MERU NETWORKS, INC. 2013 NEW EMPLOYEE STOCK INDUCEMENT PLAN (Adopted on June 6, 2013) Table of Contents
Exhibit 10.03
MERU NETWORKS, INC.
2013 NEW EMPLOYEE STOCK INDUCEMENT PLAN
(Adopted on June 6, 2013)
Table of Contents
Page | ||||||
SECTION 1. | ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE. | 1 | ||||
SECTION 2. | DEFINITIONS. | 1 | ||||
(a) | Affiliate | 1 | ||||
(b) | Award | 1 | ||||
(c) | Board of Directors | 1 | ||||
(d) | Change in Control | 1 | ||||
(e) | Code | 2 | ||||
(f) | Committee | 2 | ||||
(g) | Company | 2 | ||||
(h) | Consultant | 3 | ||||
(i) | Employee | 3 | ||||
(j) | Exchange Act | 3 | ||||
(k) | Exercise Price | 3 | ||||
(l) | Fair Market Value | 3 | ||||
(m) | Nonstatutory Option or NSO | 3 | ||||
(n) | Offeree | 3 | ||||
(o) | Option | 3 | ||||
(p) | Optionee | 4 | ||||
(q) | Outside Director | 4 | ||||
(r) | Parent | 4 | ||||
(s) | Participant | 4 | ||||
(t) | Plan | 4 | ||||
(u) | Purchase Price | 4 | ||||
(v) | Restricted Share | 4 | ||||
(w) | Restricted Share Agreement | 4 | ||||
(x) | Service | 4 | ||||
(y) | Share | 4 | ||||
(z) | Stock | 4 | ||||
(aa) | Stock Option Agreement | 4 | ||||
(bb) | Stock Unit | 4 | ||||
(cc) | Stock Unit Agreement | 5 | ||||
(dd) | Subsidiary | 5 | ||||
(ee) | Total and Permanent Disability | 5 | ||||
SECTION 3. | ADMINISTRATION. | 5 |
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(a) | Committee Composition | 5 | ||||
(b) | Committee Procedures | 5 | ||||
(c) | Committee Responsibilities | 5 | ||||
SECTION 4. | ELIGIBILITY. | 6 | ||||
(a) | General Rule | 6 | ||||
SECTION 5. | STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN. | 6 | ||||
(a) | Basic Limitation | 6 | ||||
(b) | Additional Shares | 7 | ||||
SECTION 6. | RESTRICTED SHARES. | 7 | ||||
(a) | Restricted Stock Agreement | 7 | ||||
(b) | Payment for Awards | 7 | ||||
(c) | Vesting | 7 | ||||
(d) | Voting and Dividend Rights | 7 | ||||
(e) | Restrictions on Transfer of Shares | 7 | ||||
SECTION 7. | TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS. | 8 | ||||
(a) | Stock Option Agreement | 8 | ||||
(b) | Number of Shares | 8 | ||||
(c) | Exercise Price | 8 | ||||
(d) | Withholding Taxes | 8 | ||||
(e) | Exercisability and Term | 8 | ||||
(f) | Exercise of Options | 8 | ||||
(g) | Effect of Change in Control | 8 | ||||
(h) | No Rights as a Stockholder | 8 | ||||
(i) | Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options | 9 | ||||
(j) | Restrictions on Transfer of Shares | 9 | ||||
(k) | Buyout Provisions | 9 | ||||
SECTION 8. | PAYMENT FOR SHARES. | 9 | ||||
(a) | General Rule | 9 | ||||
(b) | Surrender of Stock | 9 | ||||
(c) | Cashless Exercise | 9 | ||||
(d) | Exercise/Pledge | 9 | ||||
(e) | Promissory Note | 10 | ||||
(f) | Other Forms of Payment | 10 | ||||
(g) | Limitations under Applicable Law | 10 | ||||
SECTION 9. | STOCK UNITS. | 10 | ||||
(a) | Stock Unit Agreement | 10 | ||||
(b) | Payment for Awards | 10 |
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(c) | Vesting Conditions | 10 | ||||
(d) | Voting and Dividend Rights | 10 | ||||
(e) | Form and Time of Settlement of Stock Units | 10 | ||||
(f) | Death of Recipient | 11 | ||||
(g) | Creditors Rights | 11 | ||||
SECTION 10. | ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES. | 11 | ||||
(a) | Adjustments | 11 | ||||
(b) | Dissolution or Liquidation | 11 | ||||
(c) | Reorganizations | 12 | ||||
(d) | Reservation of Rights | 12 | ||||
SECTION 11. | DEFERRAL OF AWARDS. | 12 | ||||
(a) | Committee Powers | 12 | ||||
(b) | General Rules | 13 | ||||
SECTION 12. | AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS. | 13 | ||||
SECTION 13. | LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. | 13 | ||||
SECTION 14. | WITHHOLDING TAXES. | 13 | ||||
(a) | General | 13 | ||||
(b) | Share Withholding | 14 | ||||
SECTION 15. | OTHER PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS. | 14 | ||||
(a) | Transferability | 14 | ||||
(b) | Substitution and Assumption of Awards | 14 | ||||
(c) | Performance Criteria | 14 | ||||
SECTION 16. | NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. | 14 | ||||
SECTION 17. | DURATION AND AMENDMENTS. | 14 | ||||
(a) | Term; Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan | 14 | ||||
(b) | Effect of Termination | 15 | ||||
SECTION 18. | EXECUTION. | 16 |
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MERU NETWORKS, INC.
2013 NEW EMPLOYEE STOCK INDUCEMENT PLAN
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.
The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors and shall be effective on June 6, 2013. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (a) encouraging Employees to focus on critical long-range objectives, (b) encouraging the attraction and retention of Employees with exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Employees directly to stockholder interests through increased stock ownership. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of restricted shares, stock units, options (which shall be nonstatutory stock options) or stock appreciation rights.
The Plan is designed to attract new employees and is intended to satisfy the requirements of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c). This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding choice of law provisions).
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Affiliate shall mean any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.
(b) Award shall mean any award of an Option, a Restricted Share or a Stock Unit under the Plan.
(c) Board of Directors shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.
(d) Change in Control shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) | A change in the composition of the Board of Directors occurs, as a result of which fewer than one-half of the incumbent directors are directors who either: |
(A) Had been directors of the Company on the look-back date (as defined below) (the original directors); or
(B) Were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the aggregate of the original directors who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination and the directors whose election or nomination was previously so approved (the continuing directors); or
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(ii) | Any person (as defined below) who by the acquisition or aggregation of securities, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote at elections of directors (the Base Capital Stock); except that any change in the relative beneficial ownership of the Companys securities by any person resulting solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Base Capital Stock, and any decrease thereafter in such persons ownership of securities, shall be disregarded until such person increases in any manner, directly or indirectly, such persons beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company; or |
(iii) | The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of (A) the continuing or surviving entity and (B) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or surviving entity; or |
(iv) | The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys assets. |
For purposes of subsection (d)(i) above, the term look-back date shall mean the later of (1) the Effective Date or (2) the date 24 months prior to the date of the event that may constitute a Change in Control.
For purposes of subsection (d)(ii)) above, the term person shall have the same meaning as when used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act but shall exclude (1) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary and (2) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Stock.
Any other provision of this Section 2(d) notwithstanding, a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Companys incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Companys securities immediately before such transaction, and a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company files a registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial offering of Stock to the public.
(e) Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f) Committee shall mean the Compensation Committee as designated by the Board of Directors, which is authorized to administer the Plan, as described in Section 3 hereof.
(g) Company shall mean Meru Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
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(h) Consultant shall mean a consultant or advisor who provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an independent contractor (not including service as a member of the Board of Directors) or a member of the board of directors of a Parent or a Subsidiary, in each case who is not an Employee.
(i) Employee shall mean a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate who is newly hired by the Company, or who is rehired following a bona fide period of interruption of employment.
(j) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(k) Exercise Price shall mean, in the case of an Option, the amount for which one Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.
(l) Fair Market Value with respect to a Share, shall mean the market price of one Share, determined by the Committee as follows:
(i) | If the Stock was traded over-the-counter on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the last transaction price quoted for such date by the OTC Bulletin Board or, if not so quoted, shall be equal to the mean between the last reported representative bid and asked prices quoted for such date by the principal automated inter-dealer quotation system on which the Stock is quoted or, if the Stock is not quoted on any such system, by the Pink Quote system; |
(ii) | If the Stock was traded on any established stock exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market) or national market system on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the closing price reported for such date by the applicable exchange or system; and |
(iii) | If none of the foregoing provisions is applicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate. |
In all cases, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
(m) Nonstatutory Option or NSO shall mean an employee stock option that is not an ISO.
(n) Offeree shall mean an individual to whom the Committee has offered the right to acquire Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option).
(o) Option shall mean a Nonstatutory Option granted under the Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Shares.
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(p) Optionee shall mean an individual or estate who holds an Option.
(q) Outside Director shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not a common-law employee of, or paid consultant to, the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.
(r) Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be a Parent commencing as of such date.
(s) Participant shall mean an individual or estate who holds an Award.
(t) Plan shall mean this 2013 New Employee Stock Inducement Plan of Meru Networks, Inc., as amended from time to time.
(u) Purchase Price shall mean the consideration for which one Share may be acquired under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option), as specified by the Committee.
(v) Restricted Share shall mean a Share awarded under the Plan.
(w) Restricted Share Agreement shall mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Share which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Shares.
(x) Service shall mean service as an Employee, subject to such further limitations as may be set forth in the Plan or the applicable Stock Option Agreement, Restricted Share Agreement or Stock Unit Agreement. Service does not terminate when an Employee goes on a bona fide leave of absence, that was approved by the Company in writing, if the terms of the leave provide for continued Service crediting, or when continued Service crediting is required by applicable law. The Company determines which leaves of absence count toward Service, and when Service terminates for all purposes under the Plan.
(y) Share shall mean one share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 11 (if applicable).
(z) Stock shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.
(aa) Stock Option Agreement shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Option.
(bb) Stock Unit shall mean a bookkeeping entry representing the Companys obligation to deliver one Share (or distribute cash) on a future date in accordance with the provisions of a Stock Unit Agreement.
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(cc) Stock Unit Agreement shall mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Stock Unit which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Stock Unit.
(dd) Subsidiary shall mean any corporation, if the Company and/or one or more other Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of such corporation. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.
(ee) Total and Permanent Disability shall mean any permanent and total disability as defined by section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Committee Composition. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee appointed by the Board. The Committee shall consist of two or more directors of the Company. In addition the composition of the Committee shall satisfy (i) such requirements as the Securities and Exchange Commission may establish for administrators acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act; (ii) any listing standards prescribed by the principal securities market upon which the Companys equity securities are traded; and (ii) such requirements as are imposed by applicable laws, regulations or rules.
(b) Committee Procedures. The Board of Directors shall designate one of the members of the Committee as chairman. The Committee may hold meetings at such times and places as it shall determine. The acts of a majority of the Committee members present at meetings at which a quorum exists, or acts reduced to or approved in writing (including via email) by all Committee members, shall be valid acts of the Committee.
(c) Committee Responsibilities. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority and discretion to take the following actions:
(i) | To interpret the Plan and to apply its provisions; |
(ii) | To adopt, amend or rescind rules, procedures and forms relating to the Plan; |
(iii) | To authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan; |
(iv) | To determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan; |
(v) | To select the Offerees and Optionees; |
(vi) | To determine the number of Shares to be made subject to each Award; |
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(vii) | To prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including (without limitation) the Exercise Price and Purchase Price, and the vesting or duration of the Award (including accelerating the vesting of Awards, either at the time of the Award or thereafter, without the consent of the Participant), and to specify the provisions of the agreement relating to such Award; |
(viii) | To amend any outstanding Award agreement, subject to applicable legal restrictions and to the consent of the Participant if the Participants rights or obligations would be materially impaired; |
(ix) | To prescribe the consideration for the grant of each Award or other right under the Plan and to determine the sufficiency of such consideration; |
(x) | To determine the disposition of each Award or other right under the Plan in the event of a Participants divorce or dissolution of marriage; |
(xi) | To correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award agreement; |
(xii) | To establish or verify the extent of satisfaction of any performance goals or other conditions applicable to the grant, issuance, exercisability, vesting and/or ability to retain any Award; and |
(xiii) | To take any other actions deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. |
All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Offerees, all Optionees, and all persons deriving their rights from an Offeree or Optionee. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action that he has taken or has failed to take in good faith with respect to the Plan, any Option, or any right to acquire Shares under the Plan.
SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) General Rule. Only Employees shall be eligible for the grant of Restricted Shares, Stock Units, or Options.
SECTION 5. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.
(a) Basic Limitation. Shares offered under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance as Awards under the Plan shall not exceed (a) 500,000 Shares, plus (b) the Shares described in Section 5(b). The number of Shares that are subject to Options or other Awards outstanding at any time under the Plan shall not exceed the number of Shares which then remain available for issuance under the Plan. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available sufficient Shares to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. The limitations of this Section 5(a) and the provisions of Section 5(b) shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 10.
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(b) Additional Shares. If Restricted Shares or Shares issued upon the exercise of Options are forfeited, then such Shares shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. If Stock Units or Options are forfeited or terminate for any reason before being exercised or settled, or an Award is settled in cash without the delivery of Shares to the holder, then any Shares subject to the Award shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. Only the number of Shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of Awards shall reduce the number available in Section 5(a) and the balance shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. Any Shares withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall again become available for Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(b), Shares that have actually been issued shall not again become available for Awards under the Plan, except for Shares that are forfeited and do not become vested.
SECTION 6. RESTRICTED SHARES.
(a) Restricted Stock Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Shares under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Shares shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b) Payment for Awards. Restricted Shares may be sold or awarded under the Plan for such consideration as the Committee may determine, including (without limitation) cash, cash equivalents, full-recourse promissory notes, past services and future services.
(c) Vesting. Each Award of Restricted Shares may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement. A Restricted Stock Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participants death, disability or retirement or other events. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting Restricted Shares of thereafter, that all or part of such Restricted Shares shall become vested in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(d) Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Companys other stockholders. A Restricted Stock Agreement, however, may require that the holders of Restricted Shares invest any cash dividends received in additional Restricted Shares. Such additional Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Award with respect to which the dividends were paid.
(e) Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Restricted Shares shall be subject to such rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal or other restrictions as the Committee may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement and shall apply in addition to any general restrictions that may apply to all holders of Shares.
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SECTION 7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
(a) Stock Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b) Number of Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 10.
(c) Exercise Price. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
(d) Withholding Taxes. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Optionee shall make such arrangements as the Committee may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such exercise. The Optionee shall also make such arrangements as the Committee may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.
(e) Exercisability and Term. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the term of the Option. A Stock Option Agreement may provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the Optionees death, disability, or retirement or other events and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionees Service. Subject to the foregoing in this Section 7(e), the Committee at its sole discretion shall determine when all or any installment of an Option is to become exercisable and when an Option is to expire.
(f) Exercise of Options. Each Stock Option Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Optionees Service with the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the right to exercise the Option of any executors or administrators of the Optionees estate or any person who has acquired such Option(s) directly from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.
(g) Effect of Change in Control. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting an Option or thereafter, that such Option shall become exercisable as to all or part of the Shares subject to such Option in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(h) No Rights as a Stockholder. An Optionee, or a transferee of an Optionee, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by his Option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate for such Shares. No adjustments shall be made, except as provided in Section 10.
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(i) Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options (to the extent not previously exercised), whether or not granted hereunder, in return for the grant of new Options for the same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a different Exercise Price, or in return for the grant of a different Award for the same or a different number of Shares. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Option.
(j) Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Any Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Committee may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and shall apply in addition to any general restrictions that may apply to all holders of Shares.
(k) Buyout Provisions. The Committee may at any time (a) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash equivalents an Option previously granted or (b) authorize an Optionee to elect to cash out an Option previously granted, in either case at such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.
SECTION 8. PAYMENT FOR SHARES.
(a) General Rule. The entire Exercise Price or Purchase Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America at the time when such Shares are purchased, except as provided in Section 8(b) through Section 8(g) below.
(b) Surrender of Stock. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares which have already been owned by the Optionee or his representative. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the new Shares are purchased under the Plan. The Optionee shall not surrender, or attest to the ownership of, Shares in payment of the Exercise Price if such action would cause the Company to recognize compensation expense (or additional compensation expense) with respect to the Option for financial reporting purposes.
(c) Cashless Exercise. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.
(d) Exercise/Pledge. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker or lender to pledge Shares, as security for a loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.
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(e) Promissory Note. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part by delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) a full-recourse promissory note.
(f) Other Forms of Payment. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement so provides, payment may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.
(g) Limitations under Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein or in a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement to the contrary, payment may not be made in any form that is unlawful, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
SECTION 9. STOCK UNITS.
(a) Stock Unit Agreement. Each grant of Stock Units under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Unit Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Stock Unit Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(b) Payment for Awards. To the extent that an Award is granted in the form of Stock Units, no cash consideration shall be required of the Award recipients.
(c) Vesting Conditions. Each Award of Stock Units may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Stock Unit Agreement. A Stock Unit Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participants death, disability or retirement or other events. The Committee may determine, at the time of granting Stock Units or thereafter, that all or part of such Stock Units shall become vested in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.
(d) Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Stock Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or forfeiture, any Stock Unit awarded under the Plan may, at the Committees discretion, carry with it a right to dividend equivalents. Such right entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one Share while the Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted into additional Stock Units. Settlement of dividend equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of Shares, or in a combination of both. Prior to distribution, any dividend equivalents which are not paid shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions (including without limitation, any forfeiture conditions) as the Stock Units to which they attach.
(e) Form and Time of Settlement of Stock Units. Settlement of vested Stock Units may be made in the form of (a) cash, (b) Shares or (c) any combination of both, as determined by the Committee. The actual number of Stock Units eligible for settlement may be larger or smaller than the number included in the original Award, based on predetermined performance factors. Methods of converting Stock Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method based on the average Fair Market Value of Shares over a series of trading days. A Stock Unit Agreement may provide that vested Stock Units may be settled in a lump sum or in installments. A Stock Unit Agreement may provide that the distribution may occur or commence when all vesting conditions applicable to the Stock Units have been satisfied or have lapsed, or it may be deferred to any later date. The amount of a deferred distribution may be increased by an interest factor or by dividend equivalents. Until an Award of Stock Units is settled, the number of such Stock Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 10.
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(f) Death of Recipient. Any Stock Units Award that becomes payable after the recipients death shall be distributed to the recipients beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each recipient of a Stock Units Award under the Plan shall designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Award recipients death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Award recipient, then any Stock Units Award that becomes payable after the recipients death shall be distributed to the recipients estate.
(g) Creditors Rights. A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Stock Unit Agreement.
SECTION 10. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.
(a) Adjustments. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock, a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence, the Committee shall make appropriate and equitable adjustments in:
(i) | The number of Options, Restricted Shares and Stock Units available for future Awards under Section 5; |
(ii) | The limitations set forth in Sections 5(a) and (b); |
(iii) | The number of Shares covered by each outstanding Option; |
(iv) | The Exercise Price under each outstanding Option; and |
(v) | The number of Stock Units included in any prior Award which has not yet been settled. |
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. To the extent not previously exercised or settled, Options and Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.
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(c) Reorganizations. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or other reorganization, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement of merger or reorganization. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, such agreement shall provide for:
(i) | The continuation of the outstanding Awards by the Company, if the Company is a surviving corporation; |
(ii) | The assumption of the outstanding Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary; |
(iii) | The substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for the outstanding Awards; |
(iv) | Full exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of the outstanding Awards; or |
(v) | Settlement of the intrinsic value of the outstanding Awards in cash or cash equivalents followed by cancellation of such Awards. |
(d) Reservation of Rights. Except as provided in this Section 10, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. Any issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Award. The grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. In the event of any change affecting the Shares or the Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Award, including a merger or other reorganization, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Company in its sole discretion may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the occurrence of such event.
SECTION 11. DEFERRAL OF AWARDS.
(a) Committee Powers. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the Committee (in its sole discretion) may permit or require a Participant to:
(i) | Have cash that otherwise would be paid to such Participant as a result of the settlement of Stock Units credited to a deferred compensation account established for such Participant by the Committee as an entry on the Companys books; |
(ii) | Have Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result of the exercise of an Option converted into an equal number of Stock Units; or |
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(iii) | Have Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result of the exercise of an Option or the settlement of Stock Units converted into amounts credited to a deferred compensation account established for such Participant by the Committee as an entry on the Companys books. Such amounts shall be determined by reference to the Fair Market Value of such Shares as of the date when they otherwise would have been delivered to such Participant. |
(b) General Rules. A deferred compensation account established under this Section 11 may be credited with interest or other forms of investment return, as determined by the Committee. A Participant for whom such an account is established shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Such an account shall represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement between such Participant and the Company. If the deferral or conversion of Awards is permitted or required, the Committee (in its sole discretion) may establish rules, procedures and forms pertaining to such Awards, including (without limitation) the settlement of deferred compensation accounts established under this Section 11.
SECTION 12. AWARDS UNDER OTHER PLANS.
The Company may grant awards under other plans or programs. Such awards may be settled in the form of Shares issued under this Plan. Such Shares shall be treated for all purposes under the Plan like Shares issued in settlement of Stock Units and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Shares available under Section 5.
SECTION 13. LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Shares shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such Shares complies with (or is exempt from) all applicable requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations and the regulations of any stock exchange on which the Companys securities may then be listed, and the Company has obtained the approval or favorable ruling from any governmental agency which the Company determines is necessary or advisable. The Company shall not be liable to a Participant or other persons as to: (a) the non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has not obtained from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Companys counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares under the Plan; and (b) any tax consequences expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other person due to the receipt, exercise or settlement of any Award granted under the Plan.
SECTION 14. WITHHOLDING TAXES.
(a) General. To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.
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(b) Share Withholding. The Committee may permit a Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her withholding or income tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Shares that he or she previously acquired. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when taxes otherwise would be withheld in cash. In no event may a Participant have Shares withheld that would otherwise be issued to him or her in excess of the number necessary to satisfy the minimum legally required tax withholding.
SECTION 15. OTHER PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS.
(a) Transferability. Unless the agreement evidencing an Award (or an amendment thereto authorized by the Committee) expressly provides otherwise, no Award granted under this Plan, nor any interest in such Award, may be sold, assigned, conveyed, gifted, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred in any manner (prior to the vesting and lapse of any and all restrictions applicable to Shares issued under such Award), other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any purported assignment, transfer or encumbrance in violation of this Section 15(a) shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.
(b) Substitution and Assumption of Awards. The Committee may make Awards under the Plan by assumption, substitution or replacement of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock units or similar awards granted by another entity (including a Parent or Subsidiary), if such assumption, substitution or replacement is in connection with an asset acquisition, stock acquisition, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (and/or its Parent or Subsidiary) and such other entity (and/or its affiliate). Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan (other than the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan), the terms of such assumed, substituted or replaced Awards shall be as the Committee, in its discretion, determines is appropriate.
(c) Performance Criteria. The number of Shares or other benefits granted, issued, retainable and/or vested under an Award may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals. The Committee may utilize any performance criteria selected by it in its sole discretion to establish performance goals.
SECTION 16. NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.
No provision of the Plan, nor any Award granted under the Plan, shall be construed to give any person any right to become, to be treated as, or to remain an Employee or Consultant. The Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the right to terminate any persons Service at any time and for any reason, with or without notice.
SECTION 17. DURATION AND AMENDMENTS.
(a) Term; Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan. The term of the Plan shall be ten years; provided, however, the Board of Directors may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time. Rights and obligations under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be materially impaired by such amendment, except with consent of the Participant. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Companys stockholders only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.
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(b) Effect of Termination. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination thereof. The termination of the Plan shall not affect Awards previously granted under the Plan.
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SECTION 18. EXECUTION.
To record the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors, the Company has caused its authorized officer to execute the same.
MERU NETWORKS, INC. | ||
By | /s/ Bami Bastani | |
Name | Bami Bastani | |
Title | President & CEO |
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