VirnetX Holding Corporation 2007 Stock Plan

 

 

 

1.             Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this 2007 Stock Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business.  Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.  Stock Purchase Rights and Restricted Stock Units may also be granted under the Plan.

 

2.             Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

 

 

3.             Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be sold under the Plan is 11,624,469 Shares of Common Stock.  The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.  If an Award should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option Exchange Program, the unpurchased Shares that were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan.  In addition, any Shares of Common Stock which are retained by the Company upon exercise or settlement of an Award in order to satisfy the exercise or purchase price for such Award or any withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise, purchase or settlement shall be treated as not issued and shall continue to be available under the Plan.  Shares issued under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company pursuant to any repurchase right that the Company may have shall not be available for future grant under the Plan.

 

4.             Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)           General.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Board.  The Plan may be administered by different administrative bodies with respect to different classes of Participants and, if permitted by the Applicable Laws, the Board may authorize one or more officers to make Awards under the Plan.

 

(b)           Committee Composition.  If a Committee has been appointed pursuant to this Section 4, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to time the Board may increase the size of any Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies (however caused) and remove all members of a Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws and, in the case of a Committee administering the Plan in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted or required by such provisions.

 

(c)           Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i)      to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in accordance with Section 2(r) of the Plan, provided that such determination shall be applied consistently with respect to Participants under the Plan;

 

 

(ii)      to select the Employees and Consultants to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

 

(iii)     to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted;

 

(iv)     to determine the number of Shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted;

 

(v)      to approve the form(s) of agreement(s) used under the Plan;

 

(vi)     to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder, which terms and conditions include but are not limited to the exercise or purchase price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine;

 

(vii)    to determine whether and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in cash instead of Common Stock;

 

(viii)   to implement an Option Exchange Program on such terms and conditions as the Administrator in its discretion deems appropriate, provided that no amendment or adjustment to an Option that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Optionee shall be made without the prior written consent of the Optionee;

 

(ix)      to adjust the vesting of an Award held by an Employee or Consultant as a result of a change in the terms or conditions under which such person is providing services to the Company;

 

(x)       to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, which constructions, interpretations and decisions shall be final and binding on all Participants; and

 

(xi)      in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan, to modify grants of Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States in order to recognize differences in local law, tax policies or customs.

 

5.             Eligibility.

 

(a)           Recipients of Grants.  Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Purchase Rights and Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Employees and Consultants.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees, provided that Employees of Affiliates shall not be eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options.

 

(b)           Type of Option.  Each Option shall be designated in the Option Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

 

(c)           ISO $100,000 Limitation.  Notwithstanding any designation under Section 5(b), to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.  For purposes of this Section 5(c), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an Incentive Stock Option shall be determined as of the date of the grant of such Option.

 

(d)           No Employment Rights.  The Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuation of an employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with such Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate his or her employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or without cause.

 

6.             Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the Board of Directors.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 16 of the Plan.

 

7.             Term of Option.  The term of each Option shall be the term stated in the Option Agreement; provided that the term shall be no more than ten years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement and provided further that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a person who at the time of such grant is a Ten Percent Holder, the term of the Option shall be five years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.

 

8.             [Reserved.]

 

9.             Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

(a)           Exercise Price.  The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement, but shall be subject to the following:

 

(i)       In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

 

   (A)           granted to an Employee who at the time of grant is a Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or

 

   (B)            granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(ii)      In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option

 

   (A)           granted prior to the date, if ever, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security to a person who is at the time of grant is a Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant if required by the Applicable Laws and, if not so required, shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator;

 

 

   (B)            granted prior to the date, if ever, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security to any other eligible person, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant if required by the Applicable Laws and, if not so required, shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator; or

 

   (C)            granted on or after the date, if ever, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security to any eligible person, the per share Exercise Price shall be such price as determined by the Administrator provided that if such eligible person is, at the time of the grant of such Option, a Named Executive of the Company, the per share Exercise Price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant if such Option is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(iii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price other than as required above pursuant to a merger or other corporate transaction.

 

(b)           Permissible Consideration.  The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash; (2) check; (3) to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws, delivery of Optionee’s promissory note with such recourse, interest, security and redemption provisions as the Administrator determines to be appropriate (subject to the provisions of Section 153 of the Delaware General Corporation Law); (4) cancellation of indebtedness; (5) other Shares that 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 exercised, provided that in the case of Shares acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, such Shares must have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender (or such other period as may be required to avoid the Company’s incurring an adverse accounting charge); (6) to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws, delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other documentation as the Administrator and a securities broker approved by the Company shall require to effect exercise of the Option and prompt delivery to the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price and any applicable withholding taxes (subject to the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act prohibiting loans to directors and officers); (7) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or (8) such other consideration and method of payment permitted under Applicable Laws.  In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company and the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, refuse to accept a particular form of consideration at the time of any Option exercise.

 

10.           Exercise of Option.

 

(a)           General.

 

(i)       Exercisability.  Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator, consistent with the term of the Plan and reflected in the Option Agreement, including vesting requirements and/or performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee; provided however that, if required by Applicable Laws, any Option granted prior to the date, if ever, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security shall become exercisable at the rate of at least 20% per year over five years from the date the Option is granted.  In the event that any of the Shares issued upon exercise of an Option (which exercise occurs prior to the date, if ever, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security) should be subject to a right of repurchase in the Company’s favor, such repurchase right shall, if required by Applicable Laws, lapse at the rate of at least 20% per year over five years from the date the Option is granted.  Notwithstanding the above, in the case of an Option granted to an officer, Director or Consultant of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, the Option may become fully exercisable, or a repurchase right, if any, in favor of the Company Shall lapse, at any time or during any period established by the Administrator.

 

(ii)      Leave of Absence.  The Administrator 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 unpaid leave (unless otherwise required by the Applicable Laws).  In the event of military leave, vesting shall toll during any unpaid portion of such leave, provided that, upon a Participant’s returning from military leave (under conditions that would entitle him or her to protection upon such return under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), he or she shall be given vesting credit with respect to Options to the same extent as would have applied had the Participant continued to provide services to the Company throughout the leave on the same terms as he or she was providing services immediately prior to such leave.

 

(iii)      Minimum Exercise Requirements.  An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.  The Administrator may require that an Option be exercised as to a minimum number of Shares, provided that such requirement shall not prevent an Optionee from exercising the full number of Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

 

(iv)     Procedures for and Results of Exercise.  An Option shall be deemed exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and the Company has received full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised.  Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 9(b) of the Plan, provided that the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, refuse to accept any form of consideration at the time of any Option exercise.

 

Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares that thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

(v)      Rights as Stockholder.  Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.

 

 

(b)           Termination of Employment or Consulting Relationship.  Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 10(b), the Administrator shall establish and set forth in the applicable Option Agreement the terms and conditions upon which an Option shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service Status, which provisions may be waived or modified by the Administrator at any time.  To the extent that the Optionee is entitled to exercise an Option at the date of his or her termination of Continuous Service Status, or if the Optionee (or other person entitled to exercise the Option) does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified in the Option Agreement or below (as applicable), the Option shall terminate and the Optioned Stock underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.  In no event may any Option be exercised after the expiration of the Option term as set forth in the Option Agreement (and subject to Section 7).

 

The following provisions (1) shall apply to the extent an Option Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an Option shall terminate upon termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service Status, and (2) establish the minimum post-termination exercise periods that may be set forth in an Option Agreement:

 

(i)      Termination other than Upon Disability or Death or for Cause.  In the event of termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service Status, such Optionee may exercise an Option for 30 days following such termination to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  No termination shall be deemed to occur and this Section 10(b)(i) shall not apply if (i) the Optionee is a Consultant who becomes an Employee, or (ii) the Optionee is an Employee who becomes a Consultant.

 

(ii)      Disability of Optionee.  In the event of termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service Status as a result of his or her disability (including a disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), such Optionee may exercise an Option at any time within six months following such termination to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.

 

(iii)     Death of Optionee.  In the event of the death of an Optionee during the period of Continuous Service Status since the date of grant of the Option, or within thirty days following termination of Optionee’s Continuous Service Status, the Option may be exercised by Optionee’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance at any time within twelve months following the date of death, but only to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of death or, if earlier, the date the Optionee’s Continuous Service Status terminated.

 

 

 

(c)           Buyout Provisions.  The Administrator may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted under the Plan based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.

 

11.           Stock Purchase Rights and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)           Rights to Purchase.  When the Administrator determines that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it shall advise the offeree in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to such Award, including the number of Shares subject to such Award, the purchase price to be paid (if any), and the time within which such person must accept such offer.  In the case of a Stock Purchase Right granted prior to the date, if any, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security and if required by the Applicable Laws at that time, the purchase price of Shares subject to such Stock Purchase Rights shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of the offer, or, in the case of a Ten Percent Holder, the price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of the offer.  If the Applicable Laws do not impose the requirements set forth in the preceding sentence and with respect to any Stock Purchase Rights granted after the date, if any, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security, the purchase price of Shares subject to Stock Purchase Rights shall be as determined by the Administrator.  The grant of Stock Purchase Rights or Restricted Stock Units shall be accepted by execution of the applicable Award agreement in the form determined by the Administrator.  The permissible consideration for Stock Purchase Rights shall be determined by the Administrator and shall be the same as is set forth in Section 9(b) with respect to exercise of Options.

 

(b)           Repurchase Option.

 

 

(i)      General.  Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Award agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the purchaser’s employment with the Company for any reason (including death or disability).  The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the Award agreement shall be the original purchase price paid by the purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser to the Company.  The repurchase option shall lapse at such rate as the Administrator may determine, provided that with respect to a Stock Purchase Right granted prior to the date, if ever, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security to a purchaser who is not an officer, Director or Consultant of the Company or of any Parent, Subsidiary of Affiliate, it shall lapse at a minimum rate of 20% per year if required by Applicable Laws.

 

(ii)      Leave of Absence.  The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine whether and to what extent the lapsing of Company repurchase rights shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence; provided, however, that in the absence of such determination, such lapsing shall be tolled during any such unpaid leave (unless otherwise required by the Applicable Laws).  In the event of military leave, the lapsing of Company repurchase rights shall toll during any unpaid portion of such leave, provided that, upon a Participant’s returning from military leave (under conditions that would entitle him or her to protection upon such return under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), he or she shall be given “vesting” credit with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Award agreement to the same extent as would have applied had the Participant continued to provide services to the Company throughout the leave on the same terms as he or she was providing services immediately prior to such leave.

 

(iii)     Termination for Cause.  In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service Status for Cause, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Participant vested Shares issued upon exercise of a Stock Purchase Right or settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit granted to any person other than an officer, Director or Consultant prior to the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security upon the following terms: (A) the repurchase must be made within 90 days of termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service Status for Cause at the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of termination, (B) consideration for the repurchase consists of cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, and (C) the repurchase right terminates upon the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering of its Common Stock.  With respect to vested Shares issued upon exercise of a Stock Purchase Right or settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit granted to any officer, Director or Consultant, the Company’s right to repurchase such Shares upon termination of such Participant’s Continuous Service Status for Cause shall be made at the Participant’s original cost for the Shares and shall be effected pursuant to such terms and conditions, and at such time, as the Administrator shall determine.  Nothing in this Section 11(b)(iii) shall in any way limit the Company’s right to purchase unvested Shares as set forth in the applicable Award agreement.

 

(c)           Other Provisions.  The Award agreement shall contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.  In addition, the provisions of Award agreements need not be the same with respect to each purchaser.

 

 

(d)           Form and Timing of Payment.  Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.  The Administrator, in its sole discretion, provide in any Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for the settlement of any earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

 

(e)           Rights as a Stockholder.  Once the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a stockholder, and shall be a stockholder when his or her purchase is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.

 

12.           Taxes.

 

(a)           As a condition of the grant, vesting or exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right or settlement of Restricted Stock Unit granted under the Plan, the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, the person exercising the Option or Stock Purchase Right or receiving the Shares upon settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit) shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, Stock Purchase Right, the issuance of Shares or the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit.  The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.  If the Administrator allows the withholding or surrender of Shares to satisfy a Participant’s tax withholding obligations under this Section 12 (whether pursuant to Section 12(c), (d) or (e), or otherwise), the Administrator 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)           In the case of an Employee and in the absence of any other arrangement, the Employee shall be deemed to have directed the Company to withhold or collect from his or her compensation an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations from the next payroll payment otherwise payable after the date of an exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right or the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(c)           This Section 12(c) shall apply only after the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security.  In the case of Participant other than an Employee (or in the case of an Employee where the next payroll payment is not sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, with respect to any remaining tax obligations), in the absence of any other arrangement and to the extent permitted under the Applicable Laws, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right or the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date (as defined below) equal to the amount required to be withheld.  For purposes of this Section 12, the Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined under the Applicable Laws (the “Tax Date”).

 

 

(d)           If permitted by the Administrator, in its discretion, a Participant may satisfy his or her tax withholding obligations upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right or the vesting or settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit by surrendering to the Company Shares that have a Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date equal to the amount required to be withheld.  In the case of shares previously acquired from the Company that are surrendered under this Section 12(d), such Shares must have been owned by the Participant for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender (or such other period of time as is required for the Company to avoid adverse accounting charges).

 

(e)           Any election or deemed election by a Participant to have Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations under Section 12(c) or (d) above shall be irrevocable as to the particular Shares as to which the election is made and shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the Administrator.  Any election by a Participant under Section 12(d) above must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date.

 

(f)           In the event an election to have Shares withheld is made by a Participant and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Participant shall receive the full number of Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Purchase Right is exercised but such Participant shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the proper number of Shares on the Tax Date.

 

13.           Non-Transferability of Awards.

 

(a)           General.  Except as set forth in this Section 13, 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.  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 or a transferee permitted by this Section 13.

 

(b)           Limited Transferability Rights.  Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 13, prior to the date, if ever, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security, the Administrator may in its discretion grant Nonstatutory Stock Options that may be transferred by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the Options are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (settlor) or by gift to “Immediate Family Members” (as defined below) of the Optionee.  “Immediate Family” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships.  Following the date, if ever, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security, the Administrator may in its discretion grant transferable Awards pursuant to Award agreements specifying the manner in which such Awards are transferable.

 

14.           Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Merger or Certain Other Transactions.

 

(a)           Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Award, the numbers of Shares set forth in Sections 3(a) and 8 above, and the number of Shares of Common Stock 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 or expiration of an Award, as well as the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Award, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares of Common Stock subject to an Award.

 

 

(b)           Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.

 

(c)           Corporate Transaction.  In the event of a Corporate Transaction (including without limitation a Change of Control), each outstanding Award shall be assumed or an equivalent award shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (the “Successor Corporation”), unless the Successor Corporation does not agree to assume the Award or to substitute an equivalent award, in which case such Award shall terminate upon the consummation of the transaction.

 

Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a Change of Control and irrespective of whether outstanding Awards are being assumed, substituted or terminated in connection with the transaction, the vesting and exercisability of each outstanding Award shall accelerate as and to the extent (if at all) provided in such Participant’s Award agreement.

 

For purposes of this Section 14(c), an Award shall be considered assumed, without limitation, if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other consideration upon a Corporate Transaction or a Change of Control, as the case may be, each holder of an Award would be entitled to receive upon exercise or settlement of the Award the same number and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the holder had been, immediately prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by the Award at such time (after giving effect to any adjustments in the number of Shares covered by the Award as provided for in this Section 14); provided that if such consideration received in the transaction is not solely common stock of the Successor Corporation, the Administrator may, with the consent of the Successor Corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise or settlement of the Award to be solely common stock of the Successor Corporation equal to the Fair Market Value of the per Share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction.

 

 

(d)           Limitation on Payments.  In the event that the vesting acceleration of any Award or lapse of a repurchase right provided for in this Plan or in any Award agreement constitutes “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (y) but for this Section 14(d) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (or any corresponding provisions of state income tax law), then such vesting acceleration or lapse of a repurchase right shall be either:

 

  (A)            delivered in full, or

 

  (B)            delivered to such lesser extent as would result in no portion of such severance benefits being subject to excise tax under Code Section 4999,

 

whichever amount, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999, results in the receipt by the Participant on an after-tax basis of the greater amount of acceleration or lapse of repurchase rights benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Code Section 4999.  Any determination required under this Section 14(d) shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent accountants, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes on the Company and any affected Participant.  In the event that (A) above applies, then the Participant shall be responsible for any excise taxes imposed with respect to such benefits.  In the event that (B) above applies, then each benefit provided hereunder shall be proportionately reduced to the extent necessary to avoid imposition of such excise taxes.

 

(e)           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 Administrator may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Award to reflect the effect of such distribution.

 

15.           Time of Granting Awards.  The date of grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other date as is determined by the Administrator, provided that in the case of any Incentive Stock Option, the grant date shall be the later of the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Incentive Stock Option or the date of commencement of the Optionee’s employment relationship with the Company.  Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

 

16.           Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

(a)           Authority to Amend or Terminate.  The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuation (other than an adjustment pursuant to Section 14 above) shall be made that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any outstanding grant, without his or her consent.  In addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with the Applicable Laws, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

 

 

(b)           Effect of Amendment or Termination.  Except as to amendments which the Administrator has the authority under the Plan to make unilaterally, no amendment or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect Awards already granted, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company.

 

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 the Applicable Laws, with such compliance determined by the Company in consultation with its legal counsel.  As a condition to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, or the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit, the Company may require the person exercising the Award or receiving the Shares upon settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by law.  Shares issued upon exercise of Awards granted prior to the date, if ever, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security shall be subject to a right of first refusal in favor of the Company pursuant to which the Participant will be required to offer Shares to the Company before selling or transferring them to any third party on such terms and subject to such conditions as is reflected in the applicable Award agreement.

 

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.

 

19.           Agreements.  Awards shall be evidenced by Option Agreements, Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements, and Restricted Stock Unit Agreements, respectively, in such form(s) as the Administrator shall from time to time approve.

 

20.           Stockholder Approval.  If required by the Applicable Laws, continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted.  Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under the Applicable Laws.

 

21.           Information and Documents to Optionees and Purchasers.  Prior to the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security and if required by the Applicable Laws, the Company shall provide financial statements at least annually to each Participant and to each individual who acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such Participant or purchaser has one or more Awards outstanding, and in the case of an individual who acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such individual owns such Shares.  The Company shall not be required to provide such information if the issuance of Awards under the Plan is limited to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.

 

 

22.           Compliance With Code Section 409A.  Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator.  The Plan and each Award agreement under the Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator.  To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Code Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A.