EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Published on October 30, 2024
EXHIBIT 10.1
Know Labs, Inc.
2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Know labs, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Company and its Related Companies by providing them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and to align their interests and efforts to the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
Certain capitalized terms used in the Plan have the meanings set forth in Appendix A.
SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Administration of the Plan
The Plan shall be administered by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may delegate concurrent responsibility for administering the Plan, including with respect to designated classes of Eligible Persons, to a committee or committees (which term includes subcommittees) consisting of two or more members of the Board, subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate. Members of any committee shall serve for such term as the Board may determine, subject to removal by the Board at any time. All references in the Plan to the “Plan Administrator” shall be, as applicable, to the Board or any committee to whom the Board has delegated authority to administer the Plan.
3.2 Administration and Interpretation by Plan Administrator
(a) Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan Administrator shall have full power and exclusive authority, subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board or a committee composed of members of the Board, to (i) select the Eligible Persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted under the Plan; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted under the Plan; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan; (v) approve the forms of notice or agreement for use under the Plan; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or canceled or suspended; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument evidencing an Award, notice or agreement executed or entered into under the Plan; (viii) establish such rules and regulations as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) delegate ministerial duties to such of the Company’s employees as it so determines; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Plan Administrator deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan.
(b) The effect on the vesting of an Award of a Company-approved leave of absence or a Participant’s reduction in hours of employment or service shall be determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors or executive officers, by the Plan Administrator, whose determination shall be final.
(c) Decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, any Participant, any stockholder and any Eligible Person. A majority of the members of the Plan Administrator may determine its actions.
SECTION 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 Authorized Number of Shares
Subject to the provisions of Section 14.1,the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is forty million (40,000,000), plus (i) the number of Shares added to the Plan pursuant to Section 4.2 and (ii) the sum of (A) any Shares that, as of the date of stockholder approval of this Plan, have been reserved but not issued pursuant to any awards granted under the Company’s 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2011 Plan”), and (B) any Shares subject to stock options or similar awards granted under the 2011 Plan that, after the date of stockholder approval of this Plan, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and Shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2011 Plan that are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of Shares to be added to the Plan pursuant to clause (ii) equal to 7,592,825. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
4.2 Automatic Share Reserve Increase
Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each calendar year beginning January 1, 2022 and ending on and including January 1, 2030 in an amount equal to the least of (i) 2,000,000 Shares, (ii) four percent (4%) of the outstanding Shares on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year or (iii) such number of Shares determined by the Board; provided, that such determination under clause (iii) will be made no later than the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year.
4.3 Share Usage
(a) Shares of Common Stock covered by an Award shall not be counted as used unless and until they are actually issued and delivered to a Participant. If any Award lapses, expires, terminates or is canceled prior to the issuance of shares thereunder or if shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan to a Participant and thereafter are forfeited to or otherwise reacquired by the Company, the shares subject to such Awards and the forfeited or reacquired shares shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock (i) tendered by a Participant or retained by the Company as full or partial payment to the Company for the purchase price of an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with an Award, or (ii) covered by an Award that is settled in cash or in a manner such that some or all of the shares covered by the Award are not issued, shall be available for Awards under the Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends or dividend equivalents that are reinvested into additional shares of Common Stock or credited as additional shares of Common Stock subject or paid with respect to an Award.
(b) The Plan Administrator shall also, without limitation, have the authority to grant Awards as an alternative to or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan. In the event that a written agreement between the Company and an Acquired Entity pursuant to which a merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange is completed is approved by the Board and that agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the substitution for or assumption of outstanding awards of the Acquired Entity, those terms and conditions shall be deemed to be the action of the Plan Administrator without any further action by the Plan Administrator, and the persons holding such awards shall be deemed to be Participants.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Section 4 to the contrary, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall equal the aggregate share number stated in Section 4.1, subject to increase as set forth in Section 4.2 and subject further to adjustment as provided in Section 14.1.
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SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY
An Award may be granted to any employee, officer or director of the Company or a Related Company whom the Plan Administrator from time to time selects. An Award may also be granted to any consultant, agent, advisor or independent contractor for bona fide services rendered to the Company or any Related Company that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
SECTION 6. AWARDS
6.1 Form, Grant and Settlement of Awards
The Plan Administrator shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted under the Plan. Such Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other type of Award. Any Award settlement may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Plan Administrator shall determine.
6.2 Evidence of Awards
Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written, including an electronic, instrument that shall contain such terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Plan Administrator shall deem advisable and that are not inconsistent with the Plan.
6.3 Dividends and Distributions
Participants may, if the Plan Administrator so determines, be credited with dividends or dividend equivalents paid with respect to shares of Common Stock underlying an Award in a manner determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. The Plan Administrator may apply any restrictions to the dividends or dividend equivalents that the Plan Administrator deems appropriate. The Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine the form of payment of dividends or dividend equivalents, including cash, shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Stock Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to any dividends or dividend equivalents declared and paid on the number of shares underlying an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may not be contingent, directly or indirectly, on the exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and must comply with or qualify for an exemption under Section 409A. Also notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to any dividends or dividend equivalents declared and paid on Restricted Stock must (a) be paid at the same time they are paid to other stockholders and (b) comply with or qualify for an exemption under Section 409A.
SECTION 7. OPTIONS
7.1 Grant of Options
The Plan Administrator may grant Options designated as Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options.
7.2 Option Exercise Price
Options shall be granted with an exercise price per share not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date (and not less than the minimum exercise price required by Section 422 of the Code with respect to Incentive Stock Options), except in the case of Substitute Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator may grant Nonqualified Stock Options with an exercise price per share less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date if the Option meets all the requirements for Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A.
7.3 Term of Options
Subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Option, the maximum term of an Option (the “Option Term”) shall be ten years from the Grant Date. For Incentive Stock Options, the maximum Option Term shall be as specified in Section 8.4.
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7.4 Exercise of Options
The Plan Administrator shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option the time at which, or the installments in which, the Option shall vest and thus become exercisable, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time. If not so established in the instrument evidencing the Option, the Option shall vest and become exercisable according to the following schedule, which may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time:
Period of Participant’s Continuous Employment or Service with the Company or Its Related Companies
| Portion of Total Option that is Vested and Exercisable from the Vesting Commencement Date
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12 months
| 25%
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13 to 48 months
| 1/48th per month
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To the extent an Option has vested and become exercisable, the Option may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by delivery to or as directed or approved by the Company of a properly executed stock option exercise agreement or notice, in a form and in accordance with procedures established by the Company, setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, the restrictions imposed on the shares purchased under such exercise agreement or notice, if any, and such representations and agreements as may be required by the Plan Administrator, accompanied by payment in full as described in Section 7.5. An Option may be exercised only for whole shares and may not be exercised for less than a reasonable number of shares at any one time, as determined by the Company.
7.5 Payment of Exercise Price
The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be paid in full to the Company by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option exercise price and the number of shares purchased. Such consideration must be paid before the Company will issue the shares being purchased and must be in a form or a combination of forms acceptable to the Plan Administrator for that purchase, which forms may include:
(e) cash;
(f) check or wire transfer;
(g) having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued on exercise of the Option that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased under the Option;
(h) tendering (either actually or, if and so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, by attestation) shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased under the Option;
(i) if and so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and to the extent permitted by law, delivery of a properly executed exercise agreement or notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a brokerage firm designated or approved by the Company to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of proceeds to pay the Option exercise price and any tax withholding obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, all in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board; or
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(j) such other consideration as the Plan Administrator may permit.
In addition, to assist a Participant (including directors and executive officers) in acquiring shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Option granted under the Plan, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion and only to the extent permitted by applicable law, may authorize, either at the Grant Date or at any time before the acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the Option, (i) the payment by a Participant of the purchase price of the Common Stock by a promissory note or (ii) the guarantee by the Company of a loan obtained by the Participant from a third party. Such notes or loans must be full recourse to the extent necessary to avoid adverse accounting charges to the Company’s earnings for financial reporting purposes. Subject to the foregoing, the Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion specify the terms of any loans or loan guarantees, including the interest rate and terms of and security for repayment.
7.6 Effect of Termination of Service
The Plan Administrator shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option whether the Option shall continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, after a Termination of Service, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time. If not so established in the instrument evidencing the Option, the Option shall be exercisable according to the following terms and conditions, which may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time:
(k) Any portion of an Option that is not vested and exercisable on the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service shall expire on such date.
(l) Any portion of an Option that is vested and exercisable on the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service shall expire on the earliest to occur of:
(i) if the Participant’s Termination of Service occurs for reasons other than Cause, Disability or death, the date that is three months after such Termination of Service;
(ii) if the Participant’s Termination of Service occurs by reason of Disability or death, the one-year anniversary of such Termination of Service; and
(iii) the Option Expiration Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant dies after such Participant’s Termination of Service but while an Option is otherwise exercisable, the portion of the Option that is vested and exercisable on the date of such Termination of Service shall expire upon the earlier to occur of (y) the Option Expiration Date and (z) the one-year anniversary of the date of death, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise.
Also notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Participant’s Termination of Service occurs for Cause, all Options granted to the Participant shall automatically expire upon first notification to the Participant of such termination, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise. If a Participant’s employment or service relationship with the Company is suspended pending an investigation of whether the Participant shall be terminated for Cause, all the Participant’s rights under any Option shall likewise be suspended during the period of investigation. If any facts that would constitute termination for Cause are discovered after a Participant’s Termination of Service, any Option then held by the Participant may be immediately terminated by the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion.
SECTION 8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONS
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, the terms and conditions of any Incentive Stock Options shall in addition comply in all respects with Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision, and any applicable regulations thereunder, including, to the extent required thereunder, the following:
8.1 Dollar Limitation
To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of Common Stock with respect to which a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other stock option plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations) exceeds $100,000, such portion in excess of $100,000 shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. In the event the Participant holds two or more such Options that become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, such limitation shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such Options are granted.
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8.2 Eligible Employees
Individuals who are not employees of the Company or one of its parent or subsidiary corporations on the Grant Date may not be granted Incentive Stock Options.
8.3 Exercise Price
Incentive Stock Options shall be granted with an exercise price per share not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, and in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations (a “Ten Percent Stockholder”), shall be granted with an exercise price per share not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date. The determination of more than 10% ownership shall be made in accordance with Section 422 of the Code.
8.4 Option Term
Subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Option, the maximum term of an Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed ten years, and in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, shall not exceed five years.
8.5 Exercisability
An Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option shall cease to qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent it is exercised (if permitted by the terms of the Option) (a) more than three months after the date of a Participant’s termination of employment if termination was for reasons other than death or disability, (b) more than one year after the date of a Participant’s termination of employment if termination was by reason of disability, or (c) more than six months following the first day of a Participant’s leave of absence that exceeds three months, unless the Participant’s reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or contract.
8.6 Taxation of Incentive Stock Options
In order to obtain certain tax benefits afforded to Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the Code, the Participant must hold the shares acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option for the later of two years after the Grant Date and one year after the date of exercise.
A Participant may be subject to the alternative minimum tax at the time of exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares acquired on the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to the expiration of such holding periods.
8.7 Code Definitions
For the purposes of this Section 8, “disability,” “parent corporation” and “subsidiary corporation” shall have the meanings attributed to those terms for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.
8.8 Promissory Notes
The amount of any promissory note delivered pursuant to Section 7.5 in connection with an Incentive Stock Option shall bear interest at a rate specified by the Plan Administrator, but in no case less than the rate required to avoid imputation of interest (taking into account any exceptions to the imputed interest rules) for federal income tax purposes.
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SECTION 9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
9.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights
The Plan Administrator may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants at any time on such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. A SAR may be granted in tandem with an Option (“tandem SAR”) or alone (“freestanding SAR”). The grant price of a tandem SAR shall be equal to the exercise price of the related Option. The grant price of a freestanding SAR shall be established in accordance with procedures for Options set forth in Section 7.2. A SAR may be exercised upon such terms and conditions and for the term as the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion; provided, however, that, subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the SAR, the maximum term of a freestanding SAR shall be ten years, and in the case of a tandem SAR, (a) the term shall not exceed the term of the related Option and (b) the tandem SAR may be exercised for all or part of the shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option, except that the tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.
9.2 Payment of SAR Amount
Upon the exercise of a SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in an amount determined by multiplying: (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR by (b) the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Plan Administrator as set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, the payment upon exercise of a SAR may be in cash, in shares, in some combination thereof or in any other manner approved by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.
9.3 Waiver of Restrictions
The Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may waive any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any SAR under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.
SECTION 10. STOCK AWARDS, RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS
10.1 Grant of Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units
The Plan Administrator may grant Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units on such terms and conditions and subject to such repurchase or forfeiture restrictions, if any, which may be based on continuous service with the Company or a Related Company or the achievement of any Performance Goals, as the Plan Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion, which terms, conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award.
10.2 Vesting of Restricted Stock and Stock Units
Upon the satisfaction of any terms, conditions and restrictions prescribed with respect to Restricted Stock or Stock Units, or upon a Participant’s release from any terms, conditions and restrictions of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, as determined by the Plan Administrator, (a) the shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Award of Restricted Stock shall become freely transferable by the Participant subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan (including the restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 13, the rights of first refusal and repurchase set forth in Section 15 and the market standoff requirements set forth in Section 16), the instrument evidencing the Award, and applicable securities laws, and (b) Stock Units shall be paid in shares of Common Stock or, if set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, in cash or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock. Any fractional shares subject to such Awards shall be paid to the Participant in cash.
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10.3 Waiver of Restrictions
The Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may waive the repurchase or forfeiture period and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any Restricted Stock or Stock Units under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.
SECTION 11. OTHER STOCK OR CASH-BASED AWARDS
Subject to the terms of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate, the Plan Administrator may grant other incentives payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock under the Plan.
SECTION 12. WITHHOLDING
The Company may require the Participant to pay to the Company the amount of (a) any taxes that the Company is required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law to withhold with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award (“tax withholding obligations”) and (b) any amounts due from the Participant to the Company or to any Related Company (“other obligations”). Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock or otherwise settle an Award under the Plan until such tax withholding obligations and other obligations are satisfied.
The Plan Administrator may permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or part of the Participant’s tax withholding obligations and other obligations by (i) paying cash to the Company, (ii) having the Company withhold an amount from any cash amounts otherwise due or to become due from the Company to the Participant, (iii) having the Company withhold a number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued to the Participant (or become vested, in the case of Restricted Stock or Stock Units) having a Fair Market Value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations, or (iv) surrendering a number of shares of Common Stock the Participant already owns having a value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations. The value of the shares so withheld or tendered may not exceed the employer’s minimum required tax withholding rate.
SECTION 13. ASSIGNABILITY
(m) No Award may be Transferred by a Participant other than by will, or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, to one or more of such Participant’s Immediate Family Members or by gratuitous Transfer to a trust, family limited partnership, family limited liability company or other bona fide estate planning or planned gifting vehicle for the benefit of such Participant or one or more of such Participant’s Immediate Family Members. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Award may be exercised only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to Transfer an Award, subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall specify.
(n) In addition to the restrictions set forth above in Section 13(a), no shares of Transfer Restricted Common Stock received in connection with an Award may be Transferred, whether by a Participant or any other person or entity, except pursuant to a Permitted Transfer. As a condition to any Permitted Transfer, the person or entity to whom Transfer Restricted Common Stock is to be so Transferred shall be obligated to execute an agreement in form and substance prescribed by the Plan Administrator under which the recipient agrees (i) to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan (including, without limitation, the restrictions on Transfer set forth in this Section 13, the rights of first refusal and repurchase set forth in Section 15 and the market standoff requirements set forth in Section 16), and (ii) that the shares so Transferred to the recipient will continue to constitute Transfer Restricted Common Stock subject to this Section 13 following such Permitted Transfer. The restrictions on Transfer imposed by this Section 13(b) shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (x) the closing of an underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act and (y) the closing of a Company Transaction that is not a Related Party Transaction. This Section 13(b), and any determination or agreement that a given Transfer of Transfer Restricted Common Stock would be deemed a Permitted Transfer, will in no way limit or reduce the Company’s rights under Section 15 with respect to such Transfer.
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SECTION 14. ADJUSTMENTS
14.1 Adjustment of Shares
In the event, at any time or from time to time, a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, or other change in the Company’s corporate or capital structure results in (a) the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or any securities exchanged therefor or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company or any other company or (b) new, different or additional securities of the Company or any other company being received by the holders of shares of Common Stock, then the Plan Administrator shall make proportional adjustments in (i) the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the Plan; (ii) the maximum number and kind of securities issuable as Incentive Stock Options as set forth in Section 4.3(d); and (iii) the number and kind of securities that are subject to any outstanding Award and the per share price of such securities, without any change in the aggregate price to be paid therefor. The determination by the Plan Administrator as to the terms of any of the foregoing adjustments shall be conclusive and binding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services rendered, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, outstanding Awards. Also notwithstanding the foregoing, a dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a Change of Control shall not be governed by this Section 14.1 but shall be governed by Sections 14.2 and 14.3, respectively.
14.2 Dissolution or Liquidation
To the extent not previously exercised or settled, and unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company. To the extent a vesting condition, forfeiture provision or repurchase right applicable to an Award has not been waived by the Plan Administrator, the Award shall be forfeited immediately prior to the consummation of the dissolution or liquidation.
14.3 Change of Control
(o) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise with respect to a particular Award in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, in the event of a Change of Control:
(i) If and to the extent an outstanding Award is not converted, assumed, substituted for or replaced by the Successor Company, then effective immediately prior to the Change of Control, any such Award held by a Participant whose employment or service has not terminated prior to such Change of Control shall become additionally vested and exercisable or payable, and applicable restrictions or forfeiture provisions shall lapse, with respect to 100% of the unvested portion of such Award. Awards shall then terminate upon effectiveness of the Change of Control if and to the extent not exercised at or prior to consummation of the Change of Control.
(ii) If and to the extent the Successor Company converts, assumes, substitutes for or replaces an outstanding Award, the vesting and/or exercisability restrictions and/or forfeiture or repurchase provisions applicable to such Award shall not be accelerated or lapse, and all such vesting and/or exercisability restrictions and/or forfeiture or repurchase provisions shall continue with respect to any shares of the Successor Company or other consideration that may be received with respect to such Award.
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(p) For the purposes of Section 14.3(a), an Award shall be considered converted, assumed, substituted for or replaced by the Successor Company if following the Change of Control the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change of Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the Change of Control by holders of Common Stock for each share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change of Control is not solely common stock of the Successor Company, the Plan Administrator may, with the consent of the Successor Company, provide for the consideration to be received pursuant to the Award, for each share of Common Stock subject thereto, to be solely common stock of the Successor Company substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change of Control. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Plan Administrator, and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.
(q) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may instead provide in the event of a Change of Control that a Participant’s outstanding Awards shall terminate upon or immediately prior to such Change of Control and that each such Participant shall receive, in exchange therefor, a cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (i) the Acquisition Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Awards (either to the extent then vested and exercisable, or subject to restrictions and/or forfeiture provisions, or whether or not then vested and exercisable, or subject to restrictions and/or forfeiture provisions, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion) exceeds (ii) if applicable, the respective aggregate exercise, grant or purchase price payable with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards.
(r) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 14.3 requires all Awards to be treated similarly.
14.4 Further Adjustment of Awards
Subject to Sections 14.2 and 14.3, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable at any time before a sale, merger, statutory share exchange, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change of control of the Company, as defined by the Plan Administrator, to take such further action as it determines to be necessary or advisable with respect to Awards. Such authorized action may include (but shall not be limited to) establishing, amending or waiving the type, terms, conditions or duration of, or restrictions on, Awards so as to provide for earlier, later, extended or additional time for exercise, lifting restrictions and other modifications, and the Plan Administrator may take such actions with respect to all Participants, to certain categories of Participants or only to individual Participants. The Plan Administrator may take such action before or after granting Awards to which the action relates and before or after any public announcement with respect to such sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change of control that is the reason for such action.
14.5 No Limitations
The grant of Awards shall in no way affect the Company’s right to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
14.6 Fractional Shares
In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any Award, each such Award shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from such adjustment, and any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be disregarded.
14.7 Section 409A
Subject to Section 18.5(b), but notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, (a) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 14 to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A and (b) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 14 to Awards that are not considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that after such adjustment the Awards either (i) continue not to be subject to Section 409A or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A.
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SECTION 15. FIRST REFUSAL AND REPURCHASE RIGHTS;
OTHER RIGHTS AND VOTING RESTRICTIONS
15.1 First Refusal Rights
Until the date on which the initial registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act first becomes effective, the Company shall have the right of first refusal with respect to any proposed sale or other disposition by a Participant of any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to an Award. Such right of first refusal shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the stock purchase agreement evidencing the Participant’s acquisition of the shares or, if applicable, in a stockholders agreement or other similar agreement.
15.2 Repurchase Rights for Vested Shares
Until the date on which the initial registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act first becomes effective, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service, all vested shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to an Award (whether issued before or after such Termination of Service) shall be subject to repurchase by the Company, at the Company’s sole discretion, at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of such repurchase. The terms and conditions upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the agreement evidencing the Participant’s acquisition of the shares or, if applicable, in a stockholders agreement or other similar agreement.
15.3 Other Rights and Voting Restrictions
Until the date on which the initial registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b), or 12(g) of the Exchange Act first becomes effective, the Plan Administrator may require a Participant, as a condition to receiving shares under the Plan, to become a party to a stock purchase agreement and/or a stockholders agreement or other similar agreement, in the form designated by the Plan Administrator, pursuant to which the Participant grants to the Company and/or its other stockholders certain rights, including but not limited to co-sale rights, and agrees to certain voting restrictions with respect to the shares acquired by the Participant under the Plan.
15.4 General
The Company’s rights under this Section 15 are assignable by the Company at any time.
SECTION 16. MARKET STANDOFF
In the event of an underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, including the Company’s initial public offering, no person may sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer for value or otherwise agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to any shares issued pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan without the prior written consent of the Company or its underwriters. Such limitations shall be in effect for such period of time as may be requested by the Company or such underwriters; provided, however, that in no event shall such period exceed (a) 180 days after the effective date of the registration statement for such public offering or (b) such longer period requested by the underwriters as is necessary to comply with regulatory restrictions on the publication of research reports (including, but not limited to, NYSE Rule 472 or NASD Conduct Rule 2711, or any successor rules or amendments thereto). The limitations of this Section 16 shall in all events terminate two years after the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering.
In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the Company’s outstanding Common Stock effected as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities distributed with respect to the shares issued under the Plan shall be immediately subject to the provisions of this Section 16, to the same extent the shares issued under the Plan are at such time covered by such provisions.
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In order to enforce the limitations of this Section 16, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares until the end of the applicable standoff period.
SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
17.1 Amendment, Suspension or Termination
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion of the Plan at any time and in such respects as it shall deem advisable; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan. Subject to Section 17.3, the Plan Administrator may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively.
17.2 Term of the Plan
Unless sooner terminated, the 2021 Plan shall terminate on August 12, 2031. After the Plan is terminated, no future Awards may be granted, but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the Plan’s terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten years after the later of (a) the adoption of the Plan by the Board and (b) the adoption by the Board of any amendment to the Plan that constitutes the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.
17.3 Consent of Participant
The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or a portion thereof or the amendment of an outstanding Award shall not, without the Participant’s consent, materially adversely affect any rights under any Award theretofore granted to the Participant under the Plan. Any change or adjustment to an outstanding Incentive Stock Option shall not, without the consent of the Participant, be made in a manner so as to constitute a “modification” that would cause such Incentive Stock Option to fail to continue to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 14 shall not be subject to these restrictions.
Subject to Section 18.5, but notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator shall have broad authority to amend the Plan or any outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant to the extent the Plan Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with, or take into account, changes in applicable tax laws, securities laws, accounting rules or other applicable law, rule or regulation.
SECTION 18. GENERAL
18.1 No Individual Rights
No individual or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and the Company has no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan.
Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute an employment contract or confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Related Company or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Related Company to terminate a Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.
18.2 Issuance of Shares
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock under the Plan or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, such issuance, delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act or the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction) and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.
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The Company shall be under no obligation to any Participant to register for offering or resale or to qualify for exemption under the Securities Act, or to register or qualify under the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction, any shares of Common Stock, security or interest in a security paid or issued under, or created by, the Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made.
As a condition to the exercise of an Option or any other receipt of Common Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, the Company may require (a) the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that such shares are being purchased or received only for the Participant’s own account and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares and (b) such other action or agreement by the Participant as may from time to time be necessary to comply with the federal, state and foreign securities laws. At the option of the Company, a stop-transfer order against any such shares may be placed on the official stock books and records of the Company, and a legend indicating that such shares may not be pledged, sold or otherwise transferred, unless an opinion of counsel is provided (concurred in by counsel for the Company) stating that such transfer is not in violation of any applicable law or regulation, may be stamped on stock certificates to ensure exemption from registration. The Plan Administrator may also require the Participant to execute and deliver to the Company a purchase agreement or such other agreement as may be in use by the Company at such time that describes certain terms and conditions applicable to the shares. To the extent the Plan or any instrument evidencing an Award provides for issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Common Stock, the issuance may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.
18.3 Indemnification
Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board or a committee appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.1 shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such person in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by such person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit or proceeding against such person, unless such loss, cost, liability or expense is a result of such person’s own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute; provided, however, that such person shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on such person’s own behalf.
The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such person may be entitled tinder the Company’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or of any power that the Company may have to indemnify or hold harmless.
18.4 No Rights as a Stockholder
Unless otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator or in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement, no Award, other than a Stock Award, shall entitle the Participant to any cash dividend, voting or other right of a stockholder unless and until the date of issuance under the Plan of the shares that are the subject of such Award.
18.5 Compliance with Laws and Regulations
(s) In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Plan, any Option granted as an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to the Plan shall, to the extent permitted by law, be construed as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
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(t) The Plan and Awards granted under the Plan are intended to be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A to the maximum extent possible, whether pursuant to the short-term deferral exception described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), the exclusion applicable to stock options, stock appreciation rights and certain other equity-based compensation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-l(b)(5), or otherwise. To the extent Section 409A is applicable to the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, it is intended that the Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan comply with the deferral, payout, plan termination and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to the contrary, the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intentions; provided, however, that the Plan Administrator makes no representations that Awards granted under the Plan shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A from applying to Awards granted under the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to the contrary, with respect to any payments and benefits under the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to which Section 409A applies, all references in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to the termination of the Participant’s employment or service are intended to mean the Participant’s “separation from service,” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) to the extent necessary to avoid subjecting the Participant to the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A. In addition, if the Participant is a “specified employee,” within the meaning of Section 409A, then to the extent necessary to avoid subjecting the Participant to the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A, amounts that would otherwise be payable under the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan during the six-month period immediately following the Participant’s “separation from service,” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i), shall not be paid to the Participant during such period, but shall instead be accumulated and paid to the Participant (or, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Participant’s estate) in a lump sum on the first business day after the earlier of the date that is six months following the Participant’s separation from service or the Participant’s death. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator, to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, reserves the right, but shall not be required, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan so that the Award qualifies for exemption from or complies with Section 409A.
18.6 Participants in Other Countries or Jurisdictions
Without amending the Plan, the Plan Administrator may grant Awards to Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan, as may, in the judgment of the Plan Administrator, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan and shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, subplans and the like as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws or regulations of other countries or jurisdictions in which the Company or any Related Company may operate or have employees to ensure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants employed in such countries or jurisdictions, meet the requirements that permit the Plan to operate in a qualified or tax efficient manner, comply with applicable foreign laws or regulations and meet the objectives of the Plan.
18.7 No Trust or Fund
The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan. Nothing contained herein shall require the Company to segregate any monies or other property, or shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits for any immediate or deferred amounts payable to any Participant, and no Participant shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
18.8 Successors
All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all the business and/or assets of the Company.
18.9 Severability
If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Plan Administrator, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the Plan Administrator’s determination, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
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18.10 Choice of Law and Venue
The Plan, all Awards granted thereunder and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. Participants irrevocably consent to the nonexclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Washington.
18.11 Legal Requirements
The granting of Awards and the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan are subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.
SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE
The effective date (the “Effective Date”) is the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board. If the stockholders of the Company do not approve the Plan or an amendment thereto that requires stockholder approval pursuant to Section 422 of the Code, as applicable, within 12 months before or after the Board’s adoption of the Plan, any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan will be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of determining the appropriate treatment of stock options granted under the Plan, the adoption of any amendment to the Plan requiring stockholder approval pursuant to Section 422 of the Code shall constitute the adoption of a new plan.
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APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS
As used in the Plan,
“Acquired Entity” means any entity acquired by the Company or a Related Company or with which the Company or a Related Company merges or combines.
“Acquisition Price” means the fair market value of the securities, cash or other property, or any combination thereof, receivable or deemed receivable upon a Change of Control in respect of a share of Common Stock, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.
“Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Restricted Stock, Stock Unit or cash-based award or other incentive payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock, as may be designated by the Plan Administrator from time to time.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause,” unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing an Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means the Participant’s (a) willful and continued failure to substantially perform the Participant’s duties to the Company after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Board or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Participant has not substantially performed the Participant’s duties, and which gives the Participant at least 10 days to cure such deficiencies; (b) unauthorized use or disclosure of the confidential information or trade secrets of the Company; (c) indictment of, conviction of, or a plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; or (d) willful misconduct, which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise.
“Change of Control,” unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise with respect to an Award at the time the Award is granted or unless otherwise defined for purposes of an Award in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means consummation of:
(a) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other company or other entity;
(b) a statutory share exchange pursuant to which the Company’s outstanding shares are acquired or a sale, in one transaction or a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose, of at least 50% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities; or
(c) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, undertaken with a common purpose of all or substantially all of the Company’s property or business.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not include (i) a merger or consolidation of the Company, or a statutory share exchange pursuant to which the Company’s outstanding shares are acquired, in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange hold at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Successor Company immediately after the merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange; (ii) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to a majority-owned subsidiary company; (iii) a transaction undertaken for the principal purpose of restructuring the capital of the Company, including, but not limited to, reincorporating the Company in a different jurisdiction, converting the Company to a limited liability company or creating a holding company; or (iv) an equity financing in which the Company is the surviving company.
Where a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose is deemed to be a Change of Control, the date of such Change of Control shall be the date on which the last of such transactions is consummated.
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“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company.
“Company” means the __________________, a Nevada corporation.
“Disability,” unless otherwise defined by the Plan Administrator for purposes of the Plan or in the instrument evidencing an Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means a mental or physical impairment of the Participant that is expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more and that causes the Participant to be unable to perform his or her material duties for the Company or a Related Company and to be engaged in any substantial gainful activity, in each case as determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, in the case of directors and executive officers, the Plan Administrator, each of whose determination shall be conclusive and binding.
“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 19.
“Eligible Person” means any person eligible to receive an Award as set forth in Section 5.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Fair Market Value” means the per share fair market value of the Common Stock as established in good faith by the Plan Administrator or, if the Common Stock is publicly traded, the closing price for the Common Stock on any given date during regular trading, or if not trading on that date, such price on the last preceding date on which the Common Stock was traded, unless determined otherwise by the Plan Administrator using such methods or procedures as it may establish.
“Grant Date” means the later of (a) the date on which the Plan Administrator completes the corporate action authorizing the grant of an Award or such later date specified by the Plan Administrator and (b) the date on which all conditions precedent to an Award have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the exercisability or vesting of Awards shall not defer the Grant Date.
“Immediate Family Member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in- law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships.
“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option granted with the intention that it qualify as an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.
“Option” means a right to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7.
“Option Expiration Date” means the last day of the maximum term of an Option.
“Option Term” means the maximum term of an Option as set forth in Section 7.3.
“Participant” means any Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted.
“Performance Goals” means performance goals established by the Plan Administrator which may be based on earnings or earnings growth, sales, return on assets, cash flow, total shareholder return, equity or investment, regulatory compliance, satisfactory internal or external audits, improvement of financial ratings, achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives, implementation or completion of one or more projects or transactions, or any other objective goals established by the Plan Administrator, and which may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated. Such performance goals may be particular to an Eligible Person or the department, branch, Affiliate, or division in which the Eligible Person works, or may be based on the performance of the Company, one or more Affiliates, or the Company and one or more Affiliates, and may cover such period as may be specified by the Plan Administrator.
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“Permitted Transfer” means any Transfer of Transfer Restricted Common Stock: (a) made gratuitously to one or more of the Participant’s Immediate Family Members or made gratuitously to a trust, family limited partnership, family limited liability company or other bona fide estate planning or planned gifting vehicle for the benefit of such Participant or one or more of such Participant’s Immediate Family Members; (b) to any person or entity who is a stockholder of the Company at the time of such Transfer, provided that the price per share paid in such Transfer is less than or equal to the then most recent fair market value per share of Common Stock as determined by the Board; or (c) that is approved in writing by the Plan Administrator.
“Plan” means the __________________ 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
“Plan Administrator” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Related Company” means any entity that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.
“Restricted Stock” means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are subject to restrictions prescribed by the Plan Administrator.
“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, including any regulations and other guidance issued thereunder by the Department of the Treasury and/or the Internal Revenue Service.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted under Section 9.1 to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock over the grant price.
“Stock Award” means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are not subject to restrictions prescribed by the Plan Administrator.
“Stock Unit” means an Award denominated in units of Common Stock granted under Section 10.
“Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in substitution or exchange for awards previously granted by an Acquired Entity.
“Successor Company” means the surviving company, the successor company, the acquiring company or its parent, as applicable, in connection with a Change of Control.
“Ten Percent Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
“Termination of Service” means a termination of employment or service relationship with the Company or a Related Company for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, including by reason of death or Disability. Any question as to whether and when there has been a Termination of Service for the purposes of an Award and the cause of such Termination of Service shall be determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors and executive officers, by the Plan Administrator, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding. Transfer of a Participant’s employment or service relationship between the Company and any Related Company shall not be considered a Termination of Service for purposes of an Award. Unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise, a Termination of Service shall be deemed to occur if the Participant’s employment or service relationship is with an entity that has ceased to be a Related Company. A Participant’s change in status from an employee of the Company or a Related Company to a nonemployee director, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company, or a change in status from a nonemployee director, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company to an employee of the Company or a Related Company, shall not be considered a Termination of Service.
“Transfer” means, as the context may require, (a) any sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, mortgage, encumbrance or other disposition, whether by contract, gift, will, intestate succession, operation of law or otherwise, of all or any part of an Award or shares issued thereunder, as applicable, or (b) any verbal equivalent of the foregoing.
“Transfer Restricted Common Stock” means (a) shares of Common Stock that are issued under the Plan and (b) or any securities issued in exchange for the foregoing shares or received in a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split or otherwise in respect of such shares.
“Vesting Commencement Date” means the Grant Date or such other date selected by the Plan Administrator as the date from which an Award begins to vest.
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APPENDIX B
TO THE __________________
2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(For California Residents Only)
This Appendix to the __________________ 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) shall have application only to Participants who are residents of the State of California. Capitalized terms contained herein shall have the same meanings given to them in the Plan, unless otherwise provided in this Appendix. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary and to the extent required by applicable law, the following terms and conditions shall apply to all Awards granted to residents of the State of California, until such time as the Common Stock becomes a “listed security” under the Securities Act:
1. Options shall have a term of not more than ten years from the Grant Date.
2. Awards shall be nontransferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may permit transfer of an Award to a revocable trust or as otherwise permitted by Rule 701 of the Securities Act.
3. Unless employment or services are terminated for Cause, the right to exercise an Option in the event of Termination of Service, to the extent that the Participant is otherwise entitled to exercise an Option on the date of Termination of Service, shall be
(a) at least six months from the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service if termination was caused by death or Disability; and
(b) at least 30 days from the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service if termination of employment was caused by other than death or Disability;
(c) but in no event later than the Option Expiration Date.
4. No Award may be granted to a resident of California more than ten years after the date the Board adopts the Plan and the date the stockholders approve the Plan.
5. Stockholders of the Company must approve the Plan by the later of (a) within 12 months before or after the Plan is adopted by the Board and (b)(i) with respect to Options, prior to or within 12 months of the grant of an Option under the Plan to a resident of the State of California, and (ii) with respect to Awards other than Options, prior to the issuance of such Award to a resident of the State of California. Any Option exercised by a California resident or shares issued under an Award to a California resident shall be rescinded if stockholder approval is not obtained in the foregoing manner. Shares subject to such Awards shall not be counted in determining whether such approval is obtained.
6. To the extent required by applicable law, the Company shall provide annual financial statements of the Company to each California resident holding an outstanding Award under the Plan. Such financial statements need not be audited and need not be issued to key persons whose duties at the Company assure them access to equivalent information.
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PLAN ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS/ADJUSTMENTS
SUMMARY PAGE
Date of Board Action | Action |
Section/Effect of Amendment |
Date of Stockholder Approval |
August 12, 2021
|
Initial Plan Adoption
|
|
|
|
Approved by Stockholders
|
|
October 15, 2021
|
January 1, 2022
|
Automatic Increase in shares pursuant to Section 4.2
|
Section 4.1
20,000,000 shares increased to 22,000,000 shares
|
n/a
|
September 11, 2024
|
Amendment
|
Section 4.1
amended for increase from 22,000,000 shares to 40,000,000 shares; and shares reserved for 2011 plan restated to reflect reduced awards outstanding under 2011 plan.
|
October 25, 2024
|