BETTER HOME & FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY 2023 INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

EX-10.2 3 exhibit102-betterxcsmithrs.htm EX-10.2 Document

BETTER HOME & FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY
2023 INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE
Better Home & Finance Holding Company, a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2023 Incentive Equity Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (the “Participant”), an award of restricted stock units (“Restricted Stock Units” or “RSUs”). Each vested Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive, in accordance with the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”), one share of Common Stock (“Share”). This award of Restricted Stock Units is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Agreement and the Plan, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) and the Agreement.
Participant: Chad Smith
Grant Date: May 8, 2024
Total Number of RSUs:     8,000,000
Vesting Commencement Date: May 6, 2024
Vesting Schedule:
50% of the RSUs (4,000,000) will be subject to time-based vesting criteria, and the remainder 50% of the RSUs (4,000,000) will be subject to both time- and performance-based vesting criteria as follows:
Time-Based: 4,000,000 RSUs will vest over a period of four (4) years beginning on the Vesting Commencement Date with a one (1) year cliff. 25% (1,000,000) of the RSUs will vest after twelve (12) months of continuous service as of the one-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, and over the next 36 months, the remaining balance will vest in equal installments of one-sixteenth of the RSUs on the first business day of each calendar quarter commencing after the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to the Participant’s continuous employment through each applicable vesting date.

Performance-Based: Subject at all times to the Performance Conditions defined and described below, 4,000,000 RSUs will vest over a period of four (4) years beginning on the Vesting Commencement Date with a one (1) year cliff. 25% (1,000,000) of the RSUs will vest after twelve (12) months of continuous service as of the one-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, and over the next 36 months, the remaining balance will vest in equal installments of one-sixteenth of the RSUs on the first business day of each calendar quarter commencing after the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to the Participant’s continuous employment through each applicable vesting date. In addition, the vesting of this performance-based portion of the RSU Award will be contingent on the following performance conditions (together, the “Performance Conditions”):



the first 1,000,000 RSUs will vest upon satisfaction of the time vesting condition and upon the Better Home & Finance Holding Company stock achieving a 90 day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of $1.50, adjusted for any stock splits.
the second 1,000,000 RSUs will vest upon satisfaction of the time vesting condition and upon the Better Home & Finance Holding Company stock achieving a 90 day VWAP of $2.00, adjusted for any stock splits.
the third 1,000,000 RSUs will vest upon satisfaction of the time vesting condition and upon the Better Home & Finance Holding Company stock achieving a 90 day VWAP of $2.50, adjusted for any stock splits.
the fourth 1,000,000 RSUs will vest upon satisfaction of the time vesting condition and upon the Better Home & Finance Holding Company stock achieving a 90 day VWAP of $3.00, adjusted for any stock splits.
For the avoidance of doubt, once a Performance Condition is met, vesting will only be subject to the time vesting conditions; i.e. to the extent that the WVAP falls below the thresholds listed above, it will not invalidate the fact that that Performance Condition has been met.
Termination:    
Upon the Participant’s termination of service due to his death or Disability, (i) the time-based vesting criteria shall be deemed satisfied and (ii) all outstanding unvested RSUs will remain outstanding and eligible to vest as to the performance-based vesting criteria in accordance with the terms of this Agreement through the third anniversary of the date of such termination of service. Upon a Termination for Service, any unvested RSUs for which the performance-based vesting criteria is not achieved during the applicable 3 year period shall automatically be forfeited, terminated and cancelled as of the end of such period without payment of any consideration by the Company. Upon any termination of Participant’s service other than due to Participant’s death or Disability, all outstanding RSUs which had not vested on or prior to such termination shall automatically be forfeited, terminated and cancelled as of the applicable termination date without payment of any consideration by the Company, and in the case of any forfeiture of RSUs under this RSU Agreement, the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary or personal representative, as the case may be, shall have no further rights hereunder with respect thereto.
By his or her signature and the Company’s signature below, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice. The Participant has reviewed the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Agreement or this Grant Notice. In



addition, by signing below, the Participant also agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, may satisfy any withholding obligations in accordance with Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement by (i) withholding shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs, (ii) instructing a broker on the Participant’s behalf to sell shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs and submit the proceeds of such sale to the Company, or (iii) using any other method permitted by Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement or the Plan

[Signature Page to Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice Follows on Next Page]




BETTER HOME & FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY:
By:     /s/Nicholas Calamari        

Print Name: Nicholas Calamari        
Title: Chief Admin Officer        
Address:     175 Greenwich St
New York NY 10007        

PARTICIPANT:


By: /s/Chad Smith            

Print Name: Chad Smith            

Address:     2618 San Miguel dr #299 Newport
Beach CA 92660            





EXHIBIT A TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”) to which this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) is attached, Better Home & Finance Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has granted to the Participant the number of restricted stock units (“Restricted Stock Units” or “RSUs”) set forth in the Grant Notice under the Company’s 2023 Incentive Equity Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”). Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (a “Share”) upon vesting.
ARTICLE I.
GENERAL
1.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan and the Grant Notice.
1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.
ARTICLE II.
GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
2.1 Grant of RSUs. Pursuant to the Grant Notice and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice, the Company hereby grants to the Participant an award of RSUs under the Plan in consideration of the Participant’s past or continued employment with or service to the Company or any Subsidiaries and for other good and valuable consideration.
2.2 Unsecured Obligation to RSUs. Unless and until the RSUs have vested in the manner set forth in Article 2 hereof, the Participant will have no right to receive Common Stock or other property under any such RSUs. Prior to actual payment of any vested RSUs, such RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.
2.3 Vesting Schedule. Subject to Section 2.5 hereof, the RSUs shall vest and become nonforfeitable with respect to the applicable portion thereof according to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice (rounding down to the nearest whole Share).
2.4 Consideration to the Company. In consideration of the grant of the award of RSUs pursuant hereto, the Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Subsidiary.
2.5 Forfeiture, Termination and Cancellation upon Termination of Service. Except as otherwise set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the Participant’s Termination of Service for any or no reason, all Restricted Stock Units which have not vested prior to or in connection with such Termination of Service shall thereupon automatically be forfeited, terminated and canceled as of the applicable termination date without payment of any consideration by the Company, and the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary or personal representative, as the case may be, shall have no further rights hereunder. No portion of the RSUs which has not become vested as of the date on which the Participant incurs a Termination of Service shall thereafter become vested, except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and the Participant.



2.6 Issuance of Common Stock upon Vesting.
(a) As soon as administratively practicable following the vesting of any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, but in no event later than 30 days after such vesting date (for the avoidance of doubt, this deadline is intended to comply with the “short term deferral” exemption from Section 409A of the Code), the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or any transferee permitted under Section 3.2 hereof) a number of Shares equal to the number of RSUs subject to this Award that vest on the applicable vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Shares cannot be issued pursuant to Section 10.7 of the Plan, the Shares shall be issued pursuant to the preceding sentence as soon as administratively practicable after the Administrator determines that Shares can again be issued in accordance with such Section.
(b) As set forth in Section 10.5 of the Plan, the Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the Restricted Stock Units. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Shares to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative unless and until the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state and local taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from the grant or vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or the issuance of Shares.
2.7 Conditions to Delivery of Shares. The Shares deliverable hereunder may be either previously authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares or issued Shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue Shares deliverable hereunder prior to fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 10.7 of the Plan.
2.8 Rights as Stockholder. The holder of the RSUs shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to dividends, in respect of the RSUs and any Shares underlying the RSUs and deliverable hereunder unless and until such Shares shall have been issued by the Company and held of record by such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Article IX of the Plan.
ARTICLE III.
OTHER PROVISIONS
3.1 Administration. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator or
the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the RSUs.
3.2 The Company May Deliver Cash or Other Property Instead of Shares. In accordance with Section 4.1(b)(v) of the Plan, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, in lieu of all or any portion of the Shares, the Company may deliver cash, other securities, other awards under the Plan or other property, and all references in this Agreement to deliveries of Shares will include such deliveries of cash, other securities, other awards under the Plan or other property.
3.3 Transferability. The RSUs shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in Section 10.1 of the Plan.



3.4 Tax Consultation. The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences in connection with the RSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement (and the Shares issuable with respect thereto). The Participant represents that the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants the Participant deems advisable in connection with the RSUs and the issuance of Shares with respect thereto and that the Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.
3.5 Binding Agreement. Subject to the limitation on the transferability of the RSUs contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
3.6 Adjustments Upon Specified Events. The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. The Participant acknowledges that the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Article IX of the Plan.
3.7 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.6, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.
3.8 Participant’s Representations. If the Shares issuable hereunder have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state laws on an effective registration statement at the time of such issuance, the Participant shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with such issuance, make such written representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company or its counsel.
3.9 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
3.10 Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.
3.11 Conformity to Securities Laws. The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any other Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the

Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.
3.12 Amendment, Suspension and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of the Participant.



3.13 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 3.2 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
3.14 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Plan, the RSUs and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
3.15 Not a Contract of Service Relationship. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or to terminate for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, the services of the Participant at any time.
3.16 Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto, if any) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, provided that the RSUs shall be subject to any accelerated vesting provisions in any written agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Company plan pursuant to which the Participant participates, in each case, in accordance with the terms therein.
3.17 Section 409A. This Award is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “Section 409A”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that this Award (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for this Award either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.
3.18 Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. The Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Shares as a general unsecured creditor with respect to RSUs, as and when payable hereunder.
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