Legacy Cepton Stock Incentive Plan

EX-10.11 8 ea155007ex10-11_ceptoninc.htm LEGACY CEPTON STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Exhibit 10.11

 

CEPTON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

PREFACE

 

This Plan is divided into two separate equity programs: (1) the option and stock appreciation rights grant program set forth in Section 5 under which Eligible Persons (as defined in Section 3) may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be granted Options and/or SARs, and (2) the stock award program set forth in Section 6 under which Eligible Persons may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be awarded restricted or unrestricted shares of Common Stock. Section 2 of this Plan contains the general rules regarding the administration of this Plan. Section 3 sets forth the requirements for eligibility to receive an Award grant under this Plan. Section 4 describes the capital stock of the Corporation that may be subject to Awards granted under this Plan. Section 7 contains other provisions applicable to all Awards granted under this Plan. Section 8 provides definitions for certain capitalized terms used in this Plan and not otherwise defined herein.

 

1.

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.

 

The purpose of this Plan is to promote the success of the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders by providing a means through which the Corporation may grant equity-based incentives to attract, motivate, retain and reward certain officers, employees, directors and other eligible persons and to further link the interests of Award recipients with those of the Corporation’s stockholders generally.

 

2.

ADMINISTRATION.

 

2.1

Administrator. This Plan shall be administered by and all Awards under this Plan shall be authorized by the Administrator. The “Administrator” means the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board or another committee (within its delegated authority) to administer all or certain aspects of this Plan. Any such committee shall be comprised solely of one or more directors or such number of directors as may be required under applicable law. A committee may delegate some or all of its authority to another committee so constituted. The Board or a committee comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent permitted by Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and any other applicable law, to one or more officers of the Corporation, its powers under this Plan (a) to designate the officers and employees of the Corporation and its Affiliates who will receive grants of Awards under this Plan, and (b) to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms and conditions of, such Awards. The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different committees with administrative and grant authority under this Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation or the applicable charter of any Administrator: (a) a majority of the members of the acting Administrator shall constitute a quorum, and (b) the vote of a majority of the members present assuming the presence of a quorum or the unanimous written consent of the members of the Administrator shall constitute action by the acting Administrator.

 

 

2.2

Plan Awards; Interpretation; Powers of Administrator. Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Administrator is authorized and empowered to do all things necessary or desirable in connection with the authorization of Awards and the administration of this Plan (in the case of a committee or delegation to one or more officers, within the authority delegated to that committee or person(s)), including, without limitation, the authority to:

 

(a)

determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Persons who will receive Awards;

 

(b)

grant Awards to Eligible Persons, determine the price and number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons, determine the other specific terms and conditions of Awards consistent with the express limits of this Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such Awards will become exercisable or will vest (which may include, without limitation, performance and/or time-based schedules) or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, establish any applicable performance targets, and establish the events of termination or reversion of such Awards;

 

(c)

approve the forms of Award Agreements, which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants;

 

(d)

construe and interpret this Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Corporation, its Affiliates, and Participants under this Plan, make factual determinations with respect to the administration of this Plan, further define the terms used in this Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Plan or the Awards;

 

(e)

cancel, modify, or waive the Corporation’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding Awards, subject to any required consent under Section 7.7.4;

 

(f)

accelerate or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all outstanding Awards (within the maximum ten-year term of Awards under Sections 5.4.2 and 6.5) in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate (including, without limitation, in connection with a termination of employment or services or other events of a personal nature);

 

(g)

determine Fair Market Value for purposes of this Plan and Awards;

 

(h)

determine the duration and purposes of leaves of absence that may be granted to Participants without constituting a termination of their employment for purposes of this Plan; and

 

 

(i)

determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof and authorize the termination, conversion, substitution or succession of awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 7.3.

 

2.3

Binding Determinations. Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Corporation, any Affiliate, the Board or the Administrator relating or pursuant to this Plan and within its authority hereunder or under applicable law shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with this Plan (or any Award), and all such persons shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Corporation in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors and officers liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time.

 

2.4

Reliance on Experts. In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under this Plan, the Administrator may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including employees of and professional advisors to the Corporation. No director, officer or agent of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates shall be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith.

 

2.5

Delegation. The Administrator may delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or to third parties.

 

3.

ELIGIBILITY.

 

Awards may be granted under this Plan only to those persons that the Administrator determines to be Eligible Persons. An “Eligible Person” means any person who qualifies as one of the following at the time of grant of the respective Award:

 

(a)

an officer (whether or not a director) or employee of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates;

 

(b)

any member of the Board; or

 

(c)

any director of one of the Corporation’s Affiliates, or any individual consultant or advisor who renders bona fide services (other than services in connection with the offering or sale of securities of the Corporation or one of its Affiliates, as applicable, in a capital raising transaction or as a market maker or promoter of that entity’s securities) to the Corporation or one of its Affiliates.

 

 

An advisor or consultant may be selected as an Eligible Person pursuant to clause (c) above only if such person’s participation in this Plan would not adversely affect (1) the Corporation’s eligibility to rely on the Rule 701 exemption from registration under the Securities Act for the offering of shares issuable under this Plan by the Corporation, or (2) the Corporation’s compliance with any other applicable laws.

 

An Eligible Person may, but need not, be granted one or more Awards pursuant to Section 5 and/or one or more Awards pursuant to Section 6. An Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under this Plan may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards under this Plan if the Administrator so determines. However, a person’s status as an Eligible Person is not a commitment that any Award will be granted to that person under this Plan. Furthermore, an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under Section 5 is not necessarily entitled to an Award under Section 6, or vice versa, unless otherwise expressly determined by the Administrator.

 

Each Award granted under this Plan must be approved by the Administrator at or prior to the grant of the Award.

 

4.

STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

 

4.1

Shares Available. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3.1, the capital stock that may be delivered under this Plan will be shares of the Corporation’s authorized but unissued Common Stock and any of its shares of Common Stock held as treasury shares. The shares of Common Stock issued and delivered may be issued and delivered for any lawful consideration.

 

4.2

Share Limit. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3.1 and further subject to the share counting rules of Section 4.3, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan will not exceed 9,187,533 shares (the “Share Limit”) in the aggregate. As required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-2(b)(3)(i), in no event will the number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan exceed the Share Limit.

 

4.3

Replenishment and Reissue of Unvested Awards. To the extent that an Award is settled in cash or a form other than shares of Common Stock, the shares that would have been delivered had there been no such cash or other settlement shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance under this Plan. No Award may be granted under this Plan unless, on the date of grant, the sum of (a) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable at any time pursuant to such Award, plus (b) the number of shares of Common Stock that have previously been issued pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan, plus (c) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued at any time after such date of grant pursuant to Awards that are outstanding on such date, does not exceed the Share Limit. Shares of Common Stock that are subject to or underlie Options or SARs granted under this Plan that expire or for any reason are canceled or terminated without having been exercised (or shares of Common Stock subject to or underlying the unexercised portion of such Options or SARs in the case of Options or SARs that were partially exercised), as well as shares of Common Stock that are subject to Stock Awards made under this Plan that are forfeited to the Corporation or otherwise repurchased by the Corporation prior to the vesting of such shares for a price not greater than the original purchase or issue price of such shares (as adjusted pursuant to Section 7.3.1) will again, except to the extent prohibited by law or applicable listing or regulatory requirements, be available for subsequent Award grants under this Plan. Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Corporation as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under this Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Corporation or one of its Affiliates to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award, shall be available for subsequent Awards under this Plan. In the case of an exercise of a SAR, only the number of shares actually issued in respect of such exercise shall be charged against this Plan’s Share Limit. Adjustments to the Share Limit pursuant to this Section 4.3 are subject to any applicable limitations of the Code in the case of Awards intended to be Incentive Stock Options.

 

 

4.4

Reservation of Shares. The Corporation shall at all times reserve a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to cover the Corporation’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver shares with respect to Awards then outstanding under this Plan.

 

5.

OPTION AND SAR GRANT PROGRAM.

 

5.1

Option and SAR Grants in General. Each Option or SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator. The Award Agreement evidencing an Option or SAR shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Award, as well as any other terms, provisions, or restrictions that the Administrator may impose on the Option or SAR or any shares of Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR; in each case subject to the applicable provisions and limitations of this Section 5 and the other applicable provisions and limitations of this Plan. The Administrator may require that the recipient of an Option or SAR promptly execute and return to the Corporation his or her Award Agreement evidencing the Award. In addition, the Administrator may require that the spouse of any married recipient of an Option or SAR also promptly execute and return to the Corporation the Award Agreement evidencing the Award granted to the recipient or such other spousal consent form that the Administrator may require in connection with the grant of the Award.

 

5.2

Incentive Stock Option Status. The Administrator will designate each Option granted under this Plan as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, and such designation shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Option granted under this Plan that is not expressly designated in the applicable Award Agreement as an Incentive Stock Option will be deemed to be designated a Nonqualified Stock Option under this Plan and not an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5.5 in addition to the provisions of this Plan applicable to Options generally.

 

 

5.3

Option or SAR Price.

 

5.3.1

Option Pricing Limits. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 5.3.1, the Administrator will determine the purchase price per share of the Common Stock covered by each Option (the “exercise price” of the Option) at the time of the grant of the Option, which exercise price will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In no case will the exercise price of an Option be less than the greater of:

 

(a)

the par value of the Common Stock;

 

(b)

subject to clause (c) below, 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant; or

 

(c)

in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant described in Section 5.5.4, 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

5.3.2

Payment Provisions. The Corporation will not be obligated to deliver certificates for the shares of Common Stock to be purchased on exercise of an Option unless and until it receives full payment of the exercise price therefor, all related withholding obligations under Section 7.6 have been satisfied, and all other conditions to the exercise of the Option set forth herein or in the Award Agreement have been satisfied. The purchase price of any shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of an Option must be paid in full at the time of each purchase in such lawful consideration as may be permitted or required by the Administrator, which may include, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods:

 

(a)

cash, check payable to the order of the Corporation, or electronic funds transfer;

 

(b)

notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator;

 

(c)

the delivery of previously owned shares of Common Stock;

 

(d)

by a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award;

 

(e)

subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise”; or

 

 

(f)

if authorized by the Administrator or specified in the applicable Award Agreement, by a promissory note of the Participant consistent with the requirements of Section 5.3.3.

 

In no event shall any shares newly-issued by the Corporation be issued for less than the minimum lawful consideration for such shares or for consideration other than consideration permitted by applicable state law. Shares of Common Stock used to satisfy the exercise price of an Option (whether previously-owned shares or shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the terms of the Option) shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Administrator may eliminate or limit a Participant’s ability to pay the purchase or exercise price of any Award by any method other than cash payment to the Corporation.

 

5.3.3

Acceptance of Notes to Finance Exercise. The Corporation may, with the Administrator’s approval in each specific case, accept one or more promissory notes from any Eligible Person in connection with the exercise of any Option; provided that any such note shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)

The principal of the note shall not exceed the amount required to be paid to the Corporation upon the exercise, purchase or acquisition of one or more Awards under this Plan and the note shall be delivered directly to the Corporation in consideration of such exercise, purchase or acquisition.

 

(b)

The initial term of the note shall be determined by the Administrator; provided that the term of the note, including extensions, shall not exceed a period of five years.

 

(c)

The note shall provide for full recourse to the Participant and shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Administrator, but not less than the interest rate necessary to avoid the imputation of interest under the Code and to avoid any adverse accounting consequences in connection with the exercise, purchase or acquisition.

 

(d)

If the employment or services of the Participant by or to the Corporation and its Affiliates terminates, the unpaid principal balance of the note shall become due and payable on the 30th business day after such termination; provided, however, that if a sale of the shares acquired on exercise of the Option would cause such Participant to incur liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the unpaid balance shall become due and payable on the 10th business day after the first day on which a sale of such shares could have been made without incurring such liability assuming for these purposes that there are no other transactions (or deemed transactions) in securities of the Corporation by the Participant subsequent to such termination.

 

 

(e)

If required by the Administrator or by applicable law, the note shall be secured by a pledge of any shares or rights financed thereby or other collateral, in compliance with applicable law.

 

The terms, repayment provisions, and collateral release provisions of the note and the pledge securing the note shall conform with all applicable rules and regulations, including those of the Federal Reserve Board and any applicable state law, as then in effect.

 

5.3.4

Base Price of SARs. The Administrator will determine the base price per share of the Common Stock covered by each SAR at the time of grant of the SAR, which base price will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR.

 

5.4

Vesting; Term; Exercise Procedure.

 

5.4.1

Vesting. Except as provided in Section 5.8, an Option or SAR may be exercised only to the extent that it is vested and exercisable. The Administrator will determine the vesting and/or exercisability provisions of each Option or SAR (which may be based on performance criteria, passage of time or other factors or any combination thereof), which provisions will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides, once exercisable an Option or SAR will remain exercisable until the expiration or earlier termination of the Option or SAR.

 

5.4.2

Term. Each Option or SAR shall expire not more than 10 years after its date of grant. Each Option or SAR will be subject to earlier termination as provided in or pursuant to Sections 5.6 and 7.3 or the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

5.4.3

Exercise Procedure. Any exercisable Option or SAR will be deemed to be exercised when (a) the applicable exercise procedures in the related Award Agreement have been satisfied (or, in the absence of any such procedures in the related Award Agreement, the Corporation has received written notice of such exercise from the Participant ), (b) in the case of an Option, the Corporation has received any required payment made in accordance with Section 5.3, (c) in the case of an Option or SAR, all withholding obligations arising in connection with the exercise have been satisfied in accordance with Section 7.6, and (d) in the case of an Option or SAR, the Corporation has received any written statement required pursuant to Section 7.5.1.

 

 

5.4.4

Fractional Shares/Minimum Issue. Fractional share interests will be disregarded, but may be accumulated. The Administrator, however, may determine that cash, other securities, or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests. No Option or SAR may be exercised as to fewer than 100 shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7.3.1) at one time unless the number as to which the Award is exercised is the total number at the time then subject to the vested and exercisable portion of the Award.

 

5.5

Limitations on Grant and Terms of Incentive Stock Options.

 

5.5.1

$100,000 Limit. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of stock with respect to which incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both Common Stock subject to Incentive Stock Options under this Plan and stock subject to incentive stock options under all other plans of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such options will be treated as nonqualified stock options. For this purpose, the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to options will be determined as of the date the options were awarded. In reducing the number of options treated as incentive stock options to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted options will be reduced (recharacterized as nonqualified stock options) first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Administrator may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which shares of Common Stock are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option.

 

5.5.2

Other Code Limits. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to individuals that are employees of the Corporation or one of its Affiliates and satisfy the other eligibility requirements of the Code. Any Award Agreement relating to Incentive Stock Options will contain or shall be deemed to contain such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the Option be an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

5.5.3

ISO Notice of Sale Requirement. Any Participant who exercises an Incentive Stock Option shall give prompt written notice to the Corporation of any sale or other transfer of the shares of Common Stock acquired on such exercise if the sale or other transfer occurs within (a) one year after the exercise date of the Option, or (b) two years after the grant date of the Option.

 

5.5.4

Limits on 10% Holders. No Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any person who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) shares of outstanding stock of the Corporation (or any of its Affiliates) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any of its Affiliates), unless the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Incentive Stock Option and the Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable more than five years after the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted.

 

 

5.6

Effects of Termination of Employment on Options and SARs.

 

5.6.1

Dismissal for Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates is terminated by such entity for Cause, the Participant’s Option or SAR will terminate on the Participant’s Severance Date, whether or not the Option or SAR is then vested and/or exercisable.

 

5.6.2

Death or Disability. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement (consistent with applicable securities laws) and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates terminates as a result of the Participant’s death or Total Disability:

 

(a)

the Participant (or his or her Personal Representative or Beneficiary, in the case of the Participant’s Total Disability or death, respectively), will have until the date that is 12 months after the Participant’s Severance Date to exercise the Participant’s Option or SAR (or portion thereof) to the extent that it was vested and exercisable on the Severance Date;

 

(b)

the Option or SAR, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the Participant’s Severance Date, shall terminate on the Severance Date; and

 

(c)

the Option or SAR, to the extent exercisable for the 12-month period following the Participant’s Severance Date and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 12-month period.

 

 

5.6.3

Other Terminations of Employment. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement (consistent with applicable securities laws) and subject to earlier termination pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 5.4.2 or 7.3, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates terminates for any reason other than a termination by such entity for Cause or because of the Participant’s death or Total Disability:

 

(a)

the Participant will have until the date that is 3 months after the Participant’s Severance Date to exercise his or her Option or SAR (or portion thereof) to the extent that it was vested and exercisable on the Severance Date;

 

(b)

the Option or SAR, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the Participant’s Severance Date, shall terminate on the Severance Date; and

 

(c)

the Option or SAR, to the extent exercisable for the 3-month period following the Participant’s Severance Date and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the last day of the 3-month period.

 

5.7

Option and SAR Repricing/Cancellation and Regrant/Waiver of Restrictions. Subject to Section 4 and Section 7.7 and the specific limitations on Options and SARs contained in this Plan, the Administrator from time to time may authorize, generally or in specific cases only, for the benefit of any Eligible Person, any adjustment in the exercise or base price, the vesting schedule, the number of shares subject to, or the term of, an Option or SAR granted under this Plan by cancellation of an outstanding Option or SAR and a subsequent regranting of the Option or SAR, by amendment, by substitution of an outstanding Option or SAR, by waiver or by other legally valid means. Such amendment or other action may result in, among other changes, an exercise or base price that is higher or lower than the exercise or base price of the original or prior Option or SAR, provide for a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR, or provide for a longer or shorter vesting or exercise period. In no event, however, may any such amendment or other action reduce the exercise or base price of the Option or SAR to less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of such change, or extend the maximum term of the Option or SAR at a time when the exercise or base price of such Award is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock.

 

5.8

Early Exercise Options and SARs. The Administrator may, in its discretion, designate any Option or SAR as an “early exercise Option” or “early exercise SAR” which, by express provision in the applicable Award Agreement, may be exercised prior to the date such Option or SAR has vested. If the Participant elects to exercise all or a portion of any early exercise Option or SAR before it is vested, the shares of Common Stock acquired under the Option or SAR which are attributable to the unvested portion of the Option or SAR shall be Restricted Shares. The applicable Award Agreement will specify the extent (if any) to which and the time (if ever) at which the Participant will be entitled to dividends, voting and other rights in respect of such Restricted Shares prior to vesting, and the restrictions imposed on such shares and the conditions of release or lapse of such restrictions. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, such Restricted Shares shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 6.6 through 6.9, below.

 

 

6.

STOCK AWARD PROGRAM.

 

6.1

Stock Awards in General. Each Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Administrator. The Award Agreement evidencing a Stock Award shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Stock Award, as well as any other terms, provisions, or restrictions that the Administrator may impose on the Stock Award; in each case subject to the applicable provisions and limitations of this Section 6 and the other applicable provisions and limitations of this Plan. The Administrator may require that the recipient of a Stock Award promptly execute and return to the Corporation his or her Award Agreement evidencing the Stock Award. In addition, the Administrator may require that the spouse of any married recipient of a Stock Award also promptly execute and return to the Corporation the Award Agreement evidencing the Stock Award granted to the recipient or such other spousal consent form that the Administrator may require in connection with the grant of the Stock Award.

 

6.2

Types of Stock Awards. The Administrator shall designate whether a Stock Award shall be a Restricted Stock Award, and such designation shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.3

Purchase Price.

 

6.3.1

Pricing Limits. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 6.3, the Administrator will determine the purchase price per share of the Common Stock covered by each Stock Award at the time of grant of the Award. In no case will such purchase price be less than the par value of the Common Stock.

 

6.3.2

Payment Provisions. The Corporation will not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock awarded under this Section 6 unless and until it receives full payment of the purchase price therefor and all other conditions to the purchase, as determined by the Administrator, have been satisfied. The purchase price of any shares subject to a Stock Award must be paid in full at the time of the purchase in such lawful consideration as may be permitted or required by the Administrator, which may include, without limitation, one or a combination of the methods set forth in clauses (a) through (f) in Section 5.3.2 and/or past services rendered to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

 

6.4

Vesting. The restrictions imposed on the shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award (which may be based on performance criteria, passage of time or other factors or any combination thereof) will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

 

6.5

Term; Settlement of Awards. A Stock Award shall either vest or be forfeited not more than 10 years after the date of grant. Each Stock Award will be subject to earlier termination as provided in or pursuant to Sections 6.8 and 7.3. Payment of Awards may be in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other Awards or combinations thereof as the Administrator shall determine, and with such restrictions as it may impose. The Administrator may also require or permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares or the settlement of Awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under this Plan. The Administrator may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other earnings on the deferral amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in shares.

 

6.6

Stock Certificates; Fractional Shares. Stock certificates evidencing Restricted Shares will bear a legend making appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed hereunder and will be held by the Corporation or by a third party designated by the Administrator until the restrictions on such shares have lapsed, the shares have vested in accordance with the provisions of the Award Agreement and Section 6.4, and any related loan has been repaid. Fractional share interests will be disregarded, but may be accumulated. The Administrator, however, may determine that cash, other securities, or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional share interests.

 

6.7

Dividend and Voting Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant receiving Restricted Shares will be entitled to cash dividend and voting rights for all Restricted Shares issued even though they are not vested, but such rights will terminate immediately as to any Restricted Shares which cease to be eligible for vesting.

 

6.8

Termination of Employment; Return to the Corporation. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides, Restricted Shares subject to an Award that remain subject to vesting conditions that have not been satisfied by the time specified in the applicable Award Agreement (which may include, without limitation, the Participant’s Severance Date), will not vest and will be reacquired by the Corporation in such manner and on such terms as the Administrator provides, which terms shall include, to the extent not prohibited by law, return or repayment of the lower of (a) the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Shares at the time of the termination, or (b) the original purchase price of the Restricted Shares, without interest, to the Participant. The Award Agreement shall specify any other terms or conditions of the repurchase if the Award fails to vest. Any other Stock Award that has not been exercised or paid as of a Participant’s Severance Date shall terminate on that date unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

6.9

Waiver of Restrictions. Subject to Sections 4 and 7.7 and the specific limitations on Stock Awards contained in this Plan, the Administrator from time to time may authorize, generally or in specific cases only, for the benefit of any Eligible Person, any adjustment in the vesting schedule, or the restrictions upon or the term of, a Stock Award granted under this Plan by amendment, by substitution of an outstanding Stock Award, by waiver or by other legally valid means.

 

 

7.

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS.

 

7.1

Rights of Eligible Persons, Participants and Beneficiaries.

 

7.1.1

Employment Status. No person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an Award (or additional Awards, as the case may be) under this Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than this Plan) to the contrary.

 

7.1.2

No Employment/Service Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan (or in any other documents under this Plan or related to any Award) shall confer upon any Eligible Person or Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation or any Affiliate to change such person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause at any time. Nothing in this Section 7.1.2, or in Section 7.3 or 7.15, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract. An Award Agreement shall not constitute a contract of employment or service.

 

7.1.3

Plan Not Funded. Awards payable under this Plan will be payable in shares of Common Stock or from the general assets of the Corporation, and (except as to the share reservation provided in Section 4.4) no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit will be made to assure payment of such Awards. No Participant, Beneficiary or other person will have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including shares of Common Stock, except as expressly provided) of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates by reason of any Award hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan will create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and any Participant, Beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a Participant, Beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award hereunder, such right will be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Corporation.

 

7.1.4

Charter Documents. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation, as either of them may lawfully be amended from time to time, may provide for additional restrictions and limitations with respect to the Common Stock (including additional restrictions and limitations on the voting or transfer of Common Stock) or priorities, rights and preferences as to securities and interests prior in rights to the Common Stock. These restrictions and limitations are in addition to (and not in lieu of) those set forth in this Plan or any Award Agreement, and are incorporated herein by this reference.

 

 

7.2

No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions.

 

7.2.1

Limit on Exercise and Transfer. Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 7.2, by applicable law and by the Award Agreement, as the same may be amended:

 

(a)

all Awards are non-transferable and will not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge;

 

(b)

Awards will be exercised only by the Participant; and

 

(c)

amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an Award will be delivered only to (or for the account of) the Participant.

 

In addition, the shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

7.2.2

Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer. The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 7.2.1 will not apply to:

 

(a)

transfers to the Corporation;

 

(b)

transfers by gift or domestic relations order to one or more “family members” (as that term is defined in SEC Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Participant;

 

(c)

the designation of a Beneficiary to receive benefits if the Participant dies or, if the Participant has died, transfers to or exercises by the Participant’s Beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated Beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or

 

(d)

if the Participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant by the Participant’s duly authorized legal representative.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 7.2.2 to the contrary, but subject to compliance with all applicable laws, Incentive Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards will be subject to any and all transfer restrictions under the Code applicable to such awards or necessary to maintain the intended tax consequences of such Awards. Notwithstanding clause (b) above but subject to compliance with all applicable laws, any contemplated transfer by gift or domestic relations order to one or more “family members” of a Participant as referenced in clause (b) above is subject to the condition precedent that the transfer be approved by the Administrator in order for it to be effective. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, withhold its approval of any such proposed transfer.

 

 

7.3

Adjustments; Changes in Control.

 

7.3.1

Adjustments. Subject to Section 7.3.2 below, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to): any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, conversion or other reorganization; any split-up, spin-off, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock; or any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Common Stock; then the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards (including the specific share limits, maximums and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding Awards, (3) the grant, purchase, or exercise or base price of any outstanding Awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or vesting of any outstanding Awards, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding Awards.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any event or transaction described in the preceding paragraph or a sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation as an entirety, the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust the performance standards applicable to any then-outstanding performance-based Awards to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding performance-based Awards.

 

It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated by the preceding two paragraphs be made in a manner that satisfies applicable U.S. legal, tax (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Section 424 of the Code and Section 409A of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment) requirements.

 

 

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 2.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances pursuant to this Section 7.3.1, and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, in no event shall a conversion of one or more outstanding shares of the Corporation’s preferred stock (if any) or any new issuance of securities by the Corporation for consideration be deemed, in and of itself, to require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7.3.1.

 

7.3.2

Consequences of a Change in Control Event. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event, the Administrator may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding Awards (or the cash, securities or other property deliverable to the holder(s) of any or all outstanding Awards) based upon, to the extent relevant in the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Common Stock upon or in respect of such event.

 

In addition, subject to Section 7.3.4, upon (or, as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this acceleration, immediately prior to) the occurrence of a Change in Control Event:

 

(a)

each Option and SAR will become immediately vested and exercisable, and

 

(b)

Restricted Stock will immediately vest free of forfeiture restrictions and/or restrictions giving the Corporation the right to repurchase the stock at its original purchase price, and each other Stock Award shall fully vest and be payable;

 

provided, however, that such acceleration provision shall not apply, unless otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, with respect to any Award to the extent that the Administrator has made a provision for the substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of the Award, or the Award would otherwise continue in accordance with its terms, in the circumstances.

 

The foregoing Change in Control Event provisions shall not in any way limit the authority of the Administrator to accelerate the vesting of one or more Awards (as to all or only a portion of any Award) in such circumstances (including, but not limited to, a Change in Control Event) as the Administrator may determine to be appropriate, regardless of whether accelerated vesting of a portion of the Award(s) is otherwise required or contemplated by the foregoing in the circumstances.

 

 

The Administrator may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash, securities or other property settlement. In the case of Options and SARs, but without limitation on other methodologies, the Administrator may base such settlement solely upon the excess (if any) of the amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or base price of the Option or SAR, as applicable, to the extent of the then vested and exercisable shares subject to the Option or SAR.

 

In any of the events referred to in this Section 7.3.2, the Administrator may take such action contemplated by this Section 7.3.2 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Administrator deems the action necessary to permit the Participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator may deem an acceleration to occur immediately prior to the applicable event and/or reinstate the original terms of the Award if an event giving rise to an acceleration does not occur.

 

7.3.3

Early Termination of Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control Event, each then-outstanding Award (whether or not vested and/or exercisable, but after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances pursuant to Sections 7.3.2 and 7.3.4) shall terminate, subject to any provision that has been expressly made by the Administrator, through a plan of reorganization or otherwise, for the survival, substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of such Award and provided that, in the case of Options and SARs that will not survive or be substituted for, assumed, exchanged, or otherwise continued or settled in the Change in Control Event, the holder of such Award shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding and vested Options and SARs (the vested portion of such Options and SARs determined after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances pursuant to Sections 7.3.2 and 7.3.4) in accordance with their terms before the termination of the Awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of accelerated vesting and the impending termination be required and any acceleration may be made contingent upon the actual occurrence of the event). For purposes of this Section 7.3, an Award shall be deemed to have been “assumed” if (without limiting other circumstances in which an Award is assumed) the Award continues after the Change in Control Event, and/or is assumed and continued by a Parent (as such term is defined in the definition of Change in Control Event) following a Change in Control Event, and confers the right to purchase or receive, as applicable and subject to vesting and the other terms and conditions of the Award, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, the consideration (whether cash, shares, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control Event by the stockholders of the Corporation for each share of Common Stock sold or exchanged in such transaction (or the consideration received by a majority of the stockholders participating in such transaction if the stockholders were offered a choice of consideration); provided, however, that if the consideration offered for a share of Common Stock in the transaction is not solely the ordinary common stock of a successor corporation or a Parent, the Board may provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise or payment of the Award, for each share subject to the Award, to be solely ordinary common stock of the successor corporation or a Parent equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by the stockholders participating in the Change in Control Event.

 

 

7.3.4

Other Acceleration Rules. The Administrator may override the provisions of this Section 7.3 as to any Award by express provision in the applicable Award Agreement and may accord any Participant a right to refuse any acceleration, whether pursuant to the Award Agreement or otherwise, in such circumstances as the Administrator may approve. The portion of any Incentive Stock Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control Event (or such other circumstances as may trigger accelerated vesting of the Incentive Stock Option) shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option only to the extent the applicable $100,000 limitation on Incentive Stock Options is not exceeded. To the extent exceeded, the accelerated portion of the Option shall be exercisable as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

7.4

Termination of Employment or Services.

 

7.4.1

Events Not Deemed a Termination of Employment. Unless the Administrator otherwise expressly provides with respect to a particular Award, if a Participant’s employment by or service to the Corporation or an Affiliate terminates but immediately thereafter the Participant continues in the employ of or service to another Affiliate or the Corporation, as applicable, the Participant shall be deemed to have not had a termination of employment or service for purposes of this Plan and the Participant’s Awards. Unless the express policy of the Corporation or the Administrator otherwise provides, a Participant’s employment relationship with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates shall not be considered terminated solely due to any sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence authorized by the Corporation or any Affiliate or the Administrator; provided that, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law, such leave is for a period of not more than three months. In the case of any Participant on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of or service with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates will be suspended until the Participant returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires. In no event shall an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term of the Award set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

 

7.4.2

Effect of Change of Affiliate Status. For purposes of this Plan and any Award, if an entity ceases to be an Affiliate, a termination of employment or service will be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Person in respect of such Affiliate who does not continue as an Eligible Person in respect of another Affiliate that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status unless the Affiliate that is sold, spun-off or otherwise divested (or its successor or a direct or indirect parent of such Affiliate or successor) assumes the Eligible Person’s award(s) in connection with such transaction.

 

7.4.3

Administrator Discretion. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.6 or 6.8, in the event of, or in anticipation of, a termination of employment or service with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates for any reason, the Administrator may accelerate the vesting and exercisability of all or a portion of the Participant’s Award, and/or, subject to the provisions of Sections 5.4.2 and 7.3, extend the exercisability period of the Participant’s Option or SAR upon such terms as the Administrator determines and expressly sets forth in or by amendment to the Award Agreement.

 

7.4.4

Termination of Consulting or Affiliate Services. If the Participant is an Eligible Person solely by reason of clause (c) of Section 3, the Administrator shall be the sole judge of whether the Participant continues to render services to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, unless a written contract or the Award Agreement otherwise provides.

 

7.5

Compliance with Laws.

 

7.5.1

General. This Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under this Plan, and the offer, issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock, the acceptance of promissory notes and/or the payment of money under this Plan or under Awards are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities laws, and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. The person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Corporation, provide such assurances and representations to the Corporation as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

 

7.5.2

Compliance with Securities Laws. No Participant shall sell, pledge or otherwise transfer shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award or any interest in such shares except in accordance with the express terms of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any attempted transfer in violation of this Section 7.5 shall be void and of no effect. Without in any way limiting the provisions set forth above, no Participant shall make any disposition of all or any portion of shares of Common Stock acquired or to be acquired pursuant to an Award, except in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and unless and until:

 

(a)

there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement;

 

(b)

such disposition is made in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

(c)

such Participant notifies the Corporation of the proposed disposition and furnishes the Corporation with a statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and, if requested by the Corporation, furnishes to the Corporation an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Corporation’s counsel, that such disposition will not require registration under the Securities Act and will be in compliance with all applicable state securities laws.

 

Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, neither the Corporation or any Affiliate has any obligation to register the Common Stock or file any registration statement under either federal or state securities laws, nor does the Corporation or any Affiliate make any representation concerning the likelihood of a public offering of the Common Stock or any other securities of the Corporation or any Affiliate.

 

7.5.3

Share Legends. All certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock issued or delivered under this Plan shall bear the following legends and/or any other appropriate or required legends under applicable laws:

 

“OWNERSHIP OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND ANY INTEREST THEREIN ARE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER UNDER APPLICABLE LAW AND UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE CORPORATION, INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON SALE, ASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER DISPOSITION.”

 

“THE SHARES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CORPORATION’S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO REPURCHASE THE SHARES UNDER THE CORPORATION’S STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS WITH THE CORPORATION THEREUNDER, COPIES OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.”

 

 

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE CORPORATION FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (“ACT”), AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION.  SUCH LOCK-UP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.”

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE ACT, NOR HAVE THEY BEEN REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. NO TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES WILL BE PERMITTED UNLESS A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT IS IN EFFECT AS TO SUCH TRANSFER, THE TRANSFER IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT, OR IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE CORPORATION, REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS UNNECESSARY IN ORDER FOR SUCH TRANSFER TO COMPLY WITH THE ACT AND WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.”

 

7.5.4

Confidential Information. Any financial or other information relating to the Corporation obtained by Participants in connection with or as a result of this Plan or their Awards shall be treated as confidential.

 

7.6

Tax Withholding. Upon any exercise, vesting, or payment of any Award or upon the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to satisfaction of the holding period requirements of Section 422 of the Code, the Corporation or any of its Affiliates shall have the right at its option to:

 

(a)

require the Participant (or the Participant’s Personal Representative or Beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of at least the minimum amount of any taxes which the Corporation or Affiliate may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment;

 

(b)

deduct from any amount otherwise payable (in respect of an Award or otherwise) in cash to the Participant (or the Participant’s Personal Representative or Beneficiary, as the case may be) the minimum amount of any taxes which the Corporation or Affiliate may be required to withhold with respect to such Award event or payment; or

 

 

(c)

reduce the number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire shares held by the Participant) the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock, valued at their then Fair Market Value, to satisfy the minimum withholding obligation.

 

In any case where a tax is required to be withheld in connection with the delivery of shares of Common Stock under this Plan, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 7.5) grant (either at the time of the Award or thereafter) to the Participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Administrator may establish, to have the Corporation reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares, valued in a consistent manner at their Fair Market Value or at the sales price in accordance with authorized procedures for cashless exercises, necessary to satisfy the minimum applicable withholding obligation on exercise, vesting or payment. In no event shall the shares withheld exceed the minimum whole number of shares required for tax withholding under applicable law. The Corporation may, with the Administrator’s approval, accept one or more promissory notes from any Eligible Person in connection with taxes required to be withheld upon the exercise, vesting or payment of any Award under this Plan; provided that any such note shall be subject to terms and conditions established by the Administrator and the requirements of applicable law. Any such note need not otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 5.3.3.

 

7.7

Plan and Award Amendments, Termination and Suspension.

 

7.7.1

Board Authorization. The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this Plan, in whole or in part. No Awards may be granted during any period that the Board suspends this Plan.

 

7.7.2

Stockholder Approval. To the extent then required by applicable law or any applicable listing agency or required under Sections 162, 422 or 424 of the Code to preserve the intended tax consequences of this Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to this Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval.

 

 

7.7.3

Amendments to Awards. Without limiting any other express authority of the Administrator under (but subject to) the express limits of this Plan, the Administrator by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on Awards to Participants that the Administrator in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a Participant, and (subject to the requirements of Sections 2.2 and 7.7.4) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of Awards.

 

7.7.4

Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards. No amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan or amendment of any outstanding Award Agreement shall, without written consent of the Participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the Participant any rights or benefits of the Participant or obligations of the Corporation under any Award granted under this Plan prior to the effective date of such change. Changes, settlements and other actions contemplated by Section 7.3 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 7.7.

 

7.8

Privileges of Stock Ownership. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Administrator, a Participant will not be entitled to any privilege of stock ownership as to any shares of Common Stock not actually delivered to and held of record by the Participant. Except as expressly required by Section 7.3.1, no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a stockholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery.

 

7.9

Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Other Corporation. Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other stock-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Persons in respect of the Corporation or one of its Affiliates, in connection with a distribution, merger or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Corporation or one of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the stock or assets of the employing entity. The Awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided the Awards reflect only adjustments giving effect to the assumption or substitution consistent with the conversion applicable to the Common Stock in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security. Any shares that are delivered and any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Corporation, as a result of the assumption by the Corporation of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired company (or previously granted by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Corporation or one of its Affiliates in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not be counted against the Share Limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under this Plan.

 

7.10

Effective Date of the Plan. This Plan is effective upon the Effective Date, subject to approval by the stockholders of the Corporation within twelve months after the date the Board approves this Plan.

 

7.11

Term of the Plan. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, this Plan will terminate at the close of business on the day before the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date. After the termination of this Plan either upon such stated expiration date or its earlier termination by the Board, no additional Awards may be granted under this Plan, but previously granted Awards (and the authority of the Administrator with respect thereto, including the authority to amend such Awards) shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

 

7.12

Governing Law/Severability/Construction.

 

7.12.1

Choice of Law. This Plan, the Awards, all documents evidencing Awards and all other related documents will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Delaware.

 

7.12.2

Severability. If it is determined that any provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement is invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Plan and/or the Award Agreement, as applicable, will continue in effect provided that the essential economic terms of this Plan and the Award can still be enforced.

 

7.12.3

Construction. It is intended that this Plan, and any Award under this Plan, will be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code so as to not result in any tax, penalty or interest thereunder, and this Plan and each Award shall be construed and interpreted consistent with that intent.

 

7.13

Captions. Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings will not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.

 

7.14

Non-Exclusivity of Plan. Nothing in this Plan will limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Administrator to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Common Stock, under any other plan or authority.

 

7.15

No Restriction on Corporate Powers. The existence of this Plan, the Award Agreements, and the Awards granted hereunder, shall not limit, affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation to make or authorize: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Corporation’s or any Affiliate’s capital structure or its business; (b) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Corporation or any Affiliate; (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference stocks ahead of or affecting the Corporation’s capital stock or the rights thereof; (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or any Affiliate; (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Corporation or any Affiliate’s assets or business; or (f) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Corporation or any Affiliate. No Participant, Beneficiary or any other person shall have any claim under any Award or Award Agreement against any member of the Board or the Administrator, or the Corporation or any employees, officers or agents of the Corporation or any Affiliate, as a result of any such action.

 

 

7.16

Other Company Compensation or Benefit Programs. Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under an Award made pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Corporation or any Affiliate, except where the Administrator or the Board expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing. Awards under this Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, awards or commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Corporation or any Affiliate.

 

8.

DEFINITIONS.

 

“Administrator” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.1.

 

“Affiliate” means (a) any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the Corporation owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain, or (b) any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

“Award” means an award of any Option, SAR or Stock Award, or any combination thereof, whether alternative or cumulative, authorized by and granted under this Plan.

 

“Award Agreement” means any writing, approved by the Administrator, setting forth the terms of an Award that has been duly authorized and approved.

 

“Award Date” means the date upon which the Administrator took the action granting an Award or such later date as the Administrator designates as the Award Date at the time of the grant of the Award.

 

“Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts designated by a Participant, or, in the absence of a designation, entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution, to receive the benefits specified in the Award Agreement and under this Plan if the Participant dies, and means the Participant’s executor or administrator if no other Beneficiary is designated and able to act under the circumstances.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

“Cause” with respect to a Participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or another applicable contract with the Participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a “for cause” termination has on the Participant’s Awards) a termination of employment or service based upon a finding by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, acting in good faith and based on its reasonable belief at the time, that the Participant:

 

(a)

has been negligent in the discharge of his or her duties to the Corporation or any Affiliate, has refused to perform stated or assigned duties or is incompetent in or (other than by reason of a disability or analogous condition) incapable of performing those duties;

 

 

(b)

has been dishonest or committed or engaged in an act of theft, embezzlement or fraud, a breach of confidentiality, an unauthorized disclosure or use of inside information, customer lists, trade secrets or other confidential information;

 

(c)

has breached a fiduciary duty, or willfully and materially violated any other duty, law, rule, regulation or policy of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates; or has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor (other than minor traffic violations or similar offenses);

 

(d)

has materially breached any of the provisions of any agreement with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates;

 

(e)

has engaged in unfair competition with, or otherwise acted intentionally in a manner injurious to the reputation, business or assets of, the Corporation or any of its Affiliates; or

 

(f)

has improperly induced a vendor or customer to break or terminate any contract with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or induced a principal for whom the Corporation or any Affiliate acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.

 

A termination for Cause shall be deemed to occur (subject to reinstatement upon a contrary final determination by the Administrator) on the date on which the Corporation or any Affiliate first delivers written notice to the Participant of a finding of termination for Cause.

 

“Change in Control Event” means any of the following:

 

(a)

Approval by stockholders of the Corporation (or, if no stockholder approval is required, by the Board alone) of the complete dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, other than in the context of a Business Combination that does not constitute a Change in Control Event under paragraph (c) below;

 

(b)

The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a “Person”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (1) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this paragraph (b), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control Event; (A) any acquisition directly from the Corporation, (B) any acquisition by the Corporation, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any Affiliate or a successor, (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a Business Combination, (E) any acquisition by a Person described in and satisfying the conditions of Rule 13d-1(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (F) any acquisition by a Person who is the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and/or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities on the Effective Date (or an affiliate, heir, descendant, or related party of or to such Person);

 

 

(c)

Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Corporation or any corporation or other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation (a “Subsidiary”), a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries (a “Parent”)), and (2) no Person (excluding any individual or entity described in clauses (C), (E) or (F) of paragraph (b) above) beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that the ownership in excess of 50% existed prior to the Business Combination;

 

provided, however, that a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control Event if it is in connection with the underwritten public offering of the Corporation’s securities.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Common Stock” means the shares of the Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards, or become subject to Awards, pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 7.3.1 of this Plan.

 

“Corporation” means Cepton Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

 

 

“Effective Date” means the date the Board approved this Plan.

 

“Eligible Person” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3 of this Plan.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

“Fair Market Value,” for purposes of this Plan and unless otherwise determined or provided by the Administrator in the circumstances, means as follows:

 

(a)

If the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trade on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange (the “Exchange”), the Fair Market Value shall equal the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported on the composite tape for securities on the Exchange for the date in question, or, if no sales of Common Stock were made on the Exchange on that date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported on said composite tape for the next preceding day on which sales of Common Stock were made on the Exchange. The Administrator may, however, provide with respect to one or more Awards that the Fair Market Value shall equal the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported on the composite tape for securities listed on the Exchange on the last trading day preceding the date in question or the average of the high and low trading prices of a share of Common Stock as reported on the composite tape for securities listed on the Exchange for the date in question or the most recent trading day.

 

(b)

If the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the value as reasonably determined by the Administrator for purposes of the Award in the circumstances.

 

The Administrator also may adopt a different methodology for determining Fair Market Value with respect to one or more Awards if a different methodology is necessary or advisable to secure any intended favorable tax, legal or other treatment for the particular Award(s) (for example, and without limitation, the Administrator may provide that Fair Market Value for purposes of one or more Awards will be based on an average of closing prices (or the average of high and low daily trading prices) for a specified period preceding the relevant date).

 

Any determination as to Fair Market Value made pursuant to this Plan shall be made without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and shall be conclusive and binding on all persons with respect to Awards granted under this Plan.

 

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated and intended as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the award of which contains such provisions (including but not limited to the receipt of stockholder approval of this Plan, if the award is made prior to such approval) and is made under such circumstances and to such persons as may be necessary to comply with that section.

 

 

“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and includes any Option designated or intended as a Nonqualified Stock Option and any Option designated or intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to meet the applicable legal requirements thereof.

 

“Option” means an option to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 5 of this Plan. The Administrator will designate any Option granted to an employee of the Corporation or an Affiliate as a Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option.

 

“Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted and holds an Award under this Plan.

 

“Personal Representative” means the person or persons who, upon the disability or incompetence of a Participant, has acquired on behalf of the Participant, by legal proceeding or otherwise, the power to exercise the rights or receive benefits under this Plan by virtue of having become the legal representative of the Participant.

 

“Plan” means this Cepton Technologies, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as it may hereafter be amended from time to time.

 

“Public Offering Date” means the date the Common Stock is first registered under the Exchange Act and listed or quoted on a recognized national securities exchange.

 

“Restricted Shares” or “Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock awarded to a Participant under this Plan, subject to payment of such consideration and such conditions on vesting (which may include, among others, the passage of time, specified performance objectives or other factors) and such transfer and other restrictions as are established in or pursuant to this Plan and the related Award Agreement, to the extent such remain unvested and restricted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Restricted Stock.

 

“SAR” means a share appreciation right, representing the right, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, to receive a payment, in cash and/or Common Stock (as specified in the applicable Award Agreement), equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the “base price” of the SAR, which base price shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“Severance Date” with respect to a particular Participant means, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement:

 

(a)

if the Participant is an Eligible Person under clause (a) of Section 3 and the Participant’s employment by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates terminates (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant is actually employed by the Corporation or such Affiliate (unless, immediately following such termination of employment, the Participant is a member of the Board or, by express written agreement with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, continues to provide other services to the Corporation or any Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination of employment but shall be determined in accordance with clause (b) or (c) below, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s other services);

 

 

(b)

if the Participant is not an Eligible Person under clause (a) of Section 3 but is an Eligible Person under clause (b) thereof, and the Participant ceases to be a member of the Board (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant is actually a member of the Board (unless, immediately following such termination, the Participant is an employee of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or, by express written agreement with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, continues to provide other services to the Corporation or any Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination but shall be determined in accordance with clause (a) above or (c) below, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment or other services);

 

(c)

if the Participant is not an Eligible Person under clause (a) or clause (b) of Section 3 but is an Eligible Person under clause (c) thereof, and the Participant ceases to provide services to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates as determined in accordance with Section 7.4.4 (regardless of the reason), the last day that the Participant actually provides services to the Corporation or such Affiliate as an Eligible Person under clause (c) of Section 3 (unless, immediately following such termination, the Participant is an employee of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or is a member of the Board, in which case the Participant’s Severance Date shall not be the date of such termination of services but shall be determined in accordance with clause (a) or (b) above, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the Participant’s employment or membership on the Board).

 

“Stock Award” means an award granted under Section 6 of this Plan. A Stock Award may include: (a) Restricted Stock, stock bonuses, performance stock, stock units, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock, whether at a fixed or variable price or ratio related to the Common Stock, upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination thereof; or (b) any similar securities with a value derived from the value of or related to the Common Stock and/or returns thereon.

 

“Total Disability” means a “total and permanent disability” within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and, with respect to Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, such other disabilities, infirmities, afflictions, or conditions as the Administrator may include.

 

 

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