compensation committee; and, to the extent the award was intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, are set by the compensation committee within the time period prescribed by, and will otherwise comply with the requirements of, Section 162(m). To the extent the performance awards were intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the compensation committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the cash or number of shares payable pursuant to such award, and may not waive the achievement of the applicable performance measures except in the case of the participant’s death or disability or a change in control. The Company believes that disclosure of any further details concerning the performance measures for any particular year may be confidential commercial or business information, the disclosure of which would adversely affect the Company.
Though the Third Amended and Restated 2010 Plan retains provisions that relate to Section 162(m) of the Code, these provisions are, in large part, no longer relevant due to elimination of the “performance-based compensation” exception to the deduction limitation of Section 162(m) pursuant to tax legislation enacted in 2017 commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Under the Third Amended and Restated 2010 Plan, the Board may, however, continue to make awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, or other stock-based awards that will vest solely upon the achievement of specified performance criteria that are not intended to qualify for deduction under Section 162(m). Any such awards may be based on the performance criteria described above or other performance measures, may be subject to the adjustments described above or other adjustments, and may be set at the time, in each case, as the Board may determine.
Transferability of Awards
Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an award, awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an incentive stock option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. During the life of the participant, awards are exercisable only by the participant.
Eligibility to Receive Awards
The Company’s employees, officers and directors, as well as consultants and advisors to the Company are eligible to be granted awards under the Third Amended and Restated 2010 Plan. Under present law, however, incentive stock options may only be granted to the Company’s employees or those of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations.
The maximum number of shares with respect to which awards may be granted to any participant under the Third Amended and Restated 2010 Plan may not exceed 6,000,000 shares per calendar year. For purposes of this limit, the combination of an option in tandem with a SAR is treated as a single award and each share of common stock subject to an award (including each share of common stock subject to an award of restricted stock, a restricted stock unit award, other stock-based award or performance award) shall be treated as one share.
The Third Amended and Restated 2010 Plan limits to $400,000 the aggregate compensation that the Company can pay per calendar year to each individualnon-employee director of the Company, inclusive of cash compensation and the fair market value (determined for financial reporting purposes) of any equity awards.