Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended and restated on February 7, 2023)

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Stock Agreements
EX-10.2 3 d645316dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

Adopted Effective February 16, 2005

Amended and Restated on October 13, 2005

Amended and Restated on February 5, 2008

Amended and Restated on November 4, 2008; Effective May 18, 2009

Amended and Restated on November 7, 2011; Effective May 15, 2012

Amended and Restated on September 25, 2012; Effective November 15, 2012

Amended and Restated on February 5, 2013

Amended and Restated on September 19, 2017

Amended and Restated on February 7, 2023

1. Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries and Designated Affiliates with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company. This Plan includes two components: a Code Section 423 Component (the “423 Component”) and a non-Code Section 423 Component (the “Non-423 Component”). It is the intention of the Company to have the 423 Component qualify as an “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of the 423 Component, accordingly, shall be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. In addition, this Plan authorizes the grant of options under the Non-423 Component which do not qualify under Section 423 of the Code pursuant to rules, procedures or subplans adopted by the Administrator designed to achieve tax, securities laws or other objectives for Eligible Employees and the Company. Except as otherwise indicated, the Non-423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component.

2. Definitions.

(a) “Administrator” shall mean the Board or any Committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 14.

(b) “Affiliate” shall mean any corporation or other entity affiliated with the Company or in which the Company has an interest.

(c) “Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of the Plan, including but not limited to the related issuance of shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to, under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where options are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

(d) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1


(e) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than a Permitted Transferee (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

(ii) The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or

(iii) A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a one-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or

(iv) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.

(f) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other formal guidance of general or direct applicability promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

(g) “Committee” means a committee of the Board appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 14 hereof.

(h) “Common Stock” shall mean the Class A Common Stock of the Company.

(i) “Company” shall mean Dolby Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(j) “Compensation” shall mean all base straight time gross earnings, commissions, overtime and shift premium, but exclusive of payments for incentive compensation, bonuses and other compensation. The Administrator shall have the discretion to (i) establish a different definition of Compensation for Offering Periods that have not yet begun, and (ii) establish a different definition of Compensation for the Non-423 Component.

 

2


(k) “Designated Affiliate” shall mean any Affiliate selected by the Administrator as eligible to participate in the Non-423 Component.

(l) “Designated Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary selected by the Administrator as eligible to participate in the 423 Component.

(m) “Director” shall mean a member of the Board.

(n) “Eligible Employee” shall mean (i) any individual who is treated as an active employee in the records of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary or (ii) any individual who is treated as an active employee in the records of any Designated Affiliate other than an individual who, as of the Offering Date, resides in a country that has been specifically excluded from participation in the Non-423 Component at the discretion of the Administrator. For the 423 Component, Eligible Employees shall include only those employees whose customary employment with the Company or Designated Subsidiary is at least fifteen (15) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar year. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company. Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute, legal precedent or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the day which is three (3) months and one (1) day after the beginning of such leave. The employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact where an Eligible Employee transfers employment between a Designated Subsidiary and a Designated Affiliate, and vice-versa, provided, however, that a participant who is not employed by a Designated Subsidiary on the Offering Date and through a date that is no more than three (3) months prior to the Exercise Date will participate only in the Non-423 Component. The Administrator shall establish rules to govern other such transfers consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

(o) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other formal guidance of general or direct applicability promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

(p) “Exercise Date” shall mean the first Trading Day on or after May 15 and November 15 of each Purchase Period. The Administrator, in its discretion, from time to time may, prior to an Offering Period, establish different Exercise Date(s) for such Offering Period.

 

3


(q) “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any date and unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select or the Nasdaq Capital Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable;

(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or

(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Board.

The determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.

(r) “Offering Date” shall mean the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.

(s) “Offering Periods” shall mean the periods of approximately twelve (12) months during which an option granted pursuant to the Plan may be exercised, commencing on the first Trading Day following each Exercise Date and terminating on the applicable Exercise Date, approximately twelve months later. For example, the November 2012 Offering Period will commence on November 16, 2012, which is the first Trading Day following the November 15, 2012 Exercise Date, and the May 2013 Offering Period will commence on May 16, 2013 which is the first Trading Day following the May 15, 2013 Exercise Date. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.

(t) “Plan” shall mean this Employee Stock Purchase Plan including both the 423 and Non-423 Components.

(u) “Purchase Period” means, for the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period, the approximately six (6) month period commencing on the Offering Date and ending on the next Exercise Date, and for the second Purchase Period of any Offering Period (if any), the approximately six (6) month period commencing on the first day following the first Exercise Date of the Offering Period and ending with the next and final Exercise Date of that Offering Period.

 

4


(v) “Purchase Price” shall mean an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Date or on the Exercise Date, whichever is lower; provided however, that the Purchase Price may be determined for subsequent Offering Periods by the Administrator in any manner or method it determines, pursuant to Section 20, and subject to (i) with respect to the 423 Component, compliance with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule) or (ii) with respect to the Non-423 Component, pursuant to such manner or method as determined by the Administrator to comply with non-U.S. requirements.

(w) “Subsidiary” shall mean a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

(x) “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Company Common Stock is listed is open for trading.

3. Eligibility. Any Eligible Employee on a given Offering Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Eligible Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) to the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries accrues at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

4. Offering Periods. The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive, overlapping Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first Trading Day following each Exercise Date, or on such other date as the Board or the Administrator shall determine. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, the Board and Administrator, each in its discretion, shall have the power to change the timing and duration of Offering Periods and Purchase Periods (including the commencement dates and Exercise Dates thereof) with respect to future offerings without stockholder approval if such change is announced prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected thereafter. Any such changes shall, for the 423 Component, comply with Code section 423 (for example, but not by way of limitation, no Offering Period for the 423 Component shall exceed 27 months in duration, as required by Code section 423).

5. Participation. An Eligible Employee may become a participant in the Plan by completing a subscription agreement in a form determined by the Administrator and filing it with the Company’s designated Plan administrator prior to the applicable Offering Date.

 

5


6. Payroll Deductions or Contributions.

(a) At the time a participant files his or her subscription agreement, the participant shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding 10% (or such other limit as the Administrator may establish) of the Compensation which the participant receives on each pay day during the Offering Period, provided, however, that should a pay day occur on an Exercise Date, a participant shall have the payroll deductions made on such day applied to the participant’s account under the subsequent Purchase Period or Offering Period. Eligible Employees participating in the Non-423 Component may contribute funds to participate in the Plan through other means specified by the Administrator to comply with non-U.S. requirements, provided, however, that such contributions shall not exceed 10% of the Compensation received each pay day during the Offering Period. A participant’s subscription agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.

(b) Payroll deductions or contributions, as applicable, for a participant shall commence on the first pay day following the Offering Date and shall end on the last pay day in the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, or such other schedule as the Administrator may establish prior to an Offering Period for reasons of compliance with Applicable Law or Plan administration, unless sooner terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

(c) All payroll deductions or contributions made by a participant shall be credited to his or her account under the Plan in whole percentages only, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. A participant may not make any additional payments into such account.

(d) A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions or contributions during the Offering Period by completing or filing with the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in payroll deduction rate or contribution. The Administrator may, in its discretion, limit the nature and/or number of participation rate changes during any Offering Period. The change in rate shall be effective with the first full payroll period following five (5) business days after the Company’s receipt of the new subscription agreement, or pursuant to such other schedule as the Administrator may establish prior to an Offering Period for reasons of compliance with Applicable Law or Plan administration.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(c) hereof, a participant’s payroll deductions or contributions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time during a Purchase Period. Payroll deductions or contributions shall recommence at the rate provided in such participant’s subscription agreement at the beginning of the first Purchase Period which is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

 

6


(f) At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Company’s Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s federal, state, or any other tax liability payable to any authority, national insurance, social security, payment on account or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock including, for the avoidance of doubt, any liability of the participant to pay an employer tax or social contribution obligation, which liability has been shifted to the participant as a matter of law or contract. At any time, the Company or its Subsidiary or Affiliate, as applicable, may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the participant’s compensation the amount necessary for the Company or its Subsidiary or Affiliate, as applicable, to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company or its Subsidiary or Affiliate, as applicable, any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Common Stock by the Eligible Employee.

7. Grant of Option. On the Offering Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock determined by dividing such Eligible Employee’s payroll deductions or contributions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event shall an Eligible Employee be permitted to purchase during each Purchase Period more than 1,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19), and provided further that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(c) and 13 hereof. The Eligible Employee may accept the grant of such option by completing a Subscription Agreement in the form, manner and by the deadline specified by the Company. The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock an Eligible Employee may purchase during each Offering Period or Purchase Period. Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 8 hereof, unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 hereof. The option shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

8. Exercise of Option.

(a) Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, his or her option for the purchase of shares shall be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to option shall be purchased for such participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions or contributions in his or her account. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no fractional shares shall be purchased; any payroll deductions or contributions accumulated in a participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share shall, as determined by the Administrator or the Company, either be (i) refunded to the participant without interest, or (ii) retained in the participant’s account for the subsequent Purchase Period or Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof. Any other funds left over in a participant’s

 

7


account after the Exercise Date shall be returned to the participant (without interest). However, if the Administrator determines that allowing the purchase of fractional shares is in the best interest of the Plan, fractional shares may be purchased and the entirety of the contributions within other plan limits may be used to acquire shares. During a participant’s lifetime, a participant’s option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

(b) If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for sale under the Plan on the Offering Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares available for sale under the Plan on any Exercise Date, the Administrator may in its sole discretion provide that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase on any Exercise Date in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on any Exercise Date. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the shares available on the Offering Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such Offering Date.

9. Delivery. As soon as reasonably practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each participant the shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option in a form and manner determined by the Administrator. The Company may permit or require that shares of Common Stock be deposited directly with a broker designated by the Company or with a trustee or designated agent of the Company, and the Company may utilize electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require that shares of Common Stock be retained with such broker, trustee or agent for a designated period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions or other dispositions of such shares. No Participant will have any voting, dividend, or other stockholder rights with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to any option granted under the Plan until such shares have been purchased and delivered to the Participant as provided in this Section 9.

10. Withdrawal.

(a) A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the payroll deductions or contributions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time by giving notice to the Company in the form and manner determined by the Administrator. All of the participant’s payroll deductions or contributions credited to his or her account shall be paid to such participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such participant’s option for the Offering Period shall be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions or contributions for the purchase of shares shall be made for such Offering Period. If a participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions or contributions shall not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement.

 

8


(b) A participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the participant withdraws.

11. Termination of Employment. Upon a participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions or contributions credited to such participant’s account during the Offering Period but not yet used to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be returned to such participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the administrator of his or her estate, and such participant’s option shall be automatically terminated.

12. Interest. No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions or contributions of a participant in the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrator determines that interest is required to be accrued on the payroll deductions or contributions for participants in the Non-423 Component, then the Administrator shall cause such interest to accrue to the extent required by applicable non-U.S. requirements.

13. Stock.

(a) Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof, the maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be 5,500,000 shares. The 5,500,000 shares reflects an increase of 1,500,000 shares (which were added to the Plan on November 16, 2022, subject to stockholder approval at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders) over the 4,000,000 shares that previously were approved by stockholders for use under the Plan. For avoidance of doubt, the maximum number of share limitation set forth in this section may be used to satisfy exercises of options under either the 423 or the Non-423 Components.

(b) Until the shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), a participant shall only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to such shares.

(c) Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan shall be registered in the name of the participant.

14. Administration. The Administrator shall administer the Plan and shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan, including whether eligible Employees shall participate in the 423 Component or the Non-423 Component and which entities shall be Designated Subsidiaries or Designated Affiliates. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Administrator shall, to the full

 

9


extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, the Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures for jurisdictions outside of the United States. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules, procedures and subplans, which for purposes of the Non-423 Component may be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code, regarding, but not limited to, eligibility to participate, the definition of Compensation, handling of payroll deductions, making of contributions to the Plan (including, without limitation, in forms other than payroll deductions), making elections under the Plan, establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, obligations to pay payroll tax, determination of beneficiary designation requirements, withholding procedures and delivery of stock (including electronically), all of which may vary with Applicable Law. The Administrator (in its discretion) may delegate, to one or more individuals, aspects of the Administrator’s authority with respect to day-to-day administration (for example, but not by way of limitation, the form and manner of making elections and payroll procedures), subject to Applicable Law.

15. Transferability. Neither payroll deductions nor contributions credited to a participant’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution) by the participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

16. Use of Funds. All payroll deductions or contributions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions or contributions except for deductions or contributions made to a Non-423 Component where, as determined by the Administrator, non-U.S. law requires segregation of such amounts. Until shares are issued, participants shall only have the rights of an unsecured creditor, although participants in the Non-423 Component may have additional rights where required under local law, as determined by the Administrator.

17. Reports. Individual accounts shall be maintained for each participant in the Plan in the manner determined by the Administrator from time to time. Statements of account shall be given to participating Eligible Employees at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

 

10


18. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Change in Control.

(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan, the maximum number of shares each participant may purchase each Purchase Period (pursuant to Section 7), as well as the price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other change in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. 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 of Common Stock subject to an option.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”), and shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator shall notify each participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the participant’s option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.

(c) Merger or Change in Control. In the event of a merger or Change in Control, each outstanding option shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, all Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date and shall end on the New Exercise Date. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed merger or Change in Control. The Administrator shall notify each participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the participant’s option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.

 

11


19. Amendment or Termination.

(a) The Administrator may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 19 and this Section 20 hereof, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any participant unless their consent is obtained. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

(b) Without stockholder approval and without regard to whether any participant rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected,” the Administrator shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods or Purchase Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period or Purchase Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed subscription agreements, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the participant’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

(c) Without regard to whether any participant’s rights may be considered to have been “adversely affected”, in the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Board may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including:

(i) increasing the Purchase Price for any Offering Period or Purchase Period including an Offering Period or Purchase Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;

(ii) shortening any Offering Period or Purchase Period by establishing a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period or Purchase Period underway at the time of the Board action; and

(iii) reducing the number of shares that may be purchased upon exercise of outstanding options.

Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Plan participants.

20. Notices. All notices or other communications by a participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

 

12


21. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, U.S. and non-U.S. and state and local provisions, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

22. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect until terminated under Section 20 hereof.

23. Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to the approval by stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under applicable law.

24. Automatic Transfer to Lower Price Offering Period. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on any Exercise Date in an Offering Period is lower than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Offering Date of such Offering Period, then all participants in such Offering Period will be automatically withdrawn from such Offering Period immediately after the exercise of their option on such Exercise Date and automatically re-enrolled in the immediately following Offering Period as of the first day thereof.

25. Section 409A. The Plan is intended to be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”). To the extent the Plan is not exempt under Section 409A, the Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A. In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that an option granted under the Plan may be subject to Section 409A or that any provision in the Plan would cause an option under the Plan to be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may (in its discretion) amend the terms of the Plan and/or of an outstanding option granted under the Plan, or take such other action the Administrator determines is necessary or appropriate, in each case, without the participant’s consent, to exempt any outstanding option or future option that may be granted under the Plan from or to allow any such options to comply with Section 409A, but only to the extent any such amendments or action by the Administrator would not violate Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have no liability, obligation or responsibility to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless a participant or any other party if the option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan that is intended to be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Administrator with respect thereto. The Company makes no representation that any option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan is compliant with Section 409A.

 

13