8-K
Netcapital Inc. (NCPL)
| UNITED STATES | ||
|---|---|---|
| SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION | ||
| Washington, D.C. 20549 | ||
| FORM 8-K | ||
| CURRENT REPORT | ||
| PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF | ||
| THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||
| Date<br> of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 3, 2023 | ||
| Netcapital Inc. | ||
| (Exact<br> name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||
| Utah | 001-41443 | 87-0409951 |
| (State or<br> other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File No.) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification<br> No.) |
| State Street Financial Center**, 1 Lincoln Street** , Boston,<br> Massachusetts 02111 | ||
| (Address<br> of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) | ||
| 782****-925-1700 | ||
| (Registrant's<br> telephone number, including area code) | ||
| Not Applicable | ||
| (Former<br> name or former address, if changed since last report) | ||
| Check<br> the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under<br> any of the following provisions: | ||
| [<br> ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under<br> the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | ||
| [<br> ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under<br> the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | ||
| [<br> ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule<br> 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | ||
| [<br> ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule<br> 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | ||
| Title<br> of each class | Trading<br> symbol(s) | Name<br> of each exchange on which registered |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share | NCPL | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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 1.01.
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
The disclosure under Item 5.02 below related to the Appointment of Chief Executive Officer and Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.
Item3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The discussion under Item 5.02 below related to Option Grants is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or PrincipalOfficers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
2023Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
On January 3, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company approved and adopted the Netcapital Inc., 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”), subject to the approval of the 2023 Plan by the Company’s stockholders. The material terms of the 2023 Plan are set forth below. The description below of the 2023 Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2023 Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Purposes
The purposes of the 2023 Plan are to (i) provide an additional incentive to selected employees, directors, and independent contractors of the Company or its affiliates whose contributions are essential to the growth and success of the Company, (ii) strengthen the commitment of such individuals to the Company and its affiliates, (iii) motivate those individuals to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and (iv) attract and retain competent and dedicated individuals whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company.
SharesAvailable
The total number of Shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2023 Plan is (i) 2,000,000 Shares of
Common Stock plus (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning with May 1, 2024 and
ending with the last May 1 during the initial ten-year term of the 2023 Plan, equal to the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the Shares of Common Stock outstanding (on an as-converted basis, which shall include Shares issuable upon
the exercise or conversion of all outstanding securities or rights convertible into or exercisable for Shares of Common
Stock, including without limitation, preferred stock, warrants and employee options to purchase any Shares of
Common Stock) on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (B) such lesser number of Shares
of Common Stock as determined by the Board; provided, that, Shares of Common Stock issued under the 2023 Plan
with respect to an Exempt Award shall not count against such share limit.
No more than 2,000,000 Shares, and as increased on an annual basis, on the first day of each calendar year beginning with May 1, 2024 and ending with the last May 1 during the initial ten-year term of the Plan, by the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding (on an as-converted basis, which shall include Shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all outstanding securities or rights convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, including without limitation, preferred stock, warrants and employee options to purchase any shares of Common Stock) on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year; (B) 300,000 shares of Common Stock, and (C) such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board, shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs.
As of January 3, 2023, 2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock represents approximately 34.1% of our Common Stock outstanding. If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of Shares to the participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for granting Awards under the 2023 Plan.
Administration
The 2023 Plan will be administered by the Board or a committee to which the Board delegates such responsibility (the “Administrator”). The 2023 Plan will be administered by the Administrator in accordance with Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Administrator may interpret the 2023 Plan and may prescribe, amend and rescind rules and make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2023 Plan. The 2023 Plan permits the Administrator to select the eligible recipients who will receive awards (“Awards”), to determine the terms and conditions of those awards, including but not limited to the exercise price or other purchase price of an award, the number of shares of common stock or cash or other property subject to an award, the term of an award and the vesting schedule applicable to an award, to determine the terms and conditions of written instruments evidencing such awards (an “Award Agreement”) and to amend the terms and conditions of outstanding awards.
Eligibility
Employees, directors and independent contractors of the Company or any of its affiliates of the Company will be eligible to receive Awards under the 2023 Plan, subject to certain limitations to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code. The participants in the 2023 Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from those individuals that qualify as eligible recipients.
Considerationfor Awards
The purchase price for any Award granted under the 2023 Plan or the Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to any such Award, as applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as determined by the Administrator, including, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods:
| ● | services<br> rendered by the recipient of such Award; |
|---|---|
| ● | cash,<br> check payable to the order of the Company, or electronic funds transfer; |
| ● | notice<br> and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator; |
| ● | the<br> delivery of previously owned and fully vested Shares of Common Stock; |
| ● | by<br> a reduction in the number of Shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the Award; or |
| ● | subject<br> to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise” with a third party<br><br> <br>who<br> provides financing for the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or exercise of Awards. |
Awards
The 2023 Plan permits the grant of: (a) stock options, which may be intended as incentive stock options (“ISOs”) or as nonqualified stock options (options not meeting the requirements to qualify as ISOs); (b) stock appreciation rights (“SARs”); (c) restricted stock; (d) restricted stock units; (e) cash incentive awards; or (f) other awards, including: (i) stock bonuses, performance stock, performance units, dividend equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire Shares, whether at a fixed or variable price or ratio related to the Common Stock, upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination thereof; or (ii) any similar securities with a value derived from the value of or related to the Common Stock and/or returns thereon.
Adjustments
To the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of an Award or of the 2023 Plan, following a “Change in Capitalization”, such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. A “Change in Capitalization” means any of the following: (i) merger, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) special or extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, share subdivision or consolidation, (iii) combination or exchange of shares or (iv) other change in corporate structure, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, affects the Shares such that an adjustment would be appropriate.
Options
Options granted under the 2023 Plan shall be designated as nonqualified stock options or ISOs. Each participant (“Participant”) who is granted an option (“Option”) shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the Exercise Price (as defined in the 2023 Plan) of the Option, the term of the Option and provisions regarding exercisability of the Option, and whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a nonqualified stock option (and in the event the Award Agreement has no such designation, the Option shall be a nonqualified stock option). The provisions of each Option need not be the same with respect to each Participant. More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of grant. The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Option is granted. The Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
Each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. The Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the 2023 Plan, if an ISO is granted to a participant who owns Shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of Shares of the Company at the time of grant, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a subsidiary of the Company, the term of the ISO shall not exceed five (5) years from the time of grant of such ISO and the Exercise Price shall be at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, and has paid in full for such Shares and has satisfied the requirements of the 2023 Plan.
Treatment of an Option upon termination of employment of a Participant shall be provided for by the Administrator in the Award Agreement. An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial disability or other changes in the employment status or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.
StockAppreciation Rights
The Administrator will be authorized to award SARs under the 2023 Plan. SARs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Administrator and reflected in the Award Agreement. A SAR is a contractual right that allows a participant to receive, in the form of either cash, Shares or any combination of cash and Shares, the appreciation, if any, in the value of a Share over a certain period of time. An option granted under the 2023 Plan may include SARs, and SARs may also be awarded to a participant independent of the grant of an option. SARs granted in connection with an option shall be subject to terms similar to the option corresponding to such SARs.
RestrictedStock and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
The Administrator will be authorized to award restricted stock or RSUs under the 2023 Plan. Awards of restricted stock and RSUs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Administrator at its sole discretion.
OtherStock-Based Awards
Other Stock-Based Awards may be issued under the 2023 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2023 Plan, the Administrator shall have sole and complete authority to determine the individuals to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be granted. An example of an Other Stock-Based Award is a performance bonus payable as Company Common Stock.
Changein Control
In the event that a change in control occurs, as defined in the 2023 Plan to include, among other things, the acquisition by a person of more than 50% of the voting power of the Company, the Administrator may, at its sole discretion, modify any unvested and un-exercisable portion of any Award to make it fully vested and exercisable.
Amendmentand Termination
The Board may amend, alter or terminate the 2023 Plan at any time, but no amendment, alteration or termination shall be made that would impair the rights of a participant under any Award theretofore granted without such participant’s consent. The Board shall obtain approval of the Company’s stockholders for any amendment that would require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of any rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or other applicable law.
The foregoing description of the 2023 Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2023 Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.
Resignationof Chief Executive Officer
On January 3, 2023, Cecilia Lenk resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Her resignation was not because of any disagreements with the Company on matters relating to its operations, policies and practices. Ms. Lenk will continue to serve as a director and will also serve as CEO of Netcapital Advisors Inc., the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary.
Appointmentof Chief Executive Officer and Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer
On January 3, 2023, the Company’s Board appointed Martin Kay to serve as Chief Executive Officer to fill the vacancy created by Ms. Lenk’s resignation. Mr. Kay currently serves as a director of the Company.
In connection with Mr. Kay’s employment as Chief Executive Officer, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Kay (the “Employment Agreement”) on January 3, 2023. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kay is eligible to:
(a) receive an annual base salary of $300,000;
(b) receive an option grant to purchase 100,000 fully vested Shares of the Company pursuant to the 2023 Plan and an option grant to purchase 1,000,000 Shares of the Company, which vest monthly over four (4) years pursuant to an option award agreement, described below, and in each case subject to the 2023 Plan;
(b) receive periodic bonuses or additional salary in the discretion of the Board or compensation committee;
(c) receive .005 time of gross revenue paid in cash annually so long as the Company reports positive earnings after the bonus is paid;
(d) participate in the Company’s fringe benefits, health and welfare plans, and pension and/ or profit sharing plans provided to executives;
(e) receive reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses;
(f) receive sick leave, sick pay, and disability benefits in accordance with Company policy;
The Employment Agreement, which has a three-year term, may be terminated upon the occurrence of the death of Mr. Kay, at any time by Mr. Kay, by the Company due to disability, by the Company for “cause”, and by Mr. Kay for “good reason”. The Employment Agreement also contain provisions regarding, among other things, a six (6)-month non-competition provision, confidential information, governing law, and covenants governing Mr. Kay’s conduct.
The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of such agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Set forth below is the biographical information of Mr. Kay, age 58, as required by Item 41 of Regulation S-K
Martin Kay was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on January 3, 2023 and has served as a Director of the Company since May 2022. Mr. Kay is currently a Managing Director at Accenture Strategy, a position he has held since October 2015. Mr. Kay holds a BA in physics from Oxford University and an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Kay is an experienced C-suite advisor and digital media entrepreneur, working at the intersection of business and technology. His experience includes oversight of our funding portal when he served on the board of managers of Netcapital Systems LLC from 2017 – 2021.
Option Grants
In connection with the Employment Agreement with Martin Kay described above, on January 3, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Kay non-qualified stock options under the 2023 Plan to purchase one-million (1,000,000) shares (“Shares”) of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) at an exercise price of $1.43 per share, subject to the approval of the 2023 Plan by the Company’s stockholders]. The options vest and become exercisable in 48 equal monthly installments. The issuance was exempt under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of the 1933, as amended.
On January 3, 2023, Company granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 200,000 Shares of the Company’s Common Stock to each of Jason Frishman, Coreen Kraysler and Paul Riss (600,000 Shares total), under the 2023 Plan at an exercise price of $1.43 per Share, subject to the approval of the 2023 Plan by the Company’s stockholders. These options vest and become exercisable in 48 equal monthly installments. These issuances were exempt under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of the 1933, as amended.
Each of the options referenced above were issued pursuant to a stock option agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description |
|---|---|
| 10.1 | Netcapital Inc 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan |
| 10.2 | Employment<br> Agreement with Martin Kay dated January 3, 2023 |
| 10.3 | Form<br> of Stock Option Agreement |
| 99.1 | Press<br> Release dated January 4, 2023. |
SIGNATURES
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.
| Netcapital Inc. | ||
|---|---|---|
| (Registrant) | ||
| Date: January 5, 2022 | By: | /s/<br> Coreen Kraysler |
| Coreen Kraysler | ||
| Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
NETCAPITAL INC.
2023 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1. Purpose of Plan.
The name of the Plan is the Netcapital Inc. 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purposes of the Plan are to (i) provide an additional incentive to selected employees, directors, and independent contractors of the Company or its Affiliates whose contributions are essential to the growth and success of the Company, (ii) strengthen the commitment of such individuals to the Company and its Affiliates, (iii) motivate those individuals to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and (iv) attract and retain competent and dedicated individuals whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. To accomplish these purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing.
Section 2. Definitions.
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
(a) “Administrator” means the Board, or, if and to the extent the Board does not administer the Plan, the Committee in accordance with Section 3 hereof.
(b) “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified as of any date of determination.
(c) “Applicable Laws” means the applicable requirements under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, including the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan, as are in effect from time to time.
(d) “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
(e) “Award Agreement” means any written notice, agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan.
(f) “Beneficial Owner” (or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
(g) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(h) “Bylaws” mean the bylaws of the Company, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.
(i) “Cause” has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service, employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Cause,” then “Cause” means (i) the Participant’s conviction of, admission of guilt to or plea of nolo contendere or similar plea (which, through lapse of time or otherwise, is not subject to appeal) with respect to any crime or offense that constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction involved, (ii) acts of dishonesty or moral turpitude which are materially detrimental to the Company and/or its Affiliates, (iii) failure by the Participant to obey the reasonable and lawful orders of the Board following written notice of such failure from the Board, (iv) any breach by the Participant of any restrictive covenants to which the Participant is subject, (v) following written notice from the Board of prior similar actions by Participant, excessive absenteeism (other than by reason of disability), (vi) following written notice from the Board of prior similar actions by Participant, excessive alcoholism or addiction to drugs not prescribed by a qualified physician, or (vii) gross negligence by the Participant in the performance of, or willful disregard by the Participant of, the Participant’s duties and obligations hereunder. Any voluntary termination of employment or service by the Participant in anticipation of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, for Cause shall be deemed to be a termination for Cause.
(j) “Change in Capitalization” means any (i) merger, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) special or extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, share subdivision or consolidation, (iii) combination or exchange of shares or (iv) other change in corporate structure, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, affects the Shares such that an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof is appropriate.
(k) “Change in Control” means the first occurrence of an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs following the Effective Date:
(1) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person which were acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (i) of paragraph (3) below; or
(2) the date on which individuals who constitute the Board as of the Effective Date and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the Effective Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors serving on the Board; or
(3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary with any other corporation or other entity, other than (i) a merger or consolidation (A) which results in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and (B) following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company, the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger or consolidation is then a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or
(4) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than (A) a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company following the completion of such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (B) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sold or disposed or, if such entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions and (ii) to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with respect to any Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of this definition of Change in Control, the term “Person” shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.
(l) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.
(m) “Committee” means any committee or subcommittee the Board (including, but not limited to the Compensation Committee) may appoint to administer the Plan. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Committee shall be composed entirely of individuals who meet the qualifications of a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and any other qualifications required by the applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded.
(n) “Common Stock” means the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.001.
(o) “Company” means Netcapital Inc., a Utah corporation (or any successor company, except as the term “Company” is used in the definition of “Change in Control” above).
(p) “Disability” has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service, employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Disability,” then “Disability” means (x) for Awards that are not subject to Section 409A of the Code, “disability” as such term is defined in the long- term disability insurance plan or program of the Company or any Subsidiary then covering the Participant or, in the absence of such a plan or program, as determined by the Administrator, provided, that, with respect to Awards that are not subject to Section 409A, in the case of any Participant who, as of the date of determination, is a party to an effective employment, severance, consulting or other services agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary that employs such Participant, “Disability” shall have the meaning, if any, specified in such agreement, and (y) for Awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, “disability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(c) of the Code.
(q) “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 17 hereof.
(r) “Eligible Recipient” means an employee, director or independent contractor of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company who has been selected as an eligible participant by the Administrator; provided, however, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, an Eligible Recipient of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right means an employee, non-employee director or independent contractor of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with respect to whom the Company is an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
(s) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
(t) “Executive Officer” is any Person who is the Company’s president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president of the issuer in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as sales, administration, or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the Company. Executive officers of the Company’s parent(s) or subsidiaries are deemed executive officers of the Company if they perform such policy making functions for the Company. Identification of an executive officer for purposes of this section would include all executive officers of the Company identified by the Company pursuant to 17 CFR 229.401(b).
(u) “Exempt Award” shall mean the following:
(1) An Award granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a corporation or other entity acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries combines by merger or otherwise. The terms and conditions of any such Awards may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to the extent the Administrator at the time of grant may deem appropriate, subject to Applicable Laws.
(2) An award that an Eligible Recipient purchases at Fair Market Value (including awards that an Eligible Recipient elects to receive in lieu of fully vested compensation that is otherwise due) whether or not the Shares are delivered immediately or on a deferred basis.
(3) An award granted as an inducement grant pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) or under the rules of an exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, to the extent it is not traded on NASDAQ.
(v) “Exercise Price” means, (i) with respect to any Option, the per share price at which a holder of such Option may purchase Shares issuable upon exercise of such Award, and (ii) with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right, the base price per share of such Stock Appreciation Right.
(w) “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock or another security as of a particular date shall mean the fair market value as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, that, (i) if the Common Stock or other security is admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value on any date shall be the closing sale price reported on such date, or if no shares were traded on such date, on the last preceding date for which there was a sale of a share of Common Stock on such exchange, or (ii) if the Common Stock or other security is then traded in an over-the-counter market, the fair market value on any date shall be the average of the closing bid and asked prices for such share in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such share in such market.
(x) “Free Standing Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
(y) “Good Reason” has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service, employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Good Reason,” “Good Reason” and any provision of this Plan that refers to “Good Reason” shall not be applicable to such Participant.
(z) “Incentive Compensation” shall be deemed to be any compensation (including any Award or any other short-term or long-term cash or equity incentive award or any other payment) that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of any financial reporting measure (i.e., any measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measure that is derived wholly or in part from such measures, including stock price and total shareholder return). For avoidance of doubt, financial reporting measures include “non-GAAP financial measures” for purposes of Exchange Act Regulation G and 17 CFR 229.10, as well other measures, metrics and ratios that are not non- GAAP measures, like same store sales. Financial reporting measures may or may not be included in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and may be presented outside the Company’s financial statements, such as in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations or the performance graph.
(aa) “ISO” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(bb) “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not designated as an ISO.
(cc) “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof. The term “Option” as used in the Plan includes the terms “Nonqualified Stock Option” and “ISO.”
(dd) “Other Stock-Based Award” means a right or other interest granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Common Stock, including, but not limited to, unrestricted Shares, dividend equivalents or performance units, each of which may be subject to the attainment of performance goals or a period of continued provision of service or employment or other terms or conditions as permitted under the Plan.
(ee) “Participant” means any Eligible Recipient selected by the Administrator, pursuant to the Administrator’s authority provided for in Section 3 below, to receive grants of Awards, and, upon his or her death, his or her successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case may be.
(ff) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof.
(gg) “Plan” means this 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.
(hh) “Related Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
(ii) “Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.
(jj) “Restricted Stock” means a Share granted pursuant to Section 9 below subject to certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period (or periods) of time and/or upon attainment of specified performance objectives.
(kk) “Restricted Stock Unit” means the right granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof to receive a Share at the end of a specified restricted period (or periods) of time and/or upon attainment of specified performance objectives.
(ll) “Rule 16b-3” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.
(mm) “Shares” means Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, as adjusted pursuant to the Plan, and any successor (pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other reorganization) security.
(nn) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value, as of the date such Award or portion thereof is surrendered, of the Shares covered by such Award or such portion thereof, over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price of such Award or such portion thereof.
(oo) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such first Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests or a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such other Person.
(pp) “Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.
Section 3. Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator and shall be administered, to the extent applicable, in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 16b-3”).
(b) Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, subject, in the case of any Committee, to any restrictions on the authority delegated to it by the Board, shall have the power and authority, without limitation:
(1) to select those Eligible Recipients who shall be Participants;
(2) to determine whether and to what extent Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or a combination of any of the foregoing, are to be granted hereunder to Participants;
(3) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(4) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of each Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, (i) the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and the conditions under which restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, (ii) the performance goals and periods applicable to Awards, (iii) the Exercise Price of each Option and each Stock Appreciation Right or the purchase price of any other Award, (iv) the vesting schedule and terms applicable to each Award, (v) the number of Shares or amount of cash or other property subject to each Award and (vi) subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable) any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to, extending the exercise period of such Awards and accelerating the payment schedules of such Awards and/or, to the extent specifically permitted under the Plan, accelerating the vesting schedules of such Awards);
(5) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing Awards;
(6) to determine the Fair Market Value in accordance with the terms of the Plan;
(7) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of the Participant’s service or employment for purposes of Awards granted under the Plan;
(8) to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, regulations, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable;
(9) to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of, and supply or correct omissions in, the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan; and
(10) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable non-United States laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non-United States laws, which rules and regulations may be set forth in an appendix or appendixes to the Plan.
(c) Subject to Section 5, neither the Board nor the Committee shall have the authority to reprice or cancel and regrant any Award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price or cancel any Award with an exercise, base or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or other Awards without first obtaining the approval of the Company’s stockholders.
(d) All decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company and the Participants.
(e) The expenses of administering the Plan (which for avoidance of doubt does not include the costs of any Participant) shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.
(f) If at any time or to any extent the Board shall not administer the Plan, then the functions of the Administrator specified in the Plan shall be exercised by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is duly constituted or unanimous written consent of the Committee’s members.
Section 4. Shares Reserved for Issuance Under the Plan.
(a) Subject to Section 5 hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock that are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of (i) 2,000,000 shares, plus (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning with May 1, 2024 and ending with the last May 1 during the initial ten-year term of the Plan, equal to the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding (on an as-converted basis, which shall include shares issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all outstanding securities or rights convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, including without limitation, preferred stock, warrants and employee options to purchase any shares of Common Stock) on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (B) such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board; provided, that, shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan with respect to an Exempt Award shall not count against such share limit.
(b) Shares issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If an Award entitles the Participant to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan. If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of Shares to the Participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for granting Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) any Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Options; and (ii) Shares surrendered or withheld as payment of either the Exercise Price of an Award (including Shares otherwise underlying a Stock Appreciation Right that are retained by the Company to account for the Exercise Price of such Stock Appreciation Right) and/or withholding taxes in respect of an Award shall no longer be available for grant under the Plan. In addition, (i) to the extent an Award is denominated in shares of Common Stock, but paid or settled in cash, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such payment or settlement is made shall again be available for grants of Awards pursuant to the Plan and (ii) shares of Common Stock underlying Awards that can only be settled in cash shall not be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan. Upon the exercise of any Award granted in tandem with any other Awards, such related Awards shall be cancelled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the Award is exercised and, notwithstanding the foregoing, such number of Shares shall no longer be available for grant under the Plan.
(c) No more than 2,000,000 Shares, and as increased on an annual basis, on the first day of each calendar year beginning with May 1, 2024 and ending with the last May 1 during the initial ten-year term of the Plan, by the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding (on an as-converted basis, which shall include shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion of all outstanding securities or rights convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, including without limitation, preferred stock, warrants and employee options to purchase any shares of Common Stock) on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year; (B) 300,000 shares of Common Stock, and (C) such lesser number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board, shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs.
Section 5. Equitable Adjustments.
In the event of any Change in Capitalization, an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made in (i) the aggregate number and kind of securities reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4, (ii) the kind, number of securities subject to, and the Exercise Price subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of Shares or other securities or the amount of cash or amount or type of other property subject to outstanding Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan; and/or (iv) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from the adjustment shall be eliminated. Such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Capitalization, the Administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, but subject in all events to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, for the cancellation of any outstanding Award granted hereunder in exchange for payment in cash or other property having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares, cash or other property covered by such Award, reduced by the aggregate Exercise Price or purchase price thereof, if any; provided, however, that if the Exercise Price or purchase price of any outstanding Award is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock, cash or other property covered by such Award, the Administrator may cancel such Award without the payment of any consideration to the Participant. Further, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to Awards subject to foreign laws, adjustments made hereunder shall be made in compliance with applicable requirements. Except to the extent determined by the Administrator, any adjustments to ISOs under this Section 5 shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code. The Administrator’s determinations pursuant to this Section 5 shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Section 6. Eligibility.
The Participants in the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from those individuals that qualify as Eligible Recipients.
Section 7. Options.
(a) General. Options granted under the Plan shall be designated as Nonqualified Stock Options or ISOs. Each Participant who is granted an Option shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the Exercise Price of the Option, the term of the Option and provisions regarding exercisability of the Option, and whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a Nonqualified Stock Option (and in the event the Award Agreement has no such designation, the Option shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option). The provisions of each Option need not be the same with respect to each Participant. More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
(c) Option Term. The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Option is granted. Each Option’s term is subject to earlier expiration pursuant to the applicable provisions in the Plan and the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3(d) of the Plan, the Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(d) Exercisability. Each Option shall be subject to vesting or become exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion.
(e) Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of whole Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares so purchased in cash or its equivalent, as determined by the Administrator. As determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, with respect to any Option or category of Options, payment in whole or in part may also be made (i) by means of consideration received under any cashless exercise procedure approved by the Administrator (including the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise), (ii) in the form of unrestricted Shares already owned by the Participant which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option shall be exercised, (iii) any other form of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by Applicable Laws or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.
(f) ISOs. The terms and conditions of ISOs granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Administrator from time to time in accordance with the Plan. At the discretion of the Administrator, ISOs may be granted only to an employee of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary of the Company.
(1) ISO Grants to 10% Stockholders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, if an ISO is granted to a Participant who owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company at the time of grant, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary of the Company, the term of the ISO shall not exceed five (5) years from the time of grant of such ISO and the Exercise Price shall be at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.
(2) $100,000 Per Year Limitation For ISOs. To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date of grant) of the Shares for which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such excess ISOs shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.
(3) Disqualifying Dispositions. Each Participant awarded an ISO under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date the Participant makes a “disqualifying disposition” of any Share acquired pursuant to the exercise of such ISO. A “disqualifying disposition” is any disposition (including any sale) of such Shares before the later of (i) two years after the date of grant of the ISO and (ii) one year after the date the Participant acquired the Shares by exercising the ISO. The Company may, if determined by the Administrator and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such Shares.
(g) Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, and has paid in full for such Shares and has satisfied the requirements of Section 15 hereof.
(h) Termination of Employment or Service. Treatment of an Option upon termination of employment of a Participant shall be provided for by the Administrator in the Award Agreement.
(i) Other Change in Employment or Service Status. An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial Disability or other changes in the employment status or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.
Section 8. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) General. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”). Related Rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Option. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be made. Each Participant who is granted a Stock Appreciation Right shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the number of Shares to be awarded, the Exercise Price per Share, and all other conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Related Right may be granted for more Shares than are subject to the Option to which it relates. The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions set forth in this Section 8 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
(b) Awards; Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock, if any, subject to a Stock Appreciation Right until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof and has satisfied the requirements of Section 15 hereof.
(c) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
(d) Exercisability.
(1) Stock Appreciation Rights that are Free Standing Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.
(2) Stock Appreciation Rights that are Related Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof and this Section 8 of the Plan.
(e) Payment Upon Exercise.
(1) Upon the exercise of a Free Standing Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price per share specified in the Free Standing Right multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Free Standing Right is being exercised.
(2) A Related Right may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price specified in the related Option multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Related Right is being exercised. Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related Rights have been so exercised.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may determine to settle the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right in cash (or in any combination of Shares and cash).
(f) Termination of Employment or Service. Treatment of a Stock Appreciation Right upon termination of employment of a Participant shall be provided for by the Administrator in the Award Agreement.
(g) Term.
(1) The term of each Free Standing Right shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.
(2) The term of each Related Right shall be the term of the Option to which it relates, but no Related Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.
(h) Other Change in Employment or Service Status. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial Disability or other changes in the employment or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.
Section 9. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
(a) General. Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be issued under the Plan. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be made. Each Participant who is granted Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the number of Shares to be awarded; the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units; the period of time restrictions, performance goals or other conditions that apply to Transferability, delivery or vesting of such Awards (the “Restricted Period”); and all other conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. If the restrictions, performance goals or conditions established by the Administrator are not attained, a Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, in accordance with the terms of the grant. The provisions of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units need not be the same with respect to each Participant.
(b) Awards and Certificates. Except as otherwise provided below in Section 9(c), (i) each Participant who is granted an Award of Restricted Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued a share certificate in respect of such Restricted Stock; and (ii) any such certificate so issued shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any such Award. The Company may require that the share certificates, if any, evidencing Restricted Stock granted hereunder be held in the custody of the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a share transfer form, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such Award. Certificates for shares of unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without forfeiture in such Restricted Stock Award. With respect to Restricted Stock Units to be settled in Shares, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, share certificates in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Units may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant, or his or her legal representative, in a number equal to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units Award. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to be settled in Shares (at the expiration of the Restricted Period, and whether before or after any vesting conditions have been satisfied) may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued in uncertificated form. Further, notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, with respect to Restricted Stock Units, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, Shares, or cash, as applicable, shall promptly be issued (either in certificated or uncertificated form) to the Participant, unless otherwise deferred in accordance with procedures established by the Company in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, and such issuance or payment shall in any event be made within such period as is required to avoid the imposition of a tax under Section 409A of the Code.
(c) Restrictions and Conditions. The Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions and any additional restrictions or conditions as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant or, subject to Section 409A of the Code where applicable, thereafter:
(1) The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions in whole or in part based on such factors and such circumstances as the Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance goals, the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, or the Participant’s death or Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a Change in Control, the outstanding Awards shall be subject to Section 11 hereof.
(2) Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally have the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to Restricted Stock during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to an Award, shall only become payable if (and to the extent) the underlying Restricted Stock vests. Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to Restricted Stock Units during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that, subject to Section 409A of the Code, an amount equal to dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to the number of Shares covered by Restricted Stock Units shall, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, be paid to the Participant at the time (and to the extent) Shares in respect of the related Restricted Stock Units are delivered to the Participant. Certificates for Shares of unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without forfeiture in respect of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, except as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine.
(3) The rights of Participants granted Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units upon termination of employment or service as a director or independent contractor to the Company or to any Affiliate thereof terminates for any reason during the Restricted Period shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.
(d) Form of Settlement. The Administrator reserves the right in its sole discretion to provide (either at or after the grant thereof) that any Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive the amount of cash per unit that is determined by the Administrator in connection with the Award.
Section 10.
Other Stock-Based Awards.
Other Stock-Based Awards may be issued under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have sole and complete authority to determine the individuals to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be granted. Each Participant who is granted an Other Stock-Based Award shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the number of shares of Common Stock to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock-Based Awards, or the manner in which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled (e.g., in shares of Common Stock, cash or other property), or the conditions to the vesting and/or payment or settlement of such Other Stock-Based Awards (which may include, but not be limited to, achievement of performance criteria) and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards. In the event that the Administrator grants a bonus in the form of Shares, the Shares constituting such bonus shall, as determined by the Administrator, be evidenced in uncertificated form or by a book entry record or a certificate issued in the name of the Participant to whom such grant was made and delivered to such Participant as soon as practicable after the date on which such bonus is payable. Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Plan to the contrary, any dividend or dividend equivalent Award issued hereunder shall be subject to the same restrictions, conditions and risks of forfeiture as apply to the underlying Award.
Section 11. Change in Control.
Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and evidenced in an Award Agreement, in the event that (a) a Change in Control occurs, and (b) the Participant is employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control then upon the consummation of such Change in Control, the Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, may:
(a) provide that any unvested or unexercisable portion of any Award carrying a right to exercise become fully vested and exercisable; and
(b) cause the restrictions, deferral limitations, payment conditions and forfeiture conditions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan to lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such Awards shall be deemed to be fully achieved at target performance levels.
If the Administrator determines in its discretion pursuant to Section 3(b)(4) hereof to accelerate the vesting of Options and/or Share Appreciation Rights in connection with a Change in Control, the Administrator shall also have discretion in connection with such action to provide that all Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding immediately prior to such Change in Control shall expire on the effective date of such Change in Control.
Section 12. Amendment and Termination.
The Board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan at any time, but no amendment, alteration or termination shall be made that would impair the rights of a Participant under any Award theretofore granted without such Participant’s consent. The Board shall obtain approval of the Company’s stockholders for any amendment that would require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of any rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or other Applicable Law. Subject to Section 3(c), the Administrator may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Section 5 of the Plan and the immediately preceding sentence, no such amendment shall materially impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent.
Section 13. Unfunded Status of Plan.
The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.
Section 14.
Withholding Taxes.
Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award first becomes includible in the gross income of such Participant for purposes of applicable taxes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of an amount up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the Participant’s applicable jurisdiction with respect to the Award, as determined by the Company. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on the making of such payments or arrangements, and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant. Whenever cash is to be paid pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable withholding tax requirements related thereto. Whenever Shares or property other than cash are to be delivered pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any related taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations; provided, that, with the approval of the Administrator, a Participant may satisfy the foregoing requirement by either (i) electing to have the Company withhold from delivery of Shares or other property, as applicable, or (ii) delivering already owned unrestricted shares of Common Stock, in each case, having a value not exceeding the applicable taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations. Such already owned and unrestricted shares of Common Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date on which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined and any fractional share amounts resulting therefrom shall be settled in cash. Such an election may be made with respect to all or any portion of the Shares to be delivered pursuant to an award. The Company may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary payment or proceeds, as permitted by Applicable Laws, to satisfy its withholding obligation with respect to any Award.
Section 15. Transfer of Awards.
Until such time as the Awards are fully vested and/or exercisable in accordance with the Plan or an Award Agreement, no purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, charge, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any Award or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing (each, a “Transfer”) by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of the Plan or an Award Agreement will be valid, except with the prior written consent of the Administrator, which consent may be granted or withheld in the sole discretion of the Administrator. Any purported Transfer of an Award or any economic benefit or interest therein in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be null and void ab initioand shall not create any obligation or liability of the Company, and any Person purportedly acquiring any Award or any economic benefit or interest therein transferred in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall not be entitled to be recognized as a holder of such Shares or other property underlying such Award. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant or, during any period during which the Participant is under a legal Disability, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
Section 16. Continued Employment or Service.
Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of an Award shall confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate thereof to terminate the employment or service of any of its Eligible Recipients at any time.
Section 17. Effective Date.
The Plan was approved by the Board on January 3, 2023 and shall be adopted and become effective on the date that it is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”).
Section 18.
Electronic Signature.
Participant’s electronic signature of an Award Agreement shall have the same validity and effect as a signature affixed by hand.
Section 19. Term of Plan.
No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
Section 20. Securities Matters and Regulations.
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. The Administrator may require, as a condition of the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such shares make such agreements and representations, and that such certificates bear such legends, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable.
(b) Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Administrator determines that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Shares, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Administrator.
(c) In the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations thereunder, and the Administrator may require a Participant receiving Common Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Common Stock, to represent to the Company in writing that the Common Stock acquired by such Participant is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution.
Section 21. Section 409A of the Code.
The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or to the extent subject thereto, to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.
Section 22. Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code.
If any Participant shall, in connection with the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under the Plan, make the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code, such Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten (10) days after filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service.
Section 23. No Fractional Shares.
No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Administrator shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
Section 24. Beneficiary.
A Participant may file with the Administrator a written designation of a beneficiary on such form as may be prescribed by the Administrator and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated beneficiary survives the Participant, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate shall be deemed to be the Participant’s beneficiary.
Section 25. Paperless Administration.
In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
Section 26. Severability.
If any provision of the Plan is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of the Plan shall not be affected but shall be applied as if the invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included in the Plan.
Section 27. Clawback.
(a) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the Company’s noncompliance (whether one occurrence or a series of occurrences of noncompliance) with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws (including if the Company is required to prepare a restatement to correct an error (or a series of errors)) and such restatement (1) corrects an error that is material to previously issued financial statements, (2) corrects an error that is material to the then current period if left uncorrected in the current period, or (3) corrects an error that is material to the then current period if not corrected in the previously filed financial statements, then the Committee may require any current or former Executive Officer to repay (in which event, such current or former Executive Officer shall within 30 days of the notice by the Company repay to the Company) or forfeit (in which case, such current or former Executive Officer shall immediately forfeit to the Company) to the Company, and each current and former Executive Officer hereby agrees to so repay or forfeit, that portion of the Incentive Compensation received by such current or former Executive Officer during the period comprised of the Company’s three (3) fiscal years (together with any intermittent stub fiscal year period(s) of less than 9 months resulting from Company’s transition to different fiscal year measurement dates) immediately preceding the determination date, as described below (such period, the “Look-Back Period”), that the Committee determines was in excess of the amount of Incentive Compensation that such current or former Executive Officer would have received during such Look-Back Period, had such Incentive Compensation been calculated based on the restated amounts. It is specifically understood that, to the extent that the impact of the accounting restatement on the amount of Incentive Compensation received cannot be calculated directly from the information therein (e.g., if such restatement’s impact on the Company’s stock price is not clear), such excess amount of Incentive Compensation shall be determined based on a reasonable estimate by the Committee of the effect of the accounting restatement on the applicable financial measure (including the stock price or total shareholder return) based upon which the Incentive Compensation was received. The amount and form of the Incentive Compensation to be recouped shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, and recoupment of Incentive Compensation may be made, in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion, through the cancellation of vested or unvested Awards, cash repayment or both. For purposes of this Section 27, (i) Incentive Compensation shall be deemed received in the fiscal year during which the financial reporting measure specified in such Incentive Compensation award is attained (or with respect to, or based on achievement of, which such Incentive Compensation was granted, earned or vested, as applicable), even if the payment, vesting or grant of such Incentive Compensation occurs after the end of such fiscal year; (ii) the determination date shall be the date which is the earlier of: (A) the date upon which the Board or an applicable committee thereof, or the officer or officers of the Company authorized to take such action if Board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare such an accounting restatement as described in this paragraph above; or (B) the date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare an accounting restatement as described in this paragraph above.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award or any other compensation received by Participant which is subject to recovery under any Applicable Laws, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement), will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such Applicable Law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).
Section 28. Governing Law.
The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Utah, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law of Massachusetts or any other state.
Section 29. Indemnification.
To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, each member of the Board and the Administrator and any officer or other employee to whom authority to administer any component of the Plan is designated shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided, however, that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
Section 30. Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act.
The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.
Section 31.
Successors.
The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.
Section 32. Relationship to other Benefits.
No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
Exhibit10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of January 3, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) by and between NETCAPITAL INC., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), and MARTIN KAY, an individual having an address at 26 Kingston Rd. Newton, MA 02461. (the “Employee”).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Employee as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and wishes to acquire and be assured of Employee’s services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, the Employee desires to be employed by the Company and to perform and to serve the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW,THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms, covenants, agreements and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:
| 1. | Employment.<br> (a) The Company hereby employs the Employee to serve as a |
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full-time employee of the Company, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment with the Company, for the period set forth in Section 2 hereof. The Employee’s principal place of employment shall be at the offices at 1 Lincoln Street, Boston MA, 02111, or such other location as determined by the Company, provided however, that the Employee’s principal place of employment shall not be relocated more than 25 miles from its current location without the prior written consent of the Employee.
(b) The Employee affirms and represents that (i) the Employee is under no obligation to any former employer or other party that is in any way inconsistent with, or that imposes any restriction upon, the Employee’s acceptance of employment hereunder with the Company, the employment of the Employee by the Company, or the Employee’s undertakings under this Agreement and (ii) his performance of all the terms of this Agreement and his employment by the Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by him in confidence or in trust prior to his employment by the Company.
2. Term. Unless earlier terminated as provided in this Agreement, the term of the Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be for a three year period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the three year anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Employment Term”).
| 3. | Duties. |
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(a) The Employee shall be employed as Chief Executive Officer and shall perform such employment duties as are usual and customary for such position. The Employee shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company. The Employee shall faithfully and competently perform such duties at such times and places and in such manner as the Company may from time to time reasonably direct or such other duties appropriate to a senior executive managerial position as the Board of Directors of the Company shall from time to time determine.
(b) The Employee shall use his best efforts, judgment and energy to improve and advance the business and interests of the Company and its Affiliates in a manner consistent with the duties of Employee’s position.
| 4. | Salary<br> and Bonus. |
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(a) Base Salary. In consideration for the services of the Employee rendered hereunder, the Company shall pay the Employee a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at an annual rate of $300,000 during the Employment Term. Base salary will be paid bi-monthly (i.e. $11,538.47 every two weeks). Additionally, the employee shall be granted an option to purchase 100,000 fully vested shares of Netcapital (NCPL) pursuant to the employee stock plan on the Effective Date. On the Effective Date, the employee shall also be granted the option to purchase one million shares of Netcapital (NCPL), pursuant to the employee stock plan and option grant agreement, vesting monthly over four years.
(b) Bonus. Employee shall be eligible for periodic bonuses throughout the year, or for additional salary in excess of the Base Salary, in each case, as may be granted by the Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee. He shall also be eligible to receive ..005 times of gross revenue paid in cash annually so long as the Company reports positive earnings after the bonus is paid.
(c) Withholding, Etc. The payment of any salary or bonus hereunder shall be subject to income tax, social security and other applicable withholdings, as well as such deductions as may be required under the Company’s employee benefit plans.
| 5. | Benefits.<br> (a) During the Employment Term, the Employee shall be: |
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(i) eligible to participate in all employee fringe benefits and any pension and/or profit sharing plans that may be provided by the Company for its key executive employees in accordance with the provisions of any such plans, as the same may be in effect on and after the date hereof;
(ii) eligible to participate in any medical and health plans or other employee welfare benefit plans that may be provided by the Company for its key executive employees in accordance with the provisions of any such plans, as the same may be in effect on and after the date hereof;
(iii) entitled to sick leave, sick pay and disability benefits in accordance with any Company policy that may be applicable on and after the date hereof to key executive employees; and
(iv) entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by the Employee in the performance of the Employee’s duties hereunder in accordance with the Company’s policies applicable (on and after the date hereof) thereto.
(b) Employee shall cooperate with the Company in the event the Company wishes to obtain key-man insurance on the Employee. Such cooperation shall include, but not be limited to taking any physical examinations that may be requested by the insurance company.
6. Inventions and Confidential Information. The Employee hereby covenants, agrees and acknowledges as follows:
(a) The Company is engaged in a continuous program of research, design, development, production, marketing and servicing with respect to its businesses.
(b) The Employee’s employment hereunder creates a relationship of confidence and trust between the Employee and the Company with respect to certain information pertaining to the business of the Company and its Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) or pertaining to the business of any client or customer of the Company or its Affiliates which may be made known to the Employee by the Company or any of its Affiliates or by any client or customer of the Company or any of its Affiliates or learned by the Employee during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company.
(c) The Company possesses and will continue to possess information that has been created, discovered or developed by, or otherwise become known to it (including, without limitation, information created, discovered or developed by, or made known to, the Employee during the period of Employee’s employment or arising out of Employee’s employment) or in which property rights have been or may be assigned or otherwise conveyed to the Company, which information has commercial value in the business in which the Company is engaged and is treated by the Company as confidential.
(d) Any and all inventions, products, discoveries, improvements, processes, manufacturing, marketing and services methods or techniques, formulae, designs, styles, specifications, data bases, computer programs (whether in source code or object code),
know-how, strategies and data, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, made, developed or created by the Employee (whether at the request or suggestion of the Company, any of its Affiliates, or otherwise, whether alone or in conjunction with others, and whether during regular hours of work or otherwise) during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company which may pertain to the business, products, or processes of the Company or any of its Affiliates (collectively hereinafter referred to as “Inventions”), will be promptly and fully disclosed by the Employee to an appropriate executive officer of the Company (other than the Employee) without any additional compensation therefor, all papers, drawings, models, data, documents and other material pertaining to or in any way relating to any Inventions made, developed or created by Employee as aforesaid. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Affiliate” or “Affiliates” shall mean any person, corporation or other entity directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any person, corporation or other entity means the power to direct the management and policies of such person or entity, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
(e) The Employee will keep confidential and will hold for the Company’s sole benefit any Invention which is to be the exclusive property of the Company under this Section 6 for which no patent, copyright, trademark or other right or protection is issued.
(f) The Employee also agrees that the Employee will not without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors of the Company (i) use for Employee’s benefit or disclose at any time during Employee’s employment by the Company, or thereafter, except to the extent required by the performance by the Employee of the Employee’s duties as an employee of the Company, any information obtained or developed by Employee while in the employ of the Company with respect to any Inventions or with respect to any customers, clients, suppliers, products, employees, financial affairs, or methods of design, distribution, marketing, service, procurement or manufacture of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or any confidential matter, except information which at the time is generally known to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Employee not permitted hereunder, or (ii) take with the Employee upon leaving the employ of the Company any document or paper relating to any of the foregoing or any physical property of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(g) The Employee acknowledges and agrees that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Section 6 would be inadequate and, therefore, agrees that the Company and its Affiliates shall be entitled to injunctive relief in addition to any other available rights and remedies in case of any such breach or threatened breach; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or any of its Affiliates from pursuing any other rights and remedies available for any such breach or threatened breach.
(h) The Employee agrees that upon termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any reason, the Employee shall immediately return to the Company all documents, records and other property in Employee’s possession belonging to the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(i) Without limiting the generality of Section 9 hereof, the Employee hereby expressly agrees that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 shall be binding upon the Employee’s heirs, successors and legal representatives.
7. Termination. (a) The Employee’s employment hereunder shall be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following:
| (i) | death<br> of the Employee; |
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(ii) termination of the Employee’s employment hereunder by the Employee at any time for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, resignation or retirement) other than for “good reason” as contemplated by clause (v)(B) below;
(iii) termination of the Employee’s employment hereunder by the Company because of the Employee’s inability to perform Employee’s duties on account of disability or incapacity for a period of ninety (90) or more days, whether or not consecutive, occurring within any period of twelve (12) consecutive months;
(iv) termination of the Employee’s employment hereunder by the Company at any time for “cause” (as hereinafter defined), such termination to take effect immediately upon written notice from the Company to the Employee; and
(v) termination of the Employee’s employment hereunder (A) by the Company at any time, other than termination by reason of disability or incapacity as contemplated by clause (iii) above or termination by the Company for “cause” as contemplated by clause (iv) above and (B) by the Employee for “good reason” (as hereinafter defined).
The following actions, failures or events shall constitute “cause” for termination within the meaning of clause (iv) above: (i) the Employee’s conviction of, admission of guilt to or plea of nolo contendere or similar plea (which, through lapse of time or otherwise, is not subject to appeal) with respect to any crime or offense that constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction involved; (2) acts of dishonesty or moral turpitude which are materially detrimental to the Company and/or its Affiliates; (3) failure by the Employee to obey the reasonable and lawful orders of the Board of Directors of the Company following written notice of such failure from the Board of Directors of the Company; (4) any act by the Employee in violation of Section 8 hereof, any statement or disclosure by the Employee in violation of Section 6 hereof, or any material breach by the Employee of a representation or warranty contained in Section 1(b) hereof; (5) following written notice from the Board of Directors of the Company of prior similar actions by Employee, excessive absenteeism (other than by reason of disability); (6) following written notice from the Board or Directors of the Company of prior similar actions by Employee, excessive alcoholism or excessive usage of drugs not prescribed by a qualified physician or (7) gross negligence by the Employee in the performance of, or willful disregard by the Employee of, the Employee’s obligations hereunder.
The following actions, failures or events shall constitute “good reason” within the meaning of clause (V)(B) above: a material breach by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or a Change of Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” means
(i) a transaction or series of related transactions in which any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company having the right to vote for the election of members of the Company’s board of directors, (ii) any reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, other than a transaction or series of related transactions in which the holders of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions retain, immediately after such transaction or series of related transactions, at least a majority of the total voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Company or such other surviving or resulting entity or (iii) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
(a) No interest shall accrue on or be paid with respect to any portion of any payments hereunder.
8. Non-Competition. (a) The term “Non-Compete Term” shall mean the period during which Employee is employed hereunder and the six-month period following the termination of Employee’s employment for any or no reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
During the Non-Compete Term:
(i) the Employee will not make any statement or perform any act intended to advance an interest of any existing or prospective competitor of the Company or any of its Affiliates in any way that will or may injure an interest of the Company or any of its Affiliates in its relationship and dealings with existing or potential customers or clients, or solicit or encourage any other employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates to do any act that is disloyal to the Company or any of its Affiliates or inconsistent with the interest of the Company or any of its Affiliate’s interests or in violation of any provision of this Agreement;
(ii) the Employee will not discuss with any existing or potential customers or clients of the Company or any of its Affiliates the present or future availability of services or products of a business, if the Employee has or expects to acquire a proprietary interest in such business or is or expects to be an employee, officer or director of such business, where such services or products are competitive with services or products which the Company or any of its Affiliates provides;
(iii) the Employee will not make any statement or do any act intended to cause any existing or potential customers or clients of the Company or any of its Affiliates to make use of the services or purchase the products of any competitive business in which the Employee has or expects to acquire a proprietary interest or in which the Employee is or expects to be made an employee, officer or director, if such services or products in any way compete with the services or products sold or provided or expected to be sold or provided by the Company or any of its Affiliates to any existing or potential customer or client; and
(iv) the Employee will not directly or indirectly (as a director, officer, employee, manager, consultant, independent contractor, advisor or otherwise) engage in competition with, or own any interest in, perform any services for, participate in or be connected with (i) any business or organization which engages in competition with the Company or any of its Affiliates in the Restricted Territory, or (ii) any business or organization which engages in competition with the Company or any of its Affiliates in the Restricted Territory, during the period of the Employee’s employment by the Company, carried on by the Company or any of its Affiliates, if such business is then being carried on by the Company or any of its Affiliates in the Restricted Territory; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 8(a) shall not be deemed to prohibit the Employee’s ownership of not more than one percent (1%) of the total shares of all classes of stock outstanding of any publicly held company.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Restricted Territory” means the entire world, it being understood that the Company’s business is worldwide in scope. In the event that the preceding definition of Restricted Territory is deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be too broad to be enforceable under the circumstances, “Restricted Territory” shall mean: (A) each state, province, or similar political subdivision in which the Company is engaged in its business with respect to which Employee provided material services on behalf of the Company at the time of, or during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination of Employee’s employment; and (B) each county, township, city or similar political subdivision in which the Company engaged in its business with respect to which Employee provided material services on behalf of the Company at the time of, or during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination of Employee’s employment.
(c) During the Non-Compete Term, the Employee will not directly or indirectly hire, engage, send any work to, place orders with, or in any manner be associated with any supplier, contractor, subcontractor or other person or firm which rendered manufacturing or other services, or sold any products, to the Company or any of its Affiliates if such action by Employee would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
(d) In connection with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, the Employee represents that Employee’s experience, capabilities and circumstances are such that such provisions will not prevent Employee from earning a livelihood. The Employee further agrees that the limitations set forth in this Section 8 (including, without limitation, any time or territorial limitations) are reasonable and properly required for the adequate protection of the businesses of the Company and its Affiliates. It is understood and agreed that the covenants made by the Employee in this Section 8 (and in Section 6 hereof) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 8, proprietary interest in a business is ownership, whether through direct or indirect stock holdings or otherwise, of one percent (1%) or more of such business. The Employee shall be deemed to expect to acquire a proprietary interest in a business or to be made an officer or director of such business if such possibility has been discussed with any officer, director, employee, agent, or promoter of such business.
(f) The Employee acknowledges and agrees that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Section 8 would be inadequate and, therefore, agrees that the Company and any of its Affiliates shall be entitled to injunctive relief in addition to any other available rights and remedies in cases of any such breach or threatened breach; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or any of its Affiliates from pursuing any other rights and remedies available for any such breach or threatened breach.
(g) Employee acknowledges that Employee has the right to consult with counsel, and has been given the opportunity to do so, before signing this Agreement. Employee has been given at least ten (10) business days to consider this Agreement before signing this Agreement.
9. Non-Assignability. (a) Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable by the Employee, Employee’s beneficiaries, or legal representatives without the Company’s prior written consent; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9(a) shall preclude the Employee from designating a beneficiary to receive any benefit payable hereunder upon Employee’s death or incapacity.
(b) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation or to exclusion, attachment, levy or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to effect any such action shall be null, void and of no effect.
10. Binding Effect. Without limiting or diminishing the effect of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors, legal representatives and assigns.
11. Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and either delivered in person or sent by first class certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, if to the Company, at the Company’s principal place of business, and if to the Employee, at Employee’s home address, or, in the case of either party, to such other address or addresses as such party shall have designated in writing to the other party hereto.
12. Severability. The Employee agrees that in the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall finally hold that any provision of Section 6 or 8 hereof is void or constitutes an unreasonable restriction against the Employee, such provision shall not be rendered void but shall apply with respect to such extent as such court may judicially determine constitutes a reasonable restriction under the circumstances. If any part of this Agreement other than Section 6 or 8 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegible or incapable of being enforced in whole or in part by reason of any rule of law or public policy, such part shall be deemed to be severed from the remainder of this Agreement for the purpose only of the particular legal proceedings in question and all other covenants and provisions of this Agreement shall in every other respect continue in full force and effect and no covenant or provision shall be deemed dependent upon any other covenant or provision.
13. Waiver. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of any right or power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times.
14. Entire Agreement; Modifications. This Agreement constitutes the entire and final expression of the agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, oral and written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be modified or amended only by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto.
15. Relevant Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
17. Survival. The termination of Employee’s employment hereunder shall not affect the enforceability of Sections 6 or 8.
18. Further Assurances. The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further instruments and take such other and further action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
19. Headings. The Section headings appearing in this Agreement are for purposes of easy reference and shall not be considered a part of this Agreement or in any way modify, amend or affect its provisions.
INWITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Employee have duly executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
NETCAPITAL INC.
| By: | /s/<br> Cecilia Lenk Name: Cecilia Lenk |
|---|
Title: CEO
By:/s/ Martin Kayarney
Name: Martin Kay
Exhibit 10.3
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (together with the above grant notice (the “Grant Notice”), the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the date set forth on the Grant Notice by and between Netcapital Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), and the individual (the “Optionee”) set forth on the Grant Notice.
A. Pursuant to the Netcapital Inc. 2023 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Administrator has determined that it is to the advantage and best interest of the Company to grant to the Optionee an option to purchase the number of Shares (the “Shares”) set forth on the Grant Notice, at the exercise price per Share set forth on the Grant Notice, and in all respects subject to the terms, definitions and provisions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference, and this Agreement (the “Option”).
B. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
(i) “Termination” shall mean the termination of the employment or service of the Optionee with the Company and all Affiliates thereof (including because of the Optionee’s employer ceasing to be an affiliate of the Company). For purposes of this Agreement, Termination will not occur when Optionee goes on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence that was approved by the Company in writing if the terms of the leave provide for continued service crediting, or when continued service crediting is required by Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an approved leave of absence for six months or less, which does not in fact exceed six months, will not result in Termination for purposes of this Agreement. However, Termination will occur when an approved leave described in this Section B ends, unless Optionee immediately returns to active work.
(ii) “TerminationDate” shall mean the date of the Optionee’s Termination.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, the Optionee and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Acceptance of Agreement. Optionee has reviewed all of the provisions of the Plan and this Agreement. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator on questions relating to the Plan and this Agreement, and, solely as they relate to this Option, the applicable provisions (if any) contained in a written employment agreement between the Company or an Affiliate and the Optionee. The Optionee’s electronic signature of this Agreement shall have the same validity and effect as a signature affixed by hand.
2. Grant and Terms of Stock Option.
2.1 Grant of Option. Pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has granted to the Optionee the right and option to purchase, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, all or any part of the number of Shares set forth on the Grant Notice at a purchase price per Share equal to the exercise price per Share set forth on the Grant Notice. An Option granted pursuant to the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option.
2.2 Vesting and Term of Option. This Section 2.2 is subject to the provisions of the Plan and the other provisions of this Agreement.
2.2.1 This Option shall vest and become exercisable as described in the Grant Notice.
2.2.2 The “Term” of this Option shall begin on the Date of Grant set forth in the Grant Notice and end on the Expiration Date specified in the Grant Notice. No portion of this Option may be exercised after the expiration of the Term.
2.2.3 In the event of Optionee’s Termination for any reason other than death, Disability, or Cause:
2.2.3.1 the portion of this Option that is not vested and exercisable as of the Termination Date shall not continue to vest and shall be immediately cancelled and terminated; and
2.2.3.2 the portion of this Option that is vested and exercisable as of the Termination Date shall terminate and be cancelled on the earlier of:
(a) the expiration of the Term and
(b) ninety (90) days after such Termination Date.
2.2.4 In the event of Termination due to death or Disability:
2.2.4.1 the portion of this Option that is not vested and exercisable as of the Termination Date shall not continue to vest and shall be immediately cancelled and terminated; and
2.2.4.2 the portion of this Option that is vested and exercisable as of the Termination Date shall terminate and be cancelled on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the Term and (b) the date that is twelve (12) months after the Termination Date.
2.2.5 In the event of Optionee’s Termination for Cause, or if, after the Termination, the Administrator determines that Cause existed before such Termination, this entire Option shall not continue to vest, shall be cancelled and terminated as of the Termination Date, and shall no longer be exercisable as to any Shares, whether or not previously vested.
2.2.6 Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the shareholders of the Company do not approve the Plan at the Company’s 2023 shareholders’ meeting (and, therefore, the Approval does not occur at such meeting), this Option shall immediately become forfeited on the date of such meeting.
3. Method of Exercise.
3.1 Method of Exercise. Each election to exercise the Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and shall be in writing, signed by the Optionee or by his or her executor, administrator, or permitted transferee (subject to any restrictions provided under the Plan), made pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and received by the Company at its principal offices, accompanied by payment in full as provided in the Plan or in this Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Administrator shall have the right to specify all conditions of the manner of exercise. Upon the Company’s determination that the Option has been validly exercised as to any of the Shares, the Company may issue certificates in the Optionee’s name for such Shares. However, the Company shall not be liable to the Optionee for damages relating to any reasonable delays in issuing the certificates to the Optionee, any loss of the certificates, or any mistakes or errors in the issuance of the certificates or in the certificates themselves which it promptly undertakes to correct.
3.2 Restrictions on Exercise. No Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless and until there shall have been full compliance with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), as amended (whether by registration or satisfaction of exemption conditions), all applicable listing requirements of any national securities exchange or other market system on which the Common Stock is then listed and all applicable requirements of any Applicable Laws and of any regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over such issuance. As a condition to the exercise of this Option, the Company may require the Optionee to make any representation and warranty to the Company as may be necessary or appropriate, in the judgment of the Administrator, to comply with any Applicable Law. In addition, Optionee shall not sell any Shares acquired upon exercise of this Option at a time when Applicable Laws, regulations or Company’s or underwriter trading policies prohibit such sale. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Company shall have the right to designate one or more periods of time, each of which shall not exceed 180 days in length, during which this Option shall not be exercisable if the Administrator determines (in its sole discretion) that such limitation on exercise could in any way facilitate a lessening of any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Securities Act or any state securities laws with respect to any issuance of securities by the Company, facilitate the registration or qualification of any securities by the Company under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, or facilitate the perfection of any exemption from the registration or qualification requirements of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws for the issuance or transfer of any securities. Such limitation on exercise shall not alter the vesting schedule set forth in this Agreement other than to limit the periods during which this Option shall be exercisable.
3.3 Method of Payment. Payment of the exercise price shall be made in full at the time of exercise (a) by the delivery of cash or check acceptable to the Administrator, including an amount to cover the withholding taxes (as provided in Section 7.11) with respect to such exercise, or (b) any other method, if any, approved by the Administrator, including (i) by means of consideration received under any cashless exercise procedure, if any, approved by the Administrator (including the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise) or (ii) any other form of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by Applicable Laws.
3.4 No Rights as a Shareholder. Until the Shares are issued to the Optionee (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder will exist with respect to the Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
4. Non-Transferability of Option. Except as provided below, this Option may not be sold, assigned or transferred in any manner, pledged or otherwise encumbered other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or to a beneficiary designated pursuant to the Plan, and may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by Optionee or the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative. Subject to all of the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, following the death of Optionee, this Option may, to the extent it is vested and exercisable by Optionee in accordance with its terms on the Termination Date, be exercised by Optionee’s executor or administrator, or the person or persons to whom the Optionee’s rights under this Agreement shall pass by will or by the laws of descent and distribution as the case may be. Any heir or legatee of the Optionee shall take rights herein granted subject to the terms and conditions hereof.
5. Restrictions; Restrictive Legends. Ownership and transfer of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option will be subject to the provisions of, including ownership and transfer restrictions contained in, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as amended from time to time, restrictions imposed by Applicable Laws and restrictions set forth or referenced in legends imprinted on certificates representing such Shares.
6. Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, to the extent that this Option had not been previously exercised, it will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation. In such instance, the Administrator may, in the exercise of its sole discretion, declare that this Option will terminate as of a date fixed by the Administrator and give the Optionee the right to exercise this Option prior to such date as to all or any part of the optioned stock, including Shares as to which this Option would not otherwise be exercisable.
7. General.
7.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Utah applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in Utah, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions of Massachusetts or any other jurisdiction.
7.2 Community Property. Without prejudice to the actual rights of the spouses as between each other, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Optionee shall be treated as agent and attorney-in-fact for that interest held or claimed by his or her spouse with respect to this Option and the parties hereto shall act in all matters as if the Optionee was the sole owner of this Option. This appointment is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.
7.3 No Employment Rights. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as an agreement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, express or implied, to employ the Optionee or contract for the Optionee’s services, to restrict the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s right to discharge the Optionee or cease contracting for the Optionee’s services or to modify, extend or otherwise affect in any manner whatsoever the terms of any employment agreement or contract for services which may exist between the Optionee and the Company or any Affiliate.
7.4 Application to Other Stock. In the event any capital stock of the Company or any other corporation shall be distributed on, with respect to, or in exchange for Shares as a stock dividend, stock split, reclassification or recapitalization in connection with any merger or reorganization or otherwise, all restrictions, rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement shall apply with respect to such other capital stock to the same extent as they are, or would have been applicable, to the Shares on or with respect to which such other capital stock was distributed, and references to “Company” in respect of such distributed stock shall be deemed to refer to the company to which such distributed stock relates.
7.5 No Third-Party Benefits. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, none of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or enforceable by, any third-party beneficiary.
7.6 Successors and Assigns. Except as provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties, their respective successors and permitted assigns.
7.7 No Assignment. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Optionee may not assign any of his or her rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion. The Company shall be permitted to assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement so long as such assignee agrees to perform all of the Company’s obligations hereunder.
7.8 Severability. The validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected even if one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
7.9 Equitable Relief. The Optionee acknowledges that, in the event of a threatened or actual breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement, damages alone will be an inadequate remedy, and such breach will cause the Company great, immediate and irreparable injury and damage. Accordingly, the Optionee agrees that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief, and that such relief shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any remedies it may have at law or under this Agreement.
7.10 Jurisdiction. Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof, shall be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Massachusetts (located in Boston), and the Company and the Optionee hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. The Optionee and the Company hereby irrevocably waive (i) any objections which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Massachusetts, (ii) any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient forum and (iii) any right to a jury trial.
7.11 Taxes. By agreeing to this Agreement, the Optionee represents that he or she has reviewed with his or her own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that he or she is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Company shall be entitled to require a cash payment by or on behalf of the Optionee and/or to deduct from the Shares or cash otherwise issuable hereunder or other compensation payable to the Optionee the minimum amount of any sums required by federal, state or local tax law to be withheld (or other such sums that will not cause adverse accounting consequences for the Company and is permitted under applicable withholding rules promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service or another applicable governmental entity) in respect of the Option, its exercise or any payment or transfer under or with respect to the Option.
7.12 Headings. The section headings in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience, and in no way define, limit, extend or interpret the scope of this Agreement or of any particular section.
7.13 Number and Gender. Throughout this Agreement, as the context may require, (a) the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter gender includes the masculine and the feminine; (b) the singular tense and number includes the plural, and the plural tense and number includes the singular; (c) the past tense includes the present, and the present tense includes the past; (d) references to parties, sections, paragraphs and exhibits mean the parties, sections, paragraphs and exhibits of and to this Agreement; and (e) periods of days, weeks or months mean calendar days, weeks or months.
7.14 Data Privacy. Optionee agrees that all of Optionee’s information that is described or referenced in this Agreement and the Plan may be used by the Company, its affiliates and the designated broker and its affiliates to administer and manage Optionee’s participation in the Plan.
7.15 Acknowledgments of Optionee. Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Agreement, fully understands all provisions of the Plan and this Agreement and, by accepting the Grant Notice, acknowledges and agrees to all of the provisions of the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement.
7.16 Complete Agreement. The Grant Notice, this Stock Option Agreement, the Plan, and the applicable provisions (if any) contained in a written employment agreement between the Company or an Affiliate and the Optionee constitute the parties’ entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all agreements, representations, warranties, statements, promises and understandings, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.
7.17 Waiver. The Optionee acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by the Optionee.
7.18 Signature in Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
7.19 Amendments and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended, altered or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board, but no amendment, alteration or termination shall be made that would materially impair the rights of an Optionee under the Option without such Optionee’s consent. If it is determined that the terms of this Agreement have been structured in a manner that would result in adverse tax treatment under Section 409A of the Code, the parties agree to cooperate in taking all reasonable measures to restructure the arrangement to minimize or avoid such adverse tax treatment without materially impairing Optionee’s economic rights.
7.20 Waiver of Jury Trial. TO THE EXTENT EITHER PARTY INITIATES LITIGATION INVOLVING THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ASPECT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US (EVEN IF OTHER PARTIES OR OTHER CLAIMS ARE INCLUDED IN SUCH LITIGATION), ALL OF THE PARTIES WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. THIS WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ALL CAUSES OF ACTION THAT ARE OR MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN SUCH ACTION, INCLUDING CLAIMS RELATED TO THE ENFORCEMENT OR INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, ALLEGATIONS OF STATE OR FEDERAL STATUTORY VIOLATIONS, FRAUD, MISREPRESENTATION, OR SIMILAR CAUSES OF ACTION, AND IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LEGAL ACTION INITIATED FOR THE RECOVERY OF DAMAGES BETWEEN OR AMONG US OR BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF OUR OWNERS, AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS.
7.21 Electronic Delivery and Disclosure. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver or disclose, as applicable, any documents related to this Award granted under the Plan, future awards that may be granted under the Plan, the prospectus related to the Plan, the Company’s annual reports or proxy statements by electronic means or to request Optionee’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means, including, but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”). Optionee hereby consents to receive such documents delivered electronically or to retrieve such documents furnished electronically (including on EDGAR), as applicable, and agrees to participate in the Plan through any online or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
7.22 Section 409A. The parties intend for the Option to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code or, if not so exempt, to be treated in a manner which complies with the requirements of such section, and intend that this Agreement be construed and administered in accordance with such intention. In the event that the parties determine that the terms of this Agreement or the Option needs to be modified in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code, the parties shall cooperate reasonably to do so in a manner intended to best preserve the economic benefits of this Agreement. Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception under Section 409A of the Code shall be paid under the applicable exception. For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Agreement during the six-month period immediately following the Participant’s separation from service shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date that is six months following the Participant’s termination date (or death, if earlier).
Exhibit99.1
MartinKay Named CEO of Netcapital Inc.
FormerAccenture Executive to Lead Company’s Continued Expansion
Dr.Cecilia Lenk Assumes Position of CEO of Netcapital Advisors
BOSTON, MA – January 4, 2023 – Netcapital Inc. (Nasdaq: NCPL, NCPLW) (the “Company”), a digital private capital markets ecosystem, today announced the appointment of Company director Martin Kay as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 3, 2023. In addition, the Company also announced that Dr. Cecilia Lenk, CEO of the Company since 2017, will assume the position of CEO of Netcapital Advisors Inc., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary.
The appointment comes at a timely moment for the Company, as the current economic landscape has many investors reevaluating their portfolios and exploring alternative investment opportunities. Specifically, continued growth in demand among retail investors for exposure to startups and private capital markets more broadly has placed a premium on services provided by the Company, as well as prompted a need for more mature scalability, operations, and connections across the startup, advisor, and investor communities.
“Martin’s counsel has been invaluable since he was appointed to the Company’s board of directors earlier this year, and we’re delighted to further benefit from his expertise as he becomes the Company’s new CEO,” said Dr. Cecilia Lenk. “His leadership experience - ranging from director and partner roles at Accenture, IBM and Bain & Company, to front line exposure as a venture investor, CEO and CRO - makes him ideally suited for this role, and I look forward to continuing our close collaboration as I turn my focus to scaling the Netcapital Advisors growth platform.”
Martin Kay joined the Company’s board of directors in May 2022, after three decades as a successful leader, investor, advisor, and operator in early-stage digital ventures, including the original napster. Most recently Mr. Kay was a Managing Director with Accenture Strategy, where he led growth engagements for corporate clients and private equity firms. He is a co-founder of Accenture BLOOM, a digital strategy practice that invents, incubates, and scales new growth opportunities in partnership with clients. He was also the global Strategy lead for Accenture's “Cloud First” program, driving innovation, growth, and digital transformation with cloud technologies.
“The Company has reached an important stage in its growth journey, as each of its businesses are scaling operations to meet increasing demand,” said Martin Kay. “We believe that there is a significant market opportunity right now for our integrated offerings to create value for investors and entrepreneurs alike, and I’m eager to lead continuing expansion and results-driven execution as we build the Company’s profile as a publicly-traded company and generate returns for stakeholders.”
Mr. Kay began his career at Bain & Company, where he filled roles of increasing responsibility to become a Partner and lead the global Telecom, Media, and Technology practice. Mr. Kay holds an MA in Physics from Oxford University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

MartinKay

Dr.Cecilia Lenk
AboutNetcapital Inc.
Netcapital Inc. is a fintech company with a scalable technology platform that allows private companies to raise capital online and provides private equity investment opportunities to investors. The company's consulting group, Netcapital Advisors, provides marketing and strategic advice and takes equity positions in select companies with disruptive technologies. The Netcapital funding portal is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a registered national securities association.
Theinformation contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financialperformance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materiallydifferent from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and otherfactors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity,performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject tothese and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity.We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actualresults could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes availablein the future.
InvestorContact
800-460-0815
ir@netcapital.com
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