Change in Control. In connection with a Change in Control as defined under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, the Board may (1) make provision for continuation of the award, assumption of the award by the acquiring entity or by substitution of the award on an equitable basis for the shares subject to the award, (2) accelerate vesting of an award, or (3) exchange of the award for the right to participate in an equity or benefit plan of any successor corporation.
Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any stock options shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, that any restricted stock awards shall be free of some or all restrictions, or that any other stock-based awards may become exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be, despite the fact that such action may cause application of Section 280G and Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1983, as amended (the “Code”) or disqualify all or part of an incentive stock option award.
Recapitalization. In the event of certain corporate transactions or changes in corporate capitalization, the Board or the Compensation Committee will make appropriate and proportionate adjustments to the terms of the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (e.g., the maximum number of shares available and individual limits) and outstanding awards.
Tax Withholding. The issuance of common stock in satisfaction of an award under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan is conditioned on the participant having made arrangements for the satisfaction of tax withholding obligations, which a participant may satisfy, by making a cash payment or authorizing withholding from the participant’s compensation, and subject to prior approval of the Company by (i) causing the Company to withhold shares of common stock from the payment of an award or (ii) by delivering to the Company shares of common stock already held by the participant.
Transferability. Awards granted under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan generally 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, and, during the life of the participant, shall be exercisable only by the participant, except as the Board may otherwise provide.
Amendment/Termination. The Board has broad authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, except where stockholder approval is required (i) by the rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Company’s common stock is listed or traded or (ii) in order to continue to comply with applicable provisions of the Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Amendments may not materially adversely affect participants without the consent of the affected participants.
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of awards under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan is based on present federal tax laws and regulations and does not purport to be complete. Foreign, other federal, state and local taxes not described below may also apply.
Incentive Stock Options. If a stock option is an ISO, the employee does not realize income upon grant or exercise of the ISO, and no deduction is available to the company at such times, but the difference between the value of the shares of stock purchased on the exercise date and the exercise price paid is an item of tax preference for purposes of determining the employee’s alternative minimum tax. If the shares of stock purchased upon the exercise of an ISO are held by the employee for at least two years from the date of the grant and for at least one year after exercise, any resulting gain is taxed at long-term capital gains rates.
If the shares are disposed of before the expiration of that period, any gain on the disposition, up to the difference between the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the ISO, is taxed at ordinary rates as compensation paid to the employee, and the company is entitled to a deduction for an equivalent amount. Any additional gain recognized from the disposition in excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise is treated as short- or long-term capital gain depending on how long the shares have been held.
Non-Qualified Stock Options. If a stock option is a NQSO, the participant does not realize income at the time of grant of the NQSO, and no deduction is available to the Company at such time. At the time of exercise, ordinary income is realized by the participant in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares of stock on the exercise date, and the Company is entitled to a deduction