AUBN 8-K
Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc (AUBN)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report:
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
(Addresses of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. |
(c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed herewith:
| Exhibit No. |
Exhibit Description | |
| 10.1 | Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| AUBURN NATIONAL BANCORPORATION, INC. |
| (Registrant) |
| /s/ David A. Hedges |
| David A. Hedges |
| President and CEO |
Date: December 10, 2024
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Exhibit 10.1
AUBURN NATIONAL BANCORPORATION, INC.
2024 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
| 1. | Purpose. |
The purpose of Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. 2024 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to attract and retain non-employee Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and certain consultants to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to provide incentives and rewards to such persons for service and/or performance.
| 2. | Definitions. |
As used in this Plan:
(a) “Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan.
(b) “Base Price” means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of an Appreciation Right.
(c) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.
(d) “Cash Incentive Award” means a cash award granted pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.
(e) “Cause” shall have the meaning as set forth in the applicable Evidence of Award.
(f) “Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 12 of this Plan.
(g) “Clawback Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 13 of this Plan.
(h) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
(i) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or its successor(s)), or any other committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer this Plan pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan, and to the extent of any delegation by the Committee to a subcommittee pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan, such subcommittee.
(j) “Common Stock” or “Shares” means the shares of the Company common stock, par value $0.01 per share, or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 11 of this Plan.
(k) “Company” means Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.
(l) “Date of Grant” means the date provided for by the Committee on which a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash Incentive Awards, or other awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, or a grant or sale of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or other awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, will become effective (which date will not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto).
(m) “Director” means a member of the Board.
(n) “Disability” shall have the meaning as set forth in the applicable Evidence of Award.
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(o) “Effective Date” means the date this Plan is approved by the Stockholders.
(p) “Evidence of Award” means an agreement, certificate, resolution, action by written consent or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of the awards granted under this Plan. An Evidence of Award may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to notation on the books and records of the Company and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant, and shall be binding.
(q) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.
(r) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option Right that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
(s) “Management Objectives” means the measurable performance objective or objectives established from time to time pursuant to this Plan applicable to one or more Participants who have received grants of Performance Shares, Performance Units or Cash Incentive Awards or, when so determined by the Committee, Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, dividend equivalents or other awards pursuant to this Plan. If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the acceptable levels of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.
(t) “Market Value per Share” means, as of any particular date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock as reported for that date on the Nasdaq Stock Market or, if the Shares of Common Stock are not then listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, on any other national securities exchange on which the Shares of Common Stock are listed or other established securities market on which Shares are traded, such as the interdealer quotation services operated by OTC Markets Group, Inc., or if there are no sales on such date, on the next preceding trading day during which a sale occurred. If there is no regular public trading market for the Shares of Common Stock, then the Market Value per Share shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Committee. The Committee is authorized to adopt another fair market value pricing method, provided such pricing method is stated in the applicable Evidence of Award and is in compliance with the fair market value pricing rules set forth in Section 409A of the Code.
(u) “Optionee” means the optionee named in an Evidence of Award evidencing an outstanding Option Right.
(v) “Option Price” means the purchase price payable on exercise of an Option Right.
(w) “Option Right” means the right to purchase Shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an award granted pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.
(x) “Participant” means a person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under this Plan and who is at the time (i) a non-employee Director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) an officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, including a person who has agreed to commence serving in such capacity within 90 days of the Date of Grant, or (iii) a person, including a consultant, who provides services to the Company or any Subsidiary that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee, provided that such person satisfies the Commission Form S-8 definition of an “employee”.
(y) “Performance Period” means, in respect of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Share or Performance Unit, a period of time established pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan within which the Management Objectives relating to such Cash Incentive Award, Performance Share or Performance Unit are to be achieved.
(z) “Performance Share” means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.
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(aa) “Performance Unit” means a bookkeeping entry awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as is determined by the Committee.
(bb) “Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 1 above, as such Plan is amended or amended and restated from time to time.
(cc) “Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock granted or sold pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers has expired.
(dd) “Restricted Stock Units” means an award made pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan of the right to receive Shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of the applicable Restriction Period.
(ee) “Restriction Period” means the period of time during which Restricted Stock Units are subject to restrictions, as provided in Section 7 of this Plan.
(ff) “SEC” or “Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor thereto.
(gg) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.
(hh) “Spread” means the excess of the Market Value per Share on the date when an Appreciation Right is exercised over the Base Price provided for with respect to the Appreciation Right.
(ii) “Stockholder” means each individual or entity that owns one or more shares of Common Stock.
(jj) “Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than 50% of whose outstanding shares of capital stock or securities (representing the right to vote generally in the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other similar entity), but more than 50% of whose ownership interests representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Company at the time owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total combined Voting Power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.
(kk) “Voting Power” means, at any time, the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors in the case of the Company or members of the board of directors or similar governing person or body in the case of another entity.
| 3. | Shares Available Under this Plan. |
(a) Maximum Shares Available Under this Plan.
(i) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan and the Share counting rules set forth in Section 3(b) of this Plan, the number of Shares of Common Stock available under this Plan for awards of (A) Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, (B) Restricted Stock, (C) Restricted Stock Units, (D) Performance Shares or Performance Units, (E) awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, or (F) dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under this Plan will not exceed in the aggregate 350,000 Shares of Common Stock. Such Shares may be Shares of original issuance or Shares held as treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing.
(ii) The aggregate number of Shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan will be reduced by one Share of Common Stock for every one Share of Common Stock subject to an award granted under this Plan.
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(b) Share Counting Rules.
(i) Except as provided in Section 22 of this Plan, if any award granted under this Plan is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash (in whole or in part) and cancelled, or is unearned (in whole or in part) and cancelled, the Shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, again be available under Section 3(a)(i) above.
(ii) If, after the Effective Date, any Shares of Common Stock subject to an award granted under the Predecessor Plans are forfeited, or an award granted under the Predecessor Plans is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash (in whole or in part), or is unearned (in whole or in part), the Shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, be available for awards under this Plan.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan: (A) Shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used in payment of the Option Price of an Option Right will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (B) the gross number of Appreciation Rights, and not just the Shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise or settlement of an Appreciation Right will not be added back to the aggregate number of Shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (C) Shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Option Rights will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of Shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; and (D) Shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used to satisfy tax withholding will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of Shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.
(iv) If, under this Plan, a Participant has elected to give up the right to receive compensation in exchange for Shares of Common Stock based on fair market value, such Shares of Common Stock will not count against the aggregate limit under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.
(c) Limit on Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3 or elsewhere in this Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan, the aggregate number of Shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed 350,000 Shares of Common Stock.
(d) Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3 or elsewhere in this Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan, in no event will any non-employee Director in any calendar year be granted compensation (including meeting and retainer fees and equity grants) for such service having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the Date of Grant as applicable, and calculating the value of any awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) in excess of $100,000.
| 4. | Option Rights. |
The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Participants of Option Rights. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:
(a) Each grant will specify the number of Shares of Common Stock to which it pertains subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 of this Plan.
(b) Each grant will specify an Option Price per share of Common Stock, which Option Price (except with respect to awards under Section 22 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.
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(c) Each grant will specify whether the Option Price will be payable (i) in cash, by check acceptable to the Company or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (ii) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of Shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee having a value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, (iii) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Committee, by the withholding of Shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of an Option Right pursuant to a “net exercise” arrangement (it being understood that, solely for purposes of determining the number of Shares held as treasury stock held by the Company, the Shares of Common Stock so withheld will not be treated as issued and acquired by the Company upon such exercise), (iv) by a combination of such methods of payment, or (v) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee.
(d) To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on a date satisfactory to the Company of some or all of the Shares of Common Stock to which such exercise relates.
(e) Successive grants may be made to the same Participant, whether or not any Option Rights previously granted to such Participant remain unexercised.
(f) Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Optionee with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before any Option Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable. Option Rights may provide for continued terms or the earlier exercise of such Option Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.
(g) Any grant of Option Rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of such rights.
(h) Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options, including Incentive Stock Options, which are intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code, (ii) options that are not intended to so qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Participants who meet the definition of “employees” under Section 3401(c) of the Code.
(i) No Option Right will be exercisable more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Option Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.
(j) Option Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.
(k) All Option Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.
| 5. | Appreciation Rights. |
(a) The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to any Participant of Appreciation Rights. An Appreciation Right will be the right of the Participant to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100%) at the time of exercise.
(b) Each grant of Appreciation Rights may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:
(i) Each grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right will be paid by the Company in cash, Shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof.
(ii) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right may not exceed any maximum specified by the Committee on the Date of Grant.
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(iii) Any grant may specify waiting periods before exercise and permissible exercise dates or periods.
(iv) Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Participant with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before the Appreciation Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable. Appreciation Rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier exercise of such Appreciation Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.
(v) Any grant of Appreciation Rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition of the exercise of such Appreciation Rights.
(vi) Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.
(vii) Successive grants of Appreciation Rights may be made to the same Participant regardless of whether any Appreciation Rights previously granted to the Participant remain unexercised.
(viii) Each grant of Appreciation Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.
(c) Also, regarding Appreciation Rights:
(i) Each grant will specify in respect of each Appreciation Right a Base Price, which (except with respect to awards under Section 22 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant; and
(ii) No Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Appreciation Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.
| 6. | Restricted Stock. |
The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Stock to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:
(a) Each such grant or sale will constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of Shares of Common Stock to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and other ownership rights, but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter described.
(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.
(c) Each such grant or sale will provide that the Restricted Stock covered by such grant or sale will be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Date of Grant or until achievement of the Management Objectives referred to in Section 6(e) of this Plan.
(d) Each such grant or sale will provide that during or after the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of the Restricted Stock will be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee on the Date of Grant (which restrictions may include rights of repurchase
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or first refusal of the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Stock to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture while held by any transferee).
(e) Any grant of Restricted Stock may specify Management Objectives that, if achieved, will result in termination or early termination of the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, Restricted Stock may provide for continued vesting or the earlier termination of restrictions on such Restricted Stock, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.
(g) Any such grant or sale of Restricted Stock will require that any and all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of such restrictions be automatically deferred and/or reinvested in additional Restricted Stock, which will be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award. Unless the Evidence of Award states otherwise, all dividends will be reinvested in Shares of Restricted Stock. Otherwise, any such dividends or other distributions on Restricted Stock will be deferred until, and paid in cash, without interest, contingent upon, the vesting of such Restricted Stock.
(h) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, (i) all certificates representing Restricted Stock will be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon will have lapsed, together with a stock power or powers executed by the Participant in whose name such certificates are registered, endorsed in blank and covering such Shares or (ii) all Restricted Stock will be held at the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form with appropriate restrictions relating to the transfer of such Restricted Stock.
| 7. | Restricted Stock Units. |
The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting or sale of Restricted Stock Units to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:
(a) Each such grant or sale will constitute the agreement by the Company to deliver Shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof, to the Participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include the achievement of Management Objectives) during the Restriction Period as the Committee may specify.
(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, Restricted Stock Units may provide for continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the Restriction Period, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.
(d) During the Restriction Period, the Participant will have no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and will have no rights of ownership in the Shares of Common Stock deliverable upon payment of the Restricted Stock Units and will have no right to vote them, but the Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional Shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that dividend equivalents or other distributions on Shares of Common Stock underlying Restricted Stock Units will be deferred until, and paid in cash, without interest contingent upon, the vesting of such Restricted Stock Units.
(e) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will specify the time and manner of payment of the Restricted Stock Units that have been earned. Each grant or sale will specify that the amount payable with respect thereto will be paid by the Company in Shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof.
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(f) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.
| 8. | Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. |
The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting of Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:
(a) Each grant will specify the number or amount of Performance Shares or Performance Units, or amount payable with respect to a Cash Incentive Award, to which it pertains, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment, as provided in the Evidence of Award, to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.
(b) The Performance Period with respect to each Cash Incentive Award or grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will be such period of time as will be determined by the Committee. Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units may be subject to continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the applicable Performance Period, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.
(c) Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will specify Management Objectives which, if achieved, will result in payment or early payment of the award, and each grant may specify in respect of such specified Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level or levels of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units, or amount payable with respect to a Cash Incentive Award, that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum or threshold level or levels, or is at or above the target level or levels, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives.
(d) Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned. Any grant may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by the Company in cash, in shares of Common Stock, in Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or in any combination thereof.
(e) Any grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units may specify that the amount payable or the number of Shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee on the Date of Grant.
(f) The Committee may, on the Date of Grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof either in cash or in additional Shares of Common Stock, subject in all cases to deferral until, and paid in cash, without interest contingent upon, the Participant’s earning of the Performance Shares or Performance Units, as applicable, with respect to such related dividend equivalents.
(g) Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.
| 9. | Other Awards. |
(a) Subject to applicable law and the applicable limits set forth in Section 3 of this Plan, the Committee may authorize the grant to any Participant of Shares of Common Stock or such other awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares of Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of such Shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares of Common Stock, purchase rights for Shares of Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified Subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of the Shares of Common Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance
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of specified Subsidiaries or affiliates or other business units of the Company. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. Shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 9 will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, Shares of Common Stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.
(b) Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other award granted under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 9.
(c) The Committee may authorize the grant of Shares of Common Stock as a bonus, or may authorize the grant of other awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as will be determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.
(d) The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on awards granted under this Section 9 on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional Shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that dividend equivalents or other distributions on Shares of Common Stock underlying awards granted under this Section 9 will be deferred until, and paid in cash, without interest, contingent upon the Participant earning such awards.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, awards under this Section 9 may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier elimination of restrictions applicable to, such award, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.
10. Administration of this Plan.
(a) This Plan will be administered by the Committee. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under this Plan to a subcommittee thereof. To the extent of any such delegation, references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to such subcommittee.
(b) The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of this Plan or of any Evidence of Award (or related documents) and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or of any such agreement, notification or document will be final and conclusive. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith. In addition, the Committee is authorized to take any action it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate, subject only to the express limitations contained in this Plan, and no authorization in any Plan section or other provision of this Plan is intended or may be deemed to constitute a limitation on the authority of the Committee.
(c) To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members, to one or more officers of the Company, or to one or more agents or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee, the subcommittee, or any person to whom duties or powers have been delegated as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee, the subcommittee or such person may have under this Plan. The Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as the Committee: (i) designate employees to be recipients of awards under this Plan; and (ii) determine the size of any such awards; provided, that (A) the Committee will not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for awards granted to an employee who is an officer, Director, or more than 10% “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act; (B) the resolution providing for such authorization shall set forth the total number of Shares of Common Stock such officer(s) may grant; and (C) the officer(s) will report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board or the Committee may impose such conditions on any Award (including, without limitation, the right of the Board or the Committee to limit the time of
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exercise to specified periods) as may be required to satisfy the requirements of SEC Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the Exchange Act.
11. Adjustments.
The Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments in the number of and kind of Shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units granted hereunder and, if applicable, in the number of and kind of Shares of Common Stock covered by other awards granted pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan, in the Option Price and Base Price provided in outstanding Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, respectively, in Cash Incentive Awards, and in other award terms, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants that otherwise would result from (a) any stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, combination of Shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing.
Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may (a) accelerate the vesting for any outstanding award under this Plan in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code or (b) provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under this Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it, in good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and shall require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each Option Right or Appreciation Right with an Option Price or Base Price, respectively, greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion elect to cancel such Option Right or Appreciation Right without any payment to the person holding such Option Right or Appreciation Right. The Committee shall also make or provide for such adjustments in the number of Shares of Common Stock specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 11; provided, that (A) any such adjustment to the number specified in Section 3(c) of this Plan will be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any Option Right intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify and (B) in making such adjustments, the Committee shall take into account following such transaction or event, that the number of Shares of Common Stock specified in Section 3 of this Plan, as adjusted, as a percentage of then outstanding Shares of Company voting common stock, shall bear a reasonable relationship to the number of Shares of Common Stock specified in Section 3 of this Plan as a percentage of the outstanding Shares of Company voting common stock outstanding on the Effective Date.
12. Change in Control.
For purposes of this Plan, a “Change in Control” shall be defined in the applicable Evidence of Award.
13. Detrimental Activity; Recovery Provisions; etc.
Any Evidence of Award may reference a clawback policy of the Company, including the Company’s Erroneously Awarded Executive Incentive-Based Recovery Policy (collectively “Clawback Policy”), or otherwise provide for the recovery by the Company, or the cancellation or forfeiture, of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any gain related to or proceeds of an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee from time to time, if a Participant, either (a) during employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, or (b) within a specified period after termination of such employment or service, engages or engaged in any detrimental activity, as described in the applicable Evidence of Award or such Clawback Policy, in the event of a “Restatement” (as defined in the Company’s Erroneously Awarded Executive Incentive-Based Recovery Policy) or as otherwise required by applicable law. In addition, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Shares of Common Stock issued under an award and/or any other cash, dividends, dividend equivalents or Shares received pursuant to an award may become subject to repayment upon such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee under or as a result of a violation of, the Company’s Code of Ethics and Conduct, Insider Trading Policy, Clawback Policy or any applicable laws, or
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the rules of any national securities exchange or association or other market on which the Shares of Common Stock may be traded, including Nasdaq Rule 5608.
14. Non-U.S. Participants.
In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of this Plan (including sub-plans) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect, unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the Stockholders.
15. Transferability.
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no Option Right, Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash Incentive Award, or other award contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, or dividends or dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under this Plan will be transferable by the Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In no event will any such award granted under this Plan be transferred for value, except and only to the extent permitted by the Committee in the Evidence of Award and by Commission Form S-8 (i.e., (i) pursuant to a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (ii) a transfer to an entity in which more than 50% of the voting interests are owned by family members (or the employee) in exchange for an interest in that entity.
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Option Rights and Appreciation Rights will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law or court supervision.
The Committee may specify on the Date of Grant that part or all of the Shares of Common Stock that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the termination of the Restriction Period applicable to Restricted Stock Units, or upon payment under any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6 of this Plan, will be subject to further restrictions on transfer.
16. Withholding Taxes.
To the extent that the Company is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes or other amounts in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a Participant or other person under this Plan, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that such taxes or other amounts be withheld from such payment or benefit or paid by such Participant or other person, as determined or provided for by the Committee. With respect to such benefits that are to be received in the form of Shares of Common Stock, the Committee will cause the applicable Evidence of Award to specify the manner or manners where the withholding or payment of such taxes or other amounts will be effected by or on behalf of such Participant or other person, which manner or manners may include, as provided for by the Committee, withholding from the Shares of Common Stock required to be delivered to the Participant a number of Shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. Any Shares of Common Stock used for the purposes of such withholding or payment will be valued based on the fair market value of such Shares on the date on which the benefit or payment is to be included in the Participant’s income. In no event will the fair market value of any Shares of Common Stock withheld or otherwise used pursuant to this Section 16 exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld, unless (i) an additional amount can be withheld and not result in adverse accounting consequences, (ii) such additional withholding amount is
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authorized by the Committee, and (iii) the total amount withheld does not exceed the Participant’s estimated tax obligations attributable to the applicable transaction. Participants will also make such arrangements as the Company may require for the payment of any withholding tax or other obligation that may arise in connection with the disposition of Shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of Option Rights.
17. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.
(a) To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any grants made hereunder comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Participants. This Plan and any grants made hereunder will be administered in a manner consistent with this intent. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations or any other formal guidance promulgated with respect to such section by the United States Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.
(b) Neither a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries will have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under this Plan and grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under this Plan and grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owed by a Participant to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (i) the Participant will be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company makes a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but instead will pay such amount, without interest, on the fifth business day of the seventh month after such separation from service.
(d) Solely with respect to any award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is payable on account of a Change in Control (including any installments or stream of payments that are accelerated on account of a Change in Control), a Change in Control shall occur only if such event also constitutes a “change in the ownership,” “change in effective control,” and/or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets” of the Company as those terms are defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), but only to the extent necessary to establish a time and form of payment that complies with Section 409A of the Code, without altering the definition of Change in Control for any purpose in respect of such award.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan and grants hereunder to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to this Plan and grants hereunder, including any related Evidence of Award, as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant will be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on a Participant or for a Participant’s account in connection with this Plan and grants hereunder (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold a Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.
18. Amendments.
(a) The Board may at any time and from time to time amend this Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that if an amendment to this Plan, for purposes of applicable stock exchange rules and except as permitted under Section 11 of this Plan, (i) would materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under this Plan, (ii) would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under this Plan, (iii) would materially modify the requirements for participation in this Plan, or (iv) must otherwise be approved by the Stockholders in order to comply with applicable law or Nasdaq rules, or, if the Shares of Common Stock are not traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the principal national securities exchange or market upon which the Shares of Common Stock are traded or
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quoted, all as determined by the Board, then, such amendment will be subject to Stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.
(b) Except in connection with a corporate transaction or event described in Section 11 of this Plan or in connection with a Change in Control, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to reduce the Option Price of outstanding Option Rights or the Base Price of outstanding Appreciation Rights, or cancel outstanding “underwater” Option Rights or Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other awards or Option Rights or Appreciation Rights with an Option Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price of the original Option Rights or Base Price of the original Appreciation Rights, as applicable, without Stockholder approval. Section 18(b) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Option Rights and Appreciation Rights and will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 11 of this Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this Section 18(b) may not be amended without approval by the Stockholders.
(c) If permitted by Section 409A of the Code, but subject to the paragraph that follows, including in the case of termination of employment or service, or in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other circumstances or in the event of a Change in Control, to the extent a Participant holds an Option Right or Appreciation Right not immediately exercisable in full, or any Restricted Stock as to which the substantial risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction on transfer has not lapsed, or any Restricted Stock Units as to which the Restriction Period has not been completed, or any Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares or Performance Units which have not been fully earned, or any dividend equivalents or other awards made pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan subject to any vesting schedule or transfer restriction, or who holds Shares of Common Stock subject to any transfer restriction imposed pursuant to Section 15(a) of this Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for continued vesting or accelerate the time at which such Option Right, Appreciation Right or other award may be exercised or the time at which such substantial risk of forfeiture or prohibition or restriction on transfer will lapse or the time when such Restriction Period will end or the time at which such Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be deemed to have been fully earned or the time when such transfer restriction will terminate or may waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award.
(d) Subject to Section 18(b) of this Plan, the Committee may amend the terms of any award theretofore granted under this Plan prospectively or retroactively. Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 11 or to comply with Section 13, of this Plan, no such amendment will impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. The Board may, in its discretion, terminate this Plan at any time. Termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants or their successors under any awards outstanding hereunder and not exercised in full on the date of termination.
19. Governing Law.
This Plan and all grants and awards and actions taken hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Alabama.
20. Effective Date/Termination.
This Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date. No grants will be made on or after the Effective Date prior to the Commission declaring effective a registration statement filed by the Company on Commission Form S-8, except in the circumstances, if applicable, contemplated by Section 21(l) of this Plan. No grant will be made under this Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but all grants made prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of this Plan. For clarification purposes, the terms and conditions of this Plan shall not apply to or otherwise effect previously granted and outstanding awards under plans, as applicable, of plans of entities acquired by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or of entities which have merged or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.
21. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) The Company will not be required to issue any fractional Shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.
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(b) This Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continued employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant’s employment or other service at any time.
(c) Except with respect to Section 21(e) of this Plan, to the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option Right that was intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option from qualifying as such, that provision will be null and void with respect to such Option Right. Such provision, however, will remain in effect for other Option Rights and there will be no further effect on any provision of this Plan.
(d) No award under this Plan may be exercised by the holder thereof if such exercise, and the receipt of cash or stock thereunder, would be, in the opinion of counsel selected by the Company, contrary to applicable law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction over this Plan.
(e) Absence on leave approved by a duly constituted officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will not be considered interruption or termination of service of any employee for any purposes of this Plan or awards granted hereunder.
(f) No Participant will have any rights as a Stockholder with respect to any Shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted to him or her under this Plan prior to the date as of which he or she is becomes the record holder of such Shares of Common Stock on the Company’s or its stock transfer agent’s and registrar’s books and records.
(g) The Committee may condition the grant of any award or combination of awards authorized under this Plan on the surrender or deferral by the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other compensation otherwise payable by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant.
(h) Except with respect to Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, the Committee may permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of Shares of Common Stock under this Plan pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes of this Plan, and which are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee also may provide that deferred issuances and settlements include the crediting of dividend equivalents or dividends, in each case, without interest, on the deferral amounts.
(i) If any provision of this Plan is or becomes invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify this Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision will be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, it will be stricken and the remainder of this Plan will remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or an Evidence of Award to the contrary, nothing in this Plan or in an Evidence of Award prevents a Participant from providing, without prior notice to the Company, information to governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations or otherwise testifying or participating in any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations, and for purpose of clarity, a Participant is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Exchange Act.
(j) An award granted under this Plan may include a provision whereby the Company may elect to repurchase all, or any part of the Shares of Common Stock acquired by a Participant. The terms of any repurchase option shall be specified in the Evidence of Award.
(k) An award granted under this Plan may also include a provision whereby the Company may elect to exercise a right of first refusal following receipt of notice from a Participant of the intent to transfer all or any part of the Shares of Common Stock received under an award. Except as expressly provided in this paragraph or in the Evidence of Award, such right of first refusal shall otherwise comply with any applicable provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. The Board reserves the right to assign the Company’s right of first refusal.
(l) Unless otherwise determined by the Board, during any period in which the Company does not have a class of its securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and is not required to file reports under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, this Plan is intended to be a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Commission Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, although grants may be made pursuant to this Plan that
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do not qualify for exemption under Commission Rule 701promulgaged under the Securities Act. An award will not be effective unless such award complies in al material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange, interdealer quotation system or automated quotation system or market where the Shares of Common Stock may then be listed or quoted, as such laws and rules are in effect on the date of grant of the award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance.
(m) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares of Common Stock under this Plan prior to (i) obtaining any (i) approvals, consents, exemptions, rulings or determinations from, any applicable governmental authorities that the Company determines are necessary or advisable, and/or (ii) compliance with any exemption for, or registration or qualification of, such Shares of Common Stock under any federal state or other applicable jurisdictions’ securities laws, or federal that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The inability of the Company to obtain from any applicable governmental authority, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary or advisable to the lawful offer, sale and issuance of any Shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to offer, sell and issue such Shares as to which such requisite authority, registration, qualifications or exemption shall not have been obtained. The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares of Common Stock with the Commission or to effect compliance with the exemption, registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state’s or any foreign or other domestic jurisdiction’s securities laws, or to list such Shares for trading on any stock exchange, automated quotation system or over-the-counter market, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.
(n) Participants are subject to the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, and Evidences of Awards will acknowledge each Participant’s obligation to comply with the Insider Trading Policy and contain agreements to comply with the Insider Trading Policy and Exchange Act Section 16, including reporting by the Participant with respect to Awards under this Plan.
22. Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Another Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary:
(a) Awards may be granted under this Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock or stock-based awards held by awardees of an entity that is acquired by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or which merges or consolidates with the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries. Any conversion, substitution or assumption will be effective as of the effective time of the acquisition, merger or consolidation, and, to the extent applicable, will be conducted in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. The awards so granted may reflect the original terms of the awards being assumed or substituted or converted for and need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, and may account for Shares of Common Stock substituted for the securities covered by the original awards and the number of Shares subject to the original awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to the original awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices and the conversion ratios applicable in connection with the transaction.
(b) In the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary merges has shares available under a pre-existing plan previously approved by its or a predecessor’s stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, to reflect such acquisition, merger or consolidation) may be used for awards made after such acquisition, merger or consolidation under this Plan; provided that awards using such available shares may not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan absent the acquisition, merger or consolidation, and may only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary prior to such acquisition, merger or consolidation.
(c) Any Shares of Common Stock that are issued or transferred by, or that are subject to any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company under Sections 22(a) or 22(b) of this Plan will not reduce the number of Shares of Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under this Plan or otherwise count against the limits contained in Section 3 of this Plan. In addition, no Shares of Common Stock subject to an award that is
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granted by, or becomes an obligation of, the Company under Sections 22(a) or 22(b) of this Plan will be added to the aggregate limit contained in Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.
23. Lock-Up Agreement.
It shall be a condition to a Participant’s receipt of any award under this Plan that: (a) the Participant agree (and the Participant will be deemed by his or her acceptance of such award to have agreed) that, in the event of any Company offering of Shares of Common Stock (an “Offering”), if requested by the Company, the Board and/or any underwriters managing the Offering, the Participant will not, and the Participant will enter into a customary lock-up agreement in the form prepared by the Company and/or the underwriters pursuant to which the Participant will not, (i) lend, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares of Common Stock or any securities of the Company convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares of Common Stock (and excluding any Shares of Common Stock subsequently purchased by the Participant on the open market or in such offering), or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences or reduces the holder’s economic risks, of ownership of such Shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Shares of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Company or the underwriter, provided that such lock-up time period will not exceed 180 days from the effective date of an initial public offering, or, in the case of subsequent offerings of securities, 90 days from the effective date of such subsequent offering and any extension required by the rules and regulations applicable to the underwriters; and (b) the Participant waives, and will be deemed by his or her acceptance of such award to have agreed), in the event of an Offering, to waive, any registration rights he or she may have with respect to any Offering of Shares of Common Stock, whether pursuant to any stockholders’ agreement with the Company and/or third parties, or otherwise.
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