Published on November 28, 2023
Exhibit 10.20
FIBROBIOLOGICS, INC.
STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE
(2022 STOCK PLAN)
FibroBiologics, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2022 Stock Plan (the “Plan”), hereby notifies the Optionholder designated below that the Optionholder has been granted an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock set forth below. This option is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth in this notice, in the Option Agreement (including any annexes thereto), the Plan and the Exercise Notice and Stock Purchase Agreement (including any attachments thereto), all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined herein but defined in the Plan or the Option Agreement will have the same definitions as in the Plan or the Option Agreement. If there is any conflict between the terms in this notice and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control.
Optionholder: | |
Date of Grant: | |
Vesting Commencement Date: | |
Number of Shares Subject to Option: | |
Exercise Price (Per Share): | US $ |
Expiration Date: | |
Type of Grant: | |
Vesting Schedule: |
Exercise Schedule: [insert exercise schedule here]
Payment: | To the extent permitted by applicable law, by one or a combination of the following methods of payment (further described in the Option Agreement): |
☐ | By cash, check, ACH payment, bank draft or money order payable to the Company (in each case in U.S. dollars) |
☐ | Pursuant to a Regulation T Program if the shares are publicly traded |
☐ | By delivery of already-owned shares if the shares are publicly traded |
☐ | Subject to the Company’s consent at the time of exercise, by a “net exercise” arrangement |
Additional Terms/Acknowledgements: Optionholder acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to the applicable terms and conditions of, this Stock Option Grant Notice, the Option Agreement and the Plan. Optionholder acknowledges and agrees that this Stock Option Grant Notice and the Option Agreement may not be modified, amended or revised except as provided in the Plan. Optionholder further acknowledges that as of the Date of Grant, this Stock Option Grant Notice, the Option Agreement, and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Optionholder and the Company regarding this option award and supersede all prior oral and written agreements, promises and/or representations on that subject with the exception of (i) options previously granted and delivered to Optionholder, and (ii) the following agreements only.
OTHER AGREEMENTS: [insert reference to employment or other agreements if applicable]
By accepting this option, you consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by eShares, Inc. DBA Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) or any other third party designated by the Company.
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FIBROBIOLOGICS, INC.
2022 STOCK PLAN
OPTION AGREEMENT
(INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION OR NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION)
Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice (“Grant Notice”) and this Option Agreement, FibroBiologics, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you an option under its 2022 Stock Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. The option is granted to you effective as of the date of grant set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Date of Grant”). If there is any conflict between the terms in this Option Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined in this Option Agreement or in the Grant Notice but defined in the Plan will have the same definitions as in the Plan.
The details of your option, in addition to those set forth in the Grant Notice and the Plan, are as
follows:
1. VESTING. Your option will vest as provided in your Grant Notice. Vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service.
2. NUMBER OF SHARES AND EXERCISE PRICE. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to your option and your exercise price per share in your Grant Notice will be adjusted for Capitalization Adjustments.
3. EXERCISE RESTRICTION FOR NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES. If you are an Employee eligible for overtime compensation under the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (that is, a “Non-Exempt Employee”), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan, you may not exercise your option until you have completed at least six months of Continuous Service measured from the Date of Grant, even if you have already been an employee for more than six months. Consistent with the provisions of the U.S. Worker Economic Opportunity Act, you may exercise your option as to any vested portion prior to such six-month anniversary in the case of (i) your death or Disability, (ii) a Corporate Transaction in which your option is not assumed, continued or substituted, (iii) a Change in Control or (iv) your termination of Continuous Service on your “retirement” (as defined in the Company’s benefit plans).
4. EXERCISE PRIOR TO VESTING (“EARLY EXERCISE”). If permitted in your Grant Notice (i.e., the “Exercise Schedule” indicates “Early Exercise Permitted”) and subject to the provisions of your option, you may elect at any time that is both (i) during the period of your Continuous Service and (ii) during the term of your option, to exercise all or part of your option, including the unvested portion of your option; provided, however, that:
(a) a partial exercise of your option will be deemed to cover first vested shares of Common Stock and then the earliest vesting installment of unvested shares of Common Stock;
(b) any shares of Common Stock so purchased from installments that have not vested as of the date of exercise will be subject to the purchase option in favor of the Company as described in the Company’s Form of Exercise Notice and Stock Purchase Agreement; you will enter into the Company’s Form of Exercise Notice and Stock Purchase Agreement with a vesting schedule that will result in the same vesting as if no early exercise had occurred; and
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(c) if your option is an Incentive Stock Option for U.S. tax purposes, then, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Date of Grant) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which your option plus all other Incentive Stock Options you hold are exercisable for the first time by you during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds US $100,000, your option(s) or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.
5. METHOD OF PAYMENT. You must pay the full amount of the exercise price for the shares you wish to exercise. You may pay the exercise price in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company or in any other manner permitted by your Grant Notice and subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable laws, which may (but need not) include one or more of the following:
(a) Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds. This manner of payment is also known as a “broker-assisted exercise”, “same day sale”, or “sell to cover”.
(b) Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of already-owned shares of Common Stock that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests, and that are valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. “Delivery” for these purposes, in the sole discretion of the Company at the time you exercise your option, will include delivery to the Company of your attestation of ownership of such shares of Common Stock in a form approved by the Company. You may not exercise your option by delivery to the Company of Common Stock if doing so would violate the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock.
(c) If this option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, subject to the consent of the Company at the time of exercise, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of your option by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price. You must pay any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by the “net exercise” in cash or other permitted form of payment. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under your option and will not be exercisable thereafter if those shares (i) are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise”, (ii) are delivered to you as a result of such exercise, and (iii) are withheld to satisfy your tax withholding obligations.
6. WHOLE SHARES. You may exercise your option only for whole shares of Common Stock.
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7. SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE.
(a) In no event may you exercise your option unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise are then registered under the Securities Act or, if not registered, the Company has determined that your exercise and the issuance of the shares would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of your option also must comply with all other applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations and other non-U.S. laws or regulations governing your option, and you may not exercise your option if the Company determines that such exercise would not be in material compliance with such laws and regulations (including any restrictions on exercise required for compliance with U.S. Treas. Reg. 1.401(k)-1(d)(3), if applicable).
(b) If your country of residence is other than the United States, by your execution of this Option Agreement and your acceptance of the option granted hereby, you represent and warrant to the Company that:
(i) you are not a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S under the Securities Act. The offer and sale of securities to you as contemplated in this Option Agreement is made in an offshore transaction (as defined in Rule 902(h) of Regulation S), no direct selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902(c) of Regulation S) were made in the United States, and you are not acquiring such securities for the account or benefit of any U.S. Person;
(ii) you will not, during the Restricted Period applicable to any shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to your option as set forth in the legend in Section 12 below (the “Restricted Period”) and on any certificate representing such shares, offer or sell any of the foregoing securities (or create or maintain any derivative position equivalent thereto) in the United States, to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person or other than in accordance with Regulation S;
(iii) you will, after the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period, offer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer any shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to your option (or create or maintain any derivative position equivalent thereto) only pursuant to registration under the Securities Act or any available exemption therefrom and, in any case, in accordance with applicable securities laws; and
(iv) you acknowledge and agree that the Company will not register the transfer of any shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to this option in violation of this Option Agreement, the Plan or any of the restrictions set forth herein or therein.
8. TERM. You may not exercise your option before the Date of Grant or after the expiration of the option’s term. The term of your option expires, subject to the provisions of Section 5(h) of the Plan, upon the earliest of the following:
(a) immediately upon the termination of your Continuous Service for Cause;
(b) in the event of the termination of your Continuous Service other than as a result of your Disability or death or your termination for Cause, the date three months following the termination of your Continuous Service;
(c) in the event of the termination of your Continuous Service as a result of your Disability, the date twelve months following the termination of your Continuous Service;
(d) in the event of the termination of your Continuous Service as a result of your death, the date eighteen months following the termination of your Continuous Service;
(e) the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice; or
(f) the day before the 10th anniversary of the Date of Grant.
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9. EXERCISE.
(a) You may exercise the vested portion of your option (and the unvested portion of your option if your Grant Notice so permits) during its term by (i) delivering an Exercise Notice and Stock Purchase Agreement (in a form designated by the Company, including any attachments thereto) or completing such other documents and/or procedures designated by the Company for exercise and (ii) paying the exercise price and any applicable income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account, withholding and other tax-related items relating to your option, including obligations of the Company (together, the “Tax-Related Items”) to the Company’s Secretary, stock plan administrator, or such other person as the Company may designate, together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.
(b) By exercising your option, you agree that as a condition to any exercise of your option, the Company may require you to enter into an arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any Tax-Related Item arising by reason of (i) the exercise of your option, (ii) the lapse of any substantial risk of forfeiture to which the shares of Common Stock are subject at the time of exercise, or (iii) the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise. If your option is an Incentive Stock Option for U.S. tax purposes, by exercising your option you agree that you will notify the Company in writing within 15 days after the date of any disposition of any of the shares of the Common Stock issued upon exercise of your option that occurs within two years after the Date of Grant or within one year after such shares of Common Stock are transferred upon exercise of your option.
(c) By
exercising your option you agree that you will not sell, dispose of, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase
of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale with respect to any shares of Common Stock
or other securities of the Company held by you, for a period of 180 days following the effective date of a registration statement of
the Company filed under the Securities Act or such longer period as the underwriters or the Company will request to facilitate compliance
with FINRA Rule 2711 or NYSE Member Rule 472 or any successor or similar rules or regulation (the “Lock-Up
Period”); provided, however, that nothing contained in this section will prevent the exercise of a repurchase option,
if any, in favor of the Company during the Lock-Up Period. You further agree to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably
requested by the Company or the underwriters that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.
In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to your shares of Common Stock
until the end of such period. You also agree that any transferee of any shares of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held
by you will be bound by this Section 9(c). The underwriters of the Company’s stock are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Section 9(c) and will have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.
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10. TRANSFERABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10, your option is not transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and is exercisable during your life only by you.
(a) Certain Trusts. Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, you may transfer your option to a trust if you are considered to be the sole beneficial owner (determined under Section 671 of the Code and applicable state law) while the option is held in the trust. You and the trustee must enter into transfer and other agreements required by the Company.
(b) Beneficiary Designation. Upon receiving written permission from the Board or its duly authorized designee, you may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form approved by the Company and any broker designated by the Company to handle option exercises, designate a third party who, on your death, will thereafter be entitled to exercise this option and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, your executor or administrator of your estate will be entitled to exercise this option and receive, on behalf of your estate, the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.
11. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Shares of Common Stock that you acquire upon exercise of your option are subject to any right of first refusal or transfer restrictions that may be described in the Company’s bylaws in effect at such time the Company elects to exercise its right; provided, however, that if there is no right of first refusal described in the Company’s bylaws at such time, the right of first refusal described below will apply. The Company’s right of first refusal will expire on the first date upon which any security of the Company is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on a national securities exchange or quotation system (the “Listing Date”).
(a) Prior to the Listing Date, you may not validly Transfer (as defined below) any shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of your option, or any interest in such shares, unless such Transfer is made in compliance with the following provisions:
(i) Before there can be a valid Transfer of any shares of Common Stock or any interest therein, the record holder of the shares of Common Stock to be transferred (the “Offered Shares”) will give written notice (by registered or certified mail) to the Company. Such notice will specify the identity of the proposed transferee, the cash price offered for the Offered Shares by the proposed transferee (or, if the proposed Transfer is one in which the holder will not receive cash, such as an involuntary transfer, gift, donation or pledge, the holder will state that no purchase price is being proposed), and the other terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer. The date such notice is mailed will be hereinafter referred to as the “Notice Date” and the record holder of the Offered Shares will be hereinafter referred to as the “Offeror”. If, from time to time, there is any stock dividend, stock split or other change in the character or amount of any of the outstanding Common Stock which is subject to the provisions of your option, then in such event any and all new, substituted or additional securities to which you are entitled by reason of your ownership of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of your option will be immediately subject to the Company’s Right of First Refusal (as defined below) with the same force and effect as the shares subject to the Right of First Refusal immediately before such event.
(ii) For a period of 30 calendar days after the Notice Date, or such longer period as may be required to avoid the classification of your option as a liability for financial accounting purposes, the Company will have the option to purchase all (but not less than all) of the Offered Shares at the purchase price and on the terms set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) (the Company’s “Right of First Refusal”). If the proposed Transfer is one involving no payment of a purchase price, the purchase price will be deemed to be the Fair Market Value of the Offered Shares as determined in good faith by the Board in its discretion. The Company may exercise its Right of First Refusal by mailing (by registered or certified mail) written notice of exercise of its Right of First Refusal to the Offeror prior to the end of said 30 days (including any extension required to avoid classification of the option as a liability for financial accounting purposes).
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(iii) The price at which the Company may purchase the Offered Shares pursuant to the exercise of its Right of First Refusal will be the cash price offered for the Offered Shares by the proposed transferee (as set forth in the notice required under Section 11(a)(i)), or the Fair Market Value as determined by the Board in the event no purchase price is involved. To the extent consideration other than cash is offered by the proposed transferee, the Company will not be required to pay any additional amounts to the Offeror other than the cash price offered (or the Fair Market Value, if applicable). The Company’s notice of exercise of its Right of First Refusal will be accompanied by full payment for the Offered Shares and, upon such payment by the Company, the Company will acquire full right, title and interest to all of the Offered Shares.
(iv) If, and only if, the option given pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) is not exercised, the Transfer proposed in the notice given pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) may take place; provided, however, that such Transfer must, in all respects, be exactly as proposed in said notice except that such Transfer may not take place either before the 10th calendar day after the expiration of the 30 day option exercise period or after the ninetieth 90th calendar day after the expiration of the 30 day option exercise period, and if such Transfer has not taken place prior to said 90th day, such Transfer may not take place without once again complying with this Section 11(a). The option exercise periods in this Section 11(a)(iv) will be adjusted to include any extension required to avoid the classification of your option as a liability for financial accounting purposes.
(b) As used in this Section 11, the term “Transfer” means any sale, encumbrance, pledge, gift or other form of disposition or transfer of shares of Common Stock or any legal or equitable interest therein; provided, however, that the term Transfer does not include a transfer of such shares or interests by will or intestacy to your Immediate Family (as defined below). In such case, the transferee or other recipient will receive and hold the shares of Common Stock so transferred subject to the provisions of this Section, and there will be no further transfer of such shares except in accordance with the terms of this Section 11. As used herein, the term “Immediate Family” will mean your spouse, the lineal descendant or antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister, child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of you or your spouse, or the spouse of any child, adopted child, grandchild or adopted grandchild of you or your spouse.
(c) None of the shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of your option will be transferred on the Company’s books nor will the Company recognize any such Transfer of any such shares or any interest therein unless and until all applicable provisions of this Section 11 have been complied with in all respects.
(d) To ensure that the shares subject to the Company’s Right of First Refusal will be available for repurchase by the Company, the Company may require you to deposit the certificates evidencing the shares that you purchase upon exercise of your option with an escrow agent designated by the Company under the terms and conditions of an escrow agreement approved by the Company. If the Company does not require such deposit as a condition of exercise of your option, the Company reserves the right at any time to require you to so deposit the certificates in escrow. As soon as practicable after the expiration of the Company’s Right of First Refusal, the agent will deliver to you the shares and any other property no longer subject to such restriction. In the event the shares and any other property held in escrow are subject to the Company’s exercise of its Right of First Refusal, the notices required to be given to you will be given to the escrow agent, and any payment required to be given to you will be given to the escrow agent. Within 30 days after payment by the Company for the Offered Shares, the escrow agent will deliver the Offered Shares that the Company has repurchased to the Company and will deliver the payment received from the Company to you.
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12. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS AND STOP-TRANSFER ORDERS.
(a) The Company may place the legends set forth in the Exercise Notice and Stock Purchase Agreement (including any attachments thereto), set forth below or other similar legends on any stock certificate(s) evidencing the shares of Common Stock subject to your option, together with any other legends that may be required by U.S. federal or state securities or exchange laws or applicable non-U.S. jurisdictions, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, any other agreement between you and the Company or between you and any third party or that may be required under the terms of any agreement to which the Company is or may become bound.
(b) If your country of residence is other than the United States, then the Company will place the additional legend(s) set forth below or similar legends on any stock certificate(s) evidencing the shares of Common Stock subject to your option:
(i) THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT INTEND TO REGISTER THEM.
(ii) PRIOR TO A DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR STARTING FROM THE DATE OF SALE OF THE SHARES, THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD (INCLUDING OPENING A SHORT POSITION IN SUCH SECURITIES) IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS AS DEFINED BY RULE 902(K) ADOPTED UNDER THE ACT, OTHER THAN TO DISTRIBUTORS, UNLESS THE SHARES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT IS AVAILABLE. HOLDERS OF SHARES PRIOR TO ONE YEAR STARTING FROM THE DATE OF SALE OF THE SHARES MAY RESELL SUCH SHARES ONLY PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT OR OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION S OF THE ACT, OR IN TRANSACTIONS EFFECTED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDED THEY DO NOT SOLICIT (AND NO ONE ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF SOLICITS) PARTICIPANTS IN THE UNITED STATES OR OTHERWISE ENGAGE(S) IN SELLING EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROVIDED THAT HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.
(iii) A HOLDER OF THE SHARES WHO IS A DISTRIBUTOR, DEALER, SUB-UNDERWRITER OR OTHER SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL, IN ADDITION, CANNOT, PRIOR TO ONE YEAR STARTING FROM THE DATE OF SALE OF THE SHARES, RESELL THE SHARES TO A U.S. PERSON AS DEFINED BY RULE 902(K) OF REGULATION S UNLESS THE SHARES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS AVAILABLE.
(c) To ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by this Agreement, the Company may issue appropriate “stop-transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.
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(d) The Company will not be required (i) to transfer on its books any shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Option Agreement or (ii) to treat as owner of such shares, or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such shares have been so transferred.
13. OPTION NOT A SERVICE CONTRACT. Your option is not an employment or service contract, and nothing in your option will be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate, or of the Company or an Affiliate to continue your employment. In addition, nothing in your option will obligate the Company or an Affiliate, their respective stockholders, boards of directors, officers or employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or Consultant for the Company or an Affiliate.
14. WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS.
(a) Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event (“Tax Date”), as applicable, you will pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company or, if different, your actual employer (the “Employer”) to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following all under such rules as may be established by the Committee and in compliance with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy, if applicable:
(i) At the time you exercise your option, in whole or in part, and at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a “same day sale” pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise in connection with the exercise of your option.
(ii) If this option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, then upon your request and subject to approval by the Company, and compliance with any applicable legal conditions or restrictions, the Company may withhold from fully vested shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to you upon the exercise of your option a number of whole shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value, determined by the Company as of the date of exercise, not in excess of the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lower amount as may be necessary to avoid classification of your option as a liability for financial accounting purposes). If the date of determination of any tax withholding obligation is deferred to a date later than the date of exercise of your option, share withholding pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not be permitted unless you make a proper and timely election under Section 83(b) of the Code, covering the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise with respect to which such determination is otherwise deferred, to accelerate the determination of such tax withholding obligation to the date of exercise of your option. Notwithstanding the filing of such election, shares of Common Stock shall be withheld solely from fully vested shares of Common Stock determined as of the date of exercise of your option that are otherwise issuable to you upon such exercise. Any adverse consequences to you arising in connection with such share withholding procedure shall be your sole responsibility.
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(b) The Company and/or the Employer may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering up to applicable maximum statutory withholding rates. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in shares of Common Stock, for tax purposes, you are deemed to have been issued the full number of shares subject to the option, notwithstanding that a number of shares of Common Stock are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items. You will pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of your participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company shall have sole discretion to deliver the shares of Common Stock if you fail to comply with your obligation in connection with the Tax-Related Items and you unconditionally consent to and approve any such action taken by the Company. You (or any beneficiary or person entitled to act on your behalf) shall provide the Company with any forms, documents or other information reasonably required by the Company in connection with the Company’s or the Employer’s withholding and/or tax reporting obligations.
(c) You may not exercise your option unless the Tax-Related Items are satisfied. Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your option when desired even though your option is vested, and the Company will have no obligation to issue a certificate for such shares of Common Stock or release such shares of Common Stock from any escrow provided for herein, if applicable, unless such obligations are satisfied.
15. TAX CONSEQUENCES. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED IN THE COUNTRY OR COUNTRIES IN WHICH YOU RESIDE OR ARE SUBJECT TO TAXATION BEFORE ACCEPTING OR EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK SUBJECT THERETO. The Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any representations or recommendations regarding your participation in the Plan, or your acquisition or sale of the shares of Common Stock subject to your option.
(a) You hereby agree that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities. You acknowledge that you have obtained any advice that you deem advisable from an independent professional advisor with respect to the Tax-Related Items in connection with the grant, exercise, assignment, release, cancellation or any other disposition of this option pursuant to the Plan, and any subsequent sale of any shares of Common Stock acquired thereby, and that you are not relying on the Company for any tax-advice.
(b) You will not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from your option or your other compensation. In particular, you acknowledge that this option is exempt from Section 409A of the Code only if the exercise price per share specified in the Grant Notice is at least equal to the “fair market value” per share of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant and there is no other impermissible deferral of compensation associated with the option. Because the Common Stock is not traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value is determined by the Board, perhaps in consultation with an independent valuation firm retained by the Company. You acknowledge that there is no guarantee that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation as determined by the Board, and you will not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates in the event that the Internal Revenue Service asserts that the valuation determined by the Board is less than the “fair market value” as subsequently determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
(c) If you sell or otherwise disposes of any of the shares acquired pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option on or before the later of (i) two years after the date of grant of the option and (ii) one year after the exercise date, you will immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition.
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(d) Regardless of any action the Company or Employer takes with respect to any or all Tax-Related Items, you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due from you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of you option, including the grant, vesting or exercise of you option, the subsequent sale of shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends, and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of your option to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. You acknowledge that if you are subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, the Company and/or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction. You acknowledge that your liability for Tax-Related Items may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Employer.
16. NOTICES. Any notices provided for in your option or the Plan will be given in writing (including electronically) and will be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in the case of notices delivered by mail by the Company to you, five days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan and this option by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By accepting this option, you consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
17. GOVERNING PLAN DOCUMENT. Your option is subject to all the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of your option, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations, which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan. If there is any conflict between the provisions of your option and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will control.
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