Aquantia Corp. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (including forms of grant notice and agreements)

1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company, its Parent and Subsidiaries, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through awards of Options and Restricted Stock. Capitalized terms not defined in the text are defined in Section 22 hereof. Although this Plan is intended to be a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, grants may be made pursuant to this plan which do not qualify for exemption under Rule 701 or Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code. Any requirement of this Plan which is required in law only because of Section 25102(o) need not apply if the Committee so provides.

2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

2.1 Number of Shares Available. Subject to Sections 2.2 and 17 hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan will be Forty-Seven Million Eight Hundred Fifty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Fifty-Six (47,856,656) Shares or such lesser number of Shares as permitted by applicable law. Subject to Sections 2.2, 5.10 and 17 hereof, Shares subject to Awards previously granted will again be available for grant and issuance in connection with future Awards under this Plan to the extent such Shares: (i) cease to be subject to issuance upon exercise of an Option, other than due to exercise of such Option; (ii) are subject to an Award granted hereunder but the Shares subject to such Award are forfeited or repurchased by the Company at the original issue price; or (iii) are subject to an Award that otherwise terminates without Shares being issued. At all times the Company will reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as will be required to satisfy the requirements of all Awards granted and outstanding under this Plan.

2.2 Adjustment of Shares. In the event that the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration, then (i) the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, (ii) the Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options and (iii) the Purchase Prices of and number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards will be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company and compliance with applicable securities laws; provided, however, that fractions of a Share will not be issued but will either be paid in cash at the Fair Market Value of such fraction of a Share or will be rounded down to the nearest whole Share, as determined by the Committee.

3. ELIGIBILITY. ISOs (as defined in Section 5 hereof) may be granted only to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. NQSOs (as defined in Section 5 hereof) and Restricted Stock Awards may be granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; provided such consultants render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction. A person may be granted more than one Award under this Plan.

4. ADMINISTRATION.

4.1 Committee Authority. This Plan will be administered by the Committee or the Board if no Committee is created by the Board. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan. Without limitation, the Committee will have the authority to:

(a) construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan;

(b) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan;

(c) approve persons to receive Awards;

(d) determine the form and terms of Awards;

(e) determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to Awards;

(f) determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, other Awards under this Plan or awards under any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company;

(g) grant waivers of any conditions of this Plan or any Award;

(h) determine the terms of vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards;

(i) correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award, any Award Agreement, any Exercise Agreement or any Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement;

(j) determine whether an Award has been earned;

(k) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan; and

(l) extend the vesting period beyond a Participant’s Termination Date.

4.2 Committee Discretion. Unless in contravention of any express terms of this Plan or Award, any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award will be made in its sole discretion either (i) at the time of grant of the Award, or (ii) subject to Section 5.9 hereof, at any later time. Any such determination will be final and binding on the Company and on all persons having an interest in any Award under this Plan. The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant an Award under this Plan, provided such officer or officers are members of the Board.

5. OPTIONS. The Committee may grant Options to eligible persons described in Section 3 hereof and will determine whether such Options will be Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of the Code (“ISOs”) or Nonqualified Stock Options (“NQSOs”), the number of Shares subject to the Option, the Exercise Price of the Option, the period during which the Option may be exercised, and all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the following:

5.1 Form of Option Grant. Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement which will expressly identify the Option as an ISO or an NQSO (“Stock Option Agreement”), and will be in such form and contain such provisions (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

5.2 Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option, unless a later date is otherwise specified by the Committee. The Stock Option Agreement and a copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time after the granting of the Option.

5.3 Exercise Period. Options may be exercisable immediately but subject to repurchase pursuant to Section 11 hereof or may be exercisable within the times or upon the events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Stock Option Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that no Option will be exercisable

after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted; and provided further that no ISO granted to a person who directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company (“Ten Percent Stockholder”) will be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted. The Committee also may provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as provided herein, to the extent section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code is intended to apply, each Participant who is not an officer, director or consultant of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company shall have the right to exercise an Option granted hereunder at the rate of no less than twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date such Option is granted.

5.4 Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option will be determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and may not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant; provided that (i) the Exercise Price of an ISO will not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant and (ii) the Exercise Price of any Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for the Shares purchased must be made in accordance with Section 7 hereof.

5.5 Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a written stock option exercise agreement (the “Exercise Agreement”) in a form approved by the Committee (which need not be the same for each Participant). The Exercise Agreement will state (i) the number of Shares being purchased, (ii) the restrictions imposed on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if any, and (iii) such representations and agreements regarding Participant’s investment intent and access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required or desirable by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws. Participant shall execute and deliver to the Company the Exercise Agreement together with payment in full of the Exercise Price, and any applicable taxes, for the number of Shares being purchased.

5.6 Termination. Subject to earlier termination pursuant to Sections 17 and 18 hereof and notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth in the Stock Option Agreement, exercise of an Option will always be subject to the following:

(a) If the Participant is Terminated for any reason other than death, Disability or for Cause, then the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options only to the extent that such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares upon the Termination Date or as otherwise determined by the Committee. Such Options must be exercised by the Participant, if at all, as to all or some of the Vested Shares calculated as of the Termination Date or such other date determined by the Committee, within three (3) months after the Termination Date (or within such shorter time period, not less than thirty (30) days, or within such longer time period, not exceeding five (5) years, after the Termination Date as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond three (3) months after the Termination Date deemed to be an NQSO) but in any event, no later than the expiration date of the Options.

(b) If the Participant is Terminated because of Participant’s death or Disability (or the Participant dies within three (3) months after a Termination other than for Cause), then Participant’s Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares by Participant on the Termination Date or as otherwise determined by the Committee. Such options must be exercised by Participant (or Participant’s legal representative or authorized assignee), if at all, as to all or some of the Vested Shares calculated as of the Termination Date or such other date determined by the Committee, within twelve (12) months after the Termination Date (or within such shorter time period, not less than six (6) months, or within such longer time period, not exceeding five (5) years, after the Termination Date as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond (i) three (3) months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for any reason other than the Participant’s death or disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, or (ii) twelve (12) months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for Participant’s disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, deemed to be an NQSO) but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options.

(c) If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options, but not to an extent greater than such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares upon the Termination Date and Participant’s Options shall expire on such Participant’s Termination Date, or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee.

5.7 Limitations on Exercise. The Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent Participant from exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable.

5.8 Limitations on ISOs. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of Shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) will not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). If the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date of grant with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), then the Options for the first One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) worth of Shares to become exercisable in such calendar year will be ISOs and the Options for the amount in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) that become exercisable in that calendar year will be NQSOs. In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 18 hereof) to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to ISOs, then such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.

5.9 Modification, Extension or Renewal. The Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant’s rights under any Option previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended, renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code. Subject to Section 5.10 hereof, the Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options without the consent of Participants by a written notice to them; provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the minimum Exercise Price that would be permitted under Section 5.4 hereof for Options granted on the date the action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price.

5.10 No Disqualification. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs will be interpreted, amended or altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify this Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the Participant, to disqualify any Participant’s ISO under Section 422 of the Code. In no event shall the total number of Shares issued (counting each reissuance of a Share that was previously issued and then forfeited or repurchased by the Company as a separate issuance) under the Plan upon exercise of ISOs exceed One Hundred Sixty-Three Million (163,000,000) Shares (adjusted in proportion to any adjustments under Section 2.2 hereof) over the term of the Plan.

6. RESTRICTED STOCK. A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company to sell to an eligible person Shares that are subject to certain specified restrictions. The Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares the person may purchase, the Purchase Price, the restrictions to which the Shares will be subject, and all other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the following:

6.1 Form of Restricted Stock Award. All purchases under a Restricted Stock Award made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement (“Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement”) that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. The Restricted Stock Award will be accepted by the Participant’s execution and delivery of the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and full payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days from the date the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement is delivered to the person. If such person does not execute and deliver the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement along with full payment for the Shares to the Company within such thirty (30) days, then the offer will terminate, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

6.2 Purchase Price. The Purchase Price of Shares sold pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee and will be at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted or at the time the purchase is consummated, except in the case of a sale to a Ten Percent Stockholder, in which case the Purchase Price will be one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted or at the time the purchase is consummated. Payment of the Purchase Price must be made in accordance with Section 7 hereof.

6.3 Restrictions. Restricted Stock Awards may be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 11 hereof or such other restrictions not inconsistent with Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code.

 

7. PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES.

7.1 Payment. Payment for Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan may be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the Participant by the Committee and where permitted by law:

(a) by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company owed to the Participant;

(b) by surrender of shares that: (i) either (A) have been owned by Participant for more than six (6) months and have been paid for within the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares) or (B) were obtained by Participant in the public market and (ii) are clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests;

(c) by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing interest at a rate sufficient to avoid (i) imputation of income under Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code and (ii) variable accounting treatment under Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 44 to APB No. 25; provided, however, that Participants who are not employees or directors of the Company will not be entitled to purchase Shares with a promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other than the Shares;

(d) by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant from the Company for services rendered;

(e) with respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option, and provided that a public market for the Company’s stock exists:

(i) through a “same day sale” commitment from the Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (an “NASD Dealer”) whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion of the Shares so purchased sufficient to pay the total Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the total Exercise Price directly to the Company; or

(ii) through a “margin” commitment from the Participant and an NASD Dealer whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to pledge the Shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in a margin account as security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount of the total Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the total Exercise Price directly to the Company; or

(f) by any combination of the foregoing.

7.2 Loan Guarantees. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to assist the Participant in paying for Shares purchased under this Plan by authorizing a guarantee by the Company of a third-party loan to the Participant.

8. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

8.1 Withholding Generally. Whenever Shares are to be issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan, the Company may require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such Shares. Whenever, under this Plan, payments in satisfaction of Awards are to be made in cash by the Company, such payment will be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements.

8.2 Stock Withholding. When, under applicable tax laws, a Participant incurs tax liability in connection with the exercise or vesting of any Award that is subject to tax withholding and the Participant is obligated to pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Committee may in its sole discretion allow the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued that minimum number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld, determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined; but in no event will the Company withhold Shares if such withholding would result in adverse accounting consequences to the Company. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose will be made in accordance with the requirements established by the Committee for such elections and be in writing in a form acceptable to the Committee.

9. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP.

9.1 Voting and Dividends. No Participant will have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to the Participant. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the Participant will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that if such Shares are Restricted Stock, then any new, additional or different securities the Participant may become entitled to receive with respect to such Shares by virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock. The Participant will have no right to retain such stock dividends or stock distributions with respect to Unvested Shares that are repurchased pursuant to Section 11 hereof. To the extent required, the Company will comply with Section 260.140.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations with respect to the voting rights of Common Stock.

9.2 Financial Statements. The Company will provide financial statements to each Participant annually during the period such Participant has Awards outstanding, or as otherwise required under Section 260.140.46 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not be required to provide such financial statements to Participants when issuance of Awards is limited to key employees whose services in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.

10. TRANSFERABILITY. Except as permitted by the Committee, Awards granted under this Plan, and any interest therein, will not be transferable or assignable by Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, with respect to NQSOs, by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the options are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (settlor), or by gift to “immediate family” as that term is defined in 17 C.F.R. 240.16a-1(e), and may not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process. During the lifetime of the Participant an Award will be exercisable only by the Participant or Participant’s legal representative and any elections with respect to an Award may be made only by the Participant or Participant’s legal representative.

11. RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES.

11.1 Right of First Refusal. At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award Agreement a right of first refusal to purchase all Shares that a Participant (or a subsequent transferee) may propose to transfer to a third party, unless otherwise not permitted by Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code, provided that such right of first refusal terminates upon the Company’s initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act.

11.2 Right of Repurchase. At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award Agreement a right to repurchase Unvested Shares held by a Participant for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness owed to the Company by the Participant following such Participant’s Termination at any time within the later of ninety (90) days after the Participant’s Termination Date and the date the Participant purchases Shares under the Plan at the Participant’s Exercise Price or Purchase Price, as the case may be, provided that to the extent Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code is intended to apply, unless the Participant is an officer, director or consultant of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, such right of repurchase lapses at the rate of no less than twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from: (a) the date of grant of the Option or (b) in the case of Restricted Stock, the date the Participant purchases the Shares.

12. CERTIFICATES. All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable, including restrictions under any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed or quoted.

13. ESCROW; PLEDGE OF SHARES. To enforce any restrictions on a Participant’s Shares set forth in Section 11 hereof, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated. The Committee may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificates. Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participant’s obligation to the Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of the Participant’s Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of the Shares, Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.

14. EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF AWARDS. The Committee may, at any time or from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the respective Participants, to issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any or all outstanding Awards. The Committee may at any time buy from a Participant an Award previously granted with payment in cash, shares of Common Stock of the Company (including Restricted Stock) or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee and the Participant may agree.

 

15. SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. Although this Plan is intended to be a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, grants may be made pursuant to this plan which do not qualify for exemption under Rule 701 or Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code. Any requirement of this Plan which is required in law only because of Section 25102(o) need not apply if the Committee so provides. An Award will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to (i) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable, and/or (ii) compliance with any exemption, completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance with the exemption, registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.

16. NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY. Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

17. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

17.1 Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor or Acquiring Company. In the event of (i) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) any reorganization, consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions (each, a “combination transaction”)) in which the Company is a constituent corporation or is a party if, as a result of such combination transaction, the voting securities of the Company that are outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such combination transaction (other than any such securities that are held by an “Acquiring Stockholder”, as defined below) do not represent, or are not converted into, securities of the surviving corporation of such combination transaction (or such surviving corporation’s parent corporation if the surviving corporation is owned by the parent corporation) that, immediately after the consummation of such combination transaction, together possess at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of all securities of such surviving corporation (or its parent corporation, if applicable) that are outstanding immediately after the consummation of such combination transaction, including securities of such surviving corporation (or its parent corporation, if applicable) that are held by the Acquiring Stockholder; or (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, that is followed by the distribution of the proceeds to the Company’s stockholders, any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed, converted or replaced by the successor or acquiring corporation (if any), which assumption, conversion or replacement will be binding on all Participants. In the alternative, the successor or acquiring corporation may substitute equivalent Awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to stockholders of the Company (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards). The successor or acquiring corporation may also substitute by issuing, in place of outstanding Shares of the Company held by the Participant, substantially similar shares or other property subject to repurchase restrictions and other provisions no less favorable to the Participant than those which applied to such outstanding Shares immediately prior to such transaction described in this Section 17.1. For purposes of this Section 17.1, an “Acquiring Stockholder” means a stockholder or stockholders of the Company that (i) merges or combines with the Company in such combination transaction or (ii) owns or controls a majority of another corporation that merges or combines with the Corporation in such combination transaction. In the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a transaction described in this Section 17.1, then notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, the vesting of such Awards will accelerate and the Awards will become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of such event at such times and on such conditions as the Committee determines, and if such Awards are not exercised prior to the consummation of the corporate transaction, they shall terminate in accordance with the provisions of this Plan.

17.2 Other Treatment of Awards. Subject to any greater rights granted to Participants under the foregoing provisions of this Section 17, in the event of the occurrence of any transaction described in Section 17.1 hereof, any outstanding Awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation or sale of assets.

17.3 Assumption of Awards by the Company. The Company, from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company or otherwise, by either (i) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution of such other company’s award or (ii) assuming such award as if it had been granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under this Plan. Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes an award granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such award will remain unchanged (except that the exercise price and the number and nature of shares issuable upon exercise of any such option will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event the Company elects to grant a new Option rather than assuming an existing option, such new Option may be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price.

18. ADOPTION AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. This Plan will become effective on the date that it is adopted by the Board (the “Effective Date”). This Plan will be approved by the stockholders of the Company (excluding Shares issued pursuant to this Plan), consistent with applicable laws, within twelve (12) months before or after the Effective Date. Upon the Effective Date, the Board may grant Awards pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that: (i) no Option may be exercised prior to initial stockholder approval of this Plan; (ii) no Option granted pursuant to an increase in the number of Shares approved by the Board shall be exercised prior to the time such increase has been approved by the stockholders of the Company; (iii) in the event that initial stockholder approval is not obtained within the time period provided herein, all Awards granted hereunder shall be canceled, any Shares issued pursuant to any Award shall be canceled and any purchase of Shares issued hereunder shall be rescinded; and (iv) Awards granted pursuant to an increase in the number of Shares approved by the Board which increase is not timely approved by stockholders shall be canceled, any Shares issued pursuant to any such Awards shall be canceled, and any purchase of Shares subject to any such Award shall be rescinded.

19. TERM OF PLAN/GOVERNING LAW. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, this Plan will terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date or, if earlier, the date of stockholder approval. This Plan and all agreements hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

 

20. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN. Subject to Section 5.9 hereof, the Board may at any time terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including without limitation amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that the Board will not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend this Plan in any manner that requires such stockholder approval pursuant to Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code or the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder as such provisions apply to ISO plans.

21. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board, the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options and other equity awards otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

22. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan, the following terms will have the following meanings:

“Award” means any award under this Plan, including any Option or Restricted Stock Award.

“Award Agreement” means, with respect to each Award, the signed written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award, including the Stock Option Agreement and Restricted Stock Agreement.

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

“Cause” means Termination because of (i) any willful, material violation by the Participant of any law or regulation applicable to the business of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the Participant’s conviction for, or guilty plea to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, or any willful perpetration by the Participant of a common law fraud, (ii) the Participant’s commission of an act of personal dishonesty which involves personal profit in connection with the Company or any other entity having a business relationship with the Company, (iii) any material breach by the Participant of any provision of any agreement or understanding between the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company and the Participant regarding the terms of the Participant’s service as an employee, officer, director or consultant to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, including without limitation, the willful and continued failure or refusal of the Participant to perform the material duties required of such Participant as an employee, officer, director or consultant of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, other than as a result of having a Disability, or a breach of any applicable invention assignment and confidentiality agreement or similar agreement between the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company and the Participant, (iv) Participant’s disregard of the policies of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company so as to cause loss, damage or injury to the property, reputation or employees

of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or (v) any other misconduct by the Participant which is materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of, or is otherwise materially injurious to, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

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

“Committee” means the committee created and appointed by the Board to administer this Plan, or if no committee is created and appointed, the Board.

“Company” means Aquantia Corp., or any successor corporation.

Participant shall have been “Constructively Terminated” in the event that Participant terminates the employment or consultantcy of Participant with the surviving company in a Change of Control as a result of the surviving company in a combination transaction (i) materially changing the type of services Participant is required to provide to the surviving company from those Participant had been providing to the Company prior to such combination transaction, (ii) reducing Participant’s level of base compensation (including base salary and benefits) other than as a part of a comparable reduction applicable to other similarly-situated employees generally or (iii) requiring Participant to relocate more than seventy-five (75) miles in order to continue to provide services to the surviving company in a combination transaction.

“Disability” means a disability, whether temporary or permanent, partial or total, as determined by the Committee.

“Exercise Price” means the price at which a holder of an Option may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option.

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock determined as follows:

(a) if such Common Stock is then quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, its closing price on the Nasdaq National Market on the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal;

(b) if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal;

(c) if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not quoted on the Nasdaq National Market nor listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported by The Wall Street Journal (or, if not so reported, as otherwise reported by any newspaper or other source as the Board may determine); or

(d) if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Committee in good faith.

“Option” means an award of an option to purchase Shares pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

“Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such corporations other than the Company owns stock representing 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.

“Participant” means a person who receives an Award under this Plan.

“Plan” means this Aquantia Corp. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Purchase Price” means the price at which a Participant may purchase Restricted Stock.

“Restricted Stock” means Shares purchased pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award.

“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Shares pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

“Shares” means shares of the Company’s Common Stock reserved for issuance under this Plan, as adjusted pursuant to Sections 2 and 17 hereof, and any successor security.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock representing 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.

“Termination” or “Terminated” means, for purposes of this Plan with respect to a Participant, that the Participant has for any reason ceased to provide services as an employee, officer, director or consultant to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Participant will not be deemed to have ceased to provide services in the case of (i) sick leave, (ii) military leave, or (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days (a) unless reinstatement (or, in the case of an employee with an ISO, reemployment) upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or (b) unless provided otherwise pursuant to formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company’s Board and issued and promulgated in writing. In the case of any Participant on (i) sick leave, (ii) military leave or (iii) an approved leave of absence, the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension of vesting of the Award while on leave from the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Option be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Stock Option Agreement. The Committee will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to provide services and the effective date on which the Participant ceased to provide services (the “Termination Date”).

“Unvested Shares” means “Unvested Shares” as defined in the Award Agreement.

“Vested Shares” means “Vested Shares” as defined in the Award Agreement.

 

This Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the date of grant as specified in each Participant’s individual EASi Admin account by and between Aquantia Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the participant (the “Participant”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

1. GRANT OF OPTION. The Company hereby grants to Participant an option (this “Option”) to purchase the total number of shares of Common Stock, $0.00001 par value, of the Company set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account as Total Option Shares (the “Shares”) at the Exercise Price Per Share set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account (the “Exercise Price”), subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.

2. EXERCISE PERIOD.

2.1 Exercise Period of Option; Vesting. This Option shall not be exercisable with respect to any of the Shares until 181 days after the Date of Grant, at which time all of the Shares shall be exercisable, although the Shares issued upon exercise of the Option will be subject to the restrictions on transfer and Repurchase Options set forth in Sections 7, 9 and 10 below. As of the Date of Grant, none of the Shares are vested. Provided Participant continues to provide services to the Company or to any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company,          of the Shares subject to this Option shall vest and this Option shall become exercisable for such Shares on the First Vesting Date set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account; and thereafter on the date as specified in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account of each succeeding calendar month after the First Vesting Date, the Shares will become vested as to                  of the Shares until the Shares are vested with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares. If application of the vesting percentage causes a fractional share, such share shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share for each month except for the last month in such vesting period, at the end of which last month this Option shall become vested with respect to the full remainder of the Shares. Unvested Shares may not be sold or otherwise transferred by Participant without the Company’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, Options for Unvested Shares (as defined in Section 2.2 of this Agreement) will not be exercisable on or after Participant’s Termination Date.

2.2 Definitions. Shares that are vested pursuant to the schedule set forth in Section 2.1 are “Vested Shares.” Shares that are not vested pursuant to the schedule set forth in Section 2.1 are “Unvested Shares.”

2.3 Expiration. The Option shall expire on the Expiration Date set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account or earlier as provided in Section 3 below or pursuant to Section 5.6 of the Plan.

3. TERMINATION.

3.1 Termination for Any Reason Except Death, Disability or Cause. If Participant is Terminated for any reason, except death, Disability or for Cause, the Option, to the extent (and only to the extent) that it would have been exercisable by Participant on the Termination Date, may be exercised by Participant no later than three (3) months after the Termination Date, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date.

3.2 Termination Because of Death or Disability. If Participant is Terminated because of death or Disability of Participant (or Participant dies within three (3) months of Termination when Termination is for any reason other than Participant’s Disability or for Cause), the Option, to the extent that it is exercisable by Participant

on the Termination Date, may be exercised by Participant (or Participant’s legal representative) no later than twelve (12) months after the Termination Date, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date.

3.3 Termination for Cause. If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options, but not to an extent greater than such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares upon the Termination Date, and Participant’s Options shall expire on such Participant’s Termination Date or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee.

3.4 No Obligation to Employ. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer on Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or other relationship with, the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

4. MANNER OF EXERCISE.

4.1 Stock Option Exercise Agreement. To exercise this Option, Participant (or in the case of exercise after Participant’s death or incapacity, Participant’s executor, administrator, heir or legatee, as the case may be) must deliver to the Company an executed stock option exercise agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, or in such other form as may be approved by the Committee from time to time (the “Exercise Agreement”), which shall set forth, inter alia, (i) Participant’s election to exercise the Option, (ii) the number of Shares being purchased, (iii) any restrictions imposed on the Shares and (iv) any representations, warranties and agreements regarding Participant’s investment intent and access to information as may be required by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws. If someone other than Participant exercises the Option, then such person must submit documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company verifying that such person has the legal right to exercise the Option and such person shall be subject to all of the restrictions contained herein as if such person were the Participant.

4.2 Limitations on Exercise. The Option may not be exercised unless such exercise is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, as they are in effect on the date of exercise. The Option may not be exercised as to fewer than one hundred (100) Shares unless it is exercised as to all Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

4.3 Payment. The Exercise Agreement shall be accompanied by full payment of the Exercise Price for the shares being purchased in cash (by check), or where permitted by law:

 

 

 

 

 

4.4 Tax Withholding. Prior to the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the Option, Participant must pay or provide for any applicable federal, state and local withholding obligations of the Company. If the Committee

permits, Participant may provide for payment of withholding taxes upon exercise of the Option by requesting that the Company retain the minimum number of Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount of taxes required to be withheld; but in no event will the Company withhold Shares if such withholding would result in adverse accounting consequences to the Company. In such case, the Company shall issue the net number of Shares to the Participant by deducting the Shares retained from the Shares issuable upon exercise.

4.5 Issuance of Shares. Provided that the Exercise Agreement and payment are in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, the Company shall issue the Shares registered in the name of Participant, Participant’s authorized assignee, or Participant’s legal representative, and shall deliver certificates representing the Shares with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.

5. RESERVED.

Section 5 is Reserved.

6. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. The Plan and this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code and any regulations relating thereto. Any provision of this Agreement which is inconsistent with Section 25102(o) or any regulations relating thereto shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Board, be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 25102(o) and any regulations relating thereto. The exercise of the Option and the issuance and transfer of Shares shall be subject to compliance by the Company and Participant with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed at the time of such issuance or transfer. Participant understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance.

7. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. The Option may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the options are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (settlor), or by gift to “immediate family” as that term is defined in 17 C.F.R. 240.16a-1(e), and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant or in the event of Participant’s incapacity, by Participant’s legal representative. The terms of the Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, successors and assigns of Participant.

8. MARKET STAND-OFF AGREEMENT. In connection with any registration of the Company’s securities, upon the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Company’s securities, Participant shall not exercise the Option or engage in any other transaction with respect to any Shares without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) after the effective date of such registration requested by such managing underwriters and subject to all restrictions as the Company or the underwriters may specify. Participant agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing.

9. COMPANY’S REPURCHASE OPTION FOR UNVESTED SHARES. The Company, or its assignee, shall have the option to repurchase Participant’s Unvested Shares (as defined in Section 2.2 of this Agreement) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Exercise Agreement (the “Repurchase Option”) if Participant is Terminated (as defined in the Plan) for any reason, or no reason, including without limitation Participant’s death, Disability (as defined in the Plan), voluntary resignation or termination by the Company with or without Cause.

10. COMPANY’S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Before any Vested Shares held by Participant or any transferee of such Vested Shares may be sold or otherwise transferred (including without limitation a transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company and/or its assignee(s) shall have an assignable right of first refusal to purchase the Vested Shares to be sold or transferred on the terms and conditions set forth in the Exercise Agreement (the “Right of First Refusal”). The Company’s Right of First Refusal will terminate when the Company’s securities become publicly traded.

11. ADJUSTMENTS. In the event that the number of outstanding Shares of the Company’s Common Stock is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration, then the Exercise Price of and number of Shares subject to the Option shall be proportionately adjusted pursuant to the Plan.

12. TAX CONSEQUENCES. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the Effective Date of the Plan of some of the federal and California tax consequences of grant and exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PARTICIPANT SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THE OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

12.1 Grant of Option. Grant of the Option is generally not a taxable event. However, options granted at a discount from fair market value may be considered “deferred compensation” subject to adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The Company has made a good faith determination that the Exercise Price of the Option is not less than the fair market value of the Shares underlying the Option as of the Date of Grant. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service could challenge this determination and assert that the fair market value of the Shares underlying the Option was greater on the Date of Grant than the Exercise Price determined by the Company, which could result in immediate income tax upon the vesting of the Option (whether or not exercised) and a 20% tax penalty. The Company gives no assurance that such adverse tax consequences will not occur and specifically assumes no responsibility therefor. By accepting this Option, Participant acknowledges that any tax liability or other adverse tax consequences to Participant resulting from the grant of the Option shall be the responsibility of, and shall be entirely borne by, Participant.

12.2 Exercise of Option. There may be a regular federal and California income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option. Participant will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Vested Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price. If Participant is a current or former employee of the Company, the Company may be required to withhold from Participant’s compensation or collect from Participant and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise. To the extent that the Shares were exercised prior to vesting coincident with the filing of a Section 83(b) election, the amount taxed will be based upon the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Unvested Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price.

12.3 Disposition of Shares. The following tax consequences may apply upon disposition of the Shares.

(a) Capital Gain. If the Shares are held for more than twelve (12) months after the date of purchase of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain.

(b) Withholding. The Company may be required to withhold from the Participant’s compensation or collect from the Participant and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income.

13. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP. Participant shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to Participant.

14. INTERPRETATION. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be submitted by Participant or the Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Company and Participant.

15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede all prior undertakings and agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof.

16. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Participant shall be in writing and addressed to Participant at the address indicated above or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed to have been given or delivered upon: (i) personal delivery; (ii) three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested); (iii) one (1) business day after deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid); or (iv) one (1) business day after transmission by facsimile, rapifax or telecopier.

17. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement including its right to purchase Shares under the Repurchase Option and the Right of First Refusal. No other party to this Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

18. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

19. ACCEPTANCE. Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the Option subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the Shares and that Participant should consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

20. FURTHER ASSURANCES. The parties agree to execute such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

21. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Agreement and the remainder of this Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the value of this Agreement, based upon the substantial benefit of the bargain for any party, is materially impaired, which determination as made by the presiding court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction shall be binding, then both parties agree to substitute such provision through good faith negotiations.

22. HEADINGS. The captions and headings of this Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Agreement. All references herein to Sections will refer to Sections of this Agreement.

23. TAX MATTERS. PARTICIPANT AGREES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMPANY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE IN THE EVENT THAT THE EXERCISE PRICE PER SHARE DOES NOT EQUAL THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A SHARE OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK. PARTICIPANT AGREES TO HOLD HARMLESS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMPANY FOR ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE FOREGOING.

 

This Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the date of grant as specified in each Participant’s individual EASi Admin account³ by and between Aquantia Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the participant (the “Participant”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

 

1. GRANT OF OPTION. The Company hereby grants to Participant an option (this “Option”) to purchase the total number of shares of Common Stock, $0.00001 par value, of the Company set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account as Total Option Shares (the “Shares”) at the Exercise Price Per Share set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account (the “Exercise Price”), subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.

2. EXERCISE PERIOD.

2.1 Exercise Period of Option. As of the Date of Grant,                      of the Shares are                  vested, and the Option is          exercisable for                  (100%) of the Shares.

2.2 Expiration. The Option shall expire on the Expiration Date set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account or earlier as provided in Section 3 below or pursuant to Section 5.6 of the Plan

3. TERMINATION.

3.1 Termination for Any Reason Except Death, Disability or Cause. If Participant is Terminated for any reason, except death, Disability or for Cause, the Option may be exercised by Participant no later than three (3) months after the Termination Date, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date.

3.2 Termination Because of Death or Disability. If Participant is Terminated because of death or Disability of Participant (or Participant dies within three (3) months of Termination when Termination is for any reason other than Participant’s Disability or for Cause), the Option may be exercised by Participant (or Participant’s legal representative) no later than twelve (12) months after the Termination Date, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date.

3.3 Termination for Cause. If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options, and Participant’s Options shall expire on such Participant’s Termination Date or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee.

3.4 No Obligation to Employ. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer on Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or other relationship with, the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

4. MANNER OF EXERCISE.

4.1 Stock Option Exercise Agreement. To exercise this Option, Participant (or in the case of exercise after Participant’s death or incapacity, Participant’s executor, administrator, heir or legatee, as the case may be) must deliver to the Company an executed stock option exercise agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, or in such other form as may be approved by the Committee from time to time (the “Exercise Agreement”), which shall set forth, inter alia, (i) Participant’s election to exercise the Option, (ii) the number of Shares being purchased, (iii) any restrictions imposed on the Shares and (iv) any representations, warranties and agreements regarding Participant’s investment intent and access to information as may be required by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws. If someone other than Participant exercises the Option, then such person must submit documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company verifying that such person has the legal right to exercise the Option and such person shall be subject to all of the restrictions contained herein as if such person were the Participant.

4.2 Limitations on Exercise. The Option may not be exercised unless such exercise is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, as they are in effect on the date of exercise. The Option may not be exercised as to fewer than one hundred (100) Shares unless it is exercised as to all Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

4.3 Payment. The Exercise Agreement shall be accompanied by full payment of the Exercise Price for the shares being purchased in cash (by check), or where permitted by law:

 

 

 

 

 

4.4 Tax Withholding. Prior to the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the Option, Participant must pay or provide for any applicable federal, state and local withholding obligations of the Company. If the Committee permits, Participant may provide for payment of withholding taxes upon exercise of the Option by requesting that the Company retain the minimum number of Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount of taxes required to be withheld; but in no event will the Company withhold Shares if such withholding would result in adverse accounting consequences to the Company. In such case, the Company shall issue the net number of Shares to the Participant by deducting the Shares retained from the Shares issuable upon exercise.

4.5 Issuance of Shares. Provided that the Exercise Agreement and payment are in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, the Company shall issue the Shares registered in the name of Participant, Participant’s authorized assignee, or Participant’s legal representative, and shall deliver certificates representing the Shares with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.

5. RESERVED. Section 5 is Reserved.

6. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. The Plan and this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code and any regulations relating thereto. Any

provision of this Agreement which is inconsistent with Section 25102(o) or any regulations relating thereto shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Board, be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 25102(o) and any regulations relating thereto. The exercise of the Option and the issuance and transfer of Shares shall be subject to compliance by the Company and Participant with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed at the time of such issuance or transfer. Participant understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance.

7. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. The Option may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the options are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (senior), or by gift to “immediate family” as that term is defined in 17 C.F.R. 240.16a-1(e), and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant or in the event of Participant’s incapacity, by Participant’s legal representative. The terms of the Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, successors and assigns of Participant.

8. MARKET STAND-OFF AGREEMENT. In connection with any registration of the Company’s securities, upon the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Company’s securities, Participant shall not exercise the Option or engage in any other transaction with respect to any Shares without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) after the effective date of such registration requested by such managing underwriters and subject to all restrictions as the Company or the underwriters may specify. Participant agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing.

9. COMPANY’S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Before any Shares held by Participant or any transferee of such Shares may be sold or otherwise transferred (including without limitation a transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company and/or its assignee(s) shall have an assignable right of first refusal to purchase the Shares to be sold or transferred on the terms and conditions set forth in the Exercise Agreement (the “Right of First Refusal”). The Company’s Right of First Refusal will terminate when the Company’s securities become publicly traded.

10. ADJUSTMENTS. In the event that the number of outstanding Shares of the Company’s Common Stock is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration, then the Exercise Price of and number of Shares subject to the Option shall be proportionately adjusted pursuant to the Plan.

11. TAX CONSEQUENCES. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the Effective Date of the Plan of some of the federal and California tax consequences of grant and exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PARTICIPANT SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THE OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

11.1 Grant of Option. Grant of the Option is generally not a taxable event. However, options granted at a discount from fair market value may be considered “deferred compensation” subject to adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The Company has made a good faith determination that the Exercise Price of the Option is not less than the fair market value of the Shares underlying the Option as of the Date of Grant. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service could challenge this determination and assert that the fair market value of the Shares underlying the Option was greater on the Date of Grant than the Exercise Price determined by the Company, which could result in immediate income tax upon the vesting of the Option (whether or not exercised) and a 20% tax penalty. The Company gives no assurance that such adverse tax consequences will not occur and specifically assumes no responsibility therefor. By accepting this Option, Participant acknowledges that any tax liability or other adverse tax consequences to Participant resulting from the grant of the Option shall be the responsibility of, and shall be entirely borne by, Participant.

11.2 Exercise of Option. There may be a regular federal and California income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option. Participant will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of grant and exercise over the Exercise Price. If Participant is a current or former employee of the Company, the Company may be required to withhold from Participant’s compensation or collect from Participant and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise.

11.3 Disposition of Shares. The following tax consequences may apply upon disposition of the Shares.

(a) Capital Gain. If the Shares are held for more than twelve (12) months after the date of purchase of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain.

(b) Withholding. The Company may be required to withhold from the Participant’s compensation or collect from the Participant and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income.

12. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP. Participant shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to Participant.

13. INTERPRETATION. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be submitted by Participant or the Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Company and Participant.

14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede all prior undertakings and agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof.

15. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Participant shall be in writing and addressed to Participant at the address indicated above or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed to have been given or delivered upon: (i) personal delivery; (ii) three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested); (iii) one (1) business day after deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid); or (iv) one (1) business day after transmission by facsimile, rapifax or telecopier.

16. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement including its right to purchase Shares under the Right of First Refusal. No other party to this Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of law pertaining to conflict of laws.

18. ACCEPTANCE. Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the Option subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the Shares and that Participant should consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

19. FURTHER ASSURANCES. The parties agree to execute such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

20. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Agreement and the remainder of this Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the value of this Agreement, based upon the substantial benefit of the bargain for any party, is materially impaired, which determination as made by the presiding court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction shall be binding, then both parties agree to substitute such provision through good faith negotiations.

21. HEADINGS. The captions and headings of this Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Agreement. All references herein to Sections will refer to Sections of this Agreement.

22. TAX MATTERS. PARTICIPANT AGREES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMPANY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE IN THE EVENT THAT THE EXERCISE PRICE PER SHARE DOES NOT EQUAL THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A SHARE OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK. PARTICIPANT AGREES TO HOLD HARMLESS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMPANY FOR ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE FOREGOING.

 

This Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the date of grant (as specified in each Participant’s individual EASi Admin account) by and between Aquantia Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the participant (the “Participant”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

23. Grant of Option. The Company hereby grants to Participant an option (“Option”) to purchase the total number of shares of Common Stock, $0.00001 par value, of the Company as described in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account, as Total Option Shares (the “Shares”) at the Exercise Price Per Share set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account (the “Exercise Price”), subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan. As designated in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account, the Option is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” (the “ISO”) within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

24. Exercise Period.

24.1 Exercise Period of Option; Vesting. This Option shall not be exercisable with respect to any of the Shares until 181 days after the Date of Grant, at which time all of the Shares shall be exercisable, although the Shares issued upon exercise of the Option will be subject to the restrictions on transfer and Repurchase Options set forth in Sections 7, 9 and 10 below. As of the Date of Grant, none of the Shares are vested. Provided Participant continues to provide services to the Company or to any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option will become vested with respect to                  of the Shares on the First Vesting Date set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account; and thereafter on the date as specified in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account of each succeeding calendar month after the First Vesting Date, the Shares will become vested as to                  of the Shares until the Shares are vested with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares. If application of the vesting percentage causes a fractional share, such share shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share for each month except for the last month in such vesting period, at the end of which last month this Option shall become vested with respect to the full remainder of the Shares. Unvested Shares may not be sold or otherwise transferred by Participant without the Company’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, Options for Unvested Shares (as defined in Section 2.2 of this Agreement) will not be exercisable on or after Participant’s Termination Date.

24.2 Definitions. Shares that are vested pursuant to the schedule set forth in Section 2.1 are “Vested Shares.” Shares that are not vested pursuant to the schedule set forth in Section 2.1 are “Unvested Shares.”

24.3 Expiration. The Option shall expire on the Expiration Date set forth in Participant’s individual EASi Admin account or earlier as provided in Section 3 below or pursuant to Section 5.6 of the Plan.

 

25. Termination.

25.1 Termination for Any Reason Except Death, Disability or Cause. If Participant is Terminated for any reason, except death, Disability or for Cause, the Option, to the extent (and only to the extent) that it would have been exercisable by Participant on the Termination Date, may be exercised by Participant no later than three (3) months after the Termination Date, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date.

25.2 Termination Because of Death or Disability. If Participant is Terminated because of death or Disability of Participant (or Participant dies within three (3) months of Termination when Termination is for any reason other than Participant’s Disability or for Cause), the Option, to the extent that it is exercisable by Participant on the Termination Date, may be exercised by Participant (or Participant’s legal representative) no later than twelve (12) months after the Termination Date, but in any event no later than the Expiration Date. Any exercise beyond (i) three (3) months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for any reason other than the Participant’s death or disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code; or (ii) twelve (12) months after the Termination Date when the termination is for Participant’s disability, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, is deemed to be an NQSO.

25.3 Termination for Cause. If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options, but not to an extent greater than such Options are exercisable as to Vested Shares upon the Termination Date, and Participant’s Options shall expire on such Participant’s Termination Date or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee.

25.4 No Obligation to Employ. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer on Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or other relationship with, the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

26. Manner of Exercise.

26.1 Stock Option Exercise Agreement. To exercise this Option, Participant (or in the case of exercise after Participant’s death or incapacity, Participant’s executor, administrator, heir or legatee, as the case may be) must deliver to the Company an executed stock option exercise agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, or in such other form as may be approved by the Committee from time to time (the “Exercise Agreement”), which shall set forth, inter alia, (i) Participant’s election to exercise the Option, (ii) the number of Shares being purchased, (iii) any restrictions imposed on the Shares and (iv) any representations, warranties and agreements regarding Participant’s investment intent and access to information as may be required by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws. If someone other than Participant exercises the Option, then such person must submit documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company verifying that such person has the legal right to exercise the Option and such person shall be subject to all of the restrictions contained herein as if such person were the Participant.

26.2 Limitations on Exercise. The Option may not be exercised unless such exercise is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, as they are in effect on the date of exercise. The Option may not be exercised as to fewer than one hundred (100) Shares unless it is exercised as to all Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

26.3 Payment. The Exercise Agreement shall be accompanied by full payment of the Exercise Price for the shares being purchased in cash (by check), or where permitted by law:

(a) by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Participant;

 

(b) by surrender of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that (i) either (A) have been owned by Participant and have been paid for within the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares); or (B) were obtained by Participant in the open public market; and (ii) are clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests;

(c) by waiver of compensation due or accrued to Participant for services rendered;

(d) any other form of consideration approved by the Committee; or

(e) by any combination of the foregoing.

26.4 Issuance of Shares. Provided that the Exercise Agreement and payment are in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, the Company shall issue the Shares registered in the name of Participant, Participant’s authorized assignee, or Participant’s legal representative, and shall deliver certificates representing the Shares with the appropriate legends affixed thereto.

27. Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of Option Shares. If Participant sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the Option on or before the later of (i) the date two (2) years after the Date of Grant, and (ii) the date one (1) year after transfer of such Shares to Participant upon exercise of the Option, Participant shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition. Participant agrees that Participant may be subject to U.S. federal, California and local income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by Participant from the early disposition by payment in cash or out of the current wages or other compensation payable to Participant.

28. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The Plan and this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code and any regulations relating thereto. Any provision of this Agreement which is inconsistent with Section 25102(o) or any regulations relating thereto shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Board, be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 25102(o) and any regulations relating thereto. The exercise of the Option and the issuance and transfer of Shares shall be subject to compliance by the Company and Participant with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed at the time of such issuance or transfer. Participant understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance.

29. Nontransferability of Option. The Option may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant or in the event of Participant’s incapacity, by Participant’s legal representative. The terms of the Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, successors and assigns of Participant.

30. Market Stand-Off Agreement. In connection with any registration of the Company’s securities, upon the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Company’s securities, Participant shall not exercise the Option or engage in any other transaction with respect to any Shares without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) after the effective date of such registration requested by such managing underwriters and subject to all restrictions as the Company or the underwriters may specify. Participant agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing.

31. Company’s Repurchase Option for Unvested Shares. The Company, or its assignee, shall have the option to repurchase Participant’s Unvested Shares (as defined in Section 2.2 of this Agreement) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Exercise Agreement (the “Repurchase Option”) if Participant is Terminated (as defined in the Plan) for any reason, or no reason, including without limitation Participant’s death, Disability (as defined in the Plan), voluntary resignation or termination by the Company with or without Cause.

32. Company’s Right of First Refusal. Unvested Shares may not be sold or otherwise transferred by Participant without the Company’s prior written consent. Before any Vested Shares held by Participant or any transferee of such Vested Shares may be sold or otherwise transferred (including without limitation a transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company and/or its assignee(s) shall have an assignable right of first refusal to purchase the Vested Shares to be sold or transferred on the terms and conditions set forth in the Exercise Agreement (the “Right of First Refusal”). The Company’s Right of First Refusal will terminate when the Company’s securities become publicly traded.

33. Adjustments. In the event that the number of outstanding Shares of the Company’s Common Stock is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration, then the Exercise Price of and number of Shares subject to the Option shall be proportionately adjusted pursuant to the Plan.

34. Tax Consequences. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the Effective Date of the Plan of some of the federal and California tax consequences of grant and exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PARTICIPANT SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THE OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

34.1 Grant of Option. Grant of the Option is generally not a taxable event. However, options granted at a discount from fair market value may be considered “deferred compensation” subject to adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code. The Company has made a good faith determination that the Exercise Price of the Option is not less than the fair market value of the Shares underlying the Option as of the Date of Grant. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service could challenge this determination and assert that the fair market value of the Shares underlying the Option was greater on the Date of Grant than the Exercise Price determined by the Company, which could result in immediate income tax upon the vesting of the Option (whether or not exercised) and a 20% tax penalty, as well as the loss of ISO status. The Company gives no assurance that such adverse tax consequences will not occur and specifically assumes no responsibility therefor. By accepting this Option, Participant acknowledges that any tax liability or other adverse tax consequences to Participant resulting from the grant of the Option shall be the responsibility of, and shall be entirely borne by, Participant.

34.2 Exercise of Option. There will be no regular U.S. federal income tax liability or California income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option, although the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price will be treated be treated as a tax preference item for U.S. federal alternative minimum tax purposes and may subject Participant to the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.

 

34.3 Disposition of Shares. The following tax consequences may apply upon disposition of the Shares.

(a) Capital Gain and Income on Early Disposition. If the Shares are held for more than twelve (12) months after the date of purchase of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option and are disposed of more than two (2) years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal and California income tax purposes. If Vested Shares purchased under the Option are disposed of within the applicable one (1)-or two (2)-year period, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates in the year of the disposition) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price. To the extent that the Shares were exercised prior to vesting coincident with the filing of a Section 83(b) election, the amount taxed because of a disqualifying disposition will be based upon the excess, if any, of the fair market value on the date of vesting over the Exercise Price.

(b) Withholding. If Participant disposes of any Vested Shares purchased under the Option within twelve (12) months after the date of purchase pursuant to the exercise of the Option or more than two (2) years after the Date of Grant, the Company may be required to withhold from Participant’s compensation or collect from Participant and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of Participant’s compensation income.

35. Privileges of Stock Ownership. Participant shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to Participant.

36. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be submitted by Participant or the Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Company and Participant.

37. Entire Agreement. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede all prior undertakings and agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof.

38. Notices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Participant shall be in writing and addressed to Participant at the address indicated above or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed to have been given or delivered upon: (i) personal delivery; (ii) three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested); (iii) one (1) business day after deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid); or (iv) one (1) business day after transmission by facsimile, rapifax or telecopier.

39. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement including its rights to purchase Shares under the Repurchase Option and the Right of First Refusal. No other party to this Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

40. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

41. Acceptance. Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the Option subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the Shares and that Participant should consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

42. Further Assurances. The parties agree to execute such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

43. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Agreement and the remainder of this Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the value of this Agreement, based upon the substantial benefit of the bargain for any party, is materially impaired, which determination as made by the presiding court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction shall be binding, then both parties agree to substitute such provision through good faith negotiations.

44. Headings. The captions and headings of this Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Agreement. All references herein to Sections will refer to Sections of this Agreement.

45. Tax Matters. PARTICIPANT AGREES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMPANY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE IN THE EVENT THAT THE EXERCISE PRICE PER SHARE DOES NOT EQUAL THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A SHARE OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK. PARTICIPANT AGREES TO HOLD HARMLESS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE COMPANY FOR ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE FOREGOING.

 

This Stock Option Exercise Agreement (the “Exercise Agreement”) is made and entered into as of                      (the “Effective Date”) by and between Aquantia Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the purchaser named below (the “Purchaser”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

 

 

1. Exercise of Option.

1.1 Exercise. Pursuant to exercise of that certain option (the “Option”) granted to Purchaser under the Plan and subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser hereby purchases from the Company, and the Company hereby sells to Purchaser, the Total Number of Shares set forth above (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.00001 par value per share, at the Exercise Price Per Share set forth above (the “Exercise Price”). As used in this Exercise Agreement, the term “Shares” refers to the Shares purchased under this Exercise Agreement and includes all securities received (i) in replacement of the Shares, (ii) as a result of stock dividends or stock splits with respect to the Shares, and (iii) all securities received in replacement of the Shares in a merger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar corporate transaction.

1.2 Title to Shares. The exact spelling of the name(s) under which Purchaser will take title to the Shares is:

 

To assign the Shares to a trust, a stock transfer agreement in the form provided by the Company (the “Stock Transfer Agreement”) must be completed and executed.

1.3 Payment. Purchaser hereby delivers payment of the Exercise Price in the manner permitted in the Stock Option Agreement as follows (check and complete as appropriate):

 

 

 

 

 

2. DELIVERY.

2.1 Deliveries by Purchaser. Purchaser hereby delivers to the Company (i) this Exercise Agreement, (ii) two (2) copies of a blank Stock Power and Assignment Separate from Stock Certificate in the form of Exhibit 1 attached hereto (the “Stock Powers”), both executed by Purchaser (and Purchaser’s spouse, if any), (iii) if Purchaser is married, a Consent of Spouse in the form of Exhibit 2 attached hereto (the “Spouse Consent”) executed by Purchaser’s spouse, and (iv) the Exercise Price and payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations in the form of a check, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.

2.2 Deliveries by the Company. Upon its receipt of the Exercise Price, payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations and all the documents to be executed and delivered by Purchaser to the Company under Section 2.1, the Company will issue a duly executed stock certificate evidencing the Shares in the name of Purchaser to be placed in escrow as provided in Section 10 until expiration or termination of the Company’s Right of First Refusal described in Section 8.

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER. Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:

3.1 Agrees to Terms of the Plan. Purchaser has received a copy of the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement, has read and understands the terms of the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, and agrees to be bound by their terms and conditions. Purchaser acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the Shares, and that Purchaser should consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

3.2 Purchase for Own Account for Investment. Purchaser is purchasing the Shares for Purchaser’s own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, a distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act. Purchaser has no present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of all or any portion of the Shares and no one other than Purchaser has any beneficial ownership of any of the Shares.

3.3 Access to Information. Purchaser has had access to all information regarding the Company and its present and prospective business, assets, liabilities and financial condition that Purchaser reasonably considers important in making the decision to purchase the Shares, and Purchaser has had ample opportunity to ask questions of the Company’s representatives concerning such matters and this investment.

3.4 Understanding of Risks. Purchaser is fully aware of: (i) the highly speculative nature of the investment in the Shares; (ii) the financial hazards involved; (iii) the lack of liquidity of the Shares and the restrictions on transferability of the Shares (e.g., that Purchaser may not be able to sell or dispose of the Shares or use them as collateral for loans); (iv) the qualifications and backgrounds of the management of the Company; and (v) the tax consequences of investment in the Shares. Purchaser is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment, has the ability to protect Purchaser’s own interests in this transaction and is financially capable of bearing a total loss of this investment.

3.5 No General Solicitation. At no time was Purchaser presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of the Shares.

4. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS.

4.1 Compliance with U.S. Federal Securities Laws. Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Shares have not been registered with the SEC under the Securities Act and that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Stock Option Agreement to the contrary, the exercise of any rights to purchase any Shares is expressly conditioned upon compliance with the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws. Purchaser agrees to cooperate with the Company to ensure compliance with such laws.

4.2 Compliance with California Securities Laws. THE PLAN, THE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, AND THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE INTENDED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 25102(o) OF THE CALIFORNIA CORPORATIONS CODE AND ANY RULES (INCLUDING COMMISSIONER RULES, IF APPLICABLE) OR REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS (THE “REGULATIONS”). ANY PROVISION OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH SECTION 25102(o) SHALL, WITHOUT FURTHER ACT OR AMENDMENT BY THE COMPANY OR THE BOARD, BE REFORMED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 25102(o). THE SALE OF THE SECURITIES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT, IF NOT YET QUALIFIED WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS AND NOT EXEMPT FROM SUCH QUALIFICATION, IS SUBJECT TO SUCH QUALIFICATION, AND THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH SECURITIES, AND THE RECEIPT OF ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERATION THEREFOR PRIOR TO SUCH QUALIFICATION IS UNLAWFUL UNLESS THE SALE IS EXEMPT. THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON SUCH QUALIFICATION BEING OBTAINED OR AN EXEMPTION BEING AVAILABLE.

5. RESTRICTED SECURITIES.

5.1 No Transfer Unless Registered or Exempt. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may not transfer any Shares unless such Shares are registered under the Securities Act or qualified under applicable state securities laws or unless, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, exemptions from such registration and qualification requirements are available. Purchaser understands that only the Company may file a registration statement with the SEC and that the Company is under no obligation to do so with respect to the Shares. Purchaser has also been advised that exemptions from registration and qualification may not be available or may not permit Purchaser to transfer all or any of the Shares in the amounts or at the times proposed by Purchaser.

5.2 SEC Rule 144. In addition, Purchaser has been advised that SEC Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which permits certain limited sales of unregistered securities, requires that the Shares be held for a minimum of six (6) months, and in certain cases one (1) year, after they have been purchased and paid for (within the meaning of Rule 144). Purchaser understands that Rule 144 may indefinitely restrict transfer of the Shares so long as Purchaser remains an “affiliate” of the Company.

5.3 SEC Rule 701. The Shares are issued pursuant to SEC Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act and may become freely tradeable by non-affiliates (under limited conditions regarding the method of sale) ninety (90) days after the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC, subject to a market standoff agreement as described in Section 7 of this Exercise Agreement or any similar agreement entered into by Purchaser. Affiliates must comply with the provisions of Rule 144.

 

6. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS.

6.1 Disposition of Shares. Purchaser hereby agrees that Purchaser shall make no disposition of the Shares (other than as permitted by this Exercise Agreement) unless and until:

(a) Purchaser shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and provided a written summary of the terms and conditions of the proposed disposition;

(b) Purchaser shall have complied with all requirements of this Exercise Agreement applicable to the disposition of the Shares;

(c) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, that (i) the proposed disposition does not require registration of the Shares under the Securities Act or (ii) all appropriate actions necessary for compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or of any exemption from registration available under the Securities Act (including Rule 144) have been taken; and

(d) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that the proposed disposition will not result in the contravention of any transfer restrictions applicable to the Shares pursuant to the provisions of the Regulations referred to in Section 4.2 hereof.

6.2 Restriction on Transfer. Purchaser shall not transfer, assign, grant a lien or security interest in, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the Shares which are subject to the Company’s Right of First Refusal described below, except as permitted by this Exercise Agreement.

6.3 Transferee Obligations. Each person (other than the Company) to whom the Shares are transferred by means of one of the permitted transfers specified in this Exercise Agreement must, as a condition precedent to the validity of such transfer, acknowledge in writing to the Company that such person is bound by the provisions of this Exercise Agreement and that the transferred Shares are subject to (i) the Company’s Right of First Refusal granted hereunder and (ii) the market stand-off provisions of Section 7 hereof, to the same extent such Shares would be so subject if retained by the Purchaser.

7. MARKET STANDOFF AGREEMENT. Purchaser agrees in connection with any registration of the Company’s securities that, upon the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Company’s securities, Purchaser will not sell or otherwise dispose of any Shares without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) after the effective date of such registration requested by such managing underwriters and subject to all restrictions as the Company or the underwriters may specify. Purchaser further agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing.

8. COMPANY’S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Before any Vested Shares held by Purchaser or any transferee of such Vested Shares (either sometimes referred to herein as the “Holder”) may be sold or otherwise transferred (including, without limitation, a transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company and/or its assignee(s) will have a right of first refusal to purchase the Vested Shares to be sold or transferred (the “Offered Shares”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the “Right of First Refusal”).

8.1 Notice of Proposed Transfer. The Holder of the Offered Shares will deliver to the Company a written notice (the “Notice”) stating: (i) the Holder’s bona fide intention to sell or otherwise transfer the Offered Shares; (ii) the name and address of each proposed purchaser or other transferee (the “Proposed Transferee”); (iii) the number of Offered Shares to be transferred to each Proposed Transferee; (iv) the bona fide cash price or other consideration for which the Holder proposes to transfer the Offered Shares (the “Offered Price”); and (v) that the Holder acknowledges this Notice is an offer to sell the Offered Shares to the Company and/or its assignee(s) pursuant to the Company’s Right of First Refusal at the Offered Price as provided for in this Exercise Agreement.

8.2 Exercise of Right of First Refusal. At any time within thirty (30) days after the date of the Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may, by giving written notice to the Holder, elect to purchase all (or, with the consent of the Holder, less than all) the Offered Shares proposed to be transferred to any one or more of the Proposed Transferees named in the Notice, at the purchase price, determined as specified below.

8.3 Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Offered Shares purchased under this Section will be the Offered Price, provided that if the Offered Price consists of no legal consideration (as, for example, in the case of a transfer by gift) the purchase price will be the fair market value of the Offered Shares as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. If the Offered Price includes consideration other than cash, then the value of the non-cash consideration, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, will conclusively be deemed to be the cash equivalent value of such non-cash consideration.

8.4 Payment. Payment of the purchase price for the Offered Shares will be payable, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s) (as applicable), by check or by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding purchase money indebtedness owed by the Holder to the Company (or to such assignee, in the case of a purchase of Offered Shares by such assignee) or by any combination thereof. The purchase price will be paid without interest within sixty (60) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice, or, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s), in the manner and at the time(s) set forth in the Notice.

8.5 Holder’s Right to Transfer. If all of the Offered Shares proposed in the Notice to be transferred to a given Proposed Transferee are not purchased by the Company and/or its assignee(s) as provided in this Section, then the Holder may sell or otherwise transfer such Offered Shares to each Proposed Transferee at the Offered Price or at a higher price, provided that (i) such sale or other transfer is consummated within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the Notice, (ii) any such sale or other transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and (iii) each Proposed Transferee agrees in writing that the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to the Offered Shares in the hands of such Proposed Transferee. If the Offered Shares described in the Notice are not transferred to each Proposed Transferee within such one hundred twenty (120) day period, then a new Notice must be given to the Company pursuant to which the Company will again be offered the Right of First Refusal before any Shares held by the Holder may be sold or otherwise transferred.

8.6 Exempt Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the following transfers of Vested Shares will be exempt from the Right of First Refusal: (i) the transfer of any or all of the Vested Shares

during Purchaser’s lifetime by gift or on Purchaser’s death by will or intestacy to Purchaser’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below) or to a trust for the benefit of Purchaser or Purchaser’s Immediate Family, provided that each transferee or other recipient agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to the transferred Vested Shares in the hands of such transferee or other recipient; (ii) any transfer or conversion of Vested Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations except that the Right of First Refusal will continue to apply thereafter to such Vested Shares, in which case the surviving corporation of such merger or consolidation shall succeed to the rights of the Company under this Section unless (i) the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or (ii) the agreement of merger or consolidation expressly otherwise provides; or (iii) any transfer of Vested Shares pursuant to the winding up and dissolution of the Company. As used herein, the term “Immediate Family” will mean Purchaser’s spouse, the lineal descendant or antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister, child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of Purchaser or Purchaser’s spouse, or the spouse of any of the above, or Spousal Equivalent, as defined herein. As used herein, a person is deemed to be a “Spousal Equivalent” provided the following circumstances are true: (i) irrespective of whether or not Purchaser and the Spousal Equivalent are the same sex, they are the sole spousal equivalent of the other for the last twelve (12) months, (ii) they intend to remain so indefinitely, (iii) neither is married to anyone else, (iv) both are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract, (v) they are not related by blood to a degree of closeness which would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which they legally reside, (vi) they are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare and financial obligations, and (vii) they have resided together in the same residence for the last twelve (12) months and intend to do so indefinitely.

8.7 Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal will terminate as to all Shares (i) on the effective date of the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC under the 1933 Act (other than a registration statement relating solely to the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to a business combination or an employee incentive or benefit plan) or (ii) on any transfer or conversion of Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations if the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

8.8 Encumbrances on Vested Shares. Purchaser may grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber Vested Shares only if each party to whom such lien or security interest is granted, or to whom such pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance is made, agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that: (i) such lien, security interest, pledge, hypothecation or encumbrance will not apply to such Vested Shares after they are acquired by the Company and/or its assignees under this Section; and (ii) the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to such Vested Shares in the hands of such party and any transferee of such party. Purchaser may not grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber, any Unvested Shares.

9. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser will have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares from and after the date that Shares are issued to Purchaser until such time as Purchaser disposes of the Shares or the Company and/or its assignee(s) exercise(s) the Right of First Refusal. Upon an exercise of the Right of First Refusal, Purchaser will have no further rights as a holder of the Shares so purchased upon such exercise, other than the right to receive payment for the Shares so purchased in accordance with the provisions of this Exercise Agreement, and Purchaser will promptly surrender the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares so purchased to the Company for transfer or cancellation.

10. ESCROW. As security for Purchaser’s faithful performance of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser agrees, immediately upon receipt of the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, to deliver such certificate(s), together with the Stock Powers executed by Purchaser and by Purchaser’s spouse, if any (with the date and number of Shares left blank), to the Secretary of the Company or other designee of the Company (the “Escrow Holder”), who is hereby appointed to hold such certificate(s) and Stock Powers in escrow and to take all such actions and to effectuate all such transfers and/or releases of such Shares as are in accordance with the terms of this Exercise

Agreement. Purchaser and the Company agree that Escrow Holder will not be liable to any party to this Exercise Agreement (or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless Escrow Holder is grossly negligent or intentionally fraudulent in carrying out the duties of Escrow Holder under this Exercise Agreement. Escrow Holder may rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed with any signature purported to be genuine and may rely on the advice of counsel and obey any order of any court with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Exercise Agreement. The Shares will be released from escrow upon termination of the Right of First Refusal.

11. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS AND STOP-TRANSFER ORDERS.

11.1 Legends. Purchaser understands and agrees that the Company will place the legends set forth below or similar legends on any stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, together with any other legends that may be required by state or U.S. federal securities laws, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, any other agreement between Purchaser and the Company or any agreement between Purchaser and any third party:

 

11.2 Stop-Transfer Instructions. Purchaser agrees that, to ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by this Exercise Agreement, the Company may issue appropriate “stop-transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

11.3 Refusal to Transfer. The Company will not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Agreement or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares, or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares have been so transferred.

12. TAX CONSEQUENCES. PURCHASER UNDERSTANDS THAT PURCHASER MAY SUFFER ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES AS A RESULT OF PURCHASER’S PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES. PURCHASER REPRESENTS: (i) THAT PURCHASER HAS CONSULTED WITH ANY TAX ADVISER THAT PURCHASER DEEMS ADVISABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES AND (ii) THAT PURCHASER IS NOT RELYING ON THE COMPANY FOR ANY TAX ADVICE. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date the Plan was adopted by the Board of some of the U.S. federal and California tax consequences of exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PURCHASER SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

12.1 Exercise of Option. There may be a regular U.S. federal income tax liability and a California income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option. Purchaser will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price. If Purchaser is or was an employee of the Company, the Company may be required to withhold from Purchaser’s compensation or collect from Purchaser and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise.

12.2 Disposition of Shares. The following tax consequences may apply upon disposition of the Shares.

(a) Capital Gain. If the Shares are held for more than twelve (12) months after the date of purchase of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain.

(b) Withholding. The Company may be required to withhold from Purchaser’s compensation or collect from Purchaser and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income.

13. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. The issuance and transfer of the Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and Purchaser with all applicable state and U.S. federal laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer.

14. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Exercise Agreement, including its right to purchase Shares under the Right of First Refusal. No other party to this Exercise Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Exercise Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company. This Exercise Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Agreement will be binding upon Purchaser and Purchaser’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

15. GOVERNING LAW. This Exercise Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

16. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Purchaser shall be in writing and addressed to Purchaser at the address indicated above or to such other address as Purchaser may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery, (i) three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or

registered mail (return receipt requested), (ii) one (1) business day after its deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid), or (iii) one (1) business day after transmission by rapifax or telecopier.

17. FURTHER ASSURANCES. The parties agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Exercise Agreement.

18. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Exercise Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Exercise Agreement, and the remainder of this Exercise Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Exercise Agreement.

19. HEADINGS. The captions and headings of this Exercise Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Exercise Agreement. All references herein to Sections will refer to Sections of this Exercise Agreement.

20. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, together with all Exhibits thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Exercise Agreement, and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the specific subject matter hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Exercise Agreement to be executed in triplicate by its duly authorized representative and Purchaser has executed this Exercise Agreement in triplicate as of the Effective Date, indicated above.

 

 

This Stock Option Exercise Agreement (the “Exercise Agreement”) is made and entered into as of                                          (the “Effective Date”) by and between Aquantia Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the purchaser named below (the “Purchaser”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

 

1.1 Exercise. Pursuant to exercise of that certain option (the “Option”) granted to Purchaser under the Plan and subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser hereby purchases from the Company, and the Company hereby sells to Purchaser, the Total Number of Shares set forth above (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.00001 par value per share, at the Exercise Price Per Share set forth above (the “Exercise Price”). As used in this Exercise Agreement, the term “Shares” refers to the Shares purchased under this Exercise Agreement and includes all securities received (i) in replacement of the Shares, (ii) as a result of stock dividends or stock splits with respect to the Shares, and (iii) all securities received in replacement of the Shares in a merger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar corporate transaction.

1.2 Title to Shares. The exact spelling of the name(s) under which Purchaser will take title to the Shares is:

 

To assign the Shares to a trust, a stock transfer agreement in the form provided by the Company (the “Stock Transfer Agreement”) must be completed and executed.

1.3 Payment. Purchaser hereby delivers payment of the Exercise Price in the manner permitted in the Stock Option Agreement as follows (check and complete as appropriate):

 

 

 

 

2. DELIVERY.

2.1 Deliveries by Purchaser. Purchaser hereby delivers to the Company (i) this Exercise Agreement, (ii) two (2) copies of a blank Stock Power and Assignment Separate from Stock Certificate in the form of Exhibit 1 attached hereto (the “Stock Powers”), both executed by Purchaser (and Purchaser’s spouse, if any), (iii) if Purchaser is married, a Consent of Spouse in the form of Exhibit 2 attached hereto (the “Spouse Consent”) executed by Purchaser’s spouse, and (iv) the Exercise Price and payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations in the form of a check, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.

2.2 Deliveries by the Company. Upon its receipt of the Exercise Price, payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations and all the documents to be executed and delivered by Purchaser to the Company under Section 2.1, the Company will issue a duly executed stock certificate evidencing the Shares in the name of Purchaser to be placed in escrow as provided in Section 11 until expiration or termination of the Company’s Repurchase Option and Right of First Refusal described in Sections 8, 9 and 10.

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER. Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:

3.1 Agrees to Terms of the Plan. Purchaser has received a copy of the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement, has read and understands the terms of the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, and agrees to be bound by their terms and conditions. Purchaser acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the Shares, and that Purchaser should consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

3.2 Purchase for Own Account for Investment. Purchaser is purchasing the Shares for Purchaser’s own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, a distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act. Purchaser has no present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of all or any portion of the Shares and no one other than Purchaser has any beneficial ownership of any of the Shares.

3.3 Access to Information. Purchaser has had access to all information regarding the Company and its present and prospective business, assets, liabilities and financial condition that Purchaser reasonably considers important in making the decision to purchase the Shares, and Purchaser has had ample opportunity to ask questions of the Company’s representatives concerning such matters and this investment.

3.4 Understanding of Risks. Purchaser is fully aware of: (i) the highly speculative nature of the investment in the Shares; (ii) the financial hazards involved; (iii) the lack of liquidity of the Shares and the restrictions on transferability of the Shares (e.g., that Purchaser may not be able to sell or dispose of the Shares or use them as collateral for loans); (iv) the qualifications and backgrounds of the management of the Company; and (v) the tax consequences of investment in the Shares. Purchaser is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment, has the ability to protect Purchaser’s own interests in this transaction and is financially capable of bearing a total loss of this investment.

3.5 No General Solicitation. At no time was Purchaser presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of the Shares.

4. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS.

4.1 Compliance with U.S. Federal Securities Laws. Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Shares have not been registered with the SEC under the Securities Act and that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Stock Option Agreement to the contrary, the exercise of any rights to purchase any Shares is expressly conditioned upon compliance with the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws. Purchaser agrees to cooperate with the Company to ensure compliance with such laws.

4.2 Compliance with California Securities Laws. THE PLAN, THE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, AND THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE INTENDED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 25102(o) OF THE CALIFORNIA CORPORATIONS CODE AND ANY RULES (INCLUDING COMMISSIONER RULES, IF APPLICABLE) OR REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS (THE “REGULATIONS”). ANY PROVISION OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH SECTION 25102(o) SHALL, WITHOUT FURTHER ACT OR AMENDMENT BY THE COMPANY OR THE BOARD, BE REFORMED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 25102(o). THE SALE OF THE SECURITIES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT, IF NOT YET QUALIFIED WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS AND NOT EXEMPT FROM SUCH QUALIFICATION, IS SUBJECT TO SUCH QUALIFICATION, AND THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH SECURITIES, AND THE RECEIPT OF ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERATION THEREFOR PRIOR TO SUCH QUALIFICATION IS UNLAWFUL UNLESS THE SALE IS EXEMPT. THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON SUCH QUALIFICATION BEING OBTAINED OR AN EXEMPTION BEING AVAILABLE.

5. RESTRICTED SECURITIES.

5.1 No Transfer Unless Registered or Exempt. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may not transfer any Shares unless such Shares are registered under the Securities Act or qualified under applicable state securities laws or unless, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, exemptions from such registration and qualification requirements are available. Purchaser understands that only the Company may file a registration statement with the SEC and that the Company is under no obligation to do so with respect to the Shares. Purchaser has also been advised that exemptions from registration and qualification may not be available or may not permit Purchaser to transfer all or any of the Shares in the amounts or at the times proposed by Purchaser.

5.2 SEC Rule 144. In addition, Purchaser has been advised that SEC Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which permits certain limited sales of unregistered securities, requires that the Shares be held for a minimum of six (6) months, and in certain cases one (1) year, after they have been purchased and paid for (within the meaning of Rule 144). Purchaser understands that Rule 144 may indefinitely restrict transfer of the Shares so long as Purchaser remains an “affiliate” of the Company.

5.3 SEC Rule 701. The Shares are issued pursuant to SEC Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act and may become freely tradeable by non-affiliates (under limited conditions regarding the method of sale) ninety (90) days after the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC, subject to a market standoff agreement as described in Section 7 of this Exercise Agreement or any similar agreement entered into by Purchaser. Affiliates must comply with the provisions of Rule 144.

6. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS.

6.1 Disposition of Shares. Purchaser hereby agrees that Purchaser shall make no disposition of the Shares (other than as permitted by this Exercise Agreement) unless and until:

(a) Purchaser shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and provided a written summary of the terms and conditions of the proposed disposition;

(b) Purchaser shall have complied with all requirements of this Exercise Agreement applicable to the disposition of the Shares;

(c) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, that (i) the proposed disposition does not require registration of the Shares under the Securities Act or (ii) all appropriate actions necessary for compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or of any exemption from registration available under the Securities Act (including Rule 144) have been taken; and

(d) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that the proposed disposition will not result in the contravention of any transfer restrictions applicable to the Shares pursuant to the provisions of the Regulations referred to in Section 4.2 hereof.

6.2 Restriction on Transfer. Purchaser shall not transfer, assign, grant a lien or security interest in, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the Shares which are subject to the Company’s Repurchase Option or the Company’s Right of First Refusal described below, except as permitted by this Exercise Agreement.

6.3 Transferee Obligations. Each person (other than the Company) to whom the Shares are transferred by means of one of the permitted transfers specified in this Exercise Agreement must, as a condition precedent to the validity of such transfer, acknowledge in writing to the Company that such person is bound by the provisions of this Exercise Agreement and that the transferred Shares are subject to (i) both the Company’s Repurchase Option and the Company’s Right of First Refusal granted hereunder and (ii) the market stand-off provisions of Section 7 hereof, to the same extent such Shares would be so subject if retained by the Purchaser.

7. MARKET STANDOFF AGREEMENT. Purchaser agrees in connection with any registration of the Company’s securities that, upon the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Company’s securities, Purchaser will not sell or otherwise dispose of any Shares without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) after the effective date of such registration requested by such managing underwriters and subject to all restrictions as the Company or the underwriters may specify. Purchaser further agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing.

8. COMPANY’S REPURCHASE OPTION FOR UNVESTED SHARES. The Company, or its assignee, shall have the option to repurchase all or a portion of the Purchaser’s Unvested Shares (as defined in Section 2.2 of the Stock Option Agreement) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the “Repurchase Option”) if Purchaser is Terminated (as defined in the Plan) for any reason, or no reason, including without limitation, Purchaser’s death, Disability (as defined in the Plan), voluntary resignation or termination by the Company with or without Cause.

8.1 Termination and Termination Date. In case of any dispute as to whether Purchaser is Terminated, the Committee shall have discretion to determine whether Purchaser has been Terminated and the effective date of such Termination (the “Termination Date”).

8.2 Exercise of Repurchase Option. At any time within ninety (90) days after Purchaser’s Termination Date (or, in the case of securities issued upon exercise of an Option after Purchaser’s Termination Date, within ninety (90) days after the date of such exercise), the Company, or its assignee, may elect to repurchase any or all the Purchaser’s Unvested Shares by giving Purchaser written notice of exercise of the Repurchase Option.

8.3 Calculation of Repurchase Price for Unvested Shares. The Company or its assignee shall have the option to repurchase from Purchaser (or from Purchaser’s personal representative as the case may be) the Unvested Shares at Purchaser’s Exercise Price, proportionately adjusted for any stock split or similar change in the capital structure of the Company as set forth in Section 2.2 of the Plan (the “Repurchase Price”).

8.4 Payment of Repurchase Price. The Repurchase Price shall be payable, at the option of the Company or its assignee, by check or by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding purchase money indebtedness owed by Purchaser to the Company or such assignee, or by any combination thereof. The Repurchase Price shall be paid without interest within the term of the Repurchase Option as described in Section 8.2.

8.5 Right of Termination Unaffected. Nothing in this Exercise Agreement shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) to terminate Purchaser’s employment or other relationship with Company (or the Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without Cause.

9. COMPANY’S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Unvested Shares may not be sold or otherwise transferred by Purchaser without the Company’s prior written consent. Before any Vested Shares held by Purchaser or any transferee of such Vested Shares (either sometimes referred to herein as the “Holder”) may be sold or otherwise transferred (including, without limitation, a transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company and/or its assignee(s) will have a right of first refusal to purchase the Vested Shares to be sold or transferred (the “Offered Shares”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the “Right of First Refusal”).

9.1 Notice of Proposed Transfer. The Holder of the Offered Shares will deliver to the Company a written notice (the “Notice”) stating: (i) the Holder’s bona fide intention to sell or otherwise transfer the Offered Shares; (ii) the name and address of each proposed purchaser or other transferee (the “Proposed Transferee”); (iii) the number of Offered Shares to be transferred to each Proposed Transferee; (iv) the bona fide cash price or other consideration for which the Holder proposes to transfer the Offered Shares (the “Offered Price”); and (v) that the Holder acknowledges this Notice is an offer to sell the Offered Shares to the Company and/or its assignee(s) pursuant to the Company’s Right of First Refusal at the Offered Price as provided for in this Exercise Agreement.

9.2 Exercise of Right of First Refusal. At any time within thirty (30) days after the date of the Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may, by giving written notice to the Holder, elect to purchase all (or, with the consent of the Holder, less than all) the Offered Shares proposed to be transferred to any one or more of the Proposed Transferees named in the Notice, at the purchase price, determined as specified below.

9.3 Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Offered Shares purchased under this Section will be the Offered Price, provided that if the Offered Price consists of no legal consideration (as, for example, in the case of a transfer by gift) the purchase price will be the fair market value of the Offered Shares as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. If the Offered Price includes consideration other than cash, then the value of the non-cash consideration, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, will conclusively be deemed to be the cash equivalent value of such non-cash consideration.

9.4 Payment. Payment of the purchase price for the Offered Shares will be payable, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s) (as applicable), by check or by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding purchase money indebtedness owed by the Holder to the Company (or to such assignee, in the case of a purchase of Offered Shares by such assignee) or by any combination thereof. The purchase price will be paid without interest within sixty (60) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice, or, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s), in the manner and at the time(s) set forth in the Notice.

9.5 Holder’s Right to Transfer. If all of the Offered Shares proposed in the Notice to be transferred to a given Proposed Transferee are not purchased by the Company and/or its assignee(s) as provided in this Section, then the Holder may sell or otherwise transfer such Offered Shares to each Proposed Transferee at the Offered Price or at a higher price, provided that (i) such sale or other transfer is consummated within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the Notice, (ii) any such sale or other transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and (iii) each Proposed Transferee agrees in writing that the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to the Offered Shares in the hands of such Proposed Transferee. If the Offered Shares described in the Notice are not transferred to each Proposed Transferee within such one hundred twenty (120) day period, then a new Notice must be given to the Company pursuant to which the Company will again be offered the Right of First Refusal before any Shares held by the Holder may be sold or otherwise transferred.

9.6 Exempt Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the following transfers of Vested Shares will be exempt from the Right of First Refusal: (i) the transfer of any or all of the Vested Shares during Purchaser’s lifetime by gift or on Purchaser’s death by will or intestacy to Purchaser’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below) or to a trust for the benefit of Purchaser or Purchaser’s Immediate Family, provided that each transferee or other recipient agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to the transferred Vested Shares in the hands of such transferee or other recipient; (ii) any transfer or conversion of Vested Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations except that the Right of First Refusal will continue to apply thereafter to such Vested Shares, in which case the surviving corporation of such merger or consolidation shall succeed to the rights of the Company under this Section unless (i) the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or (ii) the agreement of merger or consolidation expressly otherwise provides; or (iii) any transfer of Vested Shares pursuant to the winding up and dissolution of the Company. As used herein, the term “Immediate Family” will mean Purchaser’s spouse, the lineal descendant or antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister, child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of Purchaser or Purchaser’s spouse, or the spouse of any of the above, or Spousal Equivalent, as defined herein. As used herein, a person is deemed to be a “Spousal Equivalent” provided the following circumstances are true: (i) irrespective of whether or not Purchaser and the Spousal Equivalent are the same sex, they are the sole spousal equivalent of the other for the last twelve (12) months, (ii) they intend to remain so indefinitely, (iii) neither is married to anyone else, both are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract, (v) they are not related by blood to a degree of closeness which would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which they legally reside, (vi) they are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare and financial obligations, and (vii) they have resided together in the same residence for the last twelve (12) months and intend to do so indefinitely.

9.7 Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal will terminate as to all Shares (i) on the effective date of the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC under the 1933 Act (other than a registration statement relating solely to the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to a business combination or an employee incentive or benefit plan) or (ii) on any transfer or conversion of Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations if the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

9.8 Encumbrances on Vested Shares. Purchaser may grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber Vested Shares only if each party to whom such lien or security interest is granted, or to whom such pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance is made, agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that: (i) such lien, security interest, pledge, hypothecation or encumbrance will not apply to such Vested Shares after they are acquired by the Company and/or its assignees under this Section; and (ii) the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to such Vested Shares in the hands of such party and any transferee of such party. Purchaser may not grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber, any Unvested Shares.

10. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser will have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares from and after the date that Shares are issued to Purchaser until such time as Purchaser disposes of the Shares or the Company and/or its assignee(s) exercise(s) the Repurchase Option or Right of First Refusal. Upon an exercise of the Repurchase Option or the Right of First Refusal, Purchaser will have no further rights as a holder of the Shares so purchased upon such exercise, other than the right to receive payment for the Shares so purchased in accordance with the provisions of this Exercise Agreement, and Purchaser will promptly surrender the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares so purchased to the Company for transfer or cancellation.

11. ESCROW. As security for Purchaser’s faithful performance of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser agrees, immediately upon receipt of the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, to deliver such certificate(s), together with the Stock Powers executed by Purchaser and by Purchaser’s spouse, if any (with the date and number of Shares left blank), to the Secretary of the Company or other designee of the Company (the “Escrow Holder”), who is hereby appointed to hold such certificate(s) and Stock Powers in escrow and to take all such actions and to effectuate all such transfers and/or releases of such Shares as are in accordance with the terms of this Exercise Agreement. Purchaser and the Company agree that Escrow Holder will not be liable to any party to this Exercise Agreement (or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless Escrow Holder is grossly negligent or intentionally fraudulent in carrying out the duties of Escrow Holder under this Exercise Agreement. Escrow Holder may rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed with any signature purported to be genuine and may rely on the advice of counsel and obey any order of any court with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Exercise Agreement. The Shares will be released from escrow upon termination of both the Repurchase Option and the Right of First Refusal.

12. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS AND STOP-TRANSFER ORDERS.

12.1 Legends. Purchaser understands and agrees that the Company will place the legends set forth below or similar legends on any stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, together with any other legends that may be required by state or U.S. federal securities laws, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, any other agreement between Purchaser and the Company or any agreement between Purchaser and any third party:

12.2 Stop-Transfer Instructions. Purchaser agrees that, to ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by this Exercise Agreement, the Company may issue appropriate “stop-transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

12.3 Refusal to Transfer. The Company will not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Agreement or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares, or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares have been so transferred.

13. TAX CONSEQUENCES. PURCHASER UNDERSTANDS THAT PURCHASER MAY SUFFER ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES AS A RESULT OF PURCHASER’S PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES. PURCHASER REPRESENTS: (i) THAT PURCHASER HAS CONSULTED WITH ANY TAX ADVISER THAT PURCHASER DEEMS ADVISABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES AND (ii) THAT PURCHASER IS NOT RELYING ON THE COMPANY FOR ANY TAX ADVICE. IN PARTICULAR, PURCHASER REPRESENTS THAT PURCHASER HAS CONSULTED WITH PURCHASER’S OWN TAX ADVISER CONCERNING THE ADVISABILITY OF FILING A SECTION 83(b) ELECTION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, WHICH MUST BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF THE PURCHASE OF SHARES TO BE EFFECTIVE. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date the Plan was adopted by the Board of some of the U.S. federal and California tax consequences of exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PURCHASER SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

13.1 Exercise of Option. There may be a regular U.S. federal income tax liability and a California income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option. Purchaser will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Vested Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price, subject to Section If Purchaser is or was an employee of the Company, the Company may be required to withhold from Purchaser’s compensation or collect from Purchaser and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise.

13.2 Disposition of Shares. The following tax consequences may apply upon disposition of the Shares.

(a) Capital Gain. If the Shares are held for more than twelve (12) months after the date of purchase of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long term capital gain.

(b) Withholding. The Company may be required to withhold from Purchaser’s compensation or collect from Purchaser and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income.

13.3 Section 83(b) Election for Unvested Shares. With respect to Unvested Shares, which are subject to the Repurchase Option, if an election is filed by Purchaser with the Internal Revenue Service (and, if necessary, the proper state taxing authorities), within 30 days of the purchase of the Unvested Shares, electing pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code (and similar state tax provisions, if applicable) to be taxed currently on such purchase, there may be a recognition of taxable income to Purchaser, measured by the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Unvested Shares at the time of purchase over the Exercise Price of the Shares. A Form of Election under Section 83(b) is attached hereto as Exhibit 4 for reference.

14. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. The issuance and transfer of the Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and Purchaser with all applicable state and U.S. federal laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer.

15. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Exercise Agreement, including its right to purchase Shares under the Repurchase Option and the Right of First Refusal. No other party to this Exercise Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Exercise Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company. This Exercise Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Agreement will be binding upon Purchaser and Purchaser’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

16. GOVERNING LAW. This Exercise Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

17. NOTICES. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Purchaser shall be in writing and addressed to Purchaser at the address indicated above or to such other address as Purchaser may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery, (i) three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), (ii) one (1) business day after its deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid), or (iii) one (1) business day after transmission by rapifax or telecopier.

18. FURTHER ASSURANCES. The parties agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Exercise Agreement.

19. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Exercise Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Exercise Agreement, and the remainder of this Exercise Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Exercise Agreement.

20. HEADINGS. The captions and headings of this Exercise Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Exercise Agreement. All references herein to Sections will refer to Sections of this Exercise Agreement.

21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, together with all Exhibits thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Exercise Agreement, and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the specific subject matter hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Exercise Agreement to be executed in triplicate by its duly authorized representative and Purchaser has executed this Exercise Agreement in triplicate as of the Effective Date, indicated above.

 

This Stock Option Exercise Agreement (the “Exercise Agreement”) is made and entered into as of                                          (the “Effective Date”) by and between Aquantia Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the purchaser named below (the “Purchaser”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

 

1. Exercise of Option.

1.1 Exercise. Pursuant to exercise of that certain option (the “Option”) granted to Purchaser under the Plan and subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser hereby purchases from the Company and the Company hereby sells to Purchaser, the Total Number of Shares set forth above (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.00001 par value per share, at the Exercise Price Per Share set forth above (the “Exercise Price”). As used in this Exercise Agreement, the term “Shares” refers to the Shares purchased under this Exercise Agreement and includes all securities received (i) in replacement of the Shares, (ii) as a result of stock dividends or stock splits with respect to the Shares, and (iii) all securities received in replacement of the Shares in a merger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar corporate transaction.

1.2 Title to Shares. The exact spelling of the name(s) under which Purchaser will take title to the Shares is:

 

 

Purchaser desires to take title to the Shares as follows:

 

1.3 Payment. Purchaser hereby delivers payment of the Exercise Price in the manner permitted in the Stock Option Agreement as follows (check and complete as appropriate):

 

2. Delivery.

2.1 Deliveries by Purchaser. Purchaser hereby delivers to the Company (i) this Exercise Agreement, (ii) two (2) copies of a blank Stock Power and Assignment Separate from Stock Certificate in the form of Exhibit 1 attached hereto (the “Stock Powers”), both executed by Purchaser (and Purchaser’s spouse, if any), (iii) if Purchaser is married, a Consent of Spouse in the form of Exhibit 2 attached hereto (the “Spouse Consent”) executed by Purchaser’s spouse, and (iv) the Exercise Price and payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations in the form of a check, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.

2.2 Deliveries by the Company. Upon its receipt of the Exercise Price, payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations and all the documents to be executed and delivered by Purchaser to the Company under Section 2.1, the Company will issue a duly executed stock certificate evidencing the Shares in the name of Purchaser to be placed in escrow as provided in Section 10 until expiration or termination of the Company’s Right of First Refusal described in Section 8.

3. Representations and Warranties of Purchaser. Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:

3.1 Agrees to Terms of the Plan. Purchaser has received a copy of the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement, has read and understands the terms of the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, and agrees to be bound by their terms and conditions. Purchaser acknowledges that there may be

adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the Shares, and that Purchaser should consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

 

3.2 Purchase for Own Account for Investment. Purchaser is purchasing the Shares for Purchaser’s own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, a distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act. Purchaser has no present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of all or any portion of the Shares and no one other than Purchaser has any beneficial ownership of any of the Shares.

3.3 Access to Information. Purchaser has had access to all information regarding the Company and its present and prospective business, assets, liabilities and financial condition that Purchaser reasonably considers important in making the decision to purchase the Shares, and Purchaser has had ample opportunity to ask questions of the Company’s representatives concerning such matters and this investment.

3.4 Understanding of Risks. Purchaser is fully aware of: (i) the highly speculative nature of the investment in the Shares; (ii) the financial hazards involved; (iii) the lack of liquidity of the Shares and the restrictions on transferability of the Shares (e.g., that Purchaser may not be able to sell or dispose of the Shares or use them as collateral for loans); (iv) the qualifications and backgrounds of the management of the Company; and (v) the tax consequences of investment in the Shares. Purchaser is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment, has the ability to protect Purchaser’s own interests in this transaction and is financially capable of bearing a total loss of this investment.

3.5 No General Solicitation. At no time was Purchaser presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of the Shares.

4. Compliance with Securities Laws.

4.1 Compliance with U.S. Federal Securities Laws. Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Shares have not been registered with the SEC under the Securities Act and that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Stock Option Agreement to the contrary, the exercise of any rights to purchase any Shares is expressly conditioned upon compliance with the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws. Purchaser agrees to cooperate with the Company to ensure compliance with such laws.

4.2 Compliance with California Securities Laws. THE PLAN, THE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, AND THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE INTENDED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 25102(o) OF THE CALIFORNIA CORPORATIONS CODE AND ANY RULES (INCLUDING COMMISSIONER RULES, IF APPLICABLE) OR REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS (THE “REGULATIONS”). ANY PROVISION OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH SECTION 25102(o) SHALL, WITHOUT FURTHER ACT OR AMENDMENT BY THE COMPANY OR THE BOARD, BE REFORMED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 25102(o). THE SALE OF THE SECURITIES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT, IF NOT YET QUALIFIED WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS AND NOT EXEMPT FROM SUCH QUALIFI-CATION, IS SUBJECT TO SUCH QUALIFICATION, AND THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH SECURITIES, AND THE RECEIPT OF ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERATION THEREFOR PRIOR TO SUCH QUALIFICATION IS UNLAWFUL UNLESS THE SALE IS EXEMPT. THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON SUCH QUALIFICATION BEING OBTAINED OR AN EXEMPTION BEING AVAILABLE.

 

5. Restricted Securities.

5.1 No Transfer Unless Registered or Exempt. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may not transfer any Shares unless such Shares are registered under the Securities Act or qualified under applicable state securities

laws or unless, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, exemptions from such registration and qualification requirements are available. Purchaser understands that only the Company may file a registration statement with the SEC and that the Company is under no obligation to do so with respect to the Shares. Purchaser has also been advised that exemptions from registration and qualification may not be available or may not permit Purchaser to transfer all or any of the Shares in the amounts or at the times proposed by Purchaser.

5.2 SEC Rule 144. In addition, Purchaser has been advised that SEC Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which permits certain limited sales of unregistered securities requires that the Shares be held for a minimum of six (6) months, and in certain cases one (1) year, after they have been purchased and paid for (within the meaning of Rule 144). Purchaser understands that Rule 144 may indefinitely restrict transfer of the Shares so long as Purchaser remains an “affiliate” of the Company.

5.3 SEC Rule 701. The Shares are issued pursuant to SEC Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act and may become freely tradeable by non-affiliates (under limited conditions regarding the method of sale) ninety (90) days after the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC, subject to a market standoff agreement as described in Section 7 of this Exercise Agreement or any similar agreement entered into by Purchaser. Affiliates must comply with the provisions of Rule 144.

6. Restrictions on Transfers.

6.1 Disposition of Shares. Purchaser hereby agrees that Purchaser shall make no disposition of the Shares (other than as permitted by this Exercise Agreement) unless and until:

(a) Purchaser shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and provided a written summary of the terms and conditions of the proposed disposition;

(b) Purchaser shall have complied with all requirements of this Exercise Agreement applicable to the disposition of the Shares;

(c) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, that (i) the proposed disposition does not require registration of the Shares under the Securities Act or (ii) all appropriate actions necessary for compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or of any exemption from registration available under the Securities Act (including Rule 144) have been taken; and

(d) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that the proposed disposition will not result in the contravention of any transfer restrictions applicable to the Shares pursuant to the provisions of the Regulations referred to in Section 4.2 hereof.

6.2 Restriction on Transfer. Purchaser shall not transfer, assign, grant a lien or security interest in, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the Shares which are subject to the Company’s Right of First Refusal described below, except as permitted by this Exercise Agreement.

6.3 Transferee Obligations. Each person (other than the Company) to whom the Shares are transferred by means of one of the permitted transfers specified in this Exercise Agreement must, as a condition precedent to the validity of such transfer, acknowledge in writing to the Company that such person is bound by the provisions of this Exercise Agreement and that the transferred Shares are subject to (i) the Company’s Right of First Refusal granted hereunder and (ii) the market stand-off provisions of Section 7 hereof, to the same extent such Shares would be so subject if retained by the Purchaser.

 

7. Market Standoff Agreement. Purchaser agrees in connection with any registration of the Company’s securities that, upon the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Company’s securities, Purchaser will not sell or otherwise dispose of any Shares without the prior written consent of the

Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) after the effective date of such registration requested by such managing underwriters and subject to all restrictions as the Company or the underwriters may specify. Purchaser further agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing.

8. Company’s Right of First Refusal. Before any Vested Shares held by Purchaser or any transferee of such Vested Shares (either sometimes referred to herein as the “Holder”) may be sold or otherwise transferred (including, without limitation, a transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company and/or its assignee(s) will have a right of first refusal to purchase the Vested Shares to be sold or transferred (the “Offered Shares”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the “Right of First Refusal”).

8.1 Notice of Proposed Transfer. The Holder of the Offered Shares will deliver to the Company a written notice (the “Notice”) stating: (i) the Holder’s bona fide intention to sell or otherwise transfer the Offered Shares; (ii) the name and address of each proposed purchaser or other transferee (the “Proposed Transferee”); (iii) the number of Offered Shares to be transferred to each Proposed Transferee; (iv) the bona fide cash price or other consideration for which the Holder proposes to transfer the Offered Shares (the “Offered Price”); and (v) that the Holder acknowledges this Notice is an offer to sell the Offered Shares to the Company and/or its assignee(s) pursuant to the Company’s Right of First Refusal at the Offered Price as provided for in this Exercise Agreement.

8.2 Exercise of Right of First Refusal. At any time within thirty (30) days after the date of the Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may, by giving written notice to the Holder, elect to purchase all (or, with the consent of the Holder, less than all) the Offered Shares proposed to be transferred to any one or more of the Proposed Transferees named in the Notice, at the purchase price, determined as specified below.

8.3 Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Offered Shares purchased under this Section will be the Offered Price, provided that if the Offered Price consists of no legal consideration (as, for example, in the case of a transfer by gift) the purchase price will be the fair market value of the Offered Shares as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. If the Offered Price includes consideration other than cash, then the value of the non-cash consideration, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, will conclusively be deemed to be the cash equivalent value of such non-cash consideration.

8.4 Payment. Payment of the purchase price for the Offered Shares will be payable, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s) (as applicable), by check or by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding purchase money indebtedness owed by the Holder to the Company (or to such assignee, in the case of a purchase of Offered Shares by such assignee) or by any combination thereof. The purchase price will be paid without interest within sixty (60) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice, or, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s), in the manner and at the time(s) set forth in the Notice.

8.5 Holder’s Right to Transfer. If all of the Offered Shares proposed in the Notice to be transferred to a given Proposed Transferee are not purchased by the Company and/or its assignee(s) as provided in this Section, then the Holder may sell or otherwise transfer such Offered Shares to each Proposed Transferee at the Offered Price or at a higher price, provided that (i) such sale or other transfer is consummated within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the Notice, (ii) any such sale or other transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and (iii) each Proposed Transferee agrees in writing that the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to the Offered Shares in the hands of such Proposed Transferee. If the Offered Shares described in the Notice are not transferred to each Proposed Transferee within such one hundred twenty (120) day period, then a new Notice must be given to the Company pursuant to which the Company will again be offered the Right of First Refusal before any Shares held by the Holder may be sold or otherwise transferred.

8.6 Exempt Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the following transfers of Vested Shares will be exempt from the Right of First Refusal: (i) the transfer of any or all of the Vested Shares during Purchaser’s lifetime by gift or on Purchaser’s death by will or intestacy to Purchaser’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below) or to a trust for the benefit of Purchaser or Purchaser’s Immediate Family, provided that each transferee or other recipient agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that the provisions of this Section

will continue to apply to the transferred Vested Shares in the hands of such transferee or other recipient; (ii) any transfer or conversion of Vested Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations except that the Right of First Refusal will continue to apply thereafter to such Vested Shares, in which case the surviving corporation of such merger or consolidation shall succeed to the rights of the Company under this Section unless (i) the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or (ii) the agreement of merger or consolidation expressly otherwise provides; or (iii) any transfer of Vested Shares pursuant to the winding up and dissolution of the Company. As used herein, the term “Immediate Family” will mean Purchaser’s spouse, the lineal descendant or antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister, child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of Purchaser or Purchaser’s spouse, or the spouse of any of the above, or Spousal Equivalent, as defined herein. As used herein, a person is deemed to be a “Spousal Equivalent” provided the following circumstances are true: (i) irrespective of whether or not Purchaser and the Spousal Equivalent are the same sex, they are the sole spousal equivalent of the other for the last twelve (12) months, (ii) they intend to remain so indefinitely, (iii) neither is married to anyone else, (iv) both are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract, (v) they are not related by blood to a degree of closeness which would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which they legally reside, (vi) they are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare and financial obligations, and (vii) they have resided together in the same residence for the last twelve (12) months and intend to do so indefinitely.

8.7 Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal will terminate as to all Shares (i) on the effective date of the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC under the 1933 Act (other than a registration statement relating solely to the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to a business combination or an employee incentive or benefit plan) or (ii) on any transfer or conversion of Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations if the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

8.8 Encumbrances on Vested Shares. Purchaser may grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber Vested Shares only if each party to whom such lien or security interest is granted, or to whom such pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance is made, agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that: (i) such lien, security interest, pledge, hypothecation or encumbrance will not apply to such Vested Shares after they are acquired by the Company and/or its assignees under this Section; and (ii) the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to such Vested Shares in the hands of such party and any transferee of such party. Purchaser may not grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber, any Unvested Shares.

9. Rights as a Shareholder. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser will have all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to the Shares from and after the date that Shares are issued to Purchaser until such time as Purchaser disposes of the Shares or the Company and/or its assignee(s) exercise(s) the Right of First Refusal. Upon an exercise of the Right of First Refusal, Purchaser will have no further rights as a holder of the Shares so purchased upon such exercise, other than the right to receive payment for the Shares so purchased in accordance with the provisions of this Exercise Agreement, and Purchaser will promptly surrender the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares so purchased to the Company for transfer or cancellation.

10. Escrow. As security for Purchaser’s faithful performance of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser agrees, immediately upon receipt of the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, to deliver such certificate(s), together with the Stock Powers executed by Purchaser and by Purchaser’s spouse, if any (with the date and number of Shares left blank), to the Secretary of the Company or other designee of the Company (the “Escrow Holder”), who is hereby appointed to hold such certificate(s) and Stock Powers in escrow and to take all such actions and to effectuate all such transfers and/or releases of such Shares as are in accordance with the terms of this Exercise Agreement. Purchaser and the Company agree that Escrow Holder will not be liable to any party to this Exercise Agreement (or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless Escrow Holder is grossly negligent or intentionally fraudulent in carrying out the duties of Escrow Holder under this Exercise Agreement. Escrow Holder may rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed with any signature purported to be genuine and may

rely on the advice of counsel and obey any order of any court with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Exercise Agreement. The Shares will be released from escrow upon termination of the Right of First Refusal.

11. Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.

11.1 Legends. Purchaser understands and agrees that the Company will place the legends set forth below or similar legends on any stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, together with any other legends that may be required by state or U.S. federal securities laws, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, any other agreement between Purchaser and the Company or any agreement between Purchaser and any third party:

11.2 Stop-Transfer Instructions. Purchaser agrees that, to ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by this Exercise Agreement, the Company may issue appropriate “stop-transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

11.3 Refusal to Transfer. The Company will not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Agreement or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares, or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares have been so transferred.

12. Tax Consequences. PURCHASER UNDERSTANDS THAT PURCHASER MAY SUFFER ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES AS A RESULT OF PURCHASER’S PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES. PURCHASER REPRESENTS: (i) THAT PURCHASER HAS CONSULTED WITH ANY TAX ADVISER THAT PURCHASER DEEMS ADVISABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES AND (ii) THAT PURCHASER IS NOT RELYING ON THE COMPANY FOR ANY TAX ADVICE. Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date the Plan was adopted by the Board of some of the U.S. federal and California tax consequences of exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PURCHASER SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

12.1 Exercise of Option. There will be no regular U.S. federal income tax liability or California income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option, although the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price will be treated as a tax preference item for U.S. federal alternative minimum tax purposes and may subject Purchaser to the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.

12.2 Disposition of Shares. The following tax consequences may apply upon disposition of the Shares.

(a) Capital Gain and Income on Early Disposition. If the Shares are held for more than twelve (12) months after the date of purchase of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option and are disposed of more than two (2) years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal and California income tax purposes. If Vested Shares purchased under the Option are disposed of within the applicable one (1)-year or two (2)-year period, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates in the year of the disposition) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price.

(b) Withholding. If Purchaser disposes of any Vested Shares purchased under the Option on or before the later of (i) two (2) years after the Date of Grant or (ii) one (1) year after transfer to Purchaser upon exercise of the Option, then the Company may be required to withhold from Purchaser’s compensation or collect from Purchaser and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of Purchaser’s compensation income.

13. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance and transfer of the Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and Purchaser with all applicable state and U.S. federal laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer.

14. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights and obligations under this Exercise Agreement, including its rights to purchase Shares under the Right of First Refusal. No other party to this Exercise Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Exercise Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company. This Exercise Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Agreement will be binding upon Purchaser and Purchaser’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

15. Governing Law. This Exercise Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

16. Notices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Purchaser shall be in writing and addressed to Purchaser at the address indicated above or to such other address as Purchaser may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery, (i) three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), (ii) one (1) business day after its deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid), or (iii) one (1) business day after transmission by rapifax or telecopier.

17. Further Assurances. The parties agree to execute such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Exercise Agreement.

18. Severability. If any provision of this Exercise Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Exercise Agreement, and the remainder of this Exercise Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Exercise Agreement.

19. Headings. The captions and headings of this Exercise Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Exercise Agreement. All references herein to Sections will refer to Sections of this Exercise Agreement.

20. Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, together with all Exhibits thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Exercise Agreement, and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between or among the parties hereto with respect to the specific subject matter hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Exercise Agreement to be executed in triplicate by its duly authorized representative and Purchaser has executed this Exercise Agreement in triplicate as of the Effective Date, indicated above.

 

 

This Stock Option Exercise Agreement (the “Exercise Agreement”) is made and entered into as of                                      (the “Effective Date”) by and between Aquantia Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the purchaser named below (the “Purchaser”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”).

 

1.1 Exercise. Pursuant to exercise of that certain option (the “Option”) granted to Purchaser under the Plan and subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser hereby purchases from the Company and the Company hereby sells to Purchaser, the Total Number of Shares set forth above (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.00001 par value per share, at the Exercise Price Per Share set forth above (the “Exercise Price”). As used in this Exercise Agreement, the term “Shares” refers to the Shares purchased under this Exercise Agreement and includes all securities received (i) in replacement of the Shares, (ii) as a result of stock dividends or stock splits with respect to the Shares, and (iii) all securities received in replacement of the Shares in a merger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar corporate transaction.

1.2 Title to Shares. The exact spelling of the name(s) under which Purchaser will take title to the Shares is:

 

 

Purchaser desires to take title to the Shares as follows:

 

1.3 Payment. Purchaser hereby delivers payment of the Exercise Price in the manner permitted in the Stock Option Agreement as follows (check and complete as appropriate):

 

2.1 Deliveries by Purchaser. Purchaser hereby delivers to the Company (i) this Exercise Agreement, (ii) two (2) copies of a blank Stock Power and Assignment Separate from Stock Certificate in the form of Exhibit 1 attached hereto (the “Stock Powers”), both executed by Purchaser (and Purchaser’s spouse, if any), (iii) if Purchaser is married, a Consent of Spouse in the form of Exhibit 2 attached hereto (the “Spouse Consent”) executed by Purchaser’s spouse, and (iv) the Exercise Price and payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations in the form of a check, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.

2.2 Deliveries by the Company. Upon its receipt of the Exercise Price, payment or other provision for any applicable tax obligations and all the documents to be executed and delivered by Purchaser to the Company under Section 2.1, the Company will issue a duly executed stock certificate evidencing the Shares in the name of Purchaser to be placed in escrow as provided in Section 11 until expiration or termination of the Company’s Repurchase Option and Right of First Refusal described in Sections 8, 9 and 10.

3. Representations and Warranties of Purchaser. Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:

3.1 Agrees to Terms of the Plan. Purchaser has received a copy of the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement, has read and understands the terms of the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, and agrees to be bound by their terms and conditions. Purchaser acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the Shares, and that Purchaser should consult a tax adviser prior to such exercise or disposition.

3.2 Purchase for Own Account for Investment. Purchaser is purchasing the Shares for Purchaser’s own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, a distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act. Purchaser has no present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of all or any portion of the Shares and no one other than Purchaser has any beneficial ownership of any of the Shares.

3.3 Access to Information. Purchaser has had access to all information regarding the Company and its present and prospective business, assets, liabilities and financial condition that Purchaser reasonably considers important in making the decision to purchase the Shares, and Purchaser has had ample opportunity to ask questions of the Company’s representatives concerning such matters and this investment.

3.4 Understanding of Risks. Purchaser is fully aware of: (i) the highly speculative nature of the investment in the Shares; (ii) the financial hazards involved; (iii) the lack of liquidity of the Shares and the restrictions on transferability of the Shares (e.g., that Purchaser may not be able to sell or dispose of the Shares or use them as collateral for loans); (iv) the qualifications and backgrounds of the management of the Company; and (v) the tax consequences of investment in the Shares. Purchaser is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment, has the ability to protect Purchaser’s own interests in this transaction and is financially capable of bearing a total loss of this investment.

3.5 No General Solicitation. At no time was Purchaser presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of the Shares.

4.1 Compliance with U.S. Federal Securities Laws. Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Shares have not been registered with the SEC under the Securities Act and that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Stock Option Agreement to the contrary, the exercise of any rights to purchase any Shares is expressly conditioned upon compliance with the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws. Purchaser agrees to cooperate with the Company to ensure compliance with such laws.

4.2 Compliance with California Securities Laws. THE PLAN, THE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, AND THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE INTENDED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 25102(o) OF THE CALIFORNIA CORPORATIONS CODE AND ANY RULES (INCLUDING COMMISSIONER RULES, IF APPLICABLE) OR REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS (THE “REGULATIONS”). ANY PROVISION OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH SECTION 25102(o) SHALL, WITHOUT FURTHER ACT OR AMENDMENT BY THE COMPANY OR THE BOARD, BE REFORMED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 25102(o). THE SALE OF THE SECURITIES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT, IF NOT YET QUALIFIED WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS AND NOT EXEMPT FROM SUCH QUALIFI-CATION, IS SUBJECT TO SUCH QUALIFICATION, AND THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH SECURITIES, AND THE RECEIPT OF ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERATION THEREFOR PRIOR TO SUCH QUALIFICATION IS UNLAWFUL UNLESS THE SALE IS EXEMPT. THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES TO THIS EXERCISE AGREEMENT ARE EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON SUCH QUALIFICATION BEING OBTAINED OR AN EXEMPTION BEING AVAILABLE.

 

5.1 No Transfer Unless Registered or Exempt. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may not transfer any Shares unless such Shares are registered under the Securities Act or qualified under applicable state securities laws or unless, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, exemptions from such registration and qualification requirements are available. Purchaser understands that only the Company may file a registration statement with the SEC and that the Company is under no obligation to do so with respect to the Shares. Purchaser has also been advised that exemptions from registration and qualification may not be available or may not permit Purchaser to transfer all or any of the Shares in the amounts or at the times proposed by Purchaser.

5.2 SEC Rule 144. In addition, Purchaser has been advised that SEC Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which permits certain limited sales of unregistered securities requires that the Shares be held for a minimum of six (6) months, and in certain cases one (1) year, after they have been purchased and paid for (within the meaning of Rule 144). Purchaser understands that Rule 144 may indefinitely restrict transfer of the Shares so long as Purchaser remains an “affiliate” of the Company.

5.3 SEC Rule 701. The Shares are issued pursuant to SEC Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act and may become freely tradeable by non-affiliates (under limited conditions regarding the method of sale) ninety (90) days after the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC, subject to a market standoff agreement as described in Section 7 of this Exercise Agreement or any similar agreement entered into by Purchaser. Affiliates must comply with the provisions of Rule 144.

6.1 Disposition of Shares. Purchaser hereby agrees that Purchaser shall make no disposition of the Shares (other than as permitted by this Exercise Agreement) unless and until:

(a) Purchaser shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and provided a written summary of the terms and conditions of the proposed disposition;

(b) Purchaser shall have complied with all requirements of this Exercise Agreement applicable to the disposition of the Shares;

(c) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, that (i) the proposed disposition does not require registration of the Shares under the Securities Act or (ii) all appropriate actions necessary for compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or of any exemption from registration available under the Securities Act (including Rule 144) have been taken; and

(d) Purchaser shall have provided the Company with written assurances, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that the proposed disposition will not result in the contravention of any transfer restrictions applicable to the Shares pursuant to the provisions of the Regulations referred to in Section 4.2 hereof.

6.2 Restriction on Transfer. Purchaser shall not transfer, assign, grant a lien or security interest in, pledge, hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the Shares which are subject to the Company’s Repurchase Option or the Company’s Right of First Refusal described below, except as permitted by this Exercise Agreement.

6.3 Transferee Obligations. Each person (other than the Company) to whom the Shares are transferred by means of one of the permitted transfers specified in this Exercise Agreement must, as a condition precedent to the validity of such transfer, acknowledge in writing to the Company that such person is bound by the provisions of this Exercise Agreement and that the transferred Shares are subject to (i) both the Company’s Repurchase Option and the Company’s Right of First Refusal granted hereunder and (ii) the market stand-off provisions of Section 7 hereof, to the same extent such Shares would be so subject if retained by the Purchaser.

 

7. Market Standoff Agreement. Purchaser agrees in connection with any registration of the Company’s securities that, upon the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any public offering of the Company’s securities, Purchaser will not sell or otherwise dispose of any Shares without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) after the effective date of such registration requested by such managing underwriters and subject to all restrictions as the Company or the underwriters may specify. Purchaser further agrees to enter into any agreement reasonably required by the underwriters to implement the foregoing.

8. Company’s Repurchase Option for Unvested Shares. The Company, or its assignee, shall have the option to repurchase all or a portion of the Purchaser’s Unvested Shares (as defined in Section 2.2 of the Stock Option Agreement) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the “Repurchase Option”) if Purchaser is Terminated (as defined in the Plan) for any reason, or no reason, including without limitation, Purchaser’s death, Disability (as defined in the Plan), voluntary resignation or termination by the Company with or without Cause.

8.1 Termination and Termination Date. In case of any dispute as to whether Purchaser is Terminated, the Committee shall have discretion to determine whether Purchaser has been Terminated and the effective date of such Termination (the “Termination Date”).

8.2 Exercise of Repurchase Option. At any time within ninety (90) days after Purchaser’s Termination Date (or, in the case of securities issued upon exercise of an Option after Purchaser’s Termination Date, within ninety (90) days after the date of such exercise), the Company, or its assignee, may elect to repurchase any or all the Purchaser’s Unvested Shares by giving Purchaser written notice of exercise of the Repurchase Option.

8.3 Calculation of Repurchase Price for Unvested Shares. The Company or its assignee shall have the option to repurchase from Purchaser (or from Purchaser’s personal representative as the case may be) the Unvested Shares at Purchaser’s Exercise Price, proportionately adjusted for any stock split or similar change in the capital structure of the Company as set forth in Section 2.2 of the Plan (the “Repurchase Price”).

8.4 Payment of Repurchase Price. The Repurchase Price shall be payable, at the option of the Company or its assignee, by check or by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding purchase money indebtedness owed by Purchaser to the Company or such assignee, or by any combination thereof. The Repurchase Price shall be paid without interest within the term of the Repurchase Option as described in Section 8.2.

8.5 Right of Termination Unaffected. Nothing in this Exercise Agreement shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) to terminate Purchaser’s employment or other relationship with Company (or the Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without Cause.

 

9. Company’s Right of First Refusal. Unvested Shares may not be sold or otherwise transferred by Purchaser without the Company’s prior written consent. Before any Vested Shares held by Purchaser or any transferee of such Vested Shares (either sometimes referred to herein as the “Holder”) may be sold or otherwise transferred (including, without limitation, a transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company and/or its assignee(s) will have a right of first refusal to purchase the Vested Shares to be sold or transferred (the “Offered Shares”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the “Right of First Refusal”).

9.1 Notice of Proposed Transfer. The Holder of the Offered Shares will deliver to the Company a written notice (the “Notice”) stating: (i) the Holder’s bona fide intention to sell or otherwise transfer the Offered Shares; (ii) the name and address of each proposed purchaser or other transferee (the “Proposed Transferee”); (iii) the number of Offered Shares to be transferred to each Proposed Transferee; (iv) the bona fide cash price or other consideration for which the Holder proposes to transfer the Offered Shares (the “Offered Price”); and (v) that the Holder acknowledges this Notice is an offer to sell the Offered Shares to the Company and/or its assignee(s) pursuant to the Company’s Right of First Refusal at the Offered Price as provided for in this Exercise Agreement.

9.2 Exercise of Right of First Refusal. At any time within thirty (30) days after the date of the Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may, by giving written notice to the Holder, elect to purchase all (or, with the consent of the Holder, less than all) the Offered Shares proposed to be transferred to any one or more of the Proposed Transferees named in the Notice, at the purchase price, determined as specified below.

9.3 Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Offered Shares purchased under this Section will be the Offered Price, provided that if the Offered Price consists of no legal consideration (as, for example, in the case of a transfer by gift) the purchase price will be the fair market value of the Offered Shares as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors. If the Offered Price includes consideration other than cash, then the value of the non-cash consideration, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors, will conclusively be deemed to be the cash equivalent value of such non-cash consideration.

9.4 Payment. Payment of the purchase price for the Offered Shares will be payable, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s) (as applicable), by check or by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding purchase money indebtedness owed by the Holder to the Company (or to such assignee, in the case of a purchase of Offered Shares by such assignee) or by any combination thereof. The purchase price will be paid without interest within sixty (60) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice, or, at the option of the Company and/or its assignee(s), in the manner and at the time(s) set forth in the Notice.

9.5 Holder’s Right to Transfer. If all of the Offered Shares proposed in the Notice to be transferred to a given Proposed Transferee are not purchased by the .Company and/or its assignee(s) as provided in this Section, then the Holder .may sell or otherwise transfer such Offered Shares to each Proposed Transferee at the Offered Price or at a higher price, provided that (i) such sale or other transfer is consummated within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the Notice, (ii) any such sale or other transfer is effected in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and (iii) each Proposed. Transferee agrees in writing that the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to the Offered Shares in the hands of such Proposed Transferee. If the Offered Shares described in the Notice are not transferred to each Proposed Transferee within such one hundred twenty (120) day period, then a new Notice must be given to the Company pursuant to which the Company will again be offered the Right of First Refusal before any Shares held by the Holder may be sold or otherwise transferred.

 

9.6 Exempt Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the following transfers of Vested Shares will be exempt from the Right of First Refusal: (i) the transfer of any or all of the Vested Shares during Purchaser’s lifetime by gift or on Purchaser’s death by will or intestacy to Purchaser’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below) or to a trust for the benefit of Purchaser or Purchaser’s Immediate Family, provided that each transferee or other recipient agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to the transferred Vested Shares in the hands of such transferee or other recipient; (ii) any transfer or conversion of Vested Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations except that the Right of First Refusal will continue to apply thereafter to such Vested Shares, in which case the surviving corporation of such merger or consolidation shall succeed to the rights of the Company under this Section unless (i) the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or (ii) the agreement of merger or consolidation expressly otherwise provides; or (iii) any transfer of Vested Shares pursuant to the winding up and dissolution of the Company. As used herein, the term “Immediate Family” will mean Purchaser’s spouse, the lineal descendant or antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister, child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of Purchaser or Purchaser’s spouse, or the spouse of any of the above, or Spousal Equivalent, as defined herein. As used herein, a person is deemed to be a “Spousal Equivalent” provided the following circumstances are true: (i) irrespective of whether or not Purchaser and the Spousal Equivalent are the same sex, they are the sole spousal equivalent of the other for the last twelve (12) months, (ii) they intend to remain so indefinitely, (iii) neither is married to anyone else, (iv) both are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract, (v) they are not related by blood to a degree of closeness which would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which they legally reside, (vi) they are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare and financial obligations, and (vii) they have resided together in the same residence for the last twelve (12) months and intend to do so indefinitely.

9.7 Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal will terminate as to all Shares (i) on the effective date of the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the SEC under the 1933 Act (other than a registration statement relating solely to the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to a business combination or an employee incentive or benefit plan) or (ii) on any transfer or conversion of Shares made pursuant to a statutory merger or statutory consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or corporations if the common stock of the surviving corporation or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

9.8 Encumbrances on Vested Shares. Purchaser may grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber Vested Shares only if each party to whom such lien or security interest is granted, or to whom such pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance is made, agrees in a writing satisfactory to the Company that: (i) such lien, security interest, pledge, hypothecation or encumbrance will not apply to such Vested Shares after they are acquired by the Company and/or its assignees under this Section; and (ii) the provisions of this Section will continue to apply to such Vested Shares in the hands of such party and any transferee of such party. Purchaser may not grant a lien or security interest in, or pledge, hypothecate or encumber, any Unvested Shares.

10. Rights as a Shareholder. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser will have all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to the Shares from and after the date that Shares are issued to Purchaser until such time as Purchaser disposes

 

of the Shares or the Company and/or its assignee(s) exercise(s) the Repurchase Option or Right of First Refusal. Upon an exercise of the Repurchase Option or the Right of First Refusal, Purchaser will have no further rights as a holder of the Shares so purchased upon such exercise, other than the right to receive payment for the Shares so purchased in accordance with the provisions of this Exercise Agreement, and Purchaser will promptly surrender the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares so purchased to the Company for transfer or cancellation.

11. Escrow. As security for Purchaser’s faithful performance of this Exercise Agreement, Purchaser agrees, immediately upon receipt of the stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, to deliver such certificate(s), together with the Stock Powers executed by Purchaser and by Purchaser’s spouse, if any (with the date and number of Shares left blank), to the Secretary of the Company or other designee of the Company (the “Escrow Holder”), who is hereby appointed to hold such certificate(s) and Stock Powers in escrow and to take all such actions and to effectuate all such transfers and/or releases of such Shares as are in accordance with the terms of this Exercise Agreement. Purchaser and the Company agree that Escrow Holder will not be liable to any party to this Exercise Agreement (or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless Escrow Holder is grossly negligent or intentionally fraudulent in carrying out the duties of Escrow Holder under this Exercise Agreement. Escrow Holder may rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed with any signature purported to be genuine and may rely on the advice of counsel and obey any order of any court with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Exercise Agreement. The Shares will be released from escrow upon termination of both the Repurchase Option and the Right of First Refusal.

12.1 Legends. Purchaser understands and agrees that the Company will place the legends set forth below or similar legends on any stock certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, together with any other legends that may be required by state or U.S. federal securities laws, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, any other agreement between Purchaser and the Company or any agreement between Purchaser and any third party:

 

12.2 Stop-Transfer Instructions. Purchaser agrees that, to ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by this Exercise Agreement, the Company may issue appropriate “stop-transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

12.3 Refusal to Transfer. The Company will not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Agreement or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares, or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares have been so transferred.

13. Tax Consequences. PURCHASER UNDERSTANDS THAT PURCHASER MAY SUFFER ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES AS A RESULT OF PURCHASER’S PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES. PURCHASER REPRESENTS: (i) THAT PURCHASER HAS CONSULTED WITH ANY TAX ADVISER THAT PURCHASER DEEMS ADVISABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OR DISPOSITION OF THE SHARES AND (ii) THAT PURCHASER IS NOT RELYING ON THE COMPANY FOR ANY TAX ADVICE. IN

PARTICULAR, PURCHASER REPRESENTS THAT PURCHASER HAS CONSULTED WITH PURCHASER’S OWN TAX ADVISER CONCERNING THE ADVISABILITY OF FILING A SECTION 83(b) ELECTION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, WHICH MUST BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF THE PURCHASE OF SHARES TO BE EFFECTIVE Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date the Plan was adopted by the Board of some of the U.S. federal and California tax consequences of exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PURCHASER SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

13.1 Exercise of Option. There will be no regular U.S. federal income tax liability or California income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option, although the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price will be treated as a tax preference item for U.S. federal alternative minimum tax purposes and may subject Purchaser to the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.

 

13.2 Disposition of Shares. The following tax consequences may apply upon disposition of the Shares.

(a) Capital Gain and Income on Early Disposition. If the Shares are held for more than twelve (12) months after the date of purchase of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option and are disposed of more than two (2) years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal and California income tax purposes. If Vested Shares purchased under the Option are disposed of within the applicable one (1)-year or two (2)-year period, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates in the year of the disposition) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price.

(b) Withholding. If Purchaser disposes of any Vested Shares purchased under the Option on or before the later of (i) two (2) years after the Date of Grant or (ii) one (1) year after transfer to Purchaser upon exercise of the Option, then the Company may be required to withhold from Purchaser’s compensation or collect from Purchaser and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of Purchaser’s compensation income.

13.3 Section 83(b) Election for Unvested Shares. If an election is filed by Purchaser with the Internal Revenue Service (and, if necessary, the proper state taxing authorities) within 30 days of the purchase of Unvested Shares, electing pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code (and similar state tax provisions, if applicable) to be taxed currently on such purchase, then in the event that the Option is exercised early and the Shares are disposed before the later of two (2) years after the Date of Grant or (ii) one (1) year after transfer to Purchaser upon exercise of the Option, there may be a recognition of taxable income (including, where applicable, alternative minimum taxable income), measured by the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Unvested Shares at the time they cease to be Unvested Shares, over the Exercise Price of the Unvested Shares. A Form of Election under Section 83(b) is attached hereto as Exhibit 4 for reference.

14. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance and transfer of the Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and Purchaser with all applicable state and U.S. federal laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer.

15. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights and obligations under this Exercise Agreement, including its rights to purchase Shares under the Repurchase Option and the Right of First Refusal. No other party to this Exercise Agreement may assign, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, any of its rights and obligations under this Exercise Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the Company. This Exercise Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Agreement will be binding upon Purchaser and Purchaser’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

16. Governing Law. This Exercise Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

17. Notices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Purchaser shall be in writing and addressed to Purchaser at the address indicated above or to such other address as Purchaser may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery, (i) three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), (ii) one (1) business day after its deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid), or (iii) one (1) business day after transmission by rapifax or telecopier.

18. Further Assurances. The parties agree to execute such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Exercise Agreement.

19. Severability. If any provision of this Exercise Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Exercise Agreement, and the remainder of this Exercise Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Exercise Agreement.

20. Headings. The captions and headings of this Exercise Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Exercise Agreement. All references herein to Sections will refer to Sections of this Exercise Agreement.

21. Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Stock Option Agreement and this Exercise Agreement, together with all Exhibits thereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Exercise Agreement, and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between or among the parties hereto with respect to the specific subject matter hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Exercise Agreement to be executed in triplicate by its duly authorized representative and Purchaser has executed this Exercise Agreement in triplicate as of the Effective Date, indicated above.