2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan

EX-10.20 18 d39052dex1020.htm EX-10.20 EX-10.20

Exhibit 10.20

ATAI LIFE SCIENCES AG

2020 EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1. DEFINITIONS.

Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms, as used in this ATAI Life Sciences AG 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, have the following meanings:

Administrator means the Management Board.

Affiliate means (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlling, controlled by or under the common control of the Company, whereas “control” means the ability of such controlling person or entity to determine the affairs of another entity by way of (x) holding shares (y) possession of voting rights, or (z) any other way whatsoever, and (ii) any other entity which the Administrator determines should be treated as an Affiliate; provided, however, that with respect of the grant of ISOs the term shall only mean a corporation or other entity which, for purposes of Section 424 of the U.S. Code, is a parent or subsidiary of the Company, direct or indirect.

Agreement means an agreement between the Company and a Participant pertaining to a Stock Right delivered pursuant to the Plan, in such form as the Administrator shall approve.

California Participant means a Participant who resides in the State of California.1/

Cause means any cause (wichtiger Grund) within the meaning of Sec. 626 German Civil Code (BGB), including, in particular, with respect to a Participant

(a) dishonesty with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, (b) insubordination, substantial malfeasance or non-feasance of duty, (c) unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, (d) breach by a Participant of any material provision of any employment, consulting, advisory, nondisclosure, non-competition or similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate, and (e) conduct substantially prejudicial to the business of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, however, that any provision in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, which contains a conflicting definition of Cause for termination and which is in effect at the time of such termination, shall supersede this definition with respect to that Participant. The determination of the Administrator as to the existence of Cause will be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.

 

1/The provisions of this plan that specifically reference California residents apply only to a Company which must comply with California’s blue sky laws because the Company plans to grant equity to individuals who reside in California.


Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i)(A) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or any other corporate reorganization, other than any such consolidation, merger or reorganization in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, continue to hold at least a majority of the voting power of the surviving entity (or if the surviving entity is a wholly owned subsidiary, its parent) immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization; or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is a party in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s voting power is transferred, other than any such transfer in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transfer continue to hold at least a majority of the voting power of the surviving entity immediately after such transfer (each of (A) and (B) an “Acquisition”); provided, that an Acquisition shall not include any transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Company or any successor or indebtedness of the Company is cancelled or converted into capital stock, or any combination thereof, or (ii) a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or intellectual property of the Company.

“Change of Control” shall be interpreted, if applicable, in a manner, and limited to the extent necessary, so that it will not cause adverse tax consequences under Section 409A for any U.S. Taxpayer.

Committee means the committee of the Supervisory Board (Ausschuss), if any, to which the Supervisory Board has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

Common Stock means the Company’s common shares (Stammaktien) to be issued by the Company out of the authorized capital (genehmigtes Kapital), for which the authorization was created by the Company’s general assembly on [21 August 2020], each of such common shares with no par value per share, or such other shares issued by a Successor Company of the Company in accordance with Paragraph 24 of the Plan.

Company means ATAI Life Sciences AG, a German stock corporation or any Successor Company.

Consultant means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant who provides bona fide services to the Company or its Affiliates, provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities. However, members of the Supervisory Board of the Company are not considered to be Consultants under this Plan.

 

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Director means any employee of the Company holding an executive position, including members of the Management Board. However, members of the Supervisory Board of the Company are not considered to be Directors under this Plan.

Disability or Disabled means the inability of a Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances provided that for any ISO such term shall also comply with Section 22(e)(3) of the U.S. Code.

Employee means any employee of the Company or of an Affiliate (including, without limitation, an employee who is also serving as an officer or director of the Company or of an Affiliate), designated by the Administrator to be eligible to be granted one or more Stock Rights under the Plan. However, members of the Supervisory Board of the Company are not considered to be Employees under this Plan.

Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock means:

(1) If the Common Stock is listed on a national or international stock market or securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market and sales prices are regularly reported for the Common Stock, the closing or, if not applicable, the last price of the Common Stock on the composite tape or other comparable reporting system for the trading day on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date;

(2) If the Common Stock is not traded on a national or international stock market or securities exchange but is traded on the over-the-counter market, if sales prices are not regularly reported for the Common Stock for the trading day referred to in clause (1), and if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock are regularly reported, the mean between the bid and the asked price for the Common Stock at the close of trading in the over-the-counter market for the most recent trading day on which Common Stock was traded on the applicable date and if such applicable date is not a trading day, the last market trading day prior to such date; and

If the Common Stock is not listed on a national or international stock market, securities exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, such value as the Administrator, in good faith, shall determine in compliance with applicable laws.

ISO means a stock option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the U.S. Code which may only be granted to Employees that are

U.S. Taxpayers.

Management Board means the management board (Vorstand) of the Company.

 

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Non-Qualified Option means any stock option granted under the Plan which is not intended to qualify as an ISO.

Option means an ISO or Non-Qualified Option granted under the Plan.

Participant means an Employee, director or Consultant of the Company or an Affiliate to whom one or more Stock Rights are granted under the Plan. As used herein, “Participant” shall include “Participant’s Survivors” where the context requires.

Plan means this ATAI Life Sciences AG 2020 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan.

Section 409A means Section 409A of the U.S. Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shares means shares of the Common Stock as to which Stock Rights have been or may be granted under the Plan or any shares of capital stock into which the Shares are changed or for which they are exchanged within the provisions of Paragraph 3 of the Plan. The Shares issued under the Plan may be unissued shares from authorized capital (genehmigtes Kapital).

Stock-Based Award means a grant by the Company under the Plan of an equity award or an equity based award which is not an Option or a Stock Grant.

Stock Grant means a grant by the Company of Shares under the Plan.

Stock Right means a right to Shares or the value of Shares of the Company granted pursuant to the Plan — an ISO, a Non-Qualified Option, a Stock Grant or a Stock-Based Award.

Supervisory Board means the supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat) of the Company or the supervisory board or board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

Survivor means a deceased Participant’s legal representatives and/or any person or persons who acquired the Participant’s rights to a Stock Right by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

U.S. Taxpayer means a Participant who is deemed to be a resident of the United States for tax purposes.

U.S. Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended including any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto.

 

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2. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN / DUTCH FLIP.

The Plan is intended to encourage ownership of Shares by Employees and Directors of and certain Consultants to the Company and its Affiliates in order to attract and retain such people, to induce them to work for the benefit of the Company or of an Affiliate and to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company or of an Affiliate. The Plan provides for the granting of ISOs, Non-Qualified Options, Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards.

The Company is considering to convert into a Dutch limited liability company (Besloten Vernnootschap, BV) or other corporation under Dutch law by effecting a share swap and having its shareholders exchange the shares in the Company into shares into a newly incorporated Dutch entity to become the owner of the shares in the Company (“Dutch Flip”). In such case, the provisions of Paragraph 24 shall apply with such corporation under Dutch law becoming the Successor Company as further outlined in Paragraph 24.

3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

(a) The Shares which may be issued from time to time pursuant to this Plan shall be up to 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (less such number of HSOP shares issued by the Company from time to time under the Hurdle Share Option Program adopted by the Company’s general assembly on 21 August 2020), or the equivalent of such number of Shares after the Administrator, in its sole discretion, has interpreted the effect of any stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or similar transaction in accordance with Paragraph 24 of the Plan.

(b) If an Option ceases to be “outstanding”, in whole or in part (other than by exercise), or if the Company shall reacquire at not more than its original issuance price any Shares issued pursuant to a Stock Grant or Stock-Based Award, or if any Stock Right expires or is forfeited, cancelled, or otherwise terminated or results in any Shares not being issued, the unissued or reacquired Shares which were subject to such Stock Right shall again be available for issuance from time to time pursuant to this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Stock Right is exercised, in whole or in part, by tender of Shares or if the Company or an Affiliate’s tax withholding obligation is satisfied by withholding Shares, the number of Shares deemed to have been issued under the Plan for purposes of the limitation set forth in Paragraph 3(a) above shall be the number of Shares that were subject to the Stock Right or portion thereof, and not the net number of Shares actually issued. However the foregoing provisions shall be subject to limitations of applicable law and, in the case of ISOs, the foregoing provisions shall be subject especially to any limitations under the U.S. Code.

4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

The Administrator of the Plan will be, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Supervisory Board , the Management Board of the Company. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrator is authorized to:

(a) Interpret the provisions of the Plan and all Stock Rights and to make all rules and determinations which it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan;

 

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(b) Determine which Employees, Directors and Consultants shall be granted Stock Rights;

(c) Determine the number of Shares for which a Stock Right or Stock Rights shall be granted;

(d) Specify the terms and conditions upon which a Stock Right or Stock Rights may be granted;

(e) Amend any term or condition of any outstanding Stock Right, including, without limitation, to reduce or increase the exercise price or purchase price, accelerate the vesting schedule or extend the expiration date, provided that (i) such term or condition as amended is permitted by the Plan; (ii) any such amendment shall not impair the rights of a Participant under any Stock Right previously granted without such Participant’s consent or in the event of death of the Participant the Participant’s Survivors; and (iii) any such amendment shall be made only after the Administrator determines whether such amendment would cause any adverse tax consequences to the Participant, including, but not limited to, the annual vesting limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the U.S. Code and described in Paragraph 6(b)(iv) below with respect to ISOs and pursuant to Section 409A of the U.S. Code with respect to Stock Rights granted to U.S. Taxpayers;

(f) Buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, a Stock Right previously granted and/or cancel any such Stock Right and grant in substitution therefor other Stock Rights, covering the same or a different number of Shares and having an exercise price or purchase price per share which may be lower or higher than the exercise price or purchase price of the cancelled Stock Right, based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and the Participant shall accept; and

(g) Adopt any sub-plans applicable to residents of any specified jurisdiction as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with or take advantage of any tax or other laws applicable to the Company, any Affiliate or to Participants or to otherwise facilitate the administration of the Plan, which sub-plans may include additional restrictions or conditions applicable to Stock Rights or Shares issuable pursuant to a Stock Right;

provided, however, that all such interpretations, rules, determinations, terms and conditions shall be made and prescribed in the context of potential tax consequences, including for U.S. Taxpayers such under Section 409A of the U.S. Code and preserving the tax status under Section 422 of the U.S. Code of those Options which are designated as ISOs. Subject to the foregoing, the interpretation and construction by the Administrator of any provisions of the Plan or of any Stock Right granted under it shall be final.

To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Administrator may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any other person selected by it. The Administrator may revoke any such allocation or delegation at any time.

 

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Unless nothing to the contrary is expressly stipulated, each decision of the Administrator pursuant to the Plan concerning the content of Stock Rights and the terms and conditions of the Share issued under this Plan requires the approval of the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board can delegate the power to act on its behalf to the Committee, in which case the decisions require approval of the Committee. However, the Supervisory Board may not delegate the power to act on its behalf with regard to decisions concerning the content of the share rights and the terms and conditions of the Shares to be issued to members of the Management Board of the Company.

5. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.

The Administrator will, in its sole discretion, name the Participants in the Plan; provided, however, that each Participant must be an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate at the time a Stock Right is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrator may authorize the grant of a Stock Right to a person not then an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate; provided, however, that the actual grant of such Stock Right shall be conditioned upon such person becoming eligible to become a Participant at or prior to the time of the execution of the Agreement evidencing such Stock Right. ISOs may be granted only to Employees who are U.S. Taxpayers. Non-Qualified Options, Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be granted to any Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or an Affiliate. The granting of any Stock Right to any individual shall neither entitle that individual to, nor disqualify him or her from, participation in any other grant of Stock Rights or any grant under any other benefit plan established by the Company or any Affiliate for Employees, Directors or Consultants.

6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

Each Option shall be set forth in writing in an Option Agreement between the Administrator, acting on behalf of the Company, and the Participant; if the Participant is a member of the Management Board of the Company, the Supervisory Board acts on behalf of the Company. The Option Agreement shall be duly executed by the Company and, to the extent required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant.

The Administrator may provide that Options be granted subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the terms and conditions specifically required under this Plan and by applicable law, as the Administrator may deem appropriate including, without limitation, subsequent approval by the shareholders of the Company of this Plan or any amendments thereto.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Option Agreements shall be subject to at least the following terms and conditions:

(a) Non-Qualified Options: Each Option intended to be a Non-Qualified Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions which the Administrator determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company, subject to the following minimum standards for any such Non-Qualified Option:

 

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  (i)

Exercise Price: Each Option Agreement shall state the exercise price (per share) of the Shares covered by each Option, which exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator and shall be at least equal to the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option provided, that the exercise price may be less than Fair Market Value, if the terms of such Option comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the U.S. Code or granted to a Consultant to whom Section 409A of the U.S. Code does not apply.

 

  (ii)

Number of Shares: Each Option Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which it pertains.

 

  (iii)

Vesting Periods: Each Option Agreement shall state the date or dates on which it first is exercisable and the date after which it may no longer be exercised, and may provide that the Option rights accrue or become exercisable in installments over a period of months or years, or upon the occurrence of certain performance conditions or the attainment of stated goals or events. For California Participants, the exercise period of the Option set forth in the Option Agreement shall not be more than 120 months from the date of grant.

 

  (iv)

Additional Conditions: Exercise of any Option may be conditioned upon the Participant’s execution of a stockholders agreement in a form satisfactory to the Administrator providing for certain protections for the Company and its other shareholders, including requirements that:

 

  A.

The Participant’s or the Participant’s Survivors’ right to sell or transfer the Shares may be restricted; and

 

  B.

The Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may be required to execute letters of investment intent and must also acknowledge that the Shares will bear legends noting any applicable restrictions.

 

  (v)

Term of Option: Each Option shall terminate not more than ten years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide.

 

  (vi)

Additional Conditions for Stock Options for members of the Management Board of the Company: To the extent required by applicable law each Option Agreement under which Options are granted to members of the Management Board of the Company shall also include:

 

  A.

the date or dates from which the Option may be issued for the first time, as well as the date after which it may no longer be issued (Erwerbszeiträume),

 

  B.

performance targets (Erfolgsziele), the achievement of which is condition for exercising the Option, and

 

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  C.

a waiting period (Wartezeit) before exercising the Option for the first-time.

All decisions of the Administrator on Stock Options for members of the Management Board of the Company shall be approved by the Supervisory Board of the Company.

(b) ISOs: Each Option intended to be an ISO shall be issued only to an Employee who is a U.S. Taxpayer, and shall be subject to the following terms and conditions, with such additional restrictions or changes as the Administrator determines are appropriate but not in conflict with Section 422 of the U.S. Code and relevant regulations and rulings of the United States Internal Revenue Service:

 

  (i)

Minimum standards: The ISO shall meet the minimum standards required of Non-Qualified Options, as described in Paragraph 6(a) above, except subsections (i) and (v) thereunder.

 

  (ii)

Exercise Price: Immediately before the ISO is granted, if the Participant owns, directly or by reason of the applicable attribution rules in Section 424(d) of the U.S. Code:

 

  A.

Ten percent (10%) or less of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, the exercise price per share of the Shares covered by each ISO shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option; or

 

  B.

More than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, the exercise price per share of the Shares covered by each ISO shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option.

 

  (iii)

Term of Option: For Participants who own:

 

  A.

Ten percent (10%) or less of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, each ISO shall terminate not more than ten years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide; or

 

  B.

More than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, each ISO shall terminate not more than five (5) years from the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide.

 

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  (iv)

Limitation on Yearly Exercise: The Option Agreements shall restrict the amount of ISOs which may become exercisable in any calendar year (under this or any other ISO plan of the Company or an Affiliate) so that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date each ISO is granted) of the stock with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the Participant in any calendar year does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

7. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND ISSUE OF SHARES.

An Option (or any part or installment thereof) shall be exercised by giving notice in text form (sec. 126b of the German Civil Code) to the Company or its designee (in a form acceptable to the Administrator, which may include electronic notice), together with provision for payment of the aggregate exercise price in accordance with this Paragraph for the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, and upon compliance with any other condition(s) set forth in the Option Agreement. Such notice shall be signed by the person exercising the Option (which signature may be provided electronically in a form acceptable to the Administrator), shall state the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall contain any representation required by the Plan or the Option Agreement or by applicable law. Any (i) notification obligations as well as (ii) blackout periods for exercising Options (Sperrfristen) under the applicable law, must be observed. Payment of the exercise price for the Shares as to which such Option is being exercised shall be made to the extent permitted by applicable law (a) in Euros (EUR) in cash or by check or such other currency as shall be approved by the Administrator prior to the exercise of the Option, or (b) at the discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common Stock held for at least six months (if required to avoid negative accounting treatment) having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of the exercise to the aggregate cash exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, or (c) at the discretion of the Administrator, by having the Company retain from the Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option, a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of exercise to the aggregate exercise price for the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (d) at the discretion of the Administrator (after consideration of applicable securities, tax and accounting implications), by delivery of the grantee’s personal recourse note bearing interest payable not less than annually at no less than one hundred (100%) of the applicable U.S. Federal rate, as defined in Section 1274(d) of the U.S. Code or pursuant to such other tax rules as shall be applicable for Participants that are not U.S. Taxpayers, or (e) at the discretion of the Administrator, in accordance with a cashless exercise program established with a securities brokerage firm, and approved by the Administrator, or (f) at the discretion of the Administrator, by any combination of (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above or (g) at the discretion of the Administrator, by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Administrator may determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrator shall accept only such payment on exercise of an ISO as is permitted by Section 422 of the U.S. Code.The Company shall then reasonably promptly deliver the Shares as to which such Option was exercised to the Participant (or to the Participant’s Survivors, as the case may be). In determining what constitutes “reasonably promptly,” it is expressly understood that the issuance and delivery of the Shares may be delayed by the Company (i) in order to comply with any law or regulation (including, without limitation, any foreign securities laws, U.S. state securities or “blue sky” laws) which requires the Company, the Participant or any third person to take any action with respect to the Shares prior to their issuance or (ii) in order to minimize the cost and effort of the issuance and delivery of the Shares (e.g. by combining several deliveries of shares). The Shares shall, upon delivery, be fully paid, non-assessable Shares.

 

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8. RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.

No Participant to whom a Stock Right has been granted shall have rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Stock Right except after due exercise of an Option or issuance of Shares as set forth in any Agreement, and tender of the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, for the Shares being purchased.

9. ASSIGNABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY OF STOCK RIGHTS.

By its terms, a Stock Right granted to a Participant shall not be transferable by the Participant other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) as approved by the Administrator in its discretion and set forth in the applicable Agreement, provided that no Stock Right may be transferred by a Participant for value. For California Participants, Stock Rights shall not be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, to a revocable trust, or as permitted by Rule 701 of the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an ISO transferred except in compliance with clause (i) above shall no longer qualify as an ISO. The designation of a beneficiary of a Stock Right by a Participant, with the prior approval of the Administrator and in such form as the Administrator shall prescribe, shall not be deemed a transfer prohibited by this Paragraph. Except as provided above during the Participant’s lifetime a Stock Right shall only be exercisable by or issued to such Participant (or his or her legal representative) and shall not be assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of any Stock Right or of any rights granted thereunder contrary to the provisions of this Plan, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon a Stock Right, shall be null and void.

10. EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DEATH OR DISABILITY.

Except as otherwise required by law or provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, in the event of a termination of service (whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate before the Participant has exercised an Option, the following rules apply:

(a) A Participant who ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate (for any reason other than termination for Cause, Disability, or death for which events there are special rules in Paragraphs 14, 15, and 16, respectively), may exercise any Option granted to him or her to the extent that the Option is exercisable on the date of such termination of service, but only within such term as the Administrator has designated in a Participant’s Option Agreement. For Options granted to California Participants, notwithstanding the terms of any Option Agreement, such Option shall be exercisable for at least thirty (30) days from the date of a Participant’s termination of employment other than for Cause, but in no event later than the originally prescribed term of the Option.

 

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(b) Except as provided in Subparagraph (c) below, or Paragraph 15 or 16, in no event may an Option intended to be an ISO, be exercised later than three months after the Participant’s termination of employment.

(c) The provisions of this Paragraph, and not the provisions of Paragraph 15 or 16, shall apply to a Participant who subsequently becomes Disabled or dies after the termination of employment, Director status or consultancy; provided, however, in the case of a Participant’s Disability or death within three months after the termination of employment, director status or consultancy, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors may exercise the Option within one year after the date of the Participant’s termination of service, but in no event after the date of expiration of the term of the Option.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to a Participant’s termination of employment, termination of director status or termination of consultancy, but prior to the exercise of an Option, the Administrator determines that, either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination, the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then such Participant shall forthwith cease to have any right to exercise any Option.

(e) A Participant to whom an Option has been granted under the Plan who is absent from the Company or an Affiliate because of temporary disability (any disability other than a Disability as defined in Paragraph 1 hereof), or who is on leave of absence for any purpose, shall not, during the period of any such absence, be deemed, by virtue of such absence alone, to have terminated such Participant’s employment, director status or consultancy with the Company or with an Affiliate, except as the Administrator may otherwise expressly provide; provided, however, that, for ISOs, any leave of absence granted by the Administrator of greater than three months, unless pursuant to a contract or statute that guarantees the right to reemployment, shall cause such ISO to become a Non-Qualified Option on the date that is six months following the commencement of such leave of absence.

(f) Except as required by law or as set forth in a Participant’s Option Agreement, Options granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of a Participant’s status within or among the Company and any Affiliates, so long as the Participant continues to be an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate.

11. EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR CAUSE.

Except as otherwise required by law or provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, the following rules apply if the Participant’s service (whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for Cause prior to the time that all of his or her outstanding Options have been exercised:

(a) All outstanding and unexercised Options as of the time the Participant is notified his or her service is terminated for Cause will immediately be forfeited.

 

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(b) Cause is not limited to events which have occurred prior to a Participant’s termination of service, nor is it necessary that the Administrator’s finding of Cause occur prior to termination. If the Administrator determines, subsequent to a Participant’s termination of service but prior to the exercise of an Option, that either prior or subsequent to the Participant’s termination the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute Cause, then the right to exercise any Option is forfeited.

12. EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR DISABILITY.

(a) Except as otherwise required by law or provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, in the event of the Disability of a Participant while the Participant is an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate, such Option shall become fully vested and exercisable.

(b) A Disabled Participant may exercise the Option only within the period ending one year after the date of the Participant’s termination of service due to Disability, notwithstanding that the Participant might have been able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if the Participant had not been terminated due to Disability and had continued to be an Employee, Director or Consultant or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option. Notwithstanding the terms of any Option Agreement, for Options granted to California Participants, a Participant may exercise such rights for at least six (6) months from the date of termination of service due to Disability but in no event later than the originally prescribed term of the Option.

(c) The Administrator shall make the determination both of whether Disability has occurred and the date of its occurrence (unless a procedure for such determination is set forth in another agreement between the Company and such Participant, in which case such procedure shall be used for such determination). If requested, the Participant shall be examined by a physician selected or approved by the Administrator, the cost of which examination shall be paid for by the Company.

13. EFFECT ON OPTIONS OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT.

(a) Except as otherwise required by law or provided in a Participant’s Option Agreement, in the event of the death of a Participant while the Participant is an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate, such Option shall become fully vested and may be exercised by the Participant’s Survivors.

(b) If the Participant’s Survivors wish to exercise the Option, they must take all necessary steps to exercise the Option within one year after the date of death of such Participant, notwithstanding that the decedent might have been able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if he or she had not died and had continued to be an Employee, Director or Consultant or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option. For Options granted to California Participants, notwithstanding the terms of any Option Agreement, the Participant’s Survivors shall be allowed to take all necessary steps to exercise the Option for at least six (6) months from the date of death of such Participant but in no event later than the originally prescribed term of the Option.

 

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14. EFFECT ON STOCK GRANTS AND STOCK-BASED AWARDS OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT.

Except as otherwise required by law or provided in a Participant’s Agreement, the following rules apply in the event of the death of a Participant while the Participant is an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate: to the extent the forfeiture provisions or the Company’s rights of repurchase have not lapsed on the date of death, they shall immediately lapse.

15. PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.

Unless the offering and sale of the Shares shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act and in compliance with any other applicable law, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue Shares under the Plan unless and until the following conditions have been, to the extend permitted under applicable law, fulfilled:

(a) The person who receives a Stock Right shall warrant to the Company, prior to the receipt of Shares, that such person is acquiring such Shares for his or her own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares, in which event any person acquiring such Shares shall be bound by the provisions of the following legend (or a legend in substantially similar form) which shall be endorsed upon the certificate evidencing the Shares issued pursuant to such exercise or such grant:

“The shares represented by this certificate have been taken for investment and they may not be sold or otherwise transferred by any person, including a pledgee, unless (1) either (a) a Registration Statement with respect to such shares shall be effective under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (b) the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it that an exemption from registration under such Act is then available, and (2) there shall have been compliance with all applicable United States state securities laws.”

(b) At the discretion of the Administrator, the Company shall have received an opinion of its legal counsel that the Shares may be issued in compliance with the Securities Act without registration thereunder.

16. DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY.

To the extent permitted under applicable law, upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all Options granted under this Plan which as of such date shall not have been exercised and all Stock Grants and Stock-Based Awards which have not been accepted, to the extent required under the applicable Agreement, will terminate and become null and void; provided, however, that if the rights of a Participant or a Participant’s Survivors have not

 

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otherwise terminated and expired, the Participant or the Participant’s Survivors will have the right immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation to exercise or accept any Stock Right to the extent that the Stock Right is exercisable or subject to acceptance as of the date immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any outstanding Stock-Based Awards shall immediately terminate unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or specifically provided in the applicable Agreement.

17. ADJUSTMENTS.

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, a Participant’s rights with respect to any Stock Right granted to him or her hereunder shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided, except otherwise required by law or unless otherwise specifically provided in a Participant’s Agreement:

(a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If (i) the shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, or

(ii) additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non- cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Common Stock, each Stock Right and the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable thereunder shall be appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made including, to the exercise, base or purchase price per share, to reflect such events. The number of Shares subject to the limitations in Paragraphs 3(a) shall also be proportionately adjusted upon the occurrence of such events.

(b) Corporate Transactions. If the Company is to be consolidated with or acquired by another entity in a merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the acquisition of all of the outstanding voting stock of the Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions by a single entity (a “Corporate Transaction”), then upon the Company’s reasonable discretion (i) the Plan may be transferred to the entity having acquired the assets of or shares in the Company (“Successor Company”) whereas the Successor Company shall assume all obligations under the Plan or (ii) the Shares to which the Stock Rights refer to may be replaced with economically similar instruments in the Successor Company. The Administrator or any other body responsible for such matters under the applicable law and, if no responsibility is determined by the applicable law the board of directors or, if there is no board of directors, the supervisory board of the Successor Company (the “Successor Board”), shall, as to outstanding Options, either (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Options by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to such Options either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written notice to the Participants, provide that such Options must be exercised (either (A) to the extent then exercisable or, (B) at the discretion of the Administrator, any such Options being made partially or fully exercisable for purposes of this Subparagraph), within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period such Options which have not been exercised shall terminate; or (iii) terminate such Options in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Option would have been exercisable

 

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(either (A) to the extent then exercisable or, (B) at the discretion of the Administrator, any such Options being made partially or fully exercisable for purposes of this Subparagraph) less the aggregate exercise price thereof. For purposes of determining the payments to be made pursuant to Subclause (iii) above, in the case of a Corporate Transaction the consideration for which, in whole or in part, is other than cash, the consideration other than cash shall be valued at the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Administrator.

With respect to outstanding Stock Grants, the Administrator or the responsible Successor Board, shall make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Stock Grants on the same terms and conditions by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to such Stock Grants either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding Shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction or securities of any successor or acquiring entity. In lieu of the foregoing, in connection with any Corporate Transaction, the Administrator may provide that, upon consummation of the Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Stock Grant shall be terminated in exchange for payment of an amount equal to the consideration payable upon consummation of such Corporate Transaction to a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock comprising such Stock Grant (to the extent such Stock Grant is no longer subject to any forfeiture or repurchase rights then in effect or, at the discretion of the Administrator, all forfeiture and repurchase rights being waived upon such Corporate Transaction). For purposes of determining such payments, in the case of a Corporate Transaction the consideration for which, in whole or in part, is other than cash, the consideration other than cash shall be valued at the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Administrator.

In taking any of the actions permitted under this Paragraph 24(b), the Administrator shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Stock Rights, all Stock Rights held by a Participant, or all Stock Rights of the same type, identically.

(c) Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company (including, but not limited to a transaction to merely change the state or country of incorporation) other than a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which securities of the Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Participant upon exercising an Option or accepting a Stock Grant after the recapitalization or reorganization shall be entitled to receive for the price paid upon such exercise or acceptance if any, the number of replacement securities which would have been received if such Option had been exercised or Stock Grant accepted prior to such recapitalization or reorganization.

(d) Adjustments to Stock-Based Awards. Upon the happening of any of the events described in Subparagraphs (a), (b) or (c) above, any outstanding Stock-Based Award shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the events described in such Subparagraphs. The Administrator or the responsible Successor Board shall determine the specific adjustments to be made under this Paragraph 24, including, but not limited to the effect of any Corporate Transaction and Change of Control and, subject to Paragraph 4, its determination shall be conclusive.

 

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(e) Modification of Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Subparagraph (a), (b) or (c) above with respect to Options shall be made only after the Administrator determines whether such adjustments would (i) constitute a “modification” of any ISOs (as that term is defined in Section 424(h) of the U.S. Code) or (ii) cause any adverse tax consequences for the holders of Options, including, but not limited to, pursuant to Section 409A for U.S. Taxpayers and (iii) are permitted by applicable law. If the Administrator determines that such adjustments made with respect to Options would constitute a modification or other adverse tax consequence, it may in its discretion refrain from making such adjustments, unless the holder of an Option specifically agrees in writing that such adjustment be made and such writing indicates that the holder has full knowledge of the consequences of such “modification” on his or her income tax treatment with respect to the Option. This paragraph shall not apply to the acceleration of the vesting of any ISO that would cause any portion of the ISO to violate the annual vesting limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the U.S. Code, as described in Paragraph 6(b)(iv).

18. ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES.

Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares subject to Stock Rights. Except as expressly provided herein, no adjustments shall be made for dividends paid in cash or in property (including without limitation, securities) of the Company prior to any issuance of Shares pursuant to a Stock Right.

19. FRACTIONAL SHARES.

No fractional shares shall be issued under the Plan and the person exercising a Stock Right shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such fractional shares equal to the Fair Market Value thereof.

20. WITHHOLDING.

In the event that any foreign, United States federal, state, or local income taxes, employment taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act withholdings or other amounts are required by applicable law or governmental regulation to be withheld from the Participant’s salary, wages or other remuneration in connection with the issuance of a Stock Right or Shares under the Plan or for any other reason required by law, the Company, or any Affiliate of the Company which employs or employed the Participant, may withhold from the Participant’s compensation, if any, or may require that the Participant advance in cash to the Company, or to any Affiliate of the Company which employs or employed the Participant, the statutory maximum amount of such withholdings unless a different withholding arrangement, including the use of shares of the Company’s Common Stock or a promissory note, is authorized by the Administrator (and permitted by applicable law). For purposes hereof, the fair market value of the shares withheld for purposes of payroll withholding shall be determined in the manner set forth under the definition of Fair Market Value provided in Paragraph 1 above, as of the most recent practicable date prior to the date of exercise. If the Fair Market Value of the shares withheld is less than the amount of payroll withholdings required, the Participant may be required to advance the difference in cash to the Company or the Affiliate employer.

 

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21. NOTICE TO COMPANY OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.

Each Employee who receives an ISO shall notify the Company in text form (sec. 126b of the German Civil Code) if requested by the Company, if the Employee makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO. A Disqualifying Disposition is defined in Section 424(c) of the U.S. Code and includes any disposition (including any sale or gift) of such Shares before the later of (a) two years after the date the Employee was granted the ISO, or (b) one year after the date the Employee acquired Shares by exercising the ISO, except as otherwise provided in Section 424(c) of the U.S. Code. If the Employee has died before such Shares are sold, these holding period requirements do not apply and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur thereafter.

22. TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

The Plan will terminate on 19 August 2025. The Plan may be terminated at an earlier date by vote of the shareholders, if the Administrator requests such a vote, or by vote of the Administrator of the Company; provided, however, that any such earlier termination shall not affect any Agreements executed prior to the effective date of such termination. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any Stock Rights theretofore granted.

23. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS.

The Plan may be amended by vote of the shareholders of the Company, if the Administrator requests such a vote. The Plan may also be amended by the Administrator, to the extent permitted by law, including, without limitation, to the extent necessary to qualify any or all outstanding Stock Rights granted under the Plan or Stock Rights to be granted under the Plan for favorable federal income tax treatment as may be afforded ISOs under Section 422 of the

U.S. Code (including deferral of taxation upon exercise), and to the extent necessary to qualify the Shares issuable under the Plan for listing on any national securities exchange or quotation in any national automated quotation system of securities dealers. Any amendment approved by the Administrator which the Administrator determines is of a scope that requires shareholder approval shall be subject to obtaining such shareholder approval. Any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect his or her rights under a Stock Right previously granted to him or her, unless such amendment is required by applicable law or necessary to preserve the economic value of such Stock Right. With the consent of the Participant affected, the Administrator may amend outstanding Agreements in a manner which may be adverse to the Participant but which is not inconsistent with the Plan. In the discretion of the Administrator, outstanding Agreements may be amended by the Administrator in a manner which is not adverse to the Participant. Nothing in this Paragraph 30 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Paragraph 24.

24. EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP.

Nothing in this Plan or any Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Company or an Affiliate from terminating the employment, consultancy or director status of a Participant, nor to prevent a Participant from terminating his or her own employment, consultancy or director status or to give any Participant a right to be retained in employment or other service by the Company or any Affiliate for any period of time.

 

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25. GOVERNING LAW.

This Plan shall be construed and enforced in accordance with German Law, applied without regard to conflict of law principles provided that if the Stock Rights shall be issuable under this Plan by a Successor Company that is not incorporated under the laws of Germany, this Plan shall be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction issuing such shares under the Plan. If shares are to be issued hereunder under German law, the provisions set forth in this Plan shall apply only to the extent permitted by German law.

Place of jurisdiction shall be the Company’s domicile.

 

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