Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan

EX-10.1 2 tv529883_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
2019 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
 

 

1. Establishment, Purpose, and Types of Awards

 

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes this equity-based incentive compensation plan to be known as the “Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”) in order to provide incentives and awards to select employees, directors, consultants, and advisors of the Company and its Affiliates. Upon approval by the Company’s stockholders of the Plan, the Company shall no longer issue new awards under its Amended and Restated 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Original Plan”). In the event that the Company’s stockholders do not approve the Plan, the Original Plan will continue in full force and effect.

 

(a) Awards. The Plan permits grants of the following types of awards (“Awards”), according to the Sections of the Plan listed here:

 

Section 6   Options
Section 7   Share Appreciation Rights
Section 8   Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Unrestricted Shares and Dividend Equivalents

Section 9   Performance Awards

 

(b) Effect on Other Plans. The Plan is not intended to affect and shall not affect any stock options, equity-based compensation or other benefits that the Company or its Affiliates may have provided pursuant to any agreement, plan, or program that is independent of this Plan.

 

2. Defined Terms

 

Terms in the Plan that begin with an initial capital letter have the defined meaning set forth in Appendix A, unless defined elsewhere in this Plan or the context of their use clearly indicates a different meaning.

 

3. Shares Subject to the Plan

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 12:

 

(a) The maximum number of Shares that the Company may issue for all Awards is 10,000,000 Shares.

 

(b) For all Awards, the Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares, or Shares that the Company has reacquired or otherwise holds in treasury. Shares that are subject to an Award under this Plan that for any reason expire, are forfeited, are cancelled, become unexercisable, or are settled for cash (in whole or in part), and Shares that are for any other reason not paid or delivered under the Plan shall again, except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, be available for subsequent Awards under this Plan. In addition, the Committee may make future Awards with respect to Shares that the Company retains from otherwise delivering pursuant to an Award under this Plan either (i) as payment of the exercise or purchase price of an Award, or (ii) in order to satisfy the withholding or employment taxes due upon grant, exercise, vesting or distribution of an Award. Any Shares forfeited by the Participant or repurchased by the Company under Section 8(b) at a price not greater than the price originally paid by the Participant so that such Shares are returned to the Company will again be available for Awards under the Plan. 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Share Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 12, the number of Shares that are available for ISO Awards shall be determined, to the extent required under applicable tax laws, by reducing the number of Shares designated in Section 3(a) by the number of Shares issued pursuant to Awards, provided that any Shares that are either issued or purchased under the Plan and forfeited back to the Plan, or surrendered in payment of the exercise price for an Award, shall be available for issuance pursuant to future ISO Awards.

 

(d) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available Shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were employed by or providing services to the acquired company immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

4. Administration

 

(a) General. The Committee shall administer the Plan in accordance with its terms. In its sole discretion, the Board may, at any time and from time to time, exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan except with respect to matters which, under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, the Committee (or another committee or subcommittee of the Board assuming the functions of the Committee under the Plan) shall take all action with respect to such Awards, and the individuals taking such action shall consist solely of two or more non-employee directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, each of whom is intended to qualify as both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule. Additionally, to the extent required by Applicable Law, each of the individuals constituting the Committee (or another committee or subcommittee of the Board assuming the functions of the Committee under the Plan) shall be an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 4 or otherwise provided in any charter of the Committee. The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine, and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it deems advisable.

 

(b) Committee Composition. The Board shall appoint the members of the Committee. If, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may authorize one or more Reporting Persons (or other officers) to make Awards to Eligible Persons who are not Reporting Persons (or other officers whom the Committee has specifically authorized to make Awards). The Board may at any time appoint additional members to the Committee, remove and replace members of the Committee with or without Cause, and fill vacancies on the Committee however caused.

 

(c) Powers of the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion:

 

(i) to determine Eligible Persons to whom Awards shall be granted from time to time, and the number of Shares, units, or SARs to be covered by each Award;

 

(ii) to determine, from time to time, the Fair Market Value of Shares;

 

(iii) to determine, and to set forth in Award Agreements, the terms and conditions of all Awards, including any applicable exercise or purchase price, the installments and conditions under which an Award shall become vested (which may be based on performance), terminated, expired, cancelled, or replaced, and the circumstances for vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and other restrictions and limitations;

 

 

(iv) to approve the forms of Award Agreements, and all other documents, notices and certificates in connection therewith, which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants;

 

(v) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, to determine the meaning of their terms, and to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and procedures relating to the Plan and its administration;

 

(vi) to the extent consistent with the purposes of the Plan, and without amending the Plan, to modify, cancel, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to any Awards, to adjust or to modify Award Agreements for changes in Applicable Law, and to recognize differences in foreign law, tax policies, or customs;

 

(vii) to implement paperless documentation, granting, settlement, or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system, in all cases, in the event that the Company establishes for itself, or uses, the services of a third party to establish an automated system for the documentation, granting, settlement, or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response; and

 

(viii) to make all other interpretations, and to take all other actions that the Committee may consider necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, or to effectuate its purposes.

 

Subject to Applicable Law and the restrictions set forth in the Plan, the Committee may delegate administrative functions to individuals who are Reporting Persons, officers, or Employees of the Company or its Affiliates.

 

(d) Action by Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by an officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate thereof, the Company’s independent certified public accounts, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

 

(e) Deference to Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have the discretion to interpret or construe ambiguous, unclear, or implied (but omitted) terms in any fashion it deems to be appropriate in its sole discretion, and to make any findings of fact needed in the administration of the Plan or Award Agreements. The Committee’s prior exercise of its discretionary authority shall not obligate it to exercise its authority in a like fashion thereafter. The Committee’s interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan, or of any Award or Award Agreement, shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The validity of any such interpretation, construction, decision or finding of fact shall not be given de novo review if challenged in court, by arbitration, or in any other forum, and shall be upheld unless clearly made in bad faith or materially affected by fraud. The Committee may make any determination required hereunder, including determinations under Section 12, on an Award-by-Award basis.

 

(f) No Liability; Indemnification. Neither the Board nor any Committee member, nor any Person acting at the direction of the Board or the Committee, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. The Company and its Affiliates shall pay or reimburse any member of the Committee, as well as any Director, Employee, or Consultant who takes action in connection with the Plan, for all expenses incurred with respect to the Plan, and, to the fullest extent allowable under Applicable Law, shall indemnify each and every one of them for any claims, liabilities, and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of their good faith performance of duties under the Plan. The Company and its Affiliates may obtain liability insurance for this purpose.

 

5. Eligibility

 

(a) General Rule. The Committee may grant ISOs only to Employees (including officers who are Employees) of the Company, or an Affiliate that is a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, and may grant all other Awards to any Eligible Person. A Participant who has been granted an Award may be granted an additional Award or Awards if the Committee shall so determine, if such person is otherwise an Eligible Person and, if otherwise, in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

 

(b) Grant of Awards. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine from the class of Eligible Persons those individuals to whom Awards under the Plan may be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Award, and the price (if any) to be paid for the Shares or the Award and, in the case of Performance Awards, in addition to the matters addressed in Section 9, the specific objectives, goals and performance criteria that further define the Performance Award. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement signed by the Company and, if required by the Committee, by the Participant. The Award Agreement shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the Award established by the Committee, and each Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 22, 23, and 25 unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement. All Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall have a minimum vesting period of one year from the date of grant.

 

(c) Limits on Awards. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Section 12(a): (i) the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one person other than a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall be 4,000,000; (ii) the maximum aggregate number of Shares, with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any Non-Employee Director during any calendar year, shall be 250,000; and (iii) no Participant may be granted, during any calendar year, Awards initially payable in cash that could result in such Participant receiving cash payments exceeding $5,000,000 pursuant to such Awards. The Committee will adjust these limitations pursuant to Section 12 below.

 

(d) Replacement Awards. Subject to Applicable Laws (including any associated stockholder approval requirements), the Committee may, in its sole discretion and upon such terms as it deems appropriate, require as a condition of the grant of an Award to a Participant that the Participant surrender for cancellation some or all of the Awards that have previously been granted to the Participant under this Plan or otherwise. An Award that is conditioned upon such surrender may or may not be the same type of Award, may cover the same (or a lesser or greater) number of Shares as such surrendered Award, may have other terms that are determined without regard to the terms or conditions of such surrendered Award, and may contain any other terms that the Committee deems appropriate. In the case of Options, these other terms may not include an exercise price that is lower than the exercise price of the surrendered Option unless the Company’s stockholders approve the Option grant itself or the program under which the Option grant is made pursuant to the Plan.

 

6. Option Awards

 

(a) Types; Documentation. Subject to Section 5(a), the Committee may in its discretion grant Options pursuant to Award Agreements that are delivered to Participants. Each Option shall be designated in the Award Agreement as an ISO or a Non-ISO, and the same Award Agreement may grant both types of Options. At the sole discretion of the Committee, any Option may be exercisable, in whole or in part, immediately upon the grant thereof, or only after the occurrence of a specified event, or only in installments, which installments may vary. Options granted under the Plan may contain such terms and provisions not inconsistent with the Plan that the Committee shall deem advisable in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(b) ISO Limitations. No ISO shall be granted to any person who is not an Employee of the Company or any “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code. No person who qualifies as a Ten Percent Holder may be granted an ISO unless such ISO conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Any ISO granted under the Plan may be modified by the Committee, with the consent of the Participant, to disqualify such Option from treatment as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which Options designated as ISOs first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year (under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall automatically be treated as Non-ISOs. For purposes of determining whether the $100,000 limit is exceeded, the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an ISO shall be determined as of the Grant Date. In reducing the number of Options treated as ISOs to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first. In the event that Section 422 of the Code is amended to alter the limitation set forth therein, the limitation of this Section 6(b) shall be automatically adjusted accordingly.

 

(c) Term of Option. Each Award Agreement shall specify a term at the end of which the Option automatically expires, subject to earlier termination provisions contained in Section 6(h); provided that the term of any Option may not exceed ten years from the Grant Date. In the case of an ISO granted to an Employee who is a Ten Percent Holder on the Grant Date, the term of the ISO shall not exceed five years from the Grant Date.

 

 

(d) Exercise Price. The exercise price of an Option shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be set forth in the Award Agreement, provided that:

 

(i) if an ISO is granted to an Employee who on the Grant Date is a Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code); and

 

(ii) for all other Options, such per Share exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date (or, as to ISOs, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code).

 

Neither the Company nor the Committee shall, without stockholder approval, allow for a repricing of Options within the meaning of the federal securities laws applicable to proxy statement disclosures.

 

(e) Exercise of Option. The times, circumstances and conditions under which an Option shall be exercisable shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine whether and to what extent the vesting of Options shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence; provided, however, that, in the absence of such determination, vesting of Options shall be tolled during any such leave approved by the Company. Except as limited by the Plan, at any time after the grant of an Option, the Committee, in its sole discretion, and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, may accelerate the period during which an Option vests.

 

(f) Minimum Exercise Requirements. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. The Committee may require in an Award Agreement that an Option be exercised as to a minimum number of Shares, provided that such requirement shall not prevent a Participant from purchasing the full number of Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

 

(g) Methods of Exercise. Prior to its expiration pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and subject to the times, circumstances and conditions for exercise contained in the applicable Award Agreement, each Option may be exercised, in whole or in part (provided that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares), by delivery of written notice of exercise to the secretary of the Company accompanied by payment of the full exercise price of the Shares being purchased. The Committee shall determine the acceptable methods of payment for exercise of the Option on the Grant Date, and such methods shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement. The methods of payment that the Committee may, in its discretion, accept or commit to accept in an Option Award Agreement include:

 

(i) cash or check payable to the Company (in U.S. dollars);

 

(ii) the Participant’s surrender of a number of Shares that are subject to the Option being exercised, and that have a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price and minimum taxes payable (at statutory rates) upon exercise, with any additional amount that the Participant owes being paid in cash or by check payable to the Company (in U.S. dollars);

 

(iii) other Shares that (A) are owned by the Participant who is purchasing Shares pursuant to an Option, (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (C) were not acquired by such Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Option, unless such Shares have been owned by such Participant for at least six months or such longer period as the Committee may determine, (D) are all, at the time of such surrender, free and clear of any and all claims, pledges, liens and encumbrances, or any restrictions which would in any manner restrict the transfer of such shares to or by the Company (other than such restrictions as may have existed prior to an issuance of such Shares by the Company to such Participant), and (E) are duly endorsed for transfer to the Company;

 

 

(iv) a cashless exercise program that the Committee may approve, from time to time in its discretion, pursuant to which a Participant may concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (A) to such Participant’s broker or dealer to effect the immediate sale of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the exercise price of the Option plus all applicable taxes required to be withheld by the Company by reason of such exercise, and (B) to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such broker or dealer in order to complete the sale;

 

(v) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or

 

(vi) any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

The Company shall not be required to deliver Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option until payment of the full exercise price therefore is received by the Company.

 

(h) Termination of Continuous Service. The Committee may establish and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the terms and conditions on which an Option shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder, the Committee may waive or modify these provisions at any time. To the extent that a Participant is not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of his or her termination of Continuous Service, or if the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Option) does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified in the Award Agreement or below (as applicable), the Option shall terminate and the Shares underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan and become available for future Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised after the expiration of the Option term as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

The following provisions shall apply to the extent an Award Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an Option shall terminate when there is a termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service:

 

(i) Termination other than Upon Disability or Death or for Cause. In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service (other than as a result of Participant’s death, Disability or termination for Cause), the Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option at any time within 3 months following such termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination.

 

(i) Disability. In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her being Disabled, the Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option at any time within one year following such termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination.

 

(ii) Death. In the event of the death of a Participant either during the period of Continuous Service since the Grant Date of an Option, or within 30 days following termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason other than due to Cause, the Option may be exercised, at any time within one year following the date of the Participant’s death, by the Participant’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent the right to exercise the Option had vested as of the earlier to occur of the date of the Participant’s death or the date the Participant’s Continuous Service terminated.

 

(iii) Cause. If the Committee determines that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminated due to Cause, the Participant shall immediately forfeit the right to exercise any Option, and any such Option shall be considered immediately null and void.

 

7. Share Appreciate Rights (SARs)

 

(a) Grants. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Share Appreciation Rights to any Eligible Person pursuant to Award Agreements, in any of the following forms:

 

(i) SARs Related to Options. The Committee may grant SARs either concurrently with the grant of an Option or with respect to an outstanding Option, in which case the SAR shall extend to all or a portion of the Shares covered by the related Option. An SAR shall entitle the Participant who holds the related Option, upon exercise of the SAR and surrender of the related Option, or portion thereof, to the extent the SAR and related Option each were previously unexercised, to receive payment of an amount determined pursuant to Sections 7(e) and 7(f). Any SAR granted in connection with an ISO will contain such terms as may be required to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

(ii) SARs Independent of Options. The Committee may grant SARs that are independent of any Option subject to such conditions as the Committee may in its discretion determine, which conditions will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(iii) Limited SARs. The Committee may grant SARs exercisable only upon, or in respect of, a Change in Control or any other specified event, and such limited SARs may relate to or operate in tandem or combination with or substitution for Options or other SARs, or on a stand-alone basis, and may be payable in cash or Shares based on the spread between the exercise price of the SAR, and (A) a price based upon, or equal to, the Fair Market Value of the Shares during a specified period, at a specified time within a specified period before, after or including the date of such event, or (B) a price related to consideration payable to Company’s stockholders generally in connection with the event.

 

(b) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price of an SAR shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, and shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date the SAR is granted. The exercise price of an SAR related to an Option shall be the same as the exercise price of the related Option. Neither the Company nor the Committee shall, without stockholder approval, allow for a repricing of any SAR within the meaning of federal securities laws applicable to proxy statement disclosures.

 

(c) Exercise of SARs. Unless the Award Agreement otherwise provides, an SAR related to an Option will be exercisable at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related Option will be exercisable; provided that the Award Agreement shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, provide for a vesting period for the exercise of the SAR that is more favorable to the Participant than the exercise period for the related Option. An SAR may not have a term exceeding ten years from its Grant Date. An SAR granted independently of any other Award will be exercisable pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement. Whether an SAR is related to an Option or is granted independently, the SAR may only be exercised when the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the SAR exceeds the exercise price of the SAR. Except as limited by the Plan, at any time after the grant of an SAR, the Committee, in its sole discretion, and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, may accelerate the period during which an SAR vests.

 

(d) Effect on Available Shares. All SARs that are settled in shares of the Company’s stock shall be counted in full against the number of shares available for award under the Plan, regardless of the number of shares actually issued upon settlement of the SARs.

 

(e) Payment. Upon exercise of an SAR related to an Option and the attendant surrender of an exercisable portion of any related Award, the Participant will be entitled to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price per Share of the SAR, by

 

(ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR has been exercised.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR granted independently of an Option (i) may limit the amount payable to the Participant to a percentage specified in the Award Agreement, and (ii) shall be subject to any payment or other restrictions that the Committee may, at any time, impose in its discretion, including restrictions intended to conform the SARs with Section 409A of the Code.

 

 

(f) Form and Terms of Payment. Subject to Applicable Law, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, settle the amount determined under Section 7(e) solely in cash, solely in Shares (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR), or partly in cash and partly in Shares, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares.

 

(g) Termination of Employment or Consulting Relationship. The Committee shall establish, and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, the terms and conditions on which an SAR shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service. The provisions of Section 6(h) shall apply to the extent an Award Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an SAR shall terminate when a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates.

 

8. Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Unrestricted Shares and Dividend Equivalents

 

(a) Grants. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant restricted shares (“Restricted Shares”) to any Eligible Person and shall evidence such grant in an Award Agreement that is delivered to the Participant and that sets forth the number of Restricted Shares, the purchase price for such Restricted Shares (if any), and the terms upon which the Restricted Shares may become vested. In addition, the Company may, in its discretion, grant to any Eligible Person the right to receive Shares after certain vesting requirements are met (“Restricted Share Units”), and shall evidence such grant in an Award Agreement that is delivered to the Participant and that sets forth the number of Shares (or formula, that may be based on future performance or conditions, for determining the number of Shares) that the Participant shall be entitled to receive upon vesting and the terms upon which the Shares subject to a Restricted Share Unit may become vested. The Committee may condition any Award of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units to a Participant on receiving from the Participant such further assurances and documents as the Committee may require to enforce the restrictions. In addition, the Committee may grant Awards hereunder in the form of unrestricted shares (“Unrestricted Shares”), which shall vest in full upon the date of grant or such other date as the Committee may determine or which the Committee may issue pursuant to any program under which one or more Eligible Persons (selected by the Committee in its sole discretion) elect to pay for such Shares or to receive Unrestricted Shares in lieu of cash bonuses that would otherwise be paid.

 

(b) Vesting and Forfeiture. The Committee shall set forth in an Award Agreement granting Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units, the terms and conditions under which the Participant’s interest in the Restricted Shares or the Shares subject to Restricted Share Units will become vested and non-forfeitable. Except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or the Committee otherwise determines, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason, the Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units; provided that if a Participant purchases the Restricted Shares and forfeits them for any reason, the Company shall return the purchase price to the Participant only if and to the extent set forth in an Award Agreement.

 

(c) Issuance of Restricted Shares Prior to Vesting. The Company shall issue stock certificates that evidence Restricted Shares pending the lapse of applicable restrictions, and that bear a legend making appropriate reference to such restrictions. Except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or as the Committee otherwise determines, the Company or a third party that the Company designates shall hold such Restricted Shares and any dividends that accrue with respect to Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 8(e) below.

 

(d) Issuance of Shares upon Vesting. As soon as practicable after vesting of a Participant’s Restricted Shares (or Shares underlying Restricted Share Units) and the Participant’s satisfaction of applicable tax withholding requirements, the Company shall release to the Participant, free from the vesting restrictions, one Share for each vested Restricted Share (or issue one Share free of the vesting restriction for each vested Restricted Share Unit), unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise. No fractional shares shall be distributed, and cash shall be paid in lieu thereof.

 

(e) Rights as a Stockholder. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, and subject to Section 8(b), upon issuance of Restricted Shares, the Participant shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares, including the right to vote the Shares; provided, however, that in no event shall a Participant holding Restricted Shares be entitled to receive dividends, payments or other distributions paid with respect to Restricted Shares prior to the time the Restricted Shares. In addition, with respect to a Restricted Share with performance-based vesting, dividends which are paid prior to vesting shall only be paid out to the Participant to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Restricted Share vests.

 

 

(f) Section 83(b) Elections. A Participant may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (the “Section 83(b) Election”) with respect to Restricted Shares.

 

(g) Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Committee based on dividends declared on Shares, during the period between the date an Award is granted to a Participant and the date such Award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the Committee. 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 Committee. In addition, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award with performance-based 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 performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Share appreciation rights.

 

9. Performance Awards

 

(a) Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards, including Performance Unit awards, determined in the Committee’s discretion from time to time, to any Eligible Person. The value of Performance Awards, including Performance Units and any cash awards, may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Measures or other specific criteria determined by the Committee, in each case, on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Performance Awards, including Performance Unit awards, may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Committee. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), the Committee may, in its discretion, grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Person and shall evidence such grant in an Award Agreement that is delivered to the Participant which sets forth the terms and conditions of the Award. With respect to each such Performance Award, the Committee shall establish, in writing, a “Performance Period,” “Performance Goal(s)” based on the “Performance Measure(s),” and “Performance Formula(e)” (each such term being hereinafter defined).

 

A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Award only to the extent that the Performance Goal(s) for such Award is achieved and the Performance Formula(e), as applied against such Performance Goal(s), determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s Award has been earned for the Performance Period. As soon as practicable after the close of each Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goal(s) for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, determine and certify in writing the amount of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant and, in so doing, may use negative discretion to decrease, but not increase, the amount of the Award otherwise payable to the Participant based upon such performance.

 

(b) Definitions.

 

(i) “Performance Formula” means, for a Performance Period, one or more objective formulas or standards established by the Committee for purposes of determining whether or the extent to which an Award has been earned based on the level of performance attained or to be attained with respect to one or more Performance Goal(s). Performance Formulae may vary from Performance Period to Performance Period and from Participant to Participant and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative.

 

(ii) “Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established in writing by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Measures. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the achievement of each Performance Goal shall be determined, to the extent applicable, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied by the Company (or such other standard applied by the Committee).

 

(iii) “Performance Measure” means one or more of the following selected by the Committee to measure Company, Affiliate, and/or business unit performance for a Performance Period, whether in absolute or relative terms (including, without limitation, terms relative to a peer group or index): net earnings (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation and (D) amortization); gross or net sales or revenue; net income (either before or after taxes); adjusted net income; operating earnings or profit; cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); return on assets; return on capital or return on capital or invested capital; return on stockholders’ equity; total stockholder return; return on sales; gross or net profit or operating margin; operating or other costs and expenses; improvements in expense levels; working capital; earnings per share or adjusted earnings per share; price per Share; regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product; implementation or completion of critical projects; market share; economic value; comparisons with various stock market indices; stockholders’ equity; market recognition (including but not limited to awards and analyst ratings); financial ratios; net promoter score; customer satisfaction; and strategic team goals. Performance Measures may vary from Performance Period to Performance Period, and from Participant to Participant, and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative.

 

 

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that one or more objectively determinable adjustments shall be made to one or more of the Performance Goals. Such adjustments may include one or more of the following: items related to a change in accounting principle; items relating to financing activities; expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; other non-operating items; items related to acquisitions; items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the Performance Period; items related to the disposal of a business or segment of a business; items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied by the Company (or such other standard applied by the Committee); items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the Performance Period; any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; items relating to unusual or extraordinary corporate transactions, events or developments, items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; items related to acquired in-process research and development; items relating to changes in tax laws; items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; items relating to asset impairment charges; items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; or items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in Applicable Law, accounting principles or business conditions.

 

(iv) “Performance Period” means one or more periods of time (of not less than one fiscal year of the Company), as the Committee may designate, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goal(s) will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s rights in respect of an Award.

 

10. Taxes

 

(a) General. As a condition to the issuance or distribution of Shares pursuant to the Plan, the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, the person who succeeds to the Participant’s rights) shall make such arrangements as the Company may require for the satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the Award and the issuance of Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares until such obligations are satisfied. If the Committee allows the withholding or surrender of Shares to satisfy a Participant’s tax withholding obligations, the Committee shall not allow Shares to be withheld in an amount that exceeds the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes.

 

(b) Default Rule for Employees. In the absence of any other arrangement, an Employee shall be deemed to have directed the Company to withhold or collect, from his or her cash compensation, an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations from the next payroll payment otherwise payable after the date of the exercise of an Award.

 

(c) Surrender of Shares. If permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, a Participant may satisfy the minimum applicable tax withholding and employment tax obligations associated with an Award by surrendering Shares to the Company (including Shares that would otherwise be issued pursuant to the Award) that have a Fair Market Value, determined as of the applicable date, that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined under the Applicable Law equal to the amount required to be withheld. In the case of Shares previously acquired from the Company that are surrendered under this Section 10, such Shares must have been owned by the Participant for more than six months on the date of surrender (or such longer period of time the Company may in its discretion require).

 

 

(d) Income Taxes and Deferred Compensation. Participants are solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection with Awards (including any taxes arising under Section 409A of the Code), and the Company shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold any Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes. The Committee shall have the discretion to organize any deferral program, to require deferral election forms, and to grant or to unilaterally modify any Award in a manner (i) that conforms with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to compensation that is deferred and that vests after December 31, 2004, (ii) that voids any Participant election to the extent it would violate Section 409A of the Code, and (iii) for any distribution election that would violate Section 409A of the Code, to make distributions pursuant to the Award at the earliest to occur of a distribution event that is allowable under Section 409A of the Code or any distribution event that is both allowable under Section 409A of the Code and is elected by the Participant, subject to any valid second election to defer, provided that the Committee permits second elections to defer in accordance with Section 409A(a)(4)(C) of the Code. The Committee shall have the sole discretion to interpret the requirements of the Code, including Section 409A, for purposes of the Plan and all Awards.

 

11. Non-Transferability of Awards

 

(a) General. Except as set forth in this Section 11, or as otherwise approved by the Committee, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution, or in the case of an option other than an ISO, pursuant to a domestic relations order as defined under Rule 16a-12 under the Exchange Act. The designation of a beneficiary by a Participant will not constitute a transfer. An Award may be exercised, during the lifetime of the holder of an Award, only by such holder, the duly-authorized legal representative of a Participant who is Disabled, a transferee permitted by this Section 11, or except as would cause an ISO to lose such status, by a bankruptcy trustee.

 

(b) Limited Transferability Rights. Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 11, the Committee may in its discretion provide in an Award Agreement that an Award relating to non-ISOs, SARs settled only in Shares, Restricted Shares, or Performance Shares may be transferred, on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, either (i) by instrument to the Participant’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below), (ii) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which the Award is to be passed to the Participant’s designated beneficiaries, or (iii) by gift to charitable institutions. Each share of restricted stock shall be non-transferable until such share becomes non-forfeitable. Any transferee of the Participant’s rights shall succeed and be subject to all of the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and the Plan (other than the ability to further transfer the award). Such transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Committee, including, without limitation, documents to (i) confirm the status of the transferee as a permitted transferee, (ii) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (iii) evidence the transfer. “Immediate Family” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.

 

12. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation or a Change in Control

 

(a) Changes in Capitalization. The Committee shall equitably adjust the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, the maximum number of Shares with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to persons during any calendar year as set out in Section 5(c) and the number of Shares that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation, forfeiture, or expiration of an Award, as well as the price per Share covered by each such outstanding Award, to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the Shares, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, in each case effected at any time after this Plan is approved by the Board. In the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding Awards under the Plan such alternative consideration (including securities of any surviving entity) as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of all Awards so replaced. In any case, such substitution of securities shall not require the consent of any person who is granted Awards pursuant to the Plan. Except as expressly provided herein, or in an Award Agreement, if the Company issues for consideration shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, the issuance shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be required to be made with respect to the number or price of Shares subject to any Award.

 

 

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company other than as part of a Change in Control, each Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, subject to the ability of the Committee to exercise any discretion authorized in the case of a Change in Control.

 

(c) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and authority, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Company’s stockholders or any Participant with respect to his or her outstanding Awards, take one or more of the following actions:

 

(i) cause or otherwise provide that each outstanding Award shall be assumed through the continuation of the Plan and the assumption of the agreements covering the Award or substituted for a substantially similar award issued by a successor entity or a parent or subsidiary of such successor entity (the “Successor Entity”), in each case with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares subject to the Award, the exercise price of such Award and such other terms deemed appropriate, as applicable;

 

(ii) arrange or otherwise provide for the payment of cash or other consideration to Participants in exchange for the satisfaction and cancellation of outstanding Awards;

 

(iii) accelerate, in part or in full, to a date prior to the effective time of such Change in Control as the Committee shall determine (or, if the Committee shall not determine such a date, to the date that is four days prior to the effective time of the Change in Control) the vesting of Awards so that Awards shall vest (and, to the extent applicable, become exercisable) as to the Shares that otherwise would have been unvested and provide that repurchase rights of the Company with respect to Shares issued upon exercise of an Award shall lapse as to the Shares subject to such repurchase right; or

 

(iv) make such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding Awards or this Plan as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate, subject, however, to the terms of Section 14(a).

 

Notwithstanding the above, (i) to the extent that an Award is not exercised prior to consummation of a transaction, including a Change in Control, in which the Award is not being assumed or substituted for in such transaction, such Award shall automatically terminate as of immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction; and (ii) in the event a Participant holding an Award assumed or substituted by the Successor Entity in a Change in Control is Involuntarily Terminated by the Successor Entity in connection with, or within 12 months following consummation of, the Change in Control, then any assumed or substituted Award held by the terminated Participant at the time of termination shall accelerate and become fully vested (and exercisable in full in the case of Options and SARs), and any repurchase right applicable to any Shares shall lapse in full, unless an Award Agreement provides for a more restrictive acceleration or vesting schedule or more restrictive limitations on the lapse of repurchase rights or otherwise places additional restrictions, limitations and conditions on an Award. The acceleration of vesting and lapse of repurchase rights provided for in the previous sentence shall occur immediately prior to the effective time of the Participant’s termination, unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise.

 

(d) Certain Distributions. In the event of any distribution to the Company’s stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Committee may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per Share covered by each outstanding Award to reflect the effect of such distribution.

 

(e) Limitation on Adjustments. No adjustment or action described in this Section 12, or in any other provision of the Plan, shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code. Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 unless the Committee determines that the Award is not to comply with such exemptive conditions. No action shall be taken under this Section 12 which shall cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code or the regulations thereunder.

 

 

13. Time of Granting Awards.

 

The date of grant (“Grant Date”) of an Award shall be the date on which the Committee makes the determination granting such Award or such other date as is determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, provided that in the case of an ISO, the Grant Date shall be the later of the date on which the Committee makes the determination granting such ISO or the date of commencement of the Participant’s employment relationship with the Company.

 

14. Modification of Awards and Substitution of Options.

 

(a) Modification, Extension, and Renewal of Awards. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify an Award to accelerate the rate at which an Option or SAR may be exercised (including without limitation permitting an Option or SAR to be exercised in full without regard to the installment or vesting provisions of the applicable Award Agreement or whether the Option or SAR is at the time exercisable, to the extent it has not previously been exercised), to accelerate the vesting of any Award only in the event of a Change in Control, to extend or renew outstanding Awards or to accept the cancellation of outstanding Awards to the extent not previously exercised. However, the Committee may not cancel an outstanding option that is underwater for the purpose of reissuing the option to the participant at a lower exercise price or granting a replacement award of a different type. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, no modification of an outstanding Award shall materially and adversely affect such Participant’s rights thereunder, unless either the Participant provides written consent or there is an express Plan provision permitting the Committee to act unilaterally to make the modification. Neither the Company nor the Committee shall, without prior stockholder approval, allow for a cash buyout of underwater options or SARs.

 

(b) Substitution of Options. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions or limits under the Plan, in the event the Company or an Affiliate acquires (whether by purchase, merger or otherwise) all or substantially all of outstanding capital stock or assets of another corporation or in the event of any reorganization or other transaction qualifying under Section 424 of the Code, the Committee may, in accordance with the provisions of that Section, substitute Options for options under the plan of the acquired company provided (i) the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to an option immediately after the substitution over the aggregate option price of such shares is not more than the similar excess immediately before such substitution and (ii) the new option does not give persons additional benefits, including any extension of the exercise period.

 

15. Term of Plan.

 

The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten years from the date this Plan is first adopted by the Board, unless the Plan is sooner terminated under Section 16.

 

16. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

(a) Authority to Amend or Terminate. Subject to Applicable Laws, the Board may, from time to time, amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan.

 

(b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect Awards already granted unless either it relates to an adjustment pursuant to Section 12, or it is otherwise mutually agreed between the Participant and the Committee, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may amend the Plan to eliminate provisions which are no longer necessary as a result of changes in tax or securities laws or regulations, or in the interpretation thereof.

 

17. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated, and shall have no liability for failure, to issue or deliver any Shares under the Plan unless such issuance or delivery would comply with Applicable Law, with such compliance determined by the Company in consultation with its legal counsel.

 

 

18. Reservation of Shares.

 

The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. Neither the Company nor the Committee shall, without stockholder approval, allow for a repricing within the meaning of the federal securities laws applicable to proxy statement disclosures.

 

19. Effective Date and Contingencies.

 

The Plan shall become effective on the date it is adopted by the Board or the Committee; provided that this Plan shall be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for approval. If this Plan is not approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with Applicable Laws (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) within one year from the date of approval by the Board, this Plan and any Awards shall be null, void, and of no force and effect. Awards granted under this Plan before approval of this Plan by the stockholders shall be granted subject to such approval, and no Shares shall be distributed before such approval.

 

20. Controlling Law.

 

This Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflicts of laws principles), to the extent not preempted by United States federal law. If any provision of this Plan is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to be fully effective.

 

21. Laws and Regulations.

 

(a) U.S. Securities Laws. This Plan, the grant of Awards, and the exercise of Options and SARs under this Plan, and the obligation of the Company to sell or deliver any of its securities (including, without limitation, Options, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, and Shares) under this Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Law. In the event that the Shares are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), or any applicable state securities laws prior to the delivery of such Shares, the Company may require, as a condition to the issuance thereof, that the persons to whom Shares are to be issued represent and warrant in writing to the Company that such Shares are being acquired by him or her for investment for his or her own account and not with a view to, for resale in connection with, or with an intent of participating directly or indirectly in, any distribution of such Shares within the meaning of the Act, and a legend to that effect may be placed on the certificates representing the Shares.

 

(b) Other Jurisdictions. To facilitate the making of any grant of an Award under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Affiliate outside of the United States of America as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. The Company may adopt rules and procedures relating to the operation and administration of this Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures of particular countries. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding the conversion of local currency, taxes, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with the customs and requirements of particular countries. The Company may adopt sub-plans and establish escrow accounts and trusts as may be appropriate or applicable to particular locations and countries.

 

(c) 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 by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. In furtherance of such implementation, administration, and management, the Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant with respect to one or more Awards under the Plan, including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), information regarding any securities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and details of all Awards (the “Data”). In addition to transferring the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, the Company and its Affiliates each may transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan. Recipients of the Data may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country and any given recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections. By accepting 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 assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of this Plan and Awards and the Participant’s participation in this Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. 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 such Participant’s local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Participant’s eligibility to participate in this Plan, and in the Committee’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

 

 

22. No Stockholder Rights. Neither a Participant nor any transferee of a Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares underlying any Award until the date of issuance of a share certificate to a Participant or a transferee of a Participant for such Shares in accordance with the Company’s governing instruments and Applicable Law. Prior to the issuance of Shares pursuant to an Award, a Participant shall not have the right to vote or to receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder with respect to the Shares underlying the Award, notwithstanding its exercise in the case of Options and SARs. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right that is determined based on a record date prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Plan.

 

23. No Employment Rights. The Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right to continue an employment, service or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall it affect in any way a Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate the Participant’s employment, service, or consulting relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

 

24. References. All references herein to sections and appendices shall be deemed to be references to sections and appendices, respectively, of this Plan unless the context shall otherwise require. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument defined or referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes, and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.

 

25. Termination, Rescission and Recapture of Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, but only to the extent specifically provided in any Award Agreement, this Section shall only apply to a Participant who is, on the date of an Award, an Employee of the Company or its Affiliates, and shall automatically cease to apply to any Participant from and after his or her termination of Continuous Service after a Change in Control.

 

(a) Each Award under the Plan is intended to align the Participant’s long-term interest with those of the Company. If the Participant engages in certain activities discussed below, either during employment or after employment with the Company, the Participant is acting contrary to the long-term interests of the Company. Accordingly, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Award Agreement, the Company may terminate any outstanding, unexercised, unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards (“Termination”), rescind any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to the Award (“Rescission”), or recapture any Shares (whether restricted or unrestricted) or proceeds from the Participant’s sale of Shares issued pursuant to the Award (“Recapture”), if the Participant does not comply with the conditions of subsections (b) and (c) hereof (collectively, the “Conditions”).

 

 

(b) A Participant shall not, without the Company’s prior written authorization, disclose to anyone outside the Company, or use in other than the Company’s business, any proprietary or confidential information or material, as those or other similar terms are used in any applicable patent, confidentiality, inventions, secrecy, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company with regard to any such proprietary or confidential information or material.

 

(c) Pursuant to any agreement between the Participant and the Company with regard to intellectual property (including but not limited to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, inventions, developments, improvements, proprietary information, confidential business and personnel information), a Participant shall promptly disclose and assign to the Company or its designee all right, title, and interest in such intellectual property, and shall take all reasonable steps necessary to enable the Company to secure all right, title and interest in such intellectual property in the United States and in any foreign country.

 

(d) Upon exercise, payment, or delivery of cash or Shares pursuant to an Award, the Participant shall certify on a form acceptable to the Company that he or she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and, if a severance of Continuous Service has occurred for any reason, shall state the name and address of the Participant’s then-current employer or any entity for which the Participant performs business services and the Participant’s title, and shall identify any organization or business in which the Participant owns a greater-than-five-percent equity interest.

 

(e) To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, if the Company determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that (i) a Participant has violated any of the Conditions or (ii) during his or her Continuous Service, or within one (1) year after Participant’s termination for any reason, a Participant (a) has rendered services to or otherwise directly or indirectly engaged in or assisted, any organization or business that, in the judgment of the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, is or is working to become competitive with the Company; (b) has solicited any non-administrative employee of the Company to terminate employment with the Company; or (c) has engaged in activities which are materially prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company, including any breaches of fiduciary duty or the duty of loyalty, then the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose a Termination, Rescission, and/or Recapture with respect to any or all of the Participant’s relevant Awards, Shares, and the proceeds thereof.

 

(f) Within ten days after receiving notice from the Company of any such activity, the Participant shall deliver to the Company the Shares acquired pursuant to the Award, or, if Participant has sold the Shares, the gain realized, or payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment, or delivery; provided that if the Participant returns Shares that the Participant purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option (or the gains realized from the sale of such Shares), the Company shall promptly refund the exercise price, without earnings, that the Participant paid for the Shares. Any payment by the Participant to the Company pursuant to this Section 25 shall be made either in cash or by returning to the Company the number of Shares that the Participant received in connection with the rescinded exercise, payment, or delivery. It shall not be a basis for Termination, Rescission or Recapture if, after termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service, the Participant purchases, as an investment or otherwise, stock or other securities of such an organization or business, so long as (i) such stock or other securities are listed upon a recognized securities exchange or traded over-the-counter, and (ii) such investment does not represent more than a five percent (5%) equity interest in the organization or business.

 

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company has sole and absolute discretion not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture, and its determination not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any particular act by a particular Participant or Award shall not in any way reduce or eliminate the Company’s authority to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any other act or Participant or Award. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to impose obligations on the Participant to refrain from engaging in lawful competition with the Company after the termination of employment that does not violate subsections (b) or (c) of this Section, other than any obligations that are part of any separate agreement between the Company and the Participant or that arise under Applicable Law.

 

 

(h) All administrative and discretionary authority given to the Company under this Section shall be exercised by the most senior human resources executive of the Company or such other person or committee (including without limitation the Committee) as the Committee may designate from time to time.

 

(i) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section, if any provision of this Section is determined to be unenforceable or invalid under any Applicable Law, such provision will be applied to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, and shall automatically be deemed amended in a manner consistent with its objectives to the extent necessary to conform to any limitations required under Applicable Law. Furthermore, if any provision of this Section is illegal under any Applicable Law, such provision shall be null and void to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law.

 

(j) 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 provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

26. Recoupment of Awards. Unless otherwise specifically provided in an Award Agreement, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may in its sole and absolute discretion, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Company’s stockholders or of any Participant, require that any Participant reimburse the Company for all or any portion of any Awards granted to him or her under this Plan (“Reimbursement”), or the Committee may require the Termination or Rescission of, or the Recapture associated with, any Award, if and to the extent:

 

(a) the granting, vesting, or payment of such Award (or portion thereof) was predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results or other performance criteria;

 

(b) in the Committee’s view, the Participant either benefited from a calculation that later proves to be materially inaccurate, or engaged in one or more material acts of fraud or misconduct that caused or partially caused the need for a financial restatement by the Company or any material Affiliate thereof; and

 

(c) a lower granting, vesting or payment of such Award would have occurred based upon the conduct described in clause (b) of this Section 26.

 

In each instance, the Committee may, to the extent practicable and allowable under Applicable Laws, require Reimbursement, Termination or Rescission of, or Recapture relating to, any such Award granted to a Participant; provided that the Company will not seek Reimbursement, Termination or Rescission of, or Recapture relating to, any such Awards that were paid or vested more than three years prior to the first date of the applicable restatement period.

 

[APPENDIX A FOLLOWS]

 

 

 

SORRENTO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
2019 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Appendix A: Definitions

 

 

As used in the Plan, the following definitions shall apply:

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person or the power to elect directors, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “affiliated,” “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Applicable Law” means the legal requirements relating to the administration of options and share-based plans under applicable U.S. federal and state laws, the Code, any applicable stock exchange or automated quotation system rules or regulations, and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.

 

“Award” means any award made pursuant to the Plan, including awards made in the form of an Option, an SAR, a Restricted Share, a Restricted Share Unit, an Unrestricted Share, a Dividend Equivalent, and a Performance Award, or any combination thereof, whether alternative or cumulative, authorized by and granted under this Plan.

 

“Award Agreement” means any written document setting forth the terms of an Award that has been authorized by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the form or forms of documents to be used, and may change them from time to time for any reason.

 

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

 

“Cause” for termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service will have the meaning set forth in any unexpired employment, consulting or service agreement between the Company and the Participant. In the absence of such an agreement, “Cause” will exist if the Participant is terminated from employment or other service with the Company or an Affiliate for any of the following reasons: (i) the Participant’s failure to substantially perform his or her duties and responsibilities to the Company or violation of a material Company policy; (ii) the Participant’s commission of any act or acts of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty, or other misconduct; (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship with the Company; or (iv) the Participant’s material breach of any of his or her obligations under any written agreement or covenant with the Company.

 

The Committee shall in its discretion determine whether or not a Participant is being terminated for Cause. The Committee’s determination shall, unless arbitrary and capricious, be final and binding on the Participant, the Company, and all other affected persons. The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Company’s ability to terminate a Participant’s employment, consulting or service relationship at any time, and the term “Company” will be interpreted herein to include any Affiliate or successor thereto, if appropriate.

 

“Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence during the term of the Plan of any of the following events, subject however to the Committee’s determination (to the extent required to conform with Section 409A of the Code) that any occurrence listed below is a permissible distribution event within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (it being the intention of the Company to set forth, interpret and apply the following provisions in a manner conforming with Section 409A insofar as applicable): (i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act of the beneficial ownership of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of all outstanding securities of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation hold, in the aggregate, securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity immediately after such merger or consolidation; (iii) the sale, transfer or other disposition (in one or more transactions or series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or (v) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting securities are transferred to or acquired by one or more Persons different from the Persons (or their Affiliates) holding those securities immediately prior to such merger.

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the former assets or capital stock of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

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

 

“Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 4. With respect to any decision involving an Award intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall consist of two or more Directors of the Company who are “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. With respect to any decision relating to a Reporting Person, the Committee shall consist of two or more Directors who are disinterested within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

 

“Company” means Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation; provided, however, that in the event the Company reincorporates to another jurisdiction, all references to the term “Company” shall refer to the Company in such new jurisdiction.

 

“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render services and is compensated for such services.

 

“Continuous Service” means a Participant’s most recent period of service, in the absence of any interruption or termination of service, as an Employee, Director, or Consultant. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; (iv) changes in status from Director to advisory director or emeritus status; or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Affiliates or their respective successors. Changes in status between service as an Employee, Director, and a Consultant will not, by itself, constitute an interruption of Continuous Service.

 

“Director” means a member of the Board, or a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate.

 

“Disabled” or “Disability” means a condition under which a Participant:

 

(a) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or

 

(b) has, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, received income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company.

 

 

“Dividend Equivalent” means a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 8.

 

“Eligible Person” means any Consultant, Director or Employee and includes non-Employees to whom an offer of employment has been extended by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

“Employee” means any person whom the Company or any Affiliate classifies as an employee (including an officer) for employment tax purposes, whether or not that classification is correct. The payment by the Company of a director’s fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” of such Director by the Company.

 

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

 

“Fair Market Value” means, unless otherwise determined by the Board on the committee, as of any date (the “Determination Date”): (i) the closing price of a Share on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (as applicable, the “Exchange”), on the Determination Date, or, if shares were listed, but not traded, on such Exchange on the Determination Date, then on the nearest preceding trading day during which a sale occurred; or (ii) if such stock is not quoted on an Exchange, but is otherwise traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board^TM or the Pink Sheets^®, the mean between the representative bid and asked prices on the Determination Date or the last preceding date for which such information is available; or (iii) if subsections (i) and (ii) do not apply, the fair market value established in good faith by the Board.

 

“Incentive Share Option” or “ISO” hereinafter means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as designated in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Involuntarily Terminated” means a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated under the following circumstances occurring in connection with, or within 12 months following consummation of, a Change in Control: (i) termination without Cause by the Company or an Affiliate or successor thereto, as appropriate; or (ii) voluntary termination by the Participant within 60 days following (A) a material reduction in the Participant’s job responsibilities, provided that neither a mere change in title alone nor reassignment to a substantially similar position shall constitute a material reduction in job responsibilities; (B) an involuntary relocation of the Participant’s work site to a facility or location more than 50 miles from the Participant’s principal work site as of immediately prior to the Change in Control; or (C) a material reduction in Participant’s total compensation other than as part of a reduction by the same percentage amount in the compensation of all other similarly-situated Employees, Directors or Consultants.

 

“Non-Employee Director” means a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

 

“Non-ISO” means an Option not intended to qualify as an ISO, as designated in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Option” means any stock option granted pursuant to Section 6.

 

“Original Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

 

“Participant” means any holder of one or more Awards, or the Shares issuable or issued upon exercise of such Awards, under the Plan.

 

“Performance Awards” mean a cash bonus award, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 9.

 

“Performance Unit” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 9(a) that are denominated in units of value, which may include, without limitation, the dollar value of Shares, and that may be paid in cash, in Shares, or such combination of cash and Shares as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine.

 

 

“Person” means any natural person, association, trust, business trust, cooperative, corporation, general partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited partnership, limited liability company, real estate investment trust, regulatory body, governmental agency or instrumentality, unincorporated organization or organizational entity.

 

“Reporting Person” means an officer, Director, or greater than ten percent stockholder of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-2 under the Exchange Act, who is required to file reports pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor provision.

 

“SAR” or “Share Appreciation Right” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7.

 

“Share” means a share of common stock of the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 12.

 

“Substitute Award” means an Award granted under the Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award” be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or SAR.

 

“Ten Percent Holder” means a person who owns stock representing more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.