Exhibit 4.3
VACCINOGEN, INC.
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Effective as of February 16, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| 1. Establishment, Purpose and Types of Awards | 1 |
| 2. Definitions | 1 |
| 3. Administration | 6 |
| (a) Procedure | 6 |
| (b) Secondary Committees and Sub-Plans | 6 |
| (c) Powers of the Committee | 6 |
| (d) Limited Liability | 7 |
| (e) Indemnification | 7 |
| (f) Effect of Committee’s Decision | 8 |
| 4. Stock Available Under the Plan; Maximum Awards | 8 |
| (a) Stock Available Under the Plan | 8 |
| (b) Maximum Awards to Covered Employees | 8 |
| 5. Participation | 9 |
| 6. Stock Options | 9 |
| (a) Grant of Option | 9 |
| (b) Exercise Price | 9 |
| (c) Payment | 9 |
| (d) Term of Options | 10 |
| (e) Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options | 10 |
| (f) Other Terms and Conditions | 11 |
| 7. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units | 11 |
| (a) In General | 11 |
| (b) Vesting Conditions and Other Restrictions | 11 |
| (c) Stock Issuance and Stockholder Rights | 11 |
| 8. Stock Appreciation Rights | 13 |
| (a) Award of Stock Appreciation Rights | 13 |
| (b) Restrictions of Tandem SARs | 13 |
| (c) Amount of Payment upon Exercise of SARs | 13 |
| (d) Form of Payment upon Exercise of SARs | 13 |
| 9. Unrestricted Stock and Dividend Equivalents | 14 |
| (a) Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. | 14 |
| (b) Restrictions on Transfers. | 14 |
| (c) Dividend Equivalents. | 14 |
| 10. Performance Awards | 14 |
| (a) In General | 14 |
| (b) Covered Employee Targets | 14 |
| (c) Nonexclusive Provision. | 15 |
| 11. Tax Withholding | 15 |
| (a) Withholding by the Company; Payment by Participant | 15 |
| (b) Payment in Shares | 15 |
| (c) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition | 16 |
| 12. Transferability | 16 |
| 13. Adjustments; Business Combinations | 16 |
| (a) Adjustments | 16 |
| (b) Change in Control | 16 |
| (c) Dissolution and Liquidation | 17 |
| (d) Other Adjustments | 17 |
| 14. Termination and Amendment | 17 |
| (a) Amendment or Termination by the Board | 17 |
| (b) Amendments by the Committee | 18 |
| (c) Approval of Participants | 18 |
| 15. Non-Guarantee of Employment | 18 |
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| 16. Termination of Employment | 18 |
| 17. Written Agreement | 18 |
| 18. Non-Uniform Determinations | 18 |
| 19. Limitation on Benefits | 19 |
| 20. Compliance with Securities and Other Laws | 19 |
| 21. No Trust or Fund Created | 19 |
| 22. No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements | 20 |
| 23. No Restriction of Corporate Action | 20 |
| 24. Construction; Governing Law | 20 |
| 25. Plan Subject to Charter and Bylaws | 21 |
| 26. Effective Date; Termination Date | 21 |
| 27. Tax Consequences of Awards/Payments | 21 |
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VACCINOGEN, INC.
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Establishment, Purpose and Types of Awards
Vaccinogen, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes the Vaccinogen, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by (i) providing incentives to improve stockholder value and to contribute to the growth and financial success of the Company, and (ii) enabling the Company to attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions of substantial responsibility. The Plan permits the granting of Awards in the form of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Statutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Unrestricted Stock, Performance Awards, and Dividend Equivalents, in each case as such term is defined below, and any combination of the foregoing.
2. Definitions
Under this Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:
“Affiliated Group Member”means any member of the “affiliated group,” as such term is defined in Section 1504 of the Code (but determined without regard to Section 1504(b) of the Code), which includes the Company.
“Award” means an Incentive Stock Option, Non-Statutory Stock Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Appreciation Right, Unrestricted Stock, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalents and any combination of the foregoing.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Change in Control” means (except as provided below) the occurrence of an event described in (1), (2), (3) or (4) below:
(1) upon any “person,” as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other than any shareholder of the Company as of the effective date of this Plan, an entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with such shareholder, the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company), becoming the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (excluding any outstanding, unexercised options or warrants);
(2) upon any shareholder, as of the effective date of the Plan, of the Company or an entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with such shareholder, becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 60% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
(3) a merger or consolidation of the Company or a subsidiary thereof with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or such surviving entity’s parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;
(4) upon the approval by the security holders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than an incorporation transaction.
“Code”means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations issued thereunder.
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee or sub-committee of the Board as may be appointed pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan to administer the Plan.
“Committee Delegate” means the Chief Executive Officer or other senior officer of the Company to whom duties and powers of the Board or Committee hereunder have been delegated pursuant to Section 3(b).
“Consultant” means a natural person who provides bona fide services to the Company or a Subsidiary, other than as an employee or director, provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction and do not promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
“Covered Employee” means an employee of the Company or any Affiliated Group Member who is subject to Section 162(m) of the Code (as set forth in Section 1.162-27(c)(2) of the Treasury Regulations).
“Disabled” or“Disability” means, as to any Participant who is party to an employment agreement with the Company (or a Subsidiary), “disability” as defined therein. In the absence of such an employment agreement, “Disability” shall mean a long-term disability as defined the Company’s long-term disability policy or program in which the Participant participates, or if none, “Disability” shall mean that the Grantee is unable to perform substantially his or her required duties with the Company (or a Subsidiary) for a period of four (4) consecutive months or for any aggregate period of six (6) months in any twelve (12) month period.
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“Dividend Equivalent” means an award of rights in respect of dividend payments made with respect to Stock, as set forth in Sections 7(c) or 9(c).
“Exchange Act”means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Fair Market Value”of the Stock for any purpose on a particular date means the closing price per share of the Stock on such date as reported by such registered national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed, or, if the Stock is not listed on such an exchange, as quoted on an established securities market; provided, that, if there is no trading on such date, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the closing price per share on the last preceding date on which the Stock was traded. If the Stock is not listed on any registered national securities exchange or quoted on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value of the Stock shall be determined in good faith by the Committee by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method consistent with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B).
“Fiscal Year”means the fiscal year of the Company, which is currently each January 1st to December 31st.
“GrantAgreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award granted pursuant to the Plan.
“Grant Date”means the date on which the Committee formally acts to grant an Award to a Participant or such other later date as the Committee shall so designate at the time of taking such formal action.
“Incentive Stock Options” means Stock options that meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
“Non-Employee Director” means any director who: (i) is not currently an officer of the Company or of a “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company (each of such terms as defined under Rule 16b-3, and referred to herein as a “Related Company”), or otherwise currently employed by the Company or a Related Company, (ii) does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or a Related Company, for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a director, except for an amount that does not exceed the dollar amount for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, (iii) does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Rule 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and (iv) is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Rule 404(b) of Regulation S-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this definition is intended to reflect the requirements of Rule 16b-3 and shall be so construed. In the case of future amendments to Rule 16b-3, this definition shall be deemed amended accordingly.
“Non-Statutory Stock Options” means Stock options that do not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
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“Outside Director” means any director who (i) is not an employee of the Company or of any Affiliated Group Member, (ii) is not a former employee of the Company or any Affiliated Group Member who is receiving compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the Company’s or any Affiliated Group Member’s taxable year, (iii) has not been an officer of the Company or any Affiliated Group Member and (iv) does not receive remuneration from the Company or any Affiliated Group Member, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity other than as a director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this definition is intended to reflect the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the Treasury regulations issued thereunder and shall be so construed. In the case of future amendments to such Code or Treasury regulation sections, this definition shall be deemed amended accordingly.
“Participant”means any member of the Board, officer, employee, or Consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary, who is granted an Award under the Plan.
“Performance Award” means an Award under Section 10 hereof.
“Performance Measure” means one or more of the following criteria, or other similar operating objectives, selected by the Committee and set forth in a Grant Agreement, to measure performance of the Company or any Subsidiary or other business division of same for a Performance Period, whether in absolute or relative terms:
(1) Pre-tax adjusted operating income, return on equity, after-tax adjusted operating income, operating efficiency; adjusted EBITDA; EBITDA excluding capital expenditures; other financial return measures (e.g., return on invested capital, investments, investment income generated by underwriting or other operations or on the float from such operations, equity, or revenue); cash flow return on equity; cash flow return on investment; productivity ratios (e.g., measuring liquidity, profitability or leverage); enterprise value; expense/cost management targets (e.g., improvement in or attainment of expense levels, capital expenditure levels, and/or working capital levels); other margins (e.g., operating margin, underwriting margins, net income margin, cash margin, net or operating profit margins, EBITDA margins, adjusted EBITDA margins); market share or market penetration; customer targets (e.g., customer growth or customer satisfaction); working capital targets or improvements; profit measures (e.g., gross profit, net profit, operating profit, investment profit and/or underwriting profit), including or excluding charges for share compensation, fee income and/or other specified items; certain balance sheet metrics (e.g., inventory, inventory turns, receivables turnover, net asset turnover, debt reduction, retained earnings, year-end cash, cash conversion cycle, ratio of debt to equity or to EBITDA); workforce targets (e.g., diversity goals, employee engagement or satisfaction, employee retention, and workplace health and safety goals); implementation, completion or attainment of measurable objectives with respect to risk management, research and development, key products or key projects, lines of business, acquisitions and divestitures and strategic plan development and/or implementation; and/or comparisons with various stock market indices, peer companies or industry groups or classifications with regard to one or more of these criteria.
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(2) Except to the extent otherwise provided in a Grant Agreement, each such measure shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied, adjusted to omit the effects of extraordinary items, gain or loss on the disposal of a business segment, unusual or infrequently occurring events and transactions and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles.
“Performance Period”means a period set forth in a Grant Agreement of not less than one fiscal quarter over which the achievement of targets for Performance Measures is determined.
“Repricing” or“Reprice” means any of the following or other action that has the same effect: (i) lowering the exercise price of a Stock option after it is granted, (ii) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, or (iii) canceling a Stock option at a time when its exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock in exchange for another Award, or other equity of the Company, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a merger, acquisition, spin-off, or similar corporate transaction.
“Restricted Stock” and“Restricted Stock Units” means Awards under Section 7.
“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 as in effect under the Exchange Act on the effective date of the Plan, or any successor provision prescribing conditions necessary to exempt the issuance of securities under the Plan (and further transactions in such securities) from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
“Securities Act”means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Separation from Service”means separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code).
“Stock”means common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Stock Appreciation Rights” or“SARs” means Awards under Section 8.
“Subsidiary” and “Subsidiaries”means, with respect to the Company, only a company or companies, whether now or hereafter existing, within the meaning of the definition of “subsidiary company” provided in Section 424(f) of theCode, or any successor thereto of similar import.
“Unrestricted Stock”means Awards under Section 9.
3. Administration
(a)Procedure.
(1) The Plan shall be administered by a Stock Incentive Plan Committee (the “Committee”) consisting of all members of the Compensation Committee of the Company. The Committee shall have discretion regarding whether particular Awards shall be intended to comply with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3 and/or Section 162(m) of the Code. If such exemption requirements are intended to be satisfied with respect to particular Awards, and if necessary to meet such exemption requirements, the full Board, or a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee appointed by the Compensation Committee, as applicable, may grant such Awards, in which case the powers and authorities provided to the Committee hereunder shall apply to the granting body with respect to such Awards.
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(2) The Committee shall have at least two (2) members at all times. Except as specifically reserved to the Board under the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority to operate, manage and administer the Plan on behalf of the Company. Action by the Committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all members thereof.
(b)Secondary Committees and Sub-Plans. The Board may, in its sole discretion, divide the duties and powers of the Committee by establishing one or more secondary Committees to which certain duties and powers of the Committee hereunder are delegated (each of which shall be regarded as a “Committee” under the Plan with respect to such duties and powers). Additionally, if permitted by applicable law, the Board or Committee may delegate certain of the Committee’s duties and powers hereunder to the Chief Executive Officer and/or to other senior officers of the Company subject to such conditions and limitations as the Board or Committee shall prescribe. However, only the entities described under Subsection 3(a)(1) may designate and grant Awards to Participants. The Committee shall also have the power to establish sub-plans (which may be included as appendices to the Plan or the respective Grant Agreements), which may constitute separate programs, for the purpose of establishing programs which meet any special tax or regulatory requirements of jurisdictions other than the United States and its subdivisions. Any such interpretations, rules, administration and sub-plans shall be consistent with the basic purposes of the Plan.
(c)Powers of the Committee. The Committee shall have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards under the Plan, prescribe Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards and establish programs for granting Awards. The Committee shall have full power and authority to take all other actions necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to:
(i) determine the Participants to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted,
(ii) determine the types of Awards to be granted,
(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by or used for reference purposes for each Award,
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(iv) impose such terms, limitations, vesting schedules, restrictions and conditions upon any such Award as the Committee shall deem appropriate, including without limitation establishing, in its discretion, Performance Measures that must be satisfied before an Award vests and/or becomes payable, the term during which an Award is exercisable, the purchase price, if any, under an Award and the period, if any, following a Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary during which the Award shall remain exercisable,
(v) subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, modify, extend or renew outstanding Awards, accept the surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards, provided that no such action shall be taken with respect to any outstanding Award that would materially, adversely affect the Participant without the Participant’s consent, or constitute a Repricing of an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Statutory Stock Option without the approval of the holders of the Company’s voting securities,
(vi) subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, accelerate the time in which an Award may be exercised or in which an Award becomes payable and waive or accelerate the lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition with respect to an Award, and
(vii) establish objectives and conditions, including targets for Performance Measures, if any, for earning Awards and determining whether Awards will be paid after the end of a Performance Period.
The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and instruments for the administration of the Plan as the Committee deems necessary, desirable or appropriate in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company.
(d)Limited Liability.To the maximum extent permitted by law, no member of the Board or Committee or a Committee Delegate shall be liable for any action taken or decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder.
(e)Indemnification. The members of the Board and Committee and any Committee Delegate shall be indemnified by the Company in respect of all their activities under the Plan in accordance with the procedures and terms and conditions set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company as in effect from time to time. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise.
(f)Effect of Committee’s Decision. All actions taken and decisions and determinations made by the Committee or a Committee Delegate on all matters relating to the Plan pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Committee’s or Committee Delegate’s sole and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned, including the Company, its stockholders, any Participants in the Plan and any other employee of the Company, and their respective successors in interest.
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4. Stock Available Under the Plan; Maximum Awards
(a)Stock Available Under the Plan.
(i)Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 13 of the Plan, the Stock that may be delivered or purchased with respect to Awards granted under the Plan, shall not exceed 5,943,569 shares, and the Stock that may be purchased on exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed 5,943,569 shares.The Company shall reserve said number of shares of Stock for Awards under the Plan, subject to adjustments as provided inSection 13 of the Plan. If any Award, or portion of an Award, issued under the Plan, expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is forfeited or otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled as to any shares of Stock without the delivery by the Company (or, in the case of Restricted Stock, without vesting) of Stock or other consideration, the Stock subject to such Award shall thereafter be available for further Awards under the Plan. In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right, the difference between the number of shares of Stock covered by the exercised portion of the SAR and the number of shares of Stock actually delivered upon exercise shall not be restored or available for future issuance under the Plan.
(ii) Stock available under the Plan may be, in any combination, (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) shares of Stock that are reacquired by the Company and held as treasury shares, and/or (iii) shares of Stock purchased on the open market by a broker designated by the Company and, subject to the requirements of Section 20, immediately thereafter issued for the benefit of a Participant under the Plan. It is intended that a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall be effective with respect to the shares of Stock issued under the Plan.
(b)Maximum Awards to Covered Employees. Awards that may be granted during any one Fiscal Year to any one Covered Employee shall not exceed 2,447,352 shares.To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code and so long as Section 162(m) of the Code is applicable to persons eligible to participate in the Plan, shares of Stock subject to the foregoing maximum with respect to which the related Award is terminated, surrendered or canceled shall nonetheless continue to be taken into account with respect to such maximum for the Fiscal Year in which granted.
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5. Participation
Participation in the Plan shall be open to all officers, employees, directors and Consultants of the Company, or of any Subsidiary of the Company, as may be selected by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, participation in the Plan with respect to Awards of Incentive Stock Options shall be limited to employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.
Awards may be granted to such Participants and for or with respect to such number of shares of Stock as the Committee shall determine, subject to the limitations in Section 4 of the Plan. A grant of any type of Award made in any one year to a Participant shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further grant of that or any other type of Award to such person in that year or subsequent years.
6. Stock Options
Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan, the Committee may from time to time grant to Participants Awards of Non-Statutory Stock Options and/or Incentive Stock Options. The stock option Awards granted shall be subject to the following terms and conditions.
(a)Grant of Option.The grant of a stock option shall be evidenced by a Grant Agreement, executed by the Company and the Participant, stating the number of shares of Stock subject to the stock option evidenced thereby, the exercise price and the terms and conditions of such stock option, in such form as the Committee may from time to time determine.
(b)Exercise Price. The price per share payable upon the exercise of each stock option shall be determined by the Committee but shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Grant Date.
(c)Payment.Stock options may be exercised in whole or in part by payment of the exercise price of the Stock to be acquired in accordance with the provisions of the Grant Agreement, and/or such rules and regulations as the Committee may have prescribed, and/or such determinations, orders, or decisions as the Committee may have made.
Payment may be made in cash (or cash equivalents acceptable to the Committee) or, if provided in the Grant Agreement and permitted by applicable law, in shares of Stock which have been held by Participant for such minimum period, if any, prescribed by the Committee, or which would otherwise be issuable to Participant on exercise, or a combination of cash and such Stock, or by such other means as the Committee may prescribe. The Fair Market Value of Stock delivered on exercise of stock options shall be determined as of the date of exercise.
The Committee, subject to such limitations as it may determine, may authorize payment of the exercise price, in whole or in part, by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice, together with irrevocable instructions, to: (i) a brokerage firm to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, and (ii) the Company to deliver the certificates for such purchased Stock directly to such brokerage firm.
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(d)Term of Options.The term during which each stock option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall a stock option be exercisable more than ten (10) years from the date it is granted. Prior to the exercise of the stock option and delivery of the Stock certificates represented thereby, the Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Stock represented by an outstanding stock option.
(e)Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Option Awards granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with Section 422 of the Code and, as such, shall meet the following additional requirements:
(i)Grant Date. An Incentive Stock Option must be granted within ten (10) years of the earlier of the Plan’s adoption by the Board of Directors or approval by the Company’s stockholders.
(ii)Exercise Price and Term. The exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the stock option is granted and the term of the stock option shall not exceed ten (10) years. Also, the exercise price of any Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, after the application of the attribution rules in Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the grant date and the term of such stock option shall not exceed five (5) years.
(iii)Maximum Grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of Stock of the Company with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options first become exercisable by any Participant in any calendar year under this or any other plan of the Company and any Subsidiaries may not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) or such other amount as may be permitted from time to time under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that such aggregate Fair Market Value shall exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), or other applicable amount, such stock options to the extent of the Stock in excess of such limit shall be treated as Non-Statutory Stock Options. In such case, the Company may designate the shares of Stock that are to be treated as Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
(iv)Participant. Incentive Stock Options shall only be issued to employees of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company.
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(v)Designation. No stock option shall be an Incentive Stock Option unless so designated by the Committee at the time of grant or in the Grant Agreement evidencing such stock option.
(vi)Stockholder Approval. No stock option issued under the Plan shall be an Incentive Stock Option unless the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months of its adoption by the Board in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company and governing law relating to such matters.
(f)Other Terms and Conditions. Stock options may contain such other provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine appropriate from time to time.
7. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
(a)In General.Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee may at any time and from time to time grant Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to Participants, in such amounts and subject to such vesting conditions, other restrictions and conditions for the lapse of restrictions as it determines. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, Participants receiving Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are not required to pay the Company cash consideration therefor (except as may be required for applicable tax withholding).
(b)Vesting Conditions and OtherRestrictions.Each Award for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by a Grant Agreement that specifies the applicable vesting conditions and other restrictions, if any, on such Award, the duration of such restrictions, and the time or times at which such restrictions shall lapse with respect to all or a specified number of the shares of Stock that are part of the Award.
(c)Stock Issuance and Stockholder Rights.
(i)Restricted Stock. Stock certificates with respect to Stock granted pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall be issued, and/or Stock shall be registered, in the Participant’s name at the time of grant of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to forfeiture if the Restricted Stock does not vest or other restrictions do not lapse. Any Stock certificates shall bear an appropriate legend with respect to the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock Award and the Participant will be required to deposit the certificates with the Company during the period of any restriction thereon and to execute a blank stock power or other instrument of transfer therefor. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, during the period of restriction following issuance of Restricted Stock certificates, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a holder of Stock, including but not limited to the rights to receive dividends (or amounts equivalent to dividends) and to vote with respect to the Restricted Stock. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Grant Agreement that any dividends or distributions paid with respect to Stock subject to the unvested portion of a Restricted Stock Award will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock to which such dividends or distributions relate.
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(ii)Restricted Stock Units. For the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit that the Committee elects to settle in stock, Stock shall be registered in the Participant’s name upon vesting and lapse of any other restrictions with respect to the issuance of Stock under such Award. The Participant will not be entitled to vote such Stock or to any of the other rights of stockholders during the period prior to the registration of the Stock. An Award of Restricted Stock Units may provide the Participant with the right to receive amounts equivalent to dividends and distributions paid with respect to Stock subject to the Award while the Award is outstanding, and an Award may be settled in cash or Stock, all as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Grant Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee with respect to a particular Award (and set forth in the Grant Agreement), each outstanding Restricted Stock Unit that is entitled to receive amounts equivalent to dividends and distributions paid with respect to Stock subject to the Award while the Award is outstanding shall accrue such dividend and distribution equivalents, deferred as cash or equivalent amounts of additional Restricted Stock Units, and such amounts shall be paid only when and if the Restricted Stock Unit (on which such dividend and distribution equivalents were accrued) vests and becomes payable. If the Committee determines to provide for the current payment of dividend equivalents and distributions with respect to Stock subject to the Award, the terms and conditions of such payment shall be set forth in the Grant Agreement and shall be structured in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that a Restricted Stock Unit does not vest or is otherwise forfeited, any accrued and unpaid dividend and distribution equivalents shall be forfeited, unless otherwise provided in a Grant Agreement. Amounts payable or distributable (including dividend and distribution equivalents that are payable with respect to such Restricted Stock Units) shall be made or distributed within thirty (30) days after the Participant’s rights to such payments vest, unless otherwise provided in a Grant Agreement. In the event the Award provides for partial vesting over multiple years, amounts payable or distributable with respect to the Award (including dividend and distribution equivalents that are payable with respect to such Restricted Stock Units) shall be made or distributed within thirty (30) days after vesting occurs, except as otherwise provided in a Grant Agreement.
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8. Stock Appreciation Rights
(a)Award of Stock Appreciation Rights.Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan, the Committee may at any time and from time to time grant Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) to Participants, either on a free-standing basis (without regard to or in addition to the grant of a stock option) or on a tandem basis (related to the grant of an underlying stock option), as it determines. SARs granted in tandem with or in addition to a stock option may be granted at the same time as the stock option; provided, however, that a tandem SAR shall not be granted with respect to any outstanding Incentive Stock Option Award without the consent of the Participant. SARs shall be evidenced by Grant Agreements, executed by the Company and the Participant, stating the number of shares of Stock subject to the SAR evidenced thereby and the terms and conditions of such SAR, in such form as the Committee may from time to time determine. The term during which each SAR may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee. In no event shall a SAR be exercisable more than ten (10) years from the date it is granted. The Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Stock represented by a SAR prior to exercise of the SAR.
(b)Restrictions of Tandem SARs.No Incentive Stock Option may be surrendered in connection with the exercise of a tandem SAR unless the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the Incentive Stock Option is greater than the exercise price for such Incentive Stock Option. SARs granted in tandem with stock options shall be exercisable only to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as the stock options related thereto are exercisable. The Committee may, in its discretion, prescribe additional conditions to the exercise of any such tandem SAR.
(c)Amount of Payment upon Exercise of SARs. A SAR shall entitle the Participant to receive, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Grant Agreement, a payment having an aggregate value equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the exercise date over (B) the base price per share of Stock specified in the Grant Agreement, times (ii) the number of shares of Stock specified by the SAR, or portion thereof, that is exercised. The base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date. In the case of exercise of a tandem SAR, such payment shall be made in exchange for the surrender of the unexercised related stock option (or any portion or portions thereof which the Participant from time to time determines to surrender for this purpose).
(d)Form of Payment upon Exercise of SARs.Payment by the Company of the amount receivable upon any exercise of a SAR shall be made by the delivery of the number of whole shares of Stock determined by dividing the amount payable under the SAR by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the exercise date, or in cash. The amount equivalent in value to any fractional share will be paid out currently in cash.
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9. Unrestricted Stock and Dividend Equivalents
(a)Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock.Subject to the limitations contained in Section 4, the Committee in its discretion may grant or sell to any Participant shares of Stock free of any restrictions under the Plan (“Unrestricted Stock”) at a purchase price determined by the Committee. Shares of Unrestricted Stock may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services or other valid consideration.
(b)Restrictions on Transfers.The right to receive Unrestricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(c)Dividend Equivalents. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, award dividend equivalents in connection with the grant of other types of Awards hereunder, or as separate Awards hereunder, subject to the terms of the applicable Grant Agreement.
10. Performance Awards
(a)In General. The Committee, in its discretion, may establish targets for Performance Measures for selected Participants and authorize the granting, vesting, payment and/or delivery of Performance Awards in the form of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Statutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Unrestricted Stock and/or Dividend Equivalents to such Participants upon achievement of such targets for Performance Measures during a Performance Period. The Committee, in its discretion, shall determine the Participants eligible for Performance Awards, the targets for Performance Measures to be achieved during each Performance Period, and the type, amount, and terms and conditions of any Performance Awards. Performance Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to other Awards made under the Plan. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, in the case of an Award intended to meet the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may not exercise discretion to increase the amount of the Award that will be paid or vested.
(b)Covered Employee Targets.In connection with any Performance Awards granted to a Covered Employee which are intended to meet the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall (i) establish in the applicable Grant Agreement the specific targets relative to the Performance Measures which must be attained before the respective Performance Award is granted, vests, or is otherwise paid or delivered, (ii) provide in the applicable Grant Agreement the method for computing the portion of the Performance Award which shall be granted, vested, paid and/or delivered if the target or targets are attained in full or part, and (iii) at the end of the relevant Performance Period and prior to any such grant, vesting, payment or delivery certify the extent to which the applicable target or targets were achieved and whether any other material terms were in fact satisfied. The specific targets and the method for computing the portion of such Performance Award which shall be granted, vested, paid or delivered to any Covered Employee shall be established by the Committee prior to the earlier to occur of (A) ninety (90) days after the commencement of the Performance Period to which the Performance Measure applies and (B) the lapse of twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period and in any event while the outcome is substantially uncertain. In interpreting Plan provisions applicable to Performance Measures and Performance Awards which are intended to meet the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code, it is the intent of the Plan to conform with the standards of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27(e)(2), and the Committee in interpreting the Plan shall be guided by such provisions.
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(c) Nonexclusive Provision. Notwithstanding this Section 10, the Committee may authorize the granting, vesting, payment and/or delivery of Performance Awards based on performance measures other than the Performance Measures and performance periods other than the Performance Periods to employees who are not Covered Employees, or to Covered Employees to the extent such Awards are not intended to meet the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Code and in such case waive the deadlines for establishing performance measures under Subsection (b) above.
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(a)Withholding by the Company; Payment by Participant.The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any Federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld from any payment of any kind due to the Participant under the Plan. Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the Participant for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of any Federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income.
(b)Payment in Shares.A Participant may elect, with the consent of the Committee, to have such tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to an Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the minimum withholding amount due with respect to such Award, or (ii) transferring to the Company shares of Stock that have been purchased by the Participant on the open market or have been beneficially owned by the Participant and are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan and with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due. The Grant Agreement may also provide that all tax withholding obligations will be satisfied, in whole or in part, by the Company withholding from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to an Award that number of shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) required to satisfy the minimum withholding amounts due with respect to such Award.
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(c)Notice of Disqualifying Disposition.Each holder of an Incentive Stock Option shall agree to notify the Company in writing immediately after making a disqualifying disposition (as defined in Section 421(b) of the Code) of any Stock purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
12.Transferability
No stock option, SAR or unvested Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, a stock option or SAR may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or, during the period the Participant is under a legal disability, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the Committee’s permission expressed in the Grant Agreement or otherwise, any Award may, in the Committee’s sole discretion, be transferable by gift or domestic relations order to (i) the Participant’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships (such persons, “Family Members”), (ii) a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity which the Participant and/or Family Members wholly own, or (iii) a trust in which the Participant and/or Family Members have all of the beneficial interests, and subsequent to any such transfer any Award may be exercised by any such transferee.
13. Adjustments; Business Combinations
(a)Adjustments. In the event of a reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares or other similar event, the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan as provided in Section 4 shall be adjusted to reflect such event, and the Committee shall make such adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable in the number, kind and price of shares covered by outstanding Awards made under the Plan, and in any other matters that relate to Awards and that are affected by the changes in the shares referred to above.
(b)Change in Control. In the event of any proposed Change in Control, the Committee shall take such action as it deems appropriate and equitable to effectuate the purposes of this Plan and to protect the Participants, which action may include, without limitation, any one or more of the following to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code (if applicable): (i) acceleration of vesting; (ii) acceleration or change of the exercise and/or expiration dates of any Award to require that settlement be made, if at all, prior to the Change in Control; (iii) cancellation of any Award upon payment to the holder in cash of the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to such Award as of the date of (and, to the extent applicable, as established for purposes of) the Change in Control, less the aggregate exercise price, if any, of the Award; and (iv) in any case where equity securities of another entity are proposed to be delivered in exchange for or with respect to Stock of the Company, arrangements to have such other entity replace the Awards granted hereunder with awards with respect to such other securities, with appropriate adjustments in the number of shares subject to, and the exercise prices under, the Award.
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(c)Dissolution and Liquidation. In the event the Company dissolves and liquidates (other than pursuant to a plan of merger or reorganization), then, to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code, each Participant shall have the right to exercise his or her vested, outstanding stock options and Stock Appreciation Rights and to require payment in cash or registration in Participant’s name of the Stock (as elected by the Committee), under any vested, outstanding Restricted Stock Unit Awards, at any time up to the effective date of such liquidation and dissolution, upon which date all Awards under the Plan shall terminate.
(d)Other Adjustments. The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 13) affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.
Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, issuance by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warranty to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of stock or obligations of the Company convertible into such stock or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share of Stock subject to Awards.
14. Termination and Amendment
(a)Amendment or Termination by the Board. The Board, without approval of the stockholders, may amend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, except that no amendment shall become effective without prior approval of the stockholders of the Company if stockholder approval is required under the terms of the Plan or is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement or rule of any exchange or national automated quotation system upon which the Stock is listed or quoted (including for this purpose stockholder approval that is required for continued compliance with Rule 16b-3) or stockholder approval that is required to enable the Committee to grant Incentive Stock Options pursuant to the Plan (if Incentive Stock Options are to be granted under the Plan).
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(b)Amendments by the Committee. The Committee shall be authorized to make minor or administrative amendments to the Plan as well as amendments to the Plan that may be dictated by requirements of U.S. federal or state laws applicable to the Company or that may be authorized or made desirable by such laws. The Committee may amend any outstanding Award in any manner as provided in Section 3(c) and to the extent that the Committee would have had the authority to make such Award as so amended.
(c)Approval of Participants. No amendment to the Plan or any Award may be made that would materially adversely affect any outstanding Award previously made under the Plan without the approval of the Participant.
15. Non-Guarantee of Employment
Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement thereunder shall confer any right on an employee to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate an employee at any time.
16. Termination of Employment
For purposes of maintaining a Participant’s continuous status as an employee and accrual of rights under any Award, transfer of an employee among the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries shall not be considered a termination of employment. Nor shall it be considered a termination of employment for such purposes if an employee is placed on military or sick leave or such other leave of absence that is considered as continuing intact the employment relationship; in such a case, the employment relationship shall be continued until the date when an employee’s right to reemployment shall no longer be guaranteed either by law or contract. In the case of non-employee directors or consultants, references in this Plan or an Award to “termination of employment” or other similar terms shall be deemed to refer to a cessation of the service provider relationship.
17. Written Agreement
Each Grant Agreement entered into between the Company and a Participant with respect to an Award granted under the Plan shall incorporate the terms of this Plan and shall contain such provisions, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be established by the Committee.
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18. Non-Uniform Determinations
The Committee’s determinations under the Plan (including without limitation determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and time of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the agreements evidencing same) need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.
19. Limitation on Benefits
With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3, except as otherwise provided in a Grant Agreement. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.
20. Compliance with Securities and Other Laws
(a) Any Stock certificates for shares issued pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend restricting transferability of the Stock unless such shares are registered or an exemption from registration is available under the Securities Act and applicable securities laws of the states of the U.S. The Company may notify its transfer agent to stop any transfer of Stock not made in compliance with these restrictions. Stock shall not be issued with respect to an Award granted under the Plan unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of Stock certificates for such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the requirements of any national securities exchange or Nasdaq System upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance to the extent such approval is sought by the Committee.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawbacks as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, or otherwise).
21. No Trust or Fund Created
Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a Participant or any other person. With respect to any transfer or payment not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, the obligation of the Company shall be interpreted solely as an unfunded contractual obligation to make such transfer or payment in the manner and under the conditions prescribed under the written instrument evidencing the Award. Any shares of Stock or other assets set aside with respect to an Award shall be subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors, and no person other than the Company shall, by virtue of an Award, have any interest in such shares or assets. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the provisions of this Section. In the case of a United States taxpayer, in no event shall any assets set aside (directly or indirectly) with respect to an Award be located or transferred outside the United States.
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22. No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements
Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements (whether such arrangements be generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases), including without limitation the granting of stock options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Unrestricted Stock, Performance Awards or Dividend Equivalents, otherwise than under the Plan.
23. No Restriction of Corporate Action
Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to limit or impair the power of the Company or any Subsidiary to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes in its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets or, except as otherwise provided herein, or in a Grant Agreement, to take other actions which it deems to be necessary or appropriate. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such action.
24. Construction; Governing Law
The Plan is generally intended to constitute an equity compensation plan that does not provide for the deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and, if any provision of the Plan is subject to more than one interpretation or construction, such ambiguity shall be resolved in favor of that interpretation or construction which is consistent with the Plan not being subject to the provisions of Section 409A. To the extent any Awards under the Plan are subject to Section 409A, then no amount of “deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) shall be paid earlier than the earliest date permitted under Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that an Award is subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, the provisions of the Plan relating to such Awards, including all distributions thereunder, are intended to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and if any such provision is subject to more than one interpretation or construction, such ambiguity shall be resolved in favor of the interpretation or construction which is consistent with the Plan complying with the provisions of Section 409A. To the extent an amount subject to Section 409A is payable upon termination of employment, such payment shall be made only if the termination of employment constitutes a Separation from Service. To the extent an amount referred to in the preceding sentence is payable to a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code), such payment shall be delayed as set forth in such Code section. Any Award subject to Section 409A that is payable in installments shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments under Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Grant Agreements entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations or decisions made by the Board or Committee relating to the Plan or such Grant Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of Maryland (without regard to its choice of law provisions), in a federal or state court located in the State of Maryland. ALL PARTIES WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO MATTERS ARISING UNDER THE PLAN.
25. Plan Subject to Charter and Bylaws
This Plan is subject to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as they may be in effect from time to time.
26.Effective Date; Termination Date
The Plan is effective as of the date on which the Plan is approved by the Board. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the close of business on the day immediately preceding the tenth (10th) anniversary of the effective date of the Plan. Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Awards made under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan and the terms of such Awards.
27. Tax Consequences of Awards/Payments
The Company makes no representations as to the tax consequences of any compensation or benefits provided hereunder (including, without limitation, under Section 409A of the Code, if applicable). A Participant is solely responsible for any and all income, excise or other taxes imposed on the Participant with respect to any and all compensation or other benefits provided to the Participant pursuant to an Award under the Plan. As of the Effective Date, the Board is not contemplating seeking stockholder approval of the Plan, and as such, it is anticipated that Awards under the Plan will not qualify as “performance based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, and that Incentive Stock Option treatment will not be available with respect to Awards under the Plan.
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Date Approved by the Board: February 16, 2015
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