing of a stockholder-approved sale, transfer or other disposition (including in whole or in part through one or more licensing arrangements) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets,

 

(iii)                               the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than the Corporation or a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Corporation) acquires directly or indirectly beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such transaction or

 

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series of related transactions, whether such transaction involves a direct issuance from the Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Corporation’s existing stockholders, or

 

(iv)                              a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination.

 

F.                                      Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

G.                                    Corporation shall mean Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Agile Therapeutics, Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

 

H.                                   Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

 

I.                                        Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers for that particular Stock Exchange and published in The Wall Street Journal.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

(ii)                                  If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any other Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange and published in The Wall Street Journal.  If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

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J.                                        Family Member shall mean any of the following members of the Participant’s family; any child, stepchild, grandchild, grandparent, parent, stepparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

 

K.                                   Involuntary Termination shall have the meaning assigned to such term or substantially similar term (e.g. a definition of a resignation for “good reason”) set forth in any employment agreement between Participant and the Corporation.  To the extent not otherwise defined in any employment agreement between Participant and the Corporation, the term Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of Participant’s Service by reason of:

 

(i)                                     Participant’s involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for reasons other than Misconduct, or

 

(ii)                                  Participant’s voluntary resignation following (A) a change in Participant’s position with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) which materially reduces Participant’s duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which Participant reports, (B) a reduction in Participant’s level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of Participant’s place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) without Participant’s consent.

 

L.                                     Misconduct shall have the meaning assigned to such term or substantially similar term (e.g. a definition of a termination for “cause”) set forth in any employment agreement between Participant and the Corporation.  To the extent not otherwise defined in any employment agreement between Participant and the Corporation, the term Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by Participant, any unauthorized use or disclosure by Participant of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by Participant adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner.  The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss Participant or any other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan or this Agreement, to constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.

 

M.                                 1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

N.                                    Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock

 

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possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one or more of the other corporations in such chain.

 

O.                                    Participant shall mean the person to whom the Award is made pursuant to the Agreement.

 

P.                                      Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

Q.                                    Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or a committee of the Board acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.

 

R.                                    Service shall mean the Participant’s performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor.  Service shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however, that except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Participant is on a leave of absence.

 

S.                                      Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global or Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange.

 

T.                                     Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, 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.

 

U.                                    Withholding Taxes shall mean the federal, state and local income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with the vesting and concurrent issuance of the shares of Common Stock under the Award.

 

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