EX-99.2
Published on September 22, 2022
Exhibit 99.2
Korn Ferry Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The following constitute the provisions of the Korn Ferry Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Plan). This amendment and restatement of the Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on August 8, 2022, and will become effective when it is approved by the Corporations stockholders.
| 1. | Purpose |
The purpose of this Plan is to assist Eligible Employees in acquiring a stock ownership interest in the Corporation, at a favorable price and upon favorable terms, pursuant to a plan which is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code. This Plan is also intended to encourage Eligible Employees to remain in the employ of the Corporation (or a Subsidiary which may be designated by the Committee as Participating Subsidiary) and to provide them with an additional incentive to advance the best interests of the Corporation.
| 2. | Definitions |
Capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined shall have the following meanings.
Account means the bookkeeping account maintained by the Corporation, or by a recordkeeper on behalf of the Corporation, for a Participant pursuant to Section 7(a).
Board means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Committee means the committee appointed by the Board to administer this Plan pursuant to Section 12.
Common Stock means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Options pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 17.
Company means, collectively, the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (if any).
Compensation means an Eligible Employees regular gross pay. Compensation includes any amounts contributed as salary reduction contributions to a plan qualifying under Section 401(k), 125 or 129 of the Code. Any other form of remuneration is excluded from Compensation, including (but not limited to) the following: bonuses (including sign-on and continuation bonuses), overtime payments, commissions, prizes, awards, relocation or housing allowances, stock option exercises, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants, restricted stock units, performance awards, any other compensatory equity awards, auto allowances, tuition reimbursement and other forms of imputed income, incentive compensation, special payments, fees and allowances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Compensation shall not include any amounts deferred under or paid from any nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company.
Contributions means all bookkeeping amounts credited to the Account of a Participant pursuant to Section 7(a).
Corporation means Korn Ferry, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.
Effective Date means October 1, 2003, the date designated by the Board upon its initial adoption of this Plan or any future date as of which the Board amends the Plan in a manner that requires approval of the Corporations stockholders, as the context shall require.
Eligible Employee means any employee of the Corporation, or of any Subsidiary which has been designated in writing by the Committee as a Participating Subsidiary (including any Subsidiaries which have become such after the date that this Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Corporation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eligible Employee shall not include any employee:
| (a) | who has been employed by the Corporation or a Subsidiary for less than six months; or |
| (b) | whose customary employment is for 20 hours or less per week. |
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
Exercise Date means, with respect to an Offering Period, the last day of that Offering Period.
Fair Market Value on any date means:
| (a) | if the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trade on the New York Stock Exchange or on another national securities exchange, the closing price of a Share on the New York Stock Exchange or such other exchange on such date, or, if there is no trading of the Common Stock as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or such other exchange on such date, then the closing price of a Share as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or such other exchange on the next preceding date on which there was trading in the Shares; |
| (b) | if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the value as established by the Committee at such time for purposes of this Plan. |
Grant Date means the first day of each Offering Period, as determined by the Committee and announced to potential Eligible Employees.
Offering Period means the six-consecutive month period commencing on each Grant Date; provided, however, that the Committee may declare, as it deems appropriate and in advance of the applicable Offering Period, a shorter (not to be less than three months) Offering Period or a longer (not to exceed 27 months) Offering Period; provided further that the Grant Date for an Offering Period may not occur on or before the Exercise Date for the immediately preceding Offering Period.
Option means the stock option to acquire Shares granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
Option Price means the per share exercise price of an Option as determined in accordance with Section 8(b).
Participant means an Eligible Employee who has elected to participate in this Plan and who has filed a valid and effective Subscription Agreement to make Contributions pursuant to Section 6.
Plan means this Korn Ferry Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended from time to time.
Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 as promulgated by the Securities Exchange Commission under Section 16, as amended from time to time.
Share means a share of Common Stock.
Subscription Agreement means the written agreement filed by an Eligible Employee with the Corporation pursuant to Section 6 to participate in this Plan.
Subsidiary means any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations (beginning with the Corporation) in which each corporation (other than the last corporation) owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one or more of the other corporations in the chain.
| 3. | Eligibility |
Any person employed as an Eligible Employee as of a Grant Date shall be eligible to participate in this Plan during the Offering Period in which such Grant Date occurs, subject to the Eligible Employee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.
| 4. | Stock Subject to this Plan; Share Limitations |
| (a) | Subject to the provisions of Section 17, the capital stock that may be delivered under this Plan will be shares of the Corporations authorized but unissued Common Stock and any of its shares of Common Stock held as treasury shares. The maximum number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Options granted under this Plan is 4,500,000 Shares, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 17 (the Plan Limit). For the avoidance of doubt, any Shares that are subject to Options that are not for whatever reason actually delivered pursuant to a purchase of such Shares shall remain available for delivery under this Plan and shall not count against the Plan Limit. |
In the event that all of the Shares made available under this Plan are subscribed prior to the expiration of this Plan, this Plan shall terminate at the end of that Offering Period and the Shares available shall be allocated for purchase by Participants in that Offering Period on a pro-rata basis determined with respect to Participants Account balances.
| (b) | The maximum number of Shares that any one individual may acquire upon exercise of his or her Option with respect to any one Offering Period is 5,000, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 17 (the Individual Limit); provided, however, that the Committee may amend such Individual Limit, effective no earlier than the first Offering Period commencing after the adoption of such amendment, without stockholder approval. The Individual Limit shall be proportionately adjusted for any Offering Period of less than six months, and may, at the discretion of the Committee, be proportionately increased for any Offering Period of greater than six months. |
| 5. | Offering Periods |
During the term of this Plan, the Corporation will grant Options to purchase Shares in each Offering Period to all Participants in that Offering Period. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee in advance of the Offering Period, an Offering Period that commences on or about July 1 will end the following December 31 and an Offering Period that commences on or about January 1 will end the following June 30. Each Option shall become effective on the Grant Date. The term of each Option shall be the duration of the related Offering Period and shall end on the Exercise Date. The first Offering Period shall commence as of a date determined by the Board or Committee. Offering Periods shall continue until this Plan is terminated in accordance with Section 18 or 19, or, if earlier, until no Shares remain available for Options pursuant to Section 4.
| 6. | Participation |
| (a) | An Eligible Employee may become a participant in this Plan by completing a Subscription Agreement on a form approved by and in a manner prescribed by the Committee (or its delegate). To become effective, a Subscription Agreement must be signed by the Eligible Employee and filed with the Corporation at the time specified by the Committee, but in all cases prior to the start of the Offering Period with respect to which it is to become effective, and must set forth a whole percentage (or, if the Committee so provides, a stated amount) of the Eligible Employees Compensation to be credited to the Participants Account as Contributions each pay period. |
| (b) | Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participants Contribution election shall be subject to the following limitations: |
| (i) | the 5% ownership and the $25,000 annual purchase limitations set forth in Section 8(c); |
| (ii) | a Participant may not elect to contribute more than fifteen percent (15%) of his or her Compensation each pay period as Plan Contributions, provided, however, that the Committee shall have discretion to establish a higher contribution percentage limit for any Offering Period that is less than six (6) months; and |
| (iii) | such other limits, rules, or procedures as the Committee may prescribe. |
| (c) | Subscription Agreements shall contain the Eligible Employees authorization and consent to the Corporations withholding from his or her Compensation the amount of his or her Contributions. Subscription Agreements shall remain in effect for subsequent Offering Periods until (i) the Eligible Employees participation terminates pursuant to the terms hereof, (ii) the Eligible Employee files a new Subscription Agreement that becomes effective, or (iii) the Committee requires that a new Subscription Agreement be executed and filed with the Corporation. |
| 7. | Method of Payment of Contributions |
| (a) | The Corporation shall maintain on its books, or cause to be maintained by a recordkeeper, an Account in the name of each Participant. The Compensation elected to be applied as Contributions by a Participant shall be deducted from such Participants Compensation on each payday during the period for payroll deductions set forth below and such payroll deductions shall be credited to that Participants Account as soon as administratively practicable after such date. A Participant may not make any additional payments to his or her Account. A Participants Account shall be reduced by any amounts used to pay the Option Price of Shares acquired, or by any other amounts distributed pursuant to the terms hereof. |
| (b) | Subject to such other rules as the Committee may adopt, payroll deductions with respect to an Offering Period shall commence as of the first pay date which coincides with or immediately follows the applicable Grant Date and shall end on the last pay date which coincides with or immediately precedes the applicable Exercise Date, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in this Section 7 or until his or her participation terminates pursuant to Section 11. |
| (c) | A Participant may terminate his or her Contributions during an Offering Period (and receive a distribution of the balance of his or her Account in accordance with Section 11) by completing and filing with the Corporation, in such form and on such terms as the Committee (or its delegate) may prescribe, a written withdrawal form which shall be signed by the Participant. Such termination shall be effective as soon as administratively practicable after its receipt by the Corporation. A withdrawal election pursuant to this Section 7(c) with respect to an Offering Period shall only be effective, however, if it is received by the Corporation prior to the Exercise Date of that Offering Period (or such earlier deadline that the Committee may reasonably require to process the withdrawal prior to the applicable Exercise Date). Partial withdrawals of Accounts, and other modifications or suspensions of Subscription Agreements, except as provided in Section 7(e) or 7(f), are not permitted. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, he or she must execute and file with the Corporation a new Subscription Agreement in order to participate in future Offering Period(s). |
| (d) | During unpaid leaves of absence approved by the Corporation or a Participating Subsidiary and meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2) promulgated under the Code, a Participant may continue participation in this Plan by cash payments to the Corporation on his normal paydays equal to the reduction in his Plan Contributions caused by his leave. |
| (e) | A Participant may increase or decrease the level of his or her Contributions (within Plan limits) by completing and filing with the Corporation, on such terms as the Committee (or its delegate) may prescribe, a new Subscription Agreement which indicates such election. Subject to any additional timing requirements that the Committee may impose, an election pursuant to this Section 7(e) shall be effective with the first Offering Period that commences after the Corporations receipt of such election. |
| (f) | A Participant may discontinue (but not increase or otherwise decrease the level of) his or her Contributions during an Offering Period, by filing with the Corporation, on such terms as the Committee (or its delegate) may prescribe, a new Subscription Agreement that indicates such election. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an election pursuant to this Section 7(f) shall be effective no earlier than the first payroll period that starts after the Corporations receipt of such election and the Participant shall remain enrolled in the Offering Period and his or her Option shall be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date. Following the discontinuation of Contributions during an Offering Period, however, a Participant must execute and file with the Corporation a new Subscription Agreement in order to participate in future Offering Period(s). |
| 8. | Grant of Option |
| (a) | On each Grant Date, each Eligible Employee who is a participant during that Offering Period shall be granted an Option to purchase a number of Shares. The Option shall be exercised on the Exercise Date. The number of Shares to be purchased upon exercise of the Option shall be determined by dividing the Participants Account balance as of the applicable Exercise Date by the Option Price, subject to the maximum determined pursuant to Section 4(b). |
| (b) | The Option Price per Share of the Shares subject to an Option for an Offering Period shall be established by the Board or the Committee prior to the start of such Offering Period, provided that in no event shall such Option Price per Share be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the applicable Exercise Date (nor equal to or greater than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the applicable Exercise Date). If the Board or Committee does not otherwise provide, the Option Price per Share for an Offering Period shall be equal to 90% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the applicable Exercise Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding provisions of this Section 8(b), in no event shall the Option Price per Share be less than the par value of a Share. |
| (c) | Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, a person who is otherwise an Eligible Employee shall not be granted any Option (or any Option granted shall be subject to compliance with the following limitations) or other right to purchase Shares under this Plan to the extent: |
| (i) | it would, if exercised, cause the person to own stock (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code) possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary; or |
| (ii) | such Option causes such individual to have rights to purchase stock under this Plan and any other plan of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is qualified under Section 423 of the Code which accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of the stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary (determined at the time the right to purchase such Stock is granted, before giving effect to any discounted purchase price under any such plan) for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding at any time. |
For purposes of the foregoing, a right to purchase stock accrues when it first become exercisable during the calendar year. In determining whether the stock ownership of an Eligible Employee equals or exceeds the 5% limit set forth above, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code (relating to attribution of stock ownership) shall apply, and stock which the Eligible Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated as stock owned by the Eligible Employee.
| 9. | Exercise of Option |
Unless a Participant withdraws pursuant to Section 7(c) or the Participants Plan participation is terminated as provided in Section 11, his or her Option for the purchase of Shares shall be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date for that Offering Period, without any further action on the Participants part, and the maximum number of whole Shares subject to such Option (subject to the Individual Limit set forth in Section 4(b) and the limitations contained in Section 8(c)) shall be purchased at the Option Price with the balance of such Participants Account.
If any amount which is not sufficient to purchase a whole Share remains in a Participants Account after the exercise of his or her Option on the Exercise Date: (i) such amount shall be credited to such Participants Account for the next Offering Period, if he or she is then a Participant; or (ii) if such Participant is not a Participant in the next Offering Period, or if the Committee so elects, such amount shall be refunded to such Participant as soon as administratively practicable after such date. If the Share limit of Section 4(a) is reached, any amount that remains in a Participants Account after the exercise of his or her Option on the Exercise Date to purchase the number of Shares that he or she is allocated shall be refunded to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable after such date.
If any amount which exceeds the Individual Limit set forth in Section 4(b) or one of the limitations set forth in Section 8(c) remains in a Participants Account after the exercise of his or her Option on the Exercise Date, such amount shall be refunded to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable after such date.
| 10. | Delivery |
As soon as administratively practicable after the Exercise Date, the Corporation shall deliver to each Participant or to a registered broker dealer a certificate representing the Shares purchased upon exercise of his or her Option or may otherwise provide for the transfer of the Shares to the Participant in book-entry form. The Corporation may make available an alternative arrangement for delivery of Shares to a recordkeeping service. The Committee (or its delegate), in its discretion, may either require or permit Participants to elect that such certificates representing the Shares purchased or to be purchased under the Plan be delivered to such recordkeeping service. In the event the Corporation is required to obtain from any commission or agency authority to issue any such certificate or otherwise deliver such Shares, the Corporation will seek to obtain such authority. If the Corporation is unable to obtain from any such commission or agency authority which counsel for the Corporation deems necessary for the lawful issuance of any such certificate or delivery of such Shares, or if for any other reason the Corporation can not issue or deliver Shares and satisfy Section 21, the Corporation shall be relieved from liability to any Participant except that the Corporation shall return to each Participant the amount of the balance credited to his or her Account.
| 11. | Termination of Employment; Change in Eligible Status |
| (a) | Except as provided in the next paragraph of this Section 11(a), if a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Employee for any reason (other than as provided in Section 11(c) below), or if the Participant elects to terminate and withdraw Contributions pursuant to Section 7(c), at any time prior to the last day of an Offering Period in which he or she participates, such Participants Account shall be paid to him or her in cash (or, in the event of the Participants death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 13 in cash) as soon as administratively practicable but in no event more than sixty (60) days following such cessation or such election, and such Participants Option and participation in the Plan shall be automatically terminated. |
If a Participant (i) ceases to be an Eligible Employee during the last three (3) months of an Offering Period but remains an employee of the Company through the Exercise Date, (ii) discontinues Contributions pursuant to Section 7(f), or (iii) during an Offering Period commences an unpaid sick leave, military leave, or other leave of absence approved by the Company, and the leave meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2) and the Participant is an employee of the Company or on such leave as of the applicable Exercise Date, such Participants Contributions shall cease (subject to Section 7(d)), and the Contributions previously credited to the Participants Account for that Offering Period shall be used to exercise the Participants Option as of the applicable Exercise Date in accordance with Section 9 (unless the Participant makes a timely election to terminate and withdraw Contributions in accordance with Section 7(c), in which case such Participants Account shall be paid to him or her in cash in accordance with the foregoing paragraph).
| (b) | A Participants termination from Plan participation precludes the Participant from again participating in this Plan during that Offering Period. However, such termination shall not have any effect upon his or her ability to participate in any succeeding Offering Period, provided that the applicable eligibility and participation requirements are again then met. A Participants termination from Plan participation shall be deemed to be a revocation of that Participants Subscription Agreement and such Participant must file a new Subscription Agreement to resume Plan participation in any succeeding Offering Period. |
| (c) | For purposes of this Plan, if a Participating Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary, each person employed by that Subsidiary will be deemed to have terminated employment for purposes of this Plan and will no longer be an Eligible Employee, unless the person continues as an Eligible Employee in respect of another Company entity. If such event occurs more than three (3) months prior to the Exercise Date for such Offering Period, any Participant employed by that Subsidiary will have their participation in the Plan terminated and such Participants Account shall be paid to him or her in cash. Furthermore, if any employee ceases to be an Eligible Employee with more than three (3) months remaining in the Offering Period in which such employee is then participating, then such employee will have his or her participation in the Plan terminated and such Participants Account shall be paid to him or her in cash. |
| 12. | Administration |
| (a) | The Board shall appoint the Committee, which shall be composed of not less than two members of the Board. Unless the Board shall determine otherwise, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board. If the Board selects a Committee that is not the Compensation Committee of the Board, the Board may, at any time, increase or decrease the number of members of the Committee, may remove from membership on the Committee all or any portion of its members, and may appoint such person or persons as it desires to fill any vacancy existing on the Committee, whether caused by removal, resignation, or otherwise. The Board may also, at any time, assume the administration of this Plan, in which case references to the Committee shall be deemed to be references to the Board. |
| (b) | The Committee shall supervise and administer this Plan and shall have full power and discretion to adopt, amend and rescind any rules deemed desirable and appropriate for the administration of this Plan and not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan. The Committee shall act by majority vote or by unanimous written consent. No member of the Committee shall be entitled to act on or decide any matter relating solely to himself or herself or solely to any of his or her rights or benefits under this Plan. The Committee shall have full power and discretionary authority to construe and interpret the terms and conditions of this Plan, which construction or interpretation shall be final and binding on all parties including the Company, Participants and beneficiaries. The Committee may delegate ministerial non-discretionary functions to third parties, including individuals who are officers or employees of the Corporation. |
| (c) | Subject only to compliance with the express provisions hereof, the Board and Committee may act in their absolute discretion in matters within their authority related to this Plan. Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Corporation, any Participating Subsidiary, the Board or the Committee relating or pursuant to this Plan shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and will be conclusive and binding upon all persons. In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under this Plan, the Board or Committee, as the case may be, may obtain and may rely on the advice of experts, including professional advisors to the Corporation. No member of the Board or Committee, or officer or agent of the Company, will be liable for any action, omission or decision under the Plan taken, made or omitted in good faith. |
| (d) | The Committee may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of the laws and procedures of jurisdictions outside of the United States. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of payroll deductions or other contributions by Participants, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, data privacy security, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements; however, if such varying provisions are not in accordance with the provisions of Section 423(b) of the Code, including but not limited to the requirement of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code that all options granted under the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges unless otherwise provided under the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, then the individuals affected by such varying provisions shall be deemed to be participating under a sub-plan and not in the Plan. The Committee may also adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Code Section 423 and shall be deemed to be outside the scope of Code Section 423 unless the terms of the sub-plan provide to the contrary. The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 4, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan. The Committee shall not be required to obtain the approval of stockholders prior to the adoption, amendment or termination of any sub-plan unless required by the laws of the foreign jurisdiction in which Eligible Employees participating in the sub-plan are located. |
| (e) | To the full extent permissible under the Corporations governing documents and applicable laws, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each other employee, officer or director of the Corporation to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of this Plan may be allocated or delegated, against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with this Plan unless arising out of such persons own fraud or willful bad faith. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Companys governing documents, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless. |
| 13. | Designation of Beneficiary |
| (a) | A Participant shall file, on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Committee (or its delegate), a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any Shares or cash from such Participants Account under this Plan in the event of such Participants death. If a Participants death occurs subsequent to the end of an Offering Period but prior to the delivery to him or her of any Shares deliverable under the terms of this Plan, such Shares and any remaining balance of such Participants Account shall be paid to such beneficiary (or such other person as set forth in Section 13(b)) as soon as administratively practicable after the Corporation receives notice (in a form acceptable to the Committee) of such Participants death and any outstanding unexercised Option shall terminate. If a Participants death occurs at any other time, the balance of such Participants Account shall be paid to such beneficiary (or such other person as set forth in Section 13(b)) in cash as soon as administratively practicable after the Corporation receives notice of such Participants death and such Participants Option shall terminate. If a Participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not solely his or her spouse, spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective unless it is established (to the satisfaction of the Committee or its delegate) that there is no spouse or that the spouse cannot be located. The Committee may rely on the last designation of a beneficiary filed by a Participant in accordance with this Plan. |
| (b) | Beneficiary designations may be changed by the Participant (and his or her spouse, if required) at any time on forms provided and in the manner prescribed by the Committee (or its delegate). If a Participant dies with no validly designated beneficiary under this Plan who is living at the time of such Participants death, the Corporation shall deliver all Shares and/or cash payable pursuant to the terms hereof to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed, the Corporation, in its discretion, may deliver such Shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Corporation, then to such other person as the Corporation may designate. |
| 14. | Transferability |
Neither Contributions credited to a Participants Account nor any Options or rights with respect to the exercise of Options or right to receive Shares under this Plan may be anticipated, alienated, encumbered, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 13) by the Participant. Any such attempt at anticipation, alienation, encumbrance, assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect and all amounts shall be paid and all Shares shall be delivered in accordance with the provisions of this Plan. Amounts payable or Shares deliverable pursuant to this Plan shall be paid or delivered only to the Participant or, in the event of the Participants death, to the Participants beneficiary pursuant to Section 13.
| 15. | Use of Funds; Interest |
All Contributions received or held by the Corporation under this Plan will be included in the general assets of the Corporation and may be used for any corporate purpose. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, no interest will be paid to any Participant or credited to his or her Account under this Plan (in respect of Account balances, refunds of Account balances, or otherwise). Amounts payable under this Plan shall be payable in shares of Common Stock or from the general assets of the Corporation and, except for any Shares that may be reserved on the books of the Corporation for issuance with respect to this Plan, no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of amounts that may be due with respect to this Plan.
| 16. | Reports |
Statements shall be provided (either electronically or in written form, as the Committee may provide from time to time) to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following each Exercise Date. Each Participants statement shall set forth, as of such Exercise Date, that Participants Account balance immediately prior to the exercise of his or her Option, the Option Price, the number of whole Shares purchased and his or her remaining Account balance, if any.
| 17. | Adjustments of and Changes in the Stock |
Upon or in contemplation of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend), or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; split-up, spin-off, or any similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock (whether in the form of securities or property); any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Common Stock; or a sale of substantially all the assets of the Corporation as an entirety occurs; then the Committee shall, in such manner as it deems equitable in the circumstances:
| (a) | proportionately adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares or the number and type of other securities that thereafter may be made the subject of Options (including the specific maxima and numbers of Shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (ii) the number, amount and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to any or all outstanding Options, (iii) the Option Price of any or all outstanding Options, or (iv) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise of any outstanding Options; or |
| (b) | make provision for a cash payment or for the substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding Options for cash, securities or property to be delivered to the holders of any or all outstanding Options based upon the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Common Stock upon or in respect of such event. |
The Committee may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Options as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement and, without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess (if any) of the amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or strike price of the Option.
In any of such events, the Committee may take such action sufficiently prior to such event to the extent that the Committee deems the action necessary to permit the Participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares in the same manner as is or will be available to stockholders generally.
| 18. | Possible Early Termination of Plan and Options |
Upon a dissolution of the Corporation, or any other event described in Section 17 that the Corporation does not survive, the Plan shall terminate, and if such event occurs prior to the last day of an Offering Period, any outstanding Option granted with respect to that Offering Period shall also terminate. However, termination of the Plan or of any Option under this Section 18 shall be subject to any provision that has been expressly made by the Board for the survival, substitution, assumption, exchange or other settlement of the Plan and Options. In the event a Participants Option is terminated pursuant to this Section 18 without a provision having been made by the Board for the survival, substitution, assumption, exchange or other settlement of the Option, such Participants Account shall be paid to him or her in cash without interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a dissolution of the Corporation, or any other event described in Section 17 that the Corporation does not survive, and if such event occurs prior to the last day of an Offering Period, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, to shorten such Offering Period and establish a Special Exercise Date upon which the accrued payroll deductions of each Participant who does not elect to withdraw his or her payroll deductions will be used to purchase whole Shares with any remaining cash balance in a Participants Account being returned to such Participant as soon as administratively practicable following the Special Exercise Date. The price at which each Share may be purchased on such Special Exercise Date shall be calculated in accordance with Section 8 above as if Exercise Date were replaced by Special Exercise Date.
| 19. | Term of Plan; Amendment or Termination |
| (a) | This Plan originally became effective as of October 1, 2003 and the most recent amendment and restatement of the Plan became effective upon its approval by the Corporations stockholders at the Corporations 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. |
| (b) | The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this Plan, in whole or in part, without notice (including, without limitation, the limits of Sections 4(b), 6(b)(ii), and 6(b)(iii)). Stockholder approval for any amendment or modification shall not be required, except to the extent required by applicable law or required under Section 423 of the Code in order to preserve the intended tax consequences of this Plan, or otherwise deemed necessary or advisable by the Board. No Options may be granted during any suspension of this Plan or after the termination of this Plan, but the Committee will retain jurisdiction as to Options then outstanding in accordance with the terms of this Plan. No amendment, modification, or termination pursuant to this Section 19(b) shall, without written consent of the Participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the Participant any rights or benefits of such Participant or obligations of the Corporation under any Option granted under this Plan prior to the effective date of such change. Changes contemplated by Section 17 or Section 18 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments requiring Participant consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have the right to designate from time to time the Subsidiaries whose employees may be eligible to participate in this Plan and such designation shall not constitute any amendment to this Plan requiring stockholder approval. |
| 20. | Notices |
All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Corporation contemplated by this Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Committee (or its delegate) at the location, or by the person, designated by the Committee (or its delegate) for that purpose.
| 21. | Conditions Upon Issuance Of Shares |
This Plan, the granting of Options under this Plan and the offer, issuance and delivery of Shares are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities laws) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. The person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Corporation and as a condition precedent to the exercise of his or her Option, provide such assurances and representations to the Corporation as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.
| 22. | Plan Construction |
| (a) | It is the intent of the Corporation that transactions involving Options under this Plan in the case of Participants who are or may be subject to the prohibitions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act satisfy the requirements for applicable exemptions under Rule 16 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that such persons (unless they otherwise agree) will be entitled to the exemptive relief of Rule 16b-3 or other exemptive rules promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of those transactions and will not be subject to avoidable liability thereunder. |
| (b) | Except as the Committee may expressly provide in the case of one or more sub-plans adopted pursuant to Section 12(d), this Plan and Options are intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code. |
| (c) | If any provision of this Plan or of any Option would otherwise frustrate or conflict with the intents expressed above, that provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted so as to avoid such conflict. If the conflict remains irreconcilable, the Committee may disregard the provision if it concludes that to do so furthers the interest of the Corporation and is consistent with the purposes of this Plan as to such persons in the circumstances. |
| 23. | Limitations on Employees Rights |
| (a) | Nothing in this Plan (or in any other documents related to this Plan) will confer upon any Eligible Employee or Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Company, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or effect an employees status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to change such persons compensation or other benefits or to terminate his or her employment or other service with or without cause. Nothing contained in this Section 23(a), however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of any such person under a separate employment or service contract other than a Subscription Agreement. |
| (b) | No Participant or other person will have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including Shares) of the Company by reason of any Option hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan will create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or other person. To the extent that a Participant or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to this Plan, such right will be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Corporation. No special or separate reserve, fund or deposit will be made to assure any such payment. |
| (c) | A Participant will not be entitled to any privilege of stock ownership as to any Shares not actually delivered to and held of record by the Participant. No adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a stockholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery. |
| 24. | Miscellaneous |
| (a) | This Plan, the Options, and related documents shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. If any provision shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Plan shall continue in effect. |
| (b) | Captions and headings are given to the sections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such captions and headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction of interpretation of this Plan or any provision hereof. |
| (c) | The adoption of this Plan shall not affect any other Company compensation or incentive plans in effect. Nothing in this Plan will limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or Committee (i) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for employees of the Company (with or without reference to the Common Stock), or (ii) to grant or assume options (outside the scope of and in addition to those contemplated by this Plan) in connection with any proper corporate purpose; to the extent consistent with any other plan or authority. |
| (d) | Benefits received by a Participant under an Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of the Participants compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plan or arrangement, if any, provided by the Company, except where the Committee or the Board expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing. |
| 25. | Effective Date |
Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, the effectiveness of this Plan is subject to the approval of this Plan by the stockholders of the Corporation within twelve months of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, no Shares in excess of those Shares previously approved by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be issued or delivered under this Plan until such stockholder approval is obtained and, if such stockholder approval is not obtained within such twelve-month period of time, the maximum number of Shares issuable under Section 4(a) shall be reduced to that number of Shares previously approved by the stockholders of the Corporation for issuance under this Plan.
| 26. | Tax Withholding |
Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Plan herein to the contrary, the Company may deduct from a Participants Account balance as of an Exercise Date, before the exercise of the Participants Option is given effect on such date, the amount of any taxes which the Company reasonably determines it may be required to withhold with respect to such exercise. In such event, the maximum number of whole Shares subject to such Option (subject to the other limits set forth in this Plan) shall be purchased at the Option Price with the balance of the Participants Account (after reduction for the tax withholding amount).
Should the Company for any reason be unable, or elect not to, satisfy its tax withholding obligations in the manner described in the preceding paragraph with respect to a Participants exercise of an Option, or should the Company reasonably determine that it has a tax withholding obligation with respect to a disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option prior to satisfaction of the holding period requirements of Section 423 of the Code, the Company shall have the right at its option to (i) require the Participant to pay or provide for payment of the amount of any taxes which the Company reasonably determines that it is required to withhold with respect to such event or (ii) to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, deduct from any amount otherwise payable to or for the account of the Participant the amount of any taxes which the Company reasonably determines that it is required to withhold with respect to such event.
| 27. | Notice Of Sale |
Any person who has acquired Shares under this Plan shall give prompt written notice to the Corporation of any sale or other transfer of the Shares if such sale or transfer occurs (i) within the two-year period after the Grant Date of the Offering Period with respect to which such Shares were acquired, or (ii) within the twelve-month period after the Exercise Date of the Offering Period with respect to which such Shares were acquired.
| 28. | Arbitration |
Any controversy arising out of or relating to this Plan, and/or the Subscription Agreement, their enforcement or interpretation, or because of an alleged breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with any of their provisions, or any other controversy arising out of or related to the Option, including, but not limited to, any state or federal statutory claims, shall be submitted to arbitration in Los Angeles County, California, before a sole arbitrator selected from Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc., Los Angeles County, California, or its successor (JAMS), or if JAMS is no longer able to supply the arbitrator, such arbitrator shall be selected from the American Arbitration Association. Any dispute shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §1, et. seq. (the FAA), and the FAA shall preempt all state laws to the fullest extent not prohibited by law. References to Delaware law made herein shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights under the FAA, or any rights to have such dispute resolution provisions governed, interpreted and enforced under the FAA. In the event that any person refuses to submit to arbitration as required by this Section 28, any other person that would be a party to such arbitration may request a United States Federal District Court to compel arbitration in accordance with the FAA. All persons with an interest in such dispute consent to the jurisdiction of such court to enforce this Section 28 and to confirm and enforce the performance of any award of the arbitrator. The arbitration shall be administered and conducted by the arbitrator pursuant to the FAA, and to the extent not inconsistent with the FAA, with the rules and procedures of the selected arbitration service.
Final resolution of any dispute through arbitration may include any remedy or relief which the arbitrator deems just and equitable, including any and all remedies provided by applicable state or federal statutes. At the conclusion of the arbitration, the arbitrator shall issue a written decision that sets forth the essential findings and conclusions upon which the arbitrators award or decision is based. Any award or relief granted by the arbitrator hereunder shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. The parties acknowledge and agree that they are hereby waiving any rights to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by either of the parties against the other in connection with any matter whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with any of the matters referenced in the first sentence above. The parties agree that Corporation shall be responsible for payment of the forum costs of any arbitration hereunder, including the arbitrators fee. The parties further agree that in any proceeding with respect to such matters, each party shall bear its own attorneys fees and costs (other than forum costs associated with the arbitration) incurred by it or him or her in connection with the resolution of the dispute.