SeaSpine Holdings Corporation 2020 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan

EX-10.5 3 spneexhibit105employee.htm EXHIBIT 10.5 Exhibit


EXHIBIT 10.5
SEASPINE HOLDINGS CORPORATION
2020 EMPLOYMENT INDUCEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
ARTICLE 1.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the SeaSpine Holdings Corporation 2020 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of SeaSpine Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), by linking the individual interests of Eligible Individuals to those of the Company’s stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company and its subsidiaries in their ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of the Eligible Individuals upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.
ARTICLE 2.
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.
2.1    “Administrator” shall mean the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Article 10 hereof.
2.2    “Affiliate” shall mean any Parent or any Subsidiary.
2.3    “Applicable Accounting Standards” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.
2.4    “Applicable Law” shall mean any applicable law, including without limitation, (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.
2.5    “Award” shall mean an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Performance Award, a Dividend Equivalent award, a Stock Payment award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, a Performance Share award, an Other Incentive Award or a Stock Appreciation Right, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan.
2.6    “Award Agreement” shall mean any written notice, agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan.
2.7    “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.





2.8    “Cause” shall mean, with respect to any Participant, “Cause” as defined in such Participant’s employment agreement or severance agreement with the Company if such an agreement exists and contains a definition of Cause or, if no such agreement exists or such agreement does not contain a definition of Cause, then Cause shall mean (a) the Participant’s neglect of duties or responsibilities that he or she is required to perform for the Company or any willful failure by the Participant to obey a lawful direction of the Board or the Company; (b) the Participant’s engaging in any act of dishonesty, fraud, embezzlement, misrepresentation or other act of moral turpitude; (c) the Participant’s knowing violation of any federal or state law or regulation applicable to the Company’s business; (d) the Participant’s material breach of any confidentiality, non-compete agreement or invention assignment agreement or any other material agreement between the Participant and the Company; (e) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, any felony or crime of moral turpitude which conviction or plea is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (f) failure by the Participant to comply with the Company’s material written policies or rules; or (g) the Participant’s act or omission in the course of his or her employment which constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct.
2.9    “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a)    A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Shares to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary, an employee benefit plan maintained by any of the foregoing entities or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or
(b)    During any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.9(a) or Section 2.9(c) hereof) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two (2)-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(c)    The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case, other than a transaction:
(i)    Which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and





(ii)    After which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.9(c)(ii) as beneficially owning fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
(d)    Approval by the Company’s stockholders of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A). Consistent with the terms of this Section 2.9, the Administrator shall have full and final authority to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
2.10    “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of any Award.
2.11    “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board described in Article 10 hereof.
2.12    “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
2.13     “Company” shall mean SeaSpine Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
2.14    “Consultant” shall mean (a) any consultant or advisor of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of Form S-8 Registration Statement or (b) any other individual who is determined by the Administrator to be a Consultant for purposes of the Plan.
2.15    “Director” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.
2.16    “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 8.2 hereof.
2.17    “DRO” shall mean a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.





2.18    “Eligible Individual” shall mean any prospective Employee who has not previously been an Employee or Director of the Company or an Affiliate, or who is commencing employment with the Company or an Affiliate following a bona fide period of non-employment by the Company or an Affiliate, if he or she is granted an Award in connection with his or her commencement of employment with the Company or an Affiliate and such grant is an inducement material to his or her entering into employment with the Company or an Affiliate (within the meaning of Nasdaq Stock Market Rule IM-5636-1 or any successor rule, if the Company’s securities are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, and/or the applicable requirements of any other established stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are traded, as applicable, as such rules and requirements may be amended from time to time). The Administrator may in its discretion adopt procedures from time to time to ensure that a prospective Employee is eligible to participate in the Plan prior to the granting of any Awards to such individual under the Plan (including without limitation a requirement that each such prospective Employee certify to the Company prior to the receipt of an Award under the Plan that he or she has not been previously employed by the Company or an Affiliate, or if previously employed, has had a bona fide period of non-employment, and that the grant of Awards under the Plan is an inducement material to his or her agreement to enter into employment with the Company or an Affiliate).
2.19    “Employee” shall mean any officer or other employee (within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
2.20    “Equity Restructuring” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding stock-based Awards.
2.21    “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
2.22    “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:
(a)If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(b)If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(c)If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.





2.23    “Full Value Award” shall mean any Award that is settled in Shares other than: (a) an Option, (b) a Stock Appreciation Right or (c) any other Award for which the Participant pays the intrinsic value existing as of the date of grant (whether directly or by foregoing a right to receive a payment from the Company or any Affiliate).
2.24    “Good Reason” shall mean, with respect to any Participant, “Good Reason” as defined in an employment, severance or applicable award agreement between such Participant and the Company if such an agreement exists and contains a definition of Good Reason or, if no such agreement exists or such agreement does not contain a definition of Good Reason, then Good Reason shall mean, without the express written consent of the Participant, the occurrence of any of the following:
(d)a material diminution in the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities or the assignment of duties to the Participant that are materially inconsistent with the Participant’s position with the Company;
(e)a material reduction in the Participant’s base salary; and/or
(f)a change in the geographic location at which the Participant must perform services to a location more than 50 miles from the location at which the Participant normally performs such services as of the date of grant of the award,
provided, that the Participant’s resignation shall only constitute a resignation for Good Reason if (i) the Participant provides the Company with a notice of termination for Good Reason within 30 days after the initial existence of the facts or circumstances constituting Good Reason, (ii) the Company has failed to cure such facts or circumstances within 30 days after receipt of the notice of termination, and (iii) the date of termination occurs no later than 60 days after the initial occurrence of the facts or circumstances constituting Good Reason.
2.25    “Independent Director” shall mean a Director of the Company who is not an Employee of the Company and who qualifies as “independent” within the meaning of Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5605(a)(2), or any successor rule, if the Company’s securities are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, and/or the applicable requirements of any other established stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are traded, as applicable, as such rules and requirements may be amended from time to time.
2.26    “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a Director of the Company who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any successor definition.
2.27    “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
2.28    “Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 5 hereof. Any Option granted under the Plan shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
2.29    “Other Incentive Award” shall mean an Award denominated in, linked to or derived from Shares or value metrics related to Shares, granted pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof.
2.30    “Parent” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities ending with the Company if each of the entities other than the Company beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.





2.31    “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Individual who has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
2.32    “Performance Award” shall mean an Award that is granted under Section 8.1 hereof.
2.33    “Performance Share” shall mean a contractual right awarded under Section 9.5 hereof to receive a number of Shares or the cash value of such number of Shares based on the attainment of specified performance goals or other criteria determined by the Administrator.
2.34    “Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, any “family member” of the Participant, as defined under the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act or any successor Form thereto.
2.35    “Plan” shall mean this SeaSpine Holdings Corporation 2020 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.
2.36    “Program” shall mean any program adopted by the Administrator pursuant to the Plan containing the terms and conditions intended to govern a specified type of Award granted under the Plan and pursuant to which such type of Award may be granted under the Plan.
2.37    “Qualifying Termination” shall mean a termination of a Participant’s service (i) by the Company without Cause or (ii) by the Participant for Good Reason.
2.38    “Restricted Stock” shall mean an award of Shares made under Article 7 hereof that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture.
2.39    “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean a contractual right awarded under Section 8.4 hereof to receive in the future a Share or the cash value of a Share.
2.40    “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.41    “Share Limit” shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
2.42    “Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock.
2.43    “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under Article 5 hereof.
2.44    “Stock Payment” shall mean a payment in the form of Shares awarded under Section 8.3 hereof.
2.45    “Subsidiary” shall mean (a) a corporation, association or other business entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or by one or more Subsidiaries, (b) any partnership or limited liability company of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or by one or more Subsidiaries and (c) any other entity not described in clauses (a) or (b) above of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the ownership and the power (whether voting interests or otherwise), pursuant to a written contract or agreement, to direct the policies and management or the financial and the other affairs thereof, are owned or controlled by the Company and/or by one or more Subsidiaries.
2.46    “Successor Entity” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.9(c)(i) hereof.
2.47    “Termination of Service” shall mean:





(a)    As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Participant as a Consultant to the Company and its Affiliates is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment and/or service as an Employee and/or Director with the Company or any Affiliate.
(b)    As to a non-employee director, the time when a Participant who is a non-employee director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment and/or service as an Employee and/or Consultant with the Company or any Affiliate.
(c)    As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Company and its Affiliates is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences or remains in service as a Consultant and/or Director with the Company or any Affiliate.
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether any Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and whether any particular leave of absence constitutes a Termination of Service. For purposes of the Plan, a Participant’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relationship shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Affiliate employing or contracting with such Participant ceases to remain an Affiliate following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).
ARTICLE 3.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1    Number of Shares.
(a)    Subject to Sections 3.1(b), 11.1 and 11.2 hereof, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be equal to 2,000,000 Shares (the “Share Limit”).





(b)    If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited or expire or such Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part), the Shares subject to such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, again be available for future grants of Awards under the Plan and shall be added back to the Share Limit in the same number of Shares as were debited from the Share Limit in respect of the grant of such Award (as may be adjusted in accordance with Section 11.2 hereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added back to the Share Limit and will not be available for future grants of Awards: (i) Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (ii) Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right; (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof; and (iv) Shares purchased on the open market with the cash proceeds from the exercise of Options or otherwise. Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to a Full Value Award shall be added back to the Share Limit in the same number of Shares as were debited from the Share Limit in respect of the grant of such Award (as may be adjusted in accordance with Section 11.2 hereof). Any Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 7.4 hereof at the same price paid by the Participant so that such Shares are returned to the Company will again be available for Awards. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.
3.2    Stock Distributed. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market.
ARTICLE 4.
GRANTING OF AWARDS
4.1    Participation. The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom one or more Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. No Eligible Individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
4.2    Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement stating the terms and conditions applicable to such Award, consistent with the requirements of the Plan and any applicable Program.
4.3    Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, with respect to any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, any applicable Program and the applicable Award Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b‑3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule, and such additional limitations shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into such Award to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.





4.4    At-Will Service. Nothing in the Plan or in any Program or Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue as an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or any Affiliate, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of any Participant’s employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate.
4.5    Foreign Participants. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company and its Affiliates operate or have Eligible Individuals, or in order to comply with the requirements of any foreign securities exchange, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which Eligible Individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Program or any Award granted to Eligible Individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange; (d) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the Share Limit; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate Applicable Law.
4.6    Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
ARTICLE 5.
GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
5.1    Granting of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals. The Administrator is authorized to grant Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.
5.2    Option and Stock Appreciation Right Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to each Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted.





5.3    Option and Stock Appreciation Right Term. The term of each Option and of each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the term shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted. The Administrator shall determine the time period, including the time period following a Termination of Service, during which the Participant has the right to exercise the vested Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, which time period may not extend beyond the stated term of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may extend the term of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and may extend the time period during which vested Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised, in connection with any Termination of Service of the Participant, and may amend any other term or condition of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right relating to such a Termination of Service.

5.4    Option and Stock Appreciation Right Vesting.
(a)    The terms and conditions pursuant to which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right vests in the Participant and becomes exercisable shall be determined by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Such vesting may be based on service with the Company or any Affiliate, or any other criteria selected by the Administrator. At any time after the grant of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, accelerate the vesting of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
(b)    No portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator either in an applicable Program, the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
5.5    Substitution of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, substitute an Award of Stock Appreciation Rights for an outstanding Option at any time prior to or upon exercise of such Option; provided, however, that such Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable with respect to the same number of Shares for which such substituted Option would have been exercisable, and shall also have the same exercise price and remaining term as the substituted Option.
ARTICLE 6.
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
6.1    Partial Exercise. An exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part. However, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares.
6.2    Manner of Exercise. All or a portion of an exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the stock administrator of the Company, or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:
(a)    A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed by the Participant or other person then-entitled to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right or such portion of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right;





(b)    Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Law. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, also take such additional actions as it deems appropriate to effect such compliance including; without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop transfer notices to agents and registrars;
(c)    In the event that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof by any person or persons other than the Participant, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator; and
(d)    Full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes for the Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or portion thereof, is exercised, in a manner permitted by the Administrator in accordance with Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof.
ARTICLE 7.
RESTRICTED STOCK
7.1    Award of Restricted Stock.
(a)    The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate.
(b)    The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law.
7.2    Rights as Stockholders. Subject to Section 7.4 hereof, upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said shares, subject to the restrictions in an applicable Program or in the applicable Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the shares; provided, however, that, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, any extraordinary distributions with respect to the shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7.3 hereof. In addition, with respect Restricted Stock that is subject to vesting, dividends which are paid prior to vesting shall only be paid out to the Participant to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the share of Restricted Stock vests.
7.3    Restrictions. All shares of Restricted Stock (including any shares received by Participants thereof with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall, in the terms of an applicable Program or the applicable Award Agreement, be subject to such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Administrator shall provide. By action taken after the Restricted Stock is issued, the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the vesting of such Restricted Stock by removing any or all of the restrictions imposed by the terms of any Program or by the applicable Award Agreement. Restricted Stock may not be sold or encumbered until all restrictions are terminated or expire.





7.4    Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Stock. If no purchase price was paid by the Participant for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service, the Participant’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall lapse and be forfeited, and such Restricted Stock shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled without consideration. If a purchase price was paid by the Participant for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Participant the unvested Restricted Stock then-subject to restrictions at a cash price per share equal to the price paid by the Participant for such Restricted Stock or such other amount as may be specified in an applicable Program or the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator in its sole discretion may provide that, upon certain events, including without limitation the Participant’s death, retirement or disability, any other specified Termination of Service or any other event, the Participant’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock shall not terminate, such Restricted Stock shall vest and cease to be forfeitable and, if applicable, the Company shall cease to have a right of repurchase.
7.5    Certificates for Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine. Certificates or book entries evidencing shares of Restricted Stock must include an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and the Company may, in its sole discretion, retain physical possession of any stock certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
7.6    Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.
7.7    Death or Disability. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, in the event of a Participant’s death or disability (within the meaning of a “permanent and total disability” under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), all restrictions on such Participant’s Restricted Stock (other than Restricted Stock granted to Participants in France) shall lapse and such Restricted Stock shall become vested Shares.
ARTICLE 8.
PERFORMANCE AWARDS; DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS; STOCK PAYMENTS; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS; PERFORMANCE SHARES; OTHER INCENTIVE AWARDS
8.1    Performance Awards.
(a)    The Administrator is authorized to grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Individual. The value of Performance Awards may be linked to any one or more of the performance criteria or other specific criteria determined by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator.
(b)    Without limiting Section 8.1(a) hereof, the Administrator may grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Individual in the form of a cash bonus payable upon the attainment of objective performance goals, or such other criteria, whether or not objective, which are established by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator.
8.2    Dividend Equivalents.





(a)    Subject to Section 8.2(b) hereof, Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator, either alone or in tandem with another Award, based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates during the period between the date the Dividend Equivalents are granted to a Participant and the date such Dividend Equivalents terminate or expire, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Administrator. In addition, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award that is subject to vesting that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such Award shall only be paid out to the Participant to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests.
(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
8.3    Stock Payments. The Administrator is authorized to make one or more Stock Payments to any Eligible Individual. The number or value of Shares of any Stock Payment shall be determined by the Administrator and may be based upon one or more performance criteria or any other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Affiliate, determined by the Administrator. Stock Payments may, but are not required to be made in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to such Eligible Individual.
8.4    Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual. The number and terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Units shall be determined by the Administrator. The Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, including conditions based on one or more performance criteria or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Affiliate, in each case, on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods, as determined by the Administrator. The Administrator shall specify, or may permit the Participant to elect, the conditions and dates upon which the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units shall be issued, which dates shall not be earlier than the date as of which the Restricted Stock Units vest and become nonforfeitable and which conditions and dates shall be consistent with the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption therefrom. On the distribution dates, the Company shall issue to the Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable Share (or the Fair Market Value of one such Share in cash) for each vested and nonforfeitable Restricted Stock Unit.
8.5    Performance Share Awards. Any Eligible Individual selected by the Administrator may be granted one or more Performance Share awards which shall be denominated in a number or range of Shares and the vesting of which may be linked to any one or more performance criteria (in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator) and/or time-vesting or other criteria, as determined by the Administrator.
8.6    Other Incentive Awards.  The Administrator is authorized to grant Other Incentive Awards to any Eligible Individual, which Awards may cover Shares or the right to purchase or receive Shares or have a value derived from the value of, or an exercise or conversion privilege at a price related to, or that are otherwise payable in or based on, Shares, shareholder value or shareholder return, in each case, on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. Other Incentive Awards may be linked to any one or more performance criteria determined appropriate by the Administrator.





8.7    Other Terms and Conditions. All applicable terms and conditions of each Award described in this Article 8, including without limitation, as applicable, the term, vesting conditions and exercise/purchase price applicable to the Award, shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion, provided, however, that the value of the consideration paid by a Participant for an Award shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.
8.8    Exercise upon Termination of Service. Awards described in this Article 8 are exercisable or distributable, as applicable, only while the Participant is an Employee, Director or Consultant, as applicable. The Administrator, however, in its sole discretion may provide that such Award may be exercised or distributed subsequent to a Termination of Service as provided under an applicable Program, Award Agreement, payment deferral election and/or in certain events, including without limitation, the Participant’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service.
ARTICLE 9.
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS
9.1    Payment. The Administrator shall determine the methods by which payments by any Participant with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash or check, (b) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences, in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then-issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided, however, that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator, or (e) any combination of the foregoing. The Administrator shall also determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.





9.2    Tax Withholding. The Company and its Affiliates shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or an Affiliate, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Participant’s social security, Medicare and any other employment tax obligation) required by Applicable Law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising in connection with any Award. The Administrator may in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to satisfy such obligations by any payment means described in Section 9.1 hereof, including without limitation, by allowing such Participant to elect to have the Company or an Affiliate withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares). The number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding or return no greater than the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income (or, to the extent provided by the Administrator, such higher withholding rate that is in no event greater than the maximum individual statutory tax rate in the applicable jurisdiction at the time of such withholding (or such other rate as may be required to avoid the liability classification of the applicable award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America)); provided, however, to the extent such Shares were acquired by the Participant from the Company as compensation, the Shares must have been held for the minimum period required by applicable accounting rules to avoid a charge to the Company’s earnings for financial reporting purposes; provided, further, that, any such Shares withheld or returned shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Share to the extent rounding down to the nearest whole Share does not result in the liability classification of the applicable Award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.
9.3    Transferability of Awards.
(a)    Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.3(b) or (c) hereof:
(i)No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;
(ii)No Award or interest or right therein shall be subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of an Award prior to the satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by clause (i) of this provision; and





(iii)During the lifetime of the Participant, only the Participant may exercise an Award (or any portion thereof) granted to him under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of the Participant, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement, be exercised by his personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(b)    Notwithstanding Section 9.3(a) hereof, with respect to transfers to Permitted Transferees, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Participant or a Permitted Transferee of such Participant to transfer an Award to any one or more Permitted Transferees of such Participant, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee (other than to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Participant) other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Participant (other than the ability to further transfer the Award); and (iii) the Participant (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including without limitation, documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer.
(c)    Notwithstanding Section 9.3(a) hereof, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Program or Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan, the Program and the Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Participant is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a “community property” state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than fifty percent (50%) of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is delivered to the Administrator prior to the Participant’s death.
9.4    Conditions to Issuance of Shares.
(a)    The Administrator shall determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Company nor its Affiliates shall be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with Applicable Law, and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law.





(b)    All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any Share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.
(c)    The Administrator shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.
(d)    No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.
(e)    The Company, in its sole discretion, may (i) retain physical possession of any stock certificate evidencing Shares until any restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and/or (ii) require that the stock certificates evidencing such Shares be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Participant deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Shares.
(f)    Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law, the Company and/or its Affiliates may, in lieu of delivering to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award, record the issuance of Shares in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).
9.5    Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions.
(a)    Pursuant to its general authority to determine the terms and conditions applicable to Awards under the Plan, the Administrator shall have the right to provide, in the terms of Awards made under the Plan, or to require a Participant to agree by separate written or electronic instrument, that: (i) any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Participant upon any receipt or exercise of the Award, or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award, must be paid to the Company, and (ii) the Award shall terminate and any unexercised portion of the Award (whether or not vested) shall be forfeited, if (x) a Termination of Service occurs prior to a specified date, or within a specified time period following receipt or exercise of the Award, (y) the Participant at any time, or during a specified time period, engages in any activity in competition with the Company, or which is inimical, contrary or harmful to the interests of the Company, as further defined by the Administrator or (z) the Participant incurs a Termination of Service for cause; and
(b)    All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Participant upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) shall be subject to the applicable provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, whether implemented prior to or after the grant of such Award, including without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law.
9.6    Repricing. Subject to Section 11.2 hereof, the Administrator shall have the authority, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, to amend any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per share, or cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares.





9.7    Settlement of Awards. Without limiting the generality of any other provision of the Plan, the Administrator may provide, in an Award Agreement or subsequent to the grant of an Award, in its discretion, that any Award may be settled in cash, Shares or a combination thereof.
9.8    Leave of Absence. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder shall be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, a Participant shall not cease to be considered an Eligible Individual, as applicable, in the case of any (a) leave of absence approved by the Company, (b) transfer between locations of the Company or between the Company and any of its Affiliates or any successor thereof, or (c) change in status (Employee to Director, Employee to Consultant, etc.), provided that such change does not affect the specific terms applying to the Participant’s Award.
9.9    Amendment of Awards. Subject to Applicable Law, the Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type and changing the date of exercise or settlement. The Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (a) the Administrator determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant, or (b) the change is otherwise permitted under the Plan (including, without limitation, under Section 11.2 or 11.10).
9.10    Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 9.10 by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any shares of stock held in the Company or any of its Affiliates, details of all Awards, in each case, for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Affiliates may each further transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company and its Affiliates in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. Through acceptance of an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or any of its Affiliates or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws his or her consents as described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.






ARTICLE 10.
ADMINISTRATION
10.1    Administrator. The Committee (or another committee or a subcommittee of the Board assuming the functions of the Committee under the Plan) shall administer the Plan and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall consist solely of two or more Directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, each of whom is a Non-Employee Director and an Independent Director; provided, however, that, subject to the requirements of Section 11.3, any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 10.l or otherwise provided in the Company’s charter or Bylaws or in any charter of the Committee. Except as may otherwise be provided in any charter of the Committee, appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment, Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written or electronic notice to the Board, and vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board.
10.2    Duties and Powers of Administrator. It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and all Programs and Award Agreements, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and any Program as are not inconsistent with the Plan, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend any Program or Award Agreement provided that the rights or obligations of the holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Program or Award Agreement are not materially adversely affected by such amendment, unless the consent of the Participant is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 11.10 hereof. Any such grant or award under the Plan need not be the same with respect to each Participant.
10.3    Action by the Administrator. Unless otherwise established by the Board, in the Company’s charter or Bylaws or in any charter of the Committee or as required by Applicable Law or, a majority of the Administrator shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the Administrator in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Administrator. To the greatest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each member of the Administrator is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
10.4    Authority of Administrator. Subject to Applicable Law, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:
(a)    Adopt procedures from time to time intended to ensure that an individual is an Eligible Individual prior to the granting of any Awards to such individual under the Plan (including without limitation a requirement, if any, that each such individual certify to the Company prior to the receipt of an Award under the Plan that he or she has not been previously employed by the Company or an Affiliate, or if previously employed, has had a bona fide period of non-employment, and that the grant of Awards under the Plan is an inducement material to his or her agreement to enter into employment with the Company or an Affiliate);
(b)    Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;
(c)    Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Individual;
(d)    Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;





(e)    Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any performance criteria, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;
(f)    Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(g)    Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(h)    Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(i)    Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(j)    Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement;
(k)    Accelerate wholly or partially the vesting or lapse of restrictions of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of an Award, subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects and Section 11.2; and
(l)    Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.
10.5    Decisions Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
10.6    Actions Required Upon Grant of Award. Following the issuance of any Award under the Plan, the Company shall, in accordance with the listing requirements of the applicable securities exchange, (a) promptly issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the grant, including the recipient(s) of the grant and the number of shares involved (and if the disclosure relates to an award to only one person, or to executive officers, or the award was individually negotiated, then the disclosure must include the identity of the recipient), and (b) notify the applicable securities exchange of such grant no later than the earlier to occur of (i) five calendar days after entering into the agreement to issue the Award or (ii) the date of the public announcement of the Award.
ARTICLE 11.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
11.1    Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11.1, the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board or the Administrator; provided that, except as provided in Section 11.10 hereof, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Participant, impair any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award itself otherwise expressly so provides.





11.2    Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events.
(a)    In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of the Company’s stock or the share price of the Company’s stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the Share Limit); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and/or (iv) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
(b)    In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 11.2(a) hereof or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards:
(i)    To provide for the termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 11.2, the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment);
(ii)    To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;
(iii)    To make adjustments in the number and type of securities subject to outstanding Awards and Awards which may be granted in the future and/or in the terms, conditions and criteria included in such Awards (including the grant or exercise price, as applicable);
(iv)To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; and/or
(v)To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.
(c)    In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 11.2(a) and 11.2(b) hereof:
(i)    The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted; and/or





(ii)    The Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Administrator in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments to the Share Limit).
The adjustments provided under this Section 11.2(c) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company.
(d)    Change in Control.  
(i)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 11.2(b) above or any applicable Award Agreement, if a Change in Control occurs and at least twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate fair market value of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Company or the Company pursuant to such Change in Control (as determined by the Administrator) is to be paid in the form of securities of the successor or survivor entity, or a parent or affiliate thereof, which securities are, at the time of such Change in Control, listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market) (the Company or such person, the “Publicly-Traded Successor Entity”)), then all Options shall be continued, converted, assumed or replaced by such Publicly-Traded Successor Entity with a substantially similar Option covering the stock of the Publicly-Traded Successor Entity, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices of such Options.
(ii)    If a Change in Control occurs and a Participant’s outstanding Awards are not continued, converted, assumed, or replaced by the surviving or successor entity in such Change in Control (but after taking into account the requirements of Section 11.2(d)(i)), then immediately prior to the Change in Control such outstanding Awards, to the extent not continued, converted, assumed, or replaced, shall become fully vested and, as applicable, exercisable, and all forfeiture, repurchase and other restrictions on such Awards shall lapse immediately prior to such transaction, provided that, to the extent the vesting of any such Award is subject to the satisfaction of specified performance goals, such Award shall vest at the greater of (A) the target level of performance, pro-rated based on the period elapsed between the beginning of the applicable performance period and the date of the Change in Control, or (B) the actual performance level as of the date of the Change in Control (as determined by the Administrator) with respect to all open performance periods (and the vesting pursuant to this clause (ii) shall constitute “full vesting” for purposes of this Section 11.2(d)(ii)). Subject to Section 11.2(d)(i) above, upon, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control, the Administrator may cause any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future, including but not limited to the date of such Change in Control, and shall give each Participant the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. For the avoidance of doubt, if the value of an Award that is terminated in connection with this Section 11.2(d) is zero or negative at the time of such Change in Control, such Award shall be terminated upon the Change in Control without payment of consideration therefor.
(iii)    If a Change in Control occurs with respect to which a Participant’s outstanding Awards are continued, converted, assumed or replaced by the surviving or successor entity in such Change in Control (including, without limitation, by a Publicly-Traded Successor Entity) if the Participant incurs a Qualifying Termination on or following the date of such Change in Control, then (A) each outstanding Award held by such Participant, other than any Award subject to performance-vesting, shall become fully vested (and, as applicable, exercisable) and all forfeiture restrictions thereon shall lapse upon such Qualifying Termination and (B) each outstanding Option held by such Participant may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s legal guardian or legal representative) until the original outside expiration date of such Option.





(e)    The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, include such further provisions and limitations in any Award, agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(f)    Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no adjustment or action described in this Section 11.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent it would (i) result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code.
(g)The existence of the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and/or any Award granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company, the stockholders of the Company or any Affiliate to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s or such Affiliate’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock, the securities of any Affiliate or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or securities of any Affiliate, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
(h)In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Common Stock including any Equity Restructuring, 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 consummation of any such transaction.
11.3    Stockholder Approval Not Required. It is expressly intended that approval of the Company’s stockholders not be required as a condition of the effectiveness of the Plan, and the Plan’s provisions shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent for all purposes. Specifically, Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c) generally requires stockholder approval for stock option plans or other equity compensation arrangements adopted by companies whose securities are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market pursuant to which stock awards or stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees or consultants of such companies. Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c)(4) provides an exemption in certain circumstances for “employment inducement” awards (within the meaning of Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c)(4)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Company’s securities are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, then Awards under the Plan may only be made to Employees who have not previously been an Employee or Director of the Company or an Affiliate, or following a bona fide period of non-employment by the Company or an Affiliate, in each case as an inducement material to the Employee’s entering into employment with the Company or an Affiliate. Awards under the Plan will be approved by (a) the Company’s Compensation Committee comprised entirely of Independent Directors or (b) a majority of the Company’s Independent Directors. Accordingly, pursuant to Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c)(4), the issuance of Awards and the Shares issuable upon exercise or vesting of such Awards pursuant to the Plan are not subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders.
11.4    No Stockholders Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or in an applicable Program or Award Agreement, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record owner of such Shares.





11.5    Paperless Administration. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
11.6    Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Eligible Individuals of the Company or any Affiliate or (b) to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.
11.7    Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan, the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.
11.8    Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act. The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.
11.9    Governing Law. The Plan and any Programs or Award Agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof.
11.10    Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Plan, any applicable Program and the Award Agreement covering such Award shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan, any applicable Program and the Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes on the Award under Section 409A of the Code, either through compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or with an available exemption therefrom, provided, however, that this Section 11.10 shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.
11.11    No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Individual or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Participants or any other persons uniformly.





11.12    Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
11.13    Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law and the Company’s charter and Bylaws, each member of the Board and any officer or other employee to whom authority to administer any component of the Plan is delegated shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided, however, that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
11.14    Relationship to other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
11.15    Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.