EXHIBIT 4.6 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Published on December 11, 2015
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
As adopted by the Board of Directors on August 18, 2015
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSES OF THE PLAN
1.1
Purposes. The purposes of the Plan are (a) to enhance the Companys ability to attract and retain the services of qualified employees, officers, directors, consultants and other service providers upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the successful conduct and development of the Companys business largely depends and (b) to provide additional incentives to such persons or entities to devote their utmost effort and skill to the advancement and betterment of the Company, by providing them an opportunity to participate in the ownership of the Company and thereby have an interest in the success and increased value of the Company.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Plan, terms not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings indicated below:
2.1
Affiliate means (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee, whether now or hereafter existing.
2.2
Award means any award under the Plan, including any Option, Restricted Stock, Stock Bonus, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Awards.
2.3
Award Agreement means, with respect to each Award, the written or electronic agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award, and country-specific appendix thereto for grants to non-U.S. Participants, which will be in substantially a form (which need not be the same for each Participant) that the Committee (or in the case of Award agreements that are not used for Insiders, the Committees delegate(s)) has from time to time approved, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
2.4
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.5
Cause means termination of Service because of (a) any willful, material violation by the Participant of any law or regulation applicable to the business of the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, the Participants conviction for or guilty plea to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or any willful perpetration by the Participant of a common law fraud; (b) the Participants commission of an act of personal dishonesty which involves personal profit in connection with the Company or any other entity having a business relationship with the Company; (c) any material breach by the Participant of any provision of any agreement or understanding between the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company and the Participant regarding the terms of the Participants Service, including the willful and continued failure or refusal of the Participant to perform the material duties required of such Participant as an Employee, Officer, Director, Non-Employee Director or Consultant of the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, other than as a result of having a Disability or a breach of any applicable invention assignment and confidentiality agreement or similar agreement between the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company and the Participant; (d) Participants disregard of the policies of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company so as to cause loss, damage or injury to the property, reputation or employees of the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company or (e) any other misconduct by the Participant which is materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of or is otherwise materially injurious to the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. The determination as to whether a Participant is being terminated for Cause will be made in good faith by the Company and will be final and binding on the Participant. The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Companys ability to terminate a Participants employment or consulting relationship at any time as provided in Section 13.11, and the term Company will be interpreted to include any Affiliate, Subsidiary or Parent, as appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the foregoing definition of Cause may, in part or in whole, be modified or replaced in each individual employment agreement or Award Agreement with any Participant, provided that such document supersedes the definition provided in this Section 2.5.
2.6
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.7
Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board or those persons to whom administration of the Plan or part of the Plan has been delegated as permitted by law.
2.8
Common Stock means the Common Stock of the Company.
2.9
Company means VolitionRx Limited or any successor corporation.
2.10
Consultant means any natural person, including an advisor or independent contractor, engaged by the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to render services to such entity.
2.11
Corporate Transaction means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) any Person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Companys then-outstanding voting securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (a) the acquisition of additional securities by any one Person who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the securities of the Company will not be considered a Corporate Transaction; (b) the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets; (c) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; (d) any other transaction which qualifies as a corporate transaction under Section 424(a) of the Code wherein the stockholders of the Company give up all of their equity interest in the Company (except for the acquisition, sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of the Company) or (e) a change in the effective control of the Company that occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by member of the Board whose appointment or election is not endorsed by as majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (e), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Corporate Transaction. For purposes of this definition, Persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock or similar business transaction with the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any amount constituting deferred compensation (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Corporate Transaction, such amount will become payable only if the event constituting a Corporate Transaction would also qualify as a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, each as defined within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and IRS guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.
2.12
Director means a member of the Board.
2.13
Disability means in the case of incentive stock options, total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and in the case of other Awards, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
2.14
Dividend Equivalent Right means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash, stock or other property dividends in amounts equal equivalent to cash, stock or other property dividends for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant.
2.15
Effective Date means the date on which the Plan is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares of Common Stock of the Company which are entitled to be voted and are voted on the proposal to approve this Plan (and for such purpose, any broker non-votes will not be counted as being entitled to be voted on that proposal, but will be counted for quorum purposes).
2.16
Employee means any person, including Officers and Directors, providing services as an employee to the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a directors fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute employment by the Company.
2.17
Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.18
Exercise Price means, with respect to an Option, the price at which a holder may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of an Option and with respect to a SAR, the price at which the SAR is granted to the holder thereof.
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2.19
Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of a share of the Companys Common Stock determined as follows: (a) if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; (b) if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is neither listed nor admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable or (c) if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Board or the Committee in good faith using any reasonable method of evaluation in a manner consistent with the valuation principles under Section 409A of the Code.
2.20
Insider means an officer or director of the Company or any other person whose transactions in the Companys Common Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
2.21
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
2.22
Non-Employee Director means a Director who is not an Employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
2.23
Option means an award of an option to purchase Shares pursuant to Article 4 or Article 10.
2.24
Parent means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
2.25
Participant means a person who holds an Award under this Plan.
2.26
Performance Award means cash or stock granted pursuant to Article 9 or Article 10.
2.27
Performance Factors means any of the factors selected by the Committee and specified in an Award Agreement, from among the following objective measures, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to the Company as a whole or any business unit or Subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, on a GAAP or non-GAAP basis, and measured, to the extent applicable on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target or index or group of comparator companies, to determine whether the performance goals established by the Committee with respect to applicable Awards have been satisfied: (a) profit before tax; (b) billings; (c) revenue; (d) net revenue; (e) earnings (which may include earnings before interest; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; net earnings and other metrics based on or derived from earnings); (f) operating income; (g) operating margin; (h) operating profit; (i) controllable operating profit; (j) net operating profit; (k) net profit; (l) gross margin; (m) operating expenses or operating expenses as a percentage of revenue; (n) net income; (o) earnings per share; (p) total stockholder return; (q) market share; (r) return on assets or net assets; (s) the Companys stock price; (t) growth in stockholder value relative to a pre-determined index; (u) return on equity; (v) return on invested capital; (w) cash flow (including free cash flow or operating cash flows); (x) cash conversion cycle; (y) economic value added; (z) individual confidential business objectives; (aa) contract awards or backlog; (bb) overhead or other expense reduction; (cc) credit rating; (dd) strategic plan development and implementation; (ee) succession plan development and implementation; (ff) improvement in workforce diversity; (gg) customer indicators; (hh) new product invention or innovation; (ii) attainment of research and development milestones; (jj) improvements in productivity; (kk) bookings and (ll) attainment of objective operating goals and employee metrics. The Committee may provide for one or more adjustments to the Performance Factors in accordance with Section 11.3.
2.28
Performance Period means the period of service determined by the Committee, not to exceed five (5) years, during which years of service or performance is to be measured for the Award.
2.29
Performance Share means an Award granted pursuant to Article 9 or Article 10.
2.30
Permitted Transferee means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law (including adoptive relationships) of the Employee, any person sharing the Employees household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons (or the Employee) have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Employee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Employee) own more than 50% of the voting interests.
2.31
Plan means this VolitionRx Limited 2015 Stock Incentive Plan.
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2.32
Purchase Price means the price to be paid for Shares acquired under the Plan, other than Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option or SAR.
2.33
Restricted Stock Award means an award of Shares pursuant to Article 5 or Article 10 or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
2.34
Restricted Stock Unit means an Award granted pursuant to Article 8 or Article 10.
2.35
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
2.36
Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.37
Service means service as an Employee, Consultant, Director or Non-Employee Director, to the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate, subject to such further limitations as may be set forth in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement. An Employee will not be deemed to have ceased to provide Service in the case of (a) sick leave; (b) military leave or (c) any other leave of absence approved by the Company; provided, that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days (x) unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute or (y) unless provided otherwise pursuant to formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company and issued and promulgated to employees in writing. In the case of any Employee on an approved leave of absence or a reduction in hours worked (for illustrative purposes only, a change in schedule from that of full-time to part-time), the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension of or modification of vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate or during such change in working hours as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. In the event of military leave, if required by applicable laws, vesting will continue for the longest period that vesting continues under any other statutory or Company approved leave of absence and, upon a Participants returning from military leave (under conditions that would entitle him or her to protection upon such return under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), he or she will be given vesting credit with respect to Awards to the same extent as would have applied had the Participant continued to provide services to the Company throughout the leave on the same terms as he or she was providing services immediately prior to such leave. An employee will have terminated employment as of the date he or she ceases to provide services (regardless of whether the termination is in breach of local employment laws or is later found to be invalid) and employment will not be extended by any notice period or garden leave mandated by local law, provided however, that a change in status from an employee to a consultant or advisor will not terminate the service providers Service, unless determined by the Committee, in its discretion. The Committee will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to provide Services and the effective date on which the Participant ceased to provide Services.
2.38
Shares means shares of the Companys Common Stock and the common stock of any successor entity.
2.39
Stock Appreciation Right means an Award granted pursuant to Article 7 or Article 10.
2.40
Stock Bonus means an Award granted pursuant to Article 6 or Article 10.
2.41
Subsidiary means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
2.42
Treasury Regulations means regulations promulgated by the United States Treasury Department.
2.43
Unvested Shares means Shares that have not yet vested or are subject to a right of repurchase in favor of the Company (or any successor thereto).
ARTICLE 3
PLAN SHARES
3.1
Number of Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.5, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan is one million (1,000,000) Shares.
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3.2
Lapsed, Returned Awards. If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, an Award expires or otherwise terminates without issuance of Shares or an Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part) or otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the Shares subject to such Award (including on payment in Shares on exercise of a SAR), such Shares shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, termination, cash settlement or non-issuance, be added to the Shares available for grant under the Plan. If (i) any Award granted hereunder is exercised through the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company or (ii) withholding tax liabilities arising from such Award are satisfied by the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company, then in each such case the Shares so tendered or withheld shall be added to the Shares available for grant under the Plan on a one-for-one basis.
3.3
Minimum Share Reserve. At all times the Company will reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as will be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Awards granted under this Plan.
3.4
Limitations; Eligibility. No more than one million (1,000,000) Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs. ISOs may be granted only to Employees. All other Awards may be granted to Employees, Consultants, Directors and Non-Employee Directors; provided such Consultants, Directors and Non-Employee Directors render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.5, no Participant may be granted (a) Options or SARs during any 12-month period with respect to more than five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares and (b) Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards, Performance Awards or Stock Bonus Awards during any calendar year that are intended to comply with the performance-based exception under Section 162(m) of the Code and are denominated in Shares under which more than five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares may be earned for each twelve (12) months in the vesting period or Performance Period. Each of the limitations in the preceding sentence of this Section 3.4 shall be multiplied by two (2) with respect to Awards granted to a Participant during the first calendar year in which the Participant commences employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries. If an Award is cancelled, the cancelled Award shall continue to be counted toward the applicable limitation in this Section 3.4.
3.5
Adjustment of Shares. If the number of outstanding Shares is changed by a stock dividend, extraordinary dividends or distributions (whether in cash, shares or other property, other than a regular cash dividend), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification, spin-off or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, then (a) the number of Shares reserved for issuance and future grant under the Plan set forth in Section 3.1; (b) the Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options and SARs; (c) the number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards; (d) the maximum number of shares that may be issued as ISOs or other Awards set forth in Section 3.4 and (e) the maximum number of Shares that may be issued to an individual or to a new Employee in any one calendar year set forth in Section 3.4, will be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company and in compliance with applicable securities laws, provided that fractions of a Share will not be issued.
4.1
Options. An Option is the right but not the obligation to purchase a Share, subject to certain conditions, if applicable. The Committee may grant Options to eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors and will determine whether such Options will be Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of the Code (ISOs) or Nonqualified Stock Options (NSOs), the number of Shares subject to the Option, the Exercise Price of the Option, the period during which the Option may vest and be exercised, and all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the following terms of this Section 4.1.
4.2
Option Grant. Each Option granted under this Plan will identify the Option as an ISO or an NSO. An Option may be, but need not be, awarded upon satisfaction of such Performance Factors during any Performance Period as are set out in advance in the Participants individual Award Agreement. If the Option is being earned upon the satisfaction of Performance Factors, then the Committee will: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for each Option and (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Options that are subject to different performance goals and other criteria.
4.3
Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option or a specified future date. The Award Agreement and a copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time after the granting of the Option.
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4.4
Exercise Period. Options may be vested and exercisable within the times or upon the conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that no Option will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted; and provided further that no ISO granted to a person who, at the time the ISO is granted, directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company (Ten Percent Stockholder) will be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted. The Committee also may provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines.
4.5
Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option will be determined by the Committee when the Option is granted, provided that (a) the Exercise Price of an Option will be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant and (b) the Exercise Price of any ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for the Shares purchased may be made in accordance with Section 13.1 and the Award Agreement and in accordance with any procedures established by the Company.
4.6
Method of Exercise. Any Option granted hereunder will be vested and exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (a) notice of exercise (in such form as the Committee may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option (and/or via electronic execution through the authorized third party administrator) and (b) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable withholding taxes). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Committee and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant. Until the Shares are issued (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 stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 3.5. Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
4.7
Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if the Participants Service terminates for any reason except for Cause or the Participants death or Disability, then the Participant may exercise such Participants Options only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by the Participant on the date Participants Service terminates no later than three (3) months after the date Participants Service terminates (or such shorter or longer time period as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond three (3) months after the date Participants Service terminates deemed to be the exercise of an NSO), but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if the Participants Service terminates because of the Participants death (or the Participant dies within three (3) months after Participants Service terminates other than for Cause or because of the Participants Disability), then the Participants Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by the Participant on the date Participants Service terminates and must be exercised by the Participants legal representative or authorized assignee no later than twelve (12) months after the date Participants Service terminates (or such shorter time period or longer time period as may be determined by the Committee), but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if the Participants Service terminates because of the Participants Disability, then the Participants Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by the Participant on the date Participants Service terminates and must be exercised by the Participant (or the Participants legal representative or authorized assignee) no later than twelve (12) months after the date Participants Service terminates (or such shorter or longer time period as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond (a) three (3) months after the date Participants Service terminates when the termination of Service is for a Disability that is not a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or (b) twelve (12) months after the date Participants Service terminates when the termination of Service is for a Disability that is a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, deemed to be exercise of an NSO), but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if the Participant is terminated for Cause, then Participants Options will expire on such Participants date of termination of Service or at such later time and on such conditions as are determined by the Committee, but in any no event later than the expiration date of the Options. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, Cause will have the meaning set forth in the Plan.
4.8
Limitations on Exercise. The Committee may specify a minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent any Participant from exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable.
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4.9
Limitations on ISOs. With respect to Awards granted as ISOs, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which such ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such Options will be treated as NSOs. For purposes of this Section 4.9, ISOs will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted. In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the Effective Date to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to ISOs, such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.
4.10
Modification or Extension. Subject in all cases to Section 13.8, the Committee may modify or extend outstanding Options (but not beyond their original term) and authorize the grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participants rights under any Option previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code.
4.11
No Disqualification. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs will be interpreted, amended or altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify this Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the Participant affected, to disqualify any ISO under Section 422 of the Code.
ARTICLE 5
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
5.1
Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company to sell to an eligible Employee, Consultant or Director Shares that are subject to restrictions (Restricted Stock). The Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares the Participant may purchase, the Purchase Price (if any), the restrictions under which the Shares will be subject and all other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the Plan.
5.2
Award Agreement. All Restricted Stock Awards will be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Except as may otherwise be provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant accepts a Restricted Stock Award by signing and delivering to the Company an Award Agreement with full payment of the Purchase Price (if any), within thirty (30) days from the date the Award Agreement was delivered to the Participant. If the Participant does not accept such Award within thirty (30) days, then the offer of such Restricted Stock Award will terminate, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
5.3
Purchase Price. The Purchase Price (if any) for a Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee and may be less than Fair Market Value on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted. Payment of the Purchase Price (if any) must be made in accordance with Section 13.1, the Award Agreement and any procedures established by the Company.
5.4
Terms of Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted Stock Awards will be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose or are required by law. These restrictions may be based on completion of a specified number of years of service with the Company or upon completion of Performance Factors, if any, during any Performance Period as set out in advance in the Participants Award Agreement. Prior to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee will: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for the Restricted Stock Award; (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure performance goals, if any and (c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Performance Periods may overlap and a Participant may participate simultaneously with respect to Restricted Stock Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and having different performance goals and other criteria.
5.5
Termination of Service. Except as may be set forth in the Participants Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participants Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
ARTICLE 6
STOCK BONUS AWARDS
6.1
Stock Bonus Awards. A Stock Bonus Award is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant or Director of Shares for Services to be rendered or for past Services already rendered to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. All Stock Bonus Awards will be made pursuant to an Award Agreement. No payment from the Participant will be required for Shares awarded pursuant to a Stock Bonus Award.
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6.2
Terms of Stock Bonus Awards. The Committee will determine the number of Shares to be awarded to the Participant under a Stock Bonus Award and any restrictions thereon. These restrictions may be based upon completion of a specified number of years of service with the Company or upon satisfaction of performance goals based on Performance Factors during any Performance Period as set out in advance in the Participants Stock Bonus Agreement. Prior to the grant of any Stock Bonus Award the Committee will: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for the Stock Bonus Award; (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure performance goals (if any) and (c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Performance Periods may overlap and a Participant may participate simultaneously with respect to Stock Bonus Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria.
6.3
Form of Payment to Participant. Payment may be made in the form of cash, whole Shares or a combination thereof, based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares earned under a Stock Bonus Award on the date of payment, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
6.4
Termination of Service. Except as may be set forth in the Participants Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participants Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
6.5
ARTICLE 7
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1
Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right (SAR) is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant or Director that may be settled in cash or Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock) having a value equal to (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price multiplied by (b) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is being settled (subject to any maximum number of Shares that may be issuable as specified in an Award Agreement). All SARs will be made pursuant to an Award Agreement.
7.2
Terms of SARs. The Committee will determine the terms of each SAR, including: (a) the number of Shares subject to the SAR; (b) the Exercise Price and the time or times during which the SAR may be settled; (c) the consideration to be distributed on settlement of the SAR and (d) the effect of the Participants termination of Service on each SAR. The Exercise Price of the SAR will be determined by the Committee when the SAR is granted, and may not be less than Fair Market Value. A SAR may be awarded upon satisfaction of Performance Factors, if any, during any Performance Period as are set out in advance in the Participants individual Award Agreement. If the SAR is being earned upon the satisfaction of Performance Factors, then the Committee will: (x) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for each SAR and (y) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to SARs that are subject to different Performance Factors and other criteria.
7.3
Exercise Period and Expiration Date. A SAR will be exercisable within the times or upon the occurrence of events determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement governing such SAR. The SAR Agreement will set forth the expiration date; provided that no SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the SAR is granted. The Committee may also provide for SARs to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise (including upon the attainment during a Performance Period of performance goals based on Performance Factors), in such number of Shares or percentage of the Shares subject to the SAR as the Committee determines. Except as may be set forth in the Participants Award Agreement, vesting ceases on the date Participants Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 4.7 also will apply to SARs.
7.4
Form of Settlement. Upon exercise of a SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price; times (b) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee, the payment from the Company for the SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value or in some combination thereof. The portion of a SAR being settled may be paid currently or on a deferred basis with such interest or dividend equivalent, if any, as the Committee determines, provided that the terms of the SAR and any deferral satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
7.5
Termination of Service. Except as may be set forth in the Participants Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participants Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
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ARTICLE 8
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
8.1
Restricted Stock Units. A Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant or Director covering a number of Shares that may be settled in cash and/or by issuance of Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock). All RSUs will be made pursuant to an Award Agreement.
8.2
Terms of RSUs. The Committee will determine the terms of an RSU including: (a) the number of Shares subject to the RSU; (b) the time or times during which the RSU may be settled; (c) the amount (including any minimum amount), nature (which may include cash, Shares or a combination of both) and valuation of the consideration to be paid or distributed on settlement; (d) the effect of the Participants termination of Service on each RSU; and (e) such other terms as the Committee may determine. An RSU may be awarded upon satisfaction of such performance goals based on Performance Factors during any Performance Period as are set out in advance in the Participants Award Agreement. If the RSU is being earned upon satisfaction of Performance Factors, then the Committee will: (x) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for the RSU; (y) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any and (z) determine the number of Shares deemed subject to the RSU. Performance Periods may overlap and participants may participate simultaneously with respect to RSUs that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria.
8.3
Timing of Settlement. Payment of earned RSUs will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee may permit a Participant to defer payment under a RSU to a date or dates after the RSU is earned provided that the terms of the RSU and any deferral satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
8.4
Termination of Service. Except as may be set forth in the Participants Award Agreement, vesting ceases on such date Participants Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
ARTICLE 9
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
9.1
Performance Awards. A Performance Award is an award to an eligible Employee, Consultant or Director of a cash bonus or an award of Performance Shares denominated in Shares that may be settled in cash or by issuance of those Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock). Grants of Performance Awards will be made pursuant to an Award Agreement.
9.2
Terms of Performance Shares. The Committee will determine, and each Award Agreement will set forth, the terms of each Performance Award including: (a) the amount of any cash bonus; (b) the number of Shares deemed subject to an award of Performance Shares; (c) the Performance Factors and Performance Period that will determine the time and extent to which each Performance Award will be settled; (d) the consideration to be distributed on settlement and (e) the effect of the Participants termination of Service on each Performance Award. In establishing Performance Factors and the Performance Period the Committee will: (x) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period; (y) select from among the Performance Factors to be used and (z) determine the number of Shares deemed subject to the award of Performance Shares. Prior to settlement the Committee will determine the extent to which Performance Awards have been earned. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria. During any calendar year no Participant may be granted Performance Awards that are intended to comply with the performance-based exception under Section 162(m) of the Code and are denominated in cash under which more than $10,000,000 may be earned for each twelve (12) months in the Performance Period. This limitation shall be multiplied by two (2) with respect to Awards granted to a Participant during the first calendar year in which the Participant commences employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries. If an Award is cancelled, the cancelled Award shall continue to be counted toward the limitation in this Section 9.2.
9.3
Value, Earning and Timing of Performance Shares. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Factors or other vesting provisions have been achieved. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.
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9.4
Termination of Service. Except as may be set forth in the Participants Award Agreement, vesting ceases on the date Participants Service terminates (unless determined otherwise by the Committee).
ARTICLE 10
GRANTS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
10.1
Grants To Non-Employee Directors. Non-Employee Directors are eligible to receive any type of Award offered under this Plan except ISOs. Awards pursuant to this Article 10 may be automatically made pursuant to policy adopted by the Board or made from time to time as determined in the discretion of the Board. No Non-Employee Director may be granted Awards pursuant to this Article 10 in any calendar year with a grant date fair value (determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) of more than $1,000,000. The limitation in the preceding sentence of this Section 10.1 shall be multiplied by two (2) with respect to Awards granted to a Non-Employee Director during the first calendar year in which the Non-Employee Director provides services as a Non-Employee Director.
10.2
Eligibility. Awards pursuant to this Article 10 will be granted only to Non-Employee Directors. A Non-Employee Director who is elected or re-elected as a member of the Board will be eligible to receive an Award under this Article 10.
10.3
Vesting, Exercisability and Settlement. Except as set forth in Article 12, Awards will vest, become exercisable and be settled as determined by the Board. With respect to Options and SARs, the exercise price granted to Non-Employee Directors will not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time that such Option or SAR is granted.
10.4
Election to receive Awards in Lieu of Cash. A Non-Employee Director may elect to receive his or her annual retainer payments and/or meeting fees from the Company in the form of cash or Awards or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Such Awards will be issued under the Plan. An election under this Section 10.4 will be filed with the Company on the form prescribed by the Company.
ARTICLE 11
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
11.1
Committee Composition; Authority. This Plan will be administered by the Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan, except, however, the Board will establish the terms for the grant of an Award to Non-Employee Directors. The Committee will have the authority to: (a) construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan; (b) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan or any Award; (c) select persons to receive Awards; (d) determine the form and terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder, including the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may vest and be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria) or settled, any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, the method to satisfy tax withholding obligations or any other tax liability legally due and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Committee will determine; (e) determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to Awards; (f) determine the Fair Market Value in good faith and interpret the applicable provisions of this Plan and the definition of Fair Market Value in connection with circumstances that impact the Fair Market Value, if necessary; (g) determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of or as alternatives to other Awards under this Plan or any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; (h) grant waivers of Plan or Award conditions; (i) determine the vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards; (j) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement; (k) determine whether an Award has been earned; (l) reduce or waive any criteria with respect to Performance Factors (subject to any applicable requirements or limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code); (m) adjust Performance Factors in accordance with Section 11.3 with respect to persons whose compensation is subject to Section 162(m) of the Code; (n) adopt terms and conditions, rules and procedures (including the adoption of any sub-plan under this Plan) relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate requirements of local law and procedures outside of the United States; (o) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan and (p) delegate any of the foregoing to a subcommittee consisting of one or more executive officers pursuant to a specific delegation as permitted by applicable law, including Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
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11.2
Committee Interpretation and Discretion. Any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award will be made in its sole discretion at the time of grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan or Award, at any later time, and such determination will be final and binding on the Company and all persons having an interest in any Award under the Plan. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of the Plan or any Award Agreement will be submitted by the Participant or Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee will be final and binding on the Company and the Participant. The Committee may delegate to one or more executive officers the authority to review and resolve disputes with respect to Awards held by Participants who are not Insiders, and such resolution will be final and binding on the Company and the Participant.
11.3
Section 162(m) of the Code and Section 16 of the Exchange Act. When necessary or desirable for an Award to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code the Committee will include at least two persons who are outside directors (as defined under Section 162(m) of the Code) and at least two of such outside directors (or a majority if more than two outside directors then serve on the Committee) will approve the grant of such Award and timely determine (as applicable) the Performance Period and any Performance Factors upon which vesting or settlement of any portion of such Award is to be subject. If the Committee determines that an Award (other than an Option or SAR) is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, Shares or other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals established by the Committee, which shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or any combination of the Performance Factors. Such performance goals (and any exclusions) shall (a) be set by the Committee prior to the earlier of 90 days after the commencement of the applicable Performance Period and the expiration of 25% of the Performance Period and (b) otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. When required by Section 162(m) of the Code, prior to settlement of any such Award at least two (or a majority if more than two then serve on the Committee) of such outside directors then serving on the Committee will determine and certify in writing the extent to which such Performance Factors have been timely achieved and the extent to which the Award has thereby been earned, and the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the amount payable pursuant to such Award. Awards granted to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act must be approved by two or more non-employee directors (as defined in the regulations promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act). With respect to Participants whose compensation is subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may specify, in its sole discretion, at the time of the initial grant of the Award, the manner of adjustment of any Performance Factors upon which vesting or settlement of any portion of such Award is to be subject to the extent necessary to prevent dilution or enlargement of any Award as a result of extraordinary events or circumstances, as determined by the Committee, or to exclude the effects of an event or occurrence which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded, including: extraordinary, unusual, infrequent, or non-recurring items; an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company or not within the reasonable control of the Companys management; changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles or standards; currency fluctuations; discontinued operations; non-cash items, such as amortization, depreciation, or reserves; asset impairment; or any recapitalization, restructuring, reorganization, merger, acquisition, divestiture, consolidation, spin-off, split-up, combination, liquidation, dissolution, sale of assets, or other similar corporate transaction, but only to the extent such adjustments would be permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code.
11.4
Documentation. The Award Agreement for a given Award, the Plan and any other documents may be delivered to, and accepted by, a Participant or any other person in any manner (including electronic distribution or posting) that meets applicable legal requirements.
11.5
Foreign Award Recipients. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws and practices in other countries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Committee, in its sole discretion, will have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Subsidiaries and Affiliates will be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan, which may include individuals who provide services to the Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States or foreign nationals to comply with applicable foreign laws, policies, customs and practices; (d) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Committee determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such sub-plans and/or modifications will be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such sub-plans and/or modifications will increase the share limitations contained in Section 3.4 hereof and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards will be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act or any other applicable United States securities law, the Code or any other applicable United States governing statute or law.
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ARTICLE 12
CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS
12.1
Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed or replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption or replacement will be binding on all Participants. In the alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards). The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the Company held by the Participant, substantially similar shares or other property subject to repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Participant. In the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, then notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, such Awards will have their vesting accelerate as to all shares subject to such Award (and any applicable right of repurchase fully lapse) immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction. In addition, in the event such successor or acquiring corporation (if any) refuses to assume, convert, replace or substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction, the Committee will notify the Participants in writing or electronically that such Award will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and such Award will terminate upon the expiration of such period. Awards need not be treated similarly in a Corporate Transaction.
12.2
Assumption of Awards by the Company. The Company, from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company or otherwise, by either; (a) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution of such other companys award or (b) assuming such award as if it had been granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under this Plan (Substitute Awards). Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes an award granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such award will remain unchanged (except that the Purchase Price or the Exercise Price, as the case may be, and the number and nature of Shares issuable upon exercise or settlement of any such Award will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event the Company elects to grant a new Option in substitution rather than assuming an existing option, such new Option may be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price. Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan or the limitations on grants to a Participant under Section 3.4, nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.
12.3
Non-Employee Directors Awards. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, the vesting of all Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors will accelerate and such Awards will become exercisable (as applicable) in full prior to the consummation of such event at such times and on such conditions as the Committee determines.
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1
Payment For Share Purchases. Payment from a Participant for Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan may be made in cash or by check or, where expressly approved for the Participant by the Committee and where permitted by law (and to the extent not otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement): (a) by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Participant; (b) by surrender of shares of the Company held by the Participant that have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award will be exercised or settled; (c) by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant for services rendered or to be rendered to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; (d) by consideration received by the Company pursuant to a broker-assisted or other form of cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; (e) by any combination of the foregoing or (f) by any other method of payment as is permitted by applicable law.
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13.2
Withholding Taxes. Whenever Shares are to be issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan or the applicable tax event occurs, the Company may require the Participant to remit to the Company or to the Parent or Subsidiary employing the Participant an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable U.S. federal, state, local and international withholding tax requirements or any other tax or social insurance liability legally due from the Participant prior to the delivery of Shares pursuant to exercise or settlement of any Award. Whenever payments in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan are to be made in cash, such payment will be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable U.S. federal, state, local and international withholding tax or social insurance requirements or any other tax liability legally due from the Participant. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld and such Shares will be valued based on the value of the actual trade or, if there is none, the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the previous trading day. The Committee, or its delegate(s), as permitted by applicable law, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time and to limitations of local law, may require or permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation or any other tax liability legally due from the Participant, in whole or in part by paying cash, electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld (or such other amount that will not cause an adverse accounting consequence or cost), delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld or withholding from the proceeds of the sale of otherwise deliverable Shares acquired pursuant to an Award either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company.
13.3
Transferability. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution. If the Committee makes an Award transferable, including by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the Awards are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustor (settlor) or by gift or by domestic relations order to a Permitted Transferee, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. All Awards will be exercisable: (a) during the Participants lifetime only by (i) the Participant or (ii) the Participants guardian or legal representative; (b) after the Participants death, by the legal representative of the Participants heirs or legatees and (c) in the case of all awards except ISOs, by a Permitted Transferee.
13.4
Voting and Dividends. No Participant will have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to the Participant, except for any Dividend Equivalent Rights permitted by an applicable Award Agreement. Any Dividend Equivalent Rights will be subject to the same vesting or performance conditions as the underlying Award. In addition, the Committee may provide that any Dividend Equivalent Rights permitted by an applicable Award Agreement will be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the Participant will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that if such Shares are Restricted Stock, then any new, additional or different securities the Participant may become entitled to receive with respect to such Shares by virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock; provided, further, that the Participant will have no right to retain such stock dividends or stock distributions with respect to Shares that are repurchased at the Participants Purchase Price or Exercise Price, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 13.5.
13.5
Restrictions on Shares. At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) a right to repurchase (a Right of Repurchase) a portion of any or all Unvested Shares held by a Participant following such Participants termination of Service at any time within ninety (90) days (or such longer or shorter time determined by the Committee) after the later of the date Participants Service terminates and the date the Participant purchases Shares under this Plan, for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, at the Participants Purchase Price or Exercise Price, as the case may be. Dividend Equivalent Rights will not be granted in connection with any Options or SARs.
13.6
Certificates. All Shares or other securities whether or not certificated, delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable, including restrictions under any applicable U.S. federal, state or foreign securities law or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed or quoted and any non-U.S. exchange controls or securities law restrictions to which the Shares are subject.
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13.7
Escrow; Pledge of Shares. To enforce any restrictions on a Participants Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificates. Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of the Participants obligation to the Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of the Participants Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of the Shares, the Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.
13.8
Repricing Prohibited. Other than pursuant to Section 3.5, the Committee will not (a) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options or SARs; (b) cancel outstanding Options or SARs when the Exercise Price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of one Share in exchange for cash or another Award (other than in connection with a Corporate Transaction); or (c) take any other action with respect to an Option or SAR that would be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed, in any case without prior stockholder approval.
13.9
Deferrals. The Committee may determine that the delivery of Shares, payment of cash or a combination thereof upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made only in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may provide for distributions while a Participant is providing Services to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
13.10
Securities Law and Other Regulatory Compliance. An Award will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable U.S. and foreign federal and state securities and exchange control laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to: (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable and (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any foreign or state securities laws, exchange control laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.
13.11
No Obligation To Employ. Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of or to continue any other relationship with the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate Participants employment or other relationship at any time.
13.12
Adoption and Stockholder Approval. This Plan will be submitted for the approval of the Companys stockholders, consistent with applicable laws, within twelve (12) months after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.
13.13
Term of Plan; Governing Law. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, this Plan will become effective on the Effective Date and will terminate ten (10) years from the date this Plan is adopted by the Board. This Plan and all Awards granted hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding its conflict of law rules).
13.14
Amendment or Termination of Plan. The Board may at any time terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that the Board will not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend this Plan in any manner that requires such stockholder approval or amend Section 13.8; provided further, that a Participants Award will be governed by the version of this Plan then in effect at the time such Award was granted.
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13.15
Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board, the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including the granting of stock awards and bonuses otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
13.16
Insider Trading Policy. Each Participant who receives an Award will comply with any policy adopted by the Company from time to time covering transactions in the Companys securities by Employees, officers and/or directors of the Company.
13.17
All Awards Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment Policy. All Awards, subject to applicable law, will be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of Participants employment or other service with the Company that is applicable to executive officers, employees, directors or other service providers of the Company, and in addition to any other remedies available under such policy and applicable law, may require the cancellation of outstanding Awards and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to Awards.
13.18
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Plan is intended to comply and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an Award or the payment, settlement or deferral thereof is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award shall be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or other guidance issued with respect thereto, except as otherwise determined by the Committee. Any provision of this Plan that would cause the grant of an Award or the payment, settlement or deferral thereof to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall be amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code on a timely basis, which may be made on a retroactive basis, in accordance with regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan or any Award Agreement to a specified employee (as defined under Section 409A) as a result of his or her separation from service (as defined below) (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service and shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the Award Agreement) on the payment date that immediately follows the end of such six-month period (or, if earlier, within 10 business days following the date of death of the specified employee) or as soon as administratively practicable within 60 days thereafter, but in no event later than the end of the applicable taxable year. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits that are considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A upon or following a termination of employment, unless such termination is also a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A and the payment thereof prior to a separation from service would violate Section 409A. For purposes of any such provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a termination, termination of employment, termination of continuous Service or like terms shall mean separation from service.
15
NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the VolitionRx Limited (the Company) 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) shall have the same meanings in this Notice of Stock Option Grant (the Notice of Grant) and the attached Stock Option Agreement (the Option Agreement). You have been granted an Option to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company under the Plan subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice of Grant and the attached Option Agreement.
Name:
Address:
Date of Grant:
Vesting Commencement Date:
Exercise price per Share:
Total Number of Shares:
Type of Option:
. Non-Qualified Stock Option
. Incentive Stock Option
Expiration Date:
________, 20__; This Option expires earlier if your Service terminates earlier, as described in the Stock Option Agreement.
Vesting Schedule:
[INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE].
Additional Terms:
. If this box is checked, the additional terms and conditions set forth on Attachment 1 hereto (as executed by the Company) are applicable and are incorporated herein by reference. No document need be attached as Attachment 1 if the box is not checked.
By accepting this Option, you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Grant and the Option Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that the Vesting Schedule may change prospectively in the event that your Service status changes between full and part-time status in accordance with Company policies relating to work schedules and vesting of awards. You further acknowledge that the grant of this Option by the Company is at the Companys sole discretion, and does not entitle you to further grant(s) of Option(s) or any other award(s) under the Plan or any other plan or program maintained by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. By accepting this Option, you consent to electronic delivery as set forth in the Option Agreement.
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PARTICIPANT: Signature: ________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________ |
VOLITIONRX LIMITED By: ________________________________ Name: ________________________________ Its: ________________________________ |
16
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
You have been granted an Option by VolitionRx Limited (the Company) under the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) to purchase Shares (the Option), subject to the terms, restrictions and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the Notice of Grant) and this Stock Option Agreement (the Agreement).
1.
Grant of Option. You have been granted an Option for the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the exercise price). In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (ISO), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code. However, if this Option is intended to be an ISO, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d), it shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option (NSO).
2.
Termination Period.
2.1
General Rule. If your Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability, and other than for Cause, then this Option will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date three (3) months after your termination of Service (subject to the expiration detailed in Section 6). If your Service is terminated for Cause, this Option will expire upon the date of such termination. The Company determines when your Service terminates for all purposes under this Agreement.
2.2
Death; Disability. If you die before your Service terminates (or you die within three months of your termination of Service other than for Cause), then this Option will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve (12) months after the date of death (subject to the expiration detailed in Section 6). If your Service terminates because of your Disability, then this Option will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve (12) months after your termination date (subject to the expiration detailed in Section 6).
2.3
No Notice. You are responsible for keeping track of these exercise periods following your termination of Service for any reason. The Company will not provide further notice of such periods. In no event shall this Option be exercised later than the Expiration Date set forth in the Notice of Grant.
3.
Exercise of Option.
3.1
Right to Exercise. This Option is exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant and the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Agreement. In the event of your death, Disability, or other cessation of Service, the exercisability of the Option is governed by the applicable provisions of the Plan, the Notice of Grant and this Agreement. This Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
3.2
Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in a form specified by the Company (the Exercise Notice), which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised (the Exercised Shares), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be delivered in person, by mail, via electronic mail or facsimile or by other authorized method to the Secretary of the Company or other person designated by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate exercise price as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of a fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate exercise price and any applicable tax withholding due upon exercise of the Option.
3.3
Exercise by Another. If another person wants to exercise this Option after it has been transferred to him or her in compliance with this Agreement, that person must prove to the Companys satisfaction that he or she is entitled to exercise this Option. That person must also complete the proper Exercise Notice form (as described above) and pay the exercise price (as described below) and any applicable tax withholding due upon exercise of the Option (as described below).
4.
Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at your election:
4.1
your personal check, wire transfer, or a cashiers check;
17
4.2
certificates for shares of Company stock that you own, along with any forms needed to effect a transfer of those shares to the Company; the value of the shares, determined as of the effective date of the Option exercise, will be applied to the Option exercise price. Instead of surrendering shares of Company stock, you may attest to the ownership of those shares on a form provided by the Company and have the same number of shares subtracted from the Option shares issued to you. However, you may not surrender, or attest to the ownership of, shares of Company stock in payment of the exercise price of your Option if your action would cause the Company to recognize compensation expense (or additional compensation expense) with respect to this Option for financial reporting purposes;
4.3
waiver of compensation due or accrued to you for your services rendered or to be rendered to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company;
4.4
cashless exercise through irrevocable directions to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or part of the Shares covered by this Option and to deliver to the Company from the sale proceeds an amount sufficient to pay the Option exercise price and any withholding taxes. The balance of the sale proceeds, if any, will be delivered to you. The directions must be given by signing a special notice of exercise form provided by the Company;
4.5
net share exercise through irrevocable directions to the Company to withhold a sufficient number of the Shares covered by this Option to satisfy the aggregate Option price and any withholding taxes; or
4.6
other method authorized by the Company.
5.
Non-Transferability of Option. In general, except as provided below, only you may exercise this Option prior to your death. You may not transfer or assign this Option, except as provided below. For instance, you may not sell this Option or use it as security for a loan. If you attempt to do any of these things, this Option will immediately become invalid. You may, however, dispose of this Option in your will or in a beneficiary designation. However, if this Option is designated as a NSO in the Notice of Grant, then the Committee (as defined in the Plan) may, in its sole discretion, allow you to transfer this Option as a gift to one or more family members. For purposes of this Agreement, family member means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law (including adoptive relationships), any individual sharing your household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which one or more of these individuals have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which you or one or more of these persons control the management of assets, and any entity in which you or one or more of these persons own more than 50% of the voting interest. In addition, if this Option is designated as a NSO in the Notice of Grant, then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, allow you to transfer this Option to your spouse or former spouse pursuant to a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights. The Committee will allow you to transfer this Option only if both you and the transferee(s) execute the forms prescribed by the Committee, which include the consent of the transferee(s) to be bound by this Agreement. This Option may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or court order and may be exercised during the lifetime of you only by you, your guardian, or legal representative, as permitted in the Plan. The terms of the Plan and this Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of you.
6.
Term of Option. This Option shall in any event expire on the expiration date set forth in the Notice of Grant, which date is ten (10) years after the grant date (five years after the grant date if this Option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Grant and Section 4.4 of the Plan applies).
7.
Tax Consequences. You should consult a tax adviser for tax consequences relating to this Option in the jurisdiction in which you are subject to tax. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.
7.1
Exercising the Option. You will not be allowed to exercise this Option unless you make arrangements acceptable to the Company to pay any withholding taxes that may be due as a result of the Option exercise.
7.2
Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If you sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to an ISO on or before the later of (i) two years after the grant date, or (ii) one year after the exercise date, you shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition. You agree that you may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized from such early disposition of ISO Shares by payment in cash or out of the current compensation paid to you.
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8.
Withholding Taxes and Stock Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or your actual employer (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (Tax-Related Items), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Option grant, including the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Option to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items. 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.
Prior to exercise of the Option, you shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Employer. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you from your wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer. With the Companys consent, these arrangements may also include, if permissible under local law, (a) withholding Shares that otherwise would be issued to you when you exercise this Option, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding amount, (b) having the Company withhold taxes from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf and you hereby authorize such sales by this authorization), (c) your payment of a cash amount, or (d) any other arrangement approved by the Company; all under such rules as may be established by the Committee and in compliance with the Companys Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy, if applicable; provided however, that if you are a Section 16 officer of the Company under the Exchange Act, then the Committee (as constituted in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) shall establish the method of withholding from alternatives (a)-(d) above, and the Committee shall establish the method prior to the Tax-Related Items withholding event. The Fair Market Value of these Shares, determined as of the effective date of the Option exercise, will be applied as a credit against the withholding taxes. You shall 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 or your purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. Finally, you acknowledge that the Company has no obligation to deliver Shares to you until you have satisfied the obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this Section.
9.
Acknowledgement. The Company and you agree that the Option is granted under and governed by the Notice of Grant, this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan (incorporated herein by reference). You: (a) acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Plan prospectus, (b) represent that you have carefully read and are familiar with their provisions, and (c) hereby accept the Option subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and those set forth in the Plan and the Notice of Grant. You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, the Notice of Grant and the Agreement.
10.
Consent to Electronic Delivery of All Plan Documents and Disclosures. By your acceptance of this Option, you consent to the electronic delivery of the Notice of Grant, this Agreement, the Plan, account statements, Plan prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. financial reports of the Company, and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) or other communications or information related to the Option. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Companys discretion. You acknowledge that you may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if you contact the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. You further acknowledge that you will be provided with a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails; similarly, you understand that you must provide on request to the Company or any designated third party a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails. Also, you understand that your consent may be revoked or changed, including any change in the electronic mail address to which documents are delivered (if you have provided an electronic mail address), at any time by notifying the Company of such revised or revoked consent by telephone, postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. Finally, you understand that you are not required to consent to electronic delivery.
11.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The exercise of this Option will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and you with all applicable state, federal and foreign laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Companys Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer. The Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be endorsed with appropriate legends, if any, determined by the Company.
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12.
Governing Law; Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (b) the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (c) the balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that may arise directly or indirectly from the Plan, the Notice and this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to litigation in the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and agree that any such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of New York in New York County or the federal courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York and no other courts.
13.
No Rights as Employee, Director or Consultant. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company, or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, to terminate your Service, for any reason, with or without Cause.
14.
Adjustment. In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of Shares covered by this Option and the exercise price per Share may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
15.
Lock-Up Agreement. Upon request of the Company or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering of the Companys securities, you hereby agree not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any Option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company however and whenever acquired (other than those included in the registration) without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) from the effective date of such registration as may be requested by the Company or such managing underwriters and to execute an agreement reflecting the foregoing as may be requested by the underwriters at the time of the public offering; provided however that, if during the last seventeen (17) days of the restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or prior to the expiration of the restricted period the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the sixteen (16)-day period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, then, upon the request of the managing underwriter, to the extent required by any FINRA rules, the restrictions imposed by this Section shall continue to apply until the end of the third trading day following the expiration of the fifteen (15)-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. In no event will the restricted period extend beyond two hundred sixteen (216) days after the effective date of the registration statement.
16.
Award Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Option shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of your employment or other Service that is applicable to you. In addition to any other remedies available under such policy, applicable law may require the cancellation of your Option (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to your Option.
17.
Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This Agreement, the Plan and the Notice constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersede all prior discussions between them. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning this Option are superseded. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement. The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.
BY ACCEPTING THIS OPTION, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.
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NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the VolitionRx Limited (the Company) 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) shall have the same meanings in this Notice of Restricted Stock Award (the Notice) and the attached Restricted Stock Agreement (the Restricted Stock Agreement). You have been granted the opportunity to purchase Shares of the Company that are subject to restrictions (the Restricted Shares) and the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice and the attached Restricted Stock Agreement.
Name:
Address:
Total Number of Restricted Shares Awarded:
Fair Market Value per Restricted Share:
$
Total Fair Market Value of Award:
$
Purchase Price per Restricted Share:
$
Total Purchase Price for all Restricted Shares:
$
Date of Grant:
Vesting Commencement Date:
Vesting Schedule:
[INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE].
Additional Terms:
. If this box is checked, the additional terms and conditions set forth on Attachment 1 hereto (as executed by the Company) are applicable and are incorporated herein by reference. No document need be attached as Attachment 1 if the box is not checked.
You acknowledge that the vesting of the Restricted Shares pursuant to this Notice is earned only by continuing Service. By accepting the Restricted Shares, you and the Company agree that the Restricted Shares are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice and the Restricted Stock Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that the Vesting Schedule may change prospectively in the event that your Service status changes between full and part-time status in accordance with Company policies relating to work schedules and vesting of awards. You further acknowledge that the grant of the Restricted Shares by the Company is at the Companys sole discretion, and does not entitle you to further grant(s) of Restricted Shares or any other award(s) under the Plan or any other plan or program maintained by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. By accepting the Restricted Shares, you consent to electronic delivery as set forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement. If the Restricted Stock Agreement is not executed by you within thirty (30) days of the Companys delivery of this Agreement to you, then this grant shall be void.
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PARTICIPANT: Signature: ________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________ |
VOLITIONRX LIMITED By: ________________________________ Name: ________________________________ Its: ________________________________ |
21
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made as of ____________________, 2015 by and between VolitionRx Limited, a Delaware corporation (the Company), and ____________________ (you) pursuant to the Companys 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan). Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings in this Agreement.
1.
Sale of Stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Purchase Date (as defined below) the Company will issue and sell to you, and you agree to purchase from the Company, the number of Shares shown on the Notice of Restricted Stock Award (the Notice) at a purchase price of $__________ per Share. The term Shares refers to the purchased Shares and all securities received in replacement of or in connection with the Shares pursuant to stock dividends or splits, all securities received in replacement of the Shares in a recapitalization, merger, reorganization, exchange or the like, and all new, substituted or additional securities or other properties to which you are entitled by reason of your ownership of the Shares.
2.
Time and Place of Purchase. The purchase and sale of the Shares under this Agreement shall occur at the principal office of the Company simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement by the parties, or on such other date as the Company and you shall agree (the Purchase Date). On the Purchase Date, the Company will issue uncertificated shares designated for you in book entry form on the records of the Companys transfer agent, representing the Shares to be purchased by you against payment of the purchase price therefor by you by (a) check made payable to the Company, (b) cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to you, (c) your personal Services that the Committee has determined have already been or will be rendered to the Company, or (d) a combination of the foregoing.
3.
Restrictions on Resale. By signing this Agreement, you agree not to sell any Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan and this Agreement at a time when applicable laws, regulations or Company or underwriter trading policies prohibit exercise or sale. This restriction will apply as long as you are providing Service to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.
3.1
Repurchase Right on Termination Other Than for Cause. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Repurchase Event shall mean an occurrence of one of the following:
(a)
termination of your Service, whether voluntary or involuntary and with or without cause;
(b)
your resignation, retirement or death; or
(c)
any attempted transfer by you of the Shares, or any interest therein, in violation of this Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of a Repurchase Event, the Company shall have the right (but not an obligation) to purchase your Shares at a price equal to the Purchase Price per Share (the Repurchase Right). The Repurchase Right shall lapse in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Restricted Stock Award. For purposes of this Agreement, Unvested Shares means Stock pursuant to which the Companys Repurchase Right has not lapsed.
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3.2
Exercise of Repurchase Right. Unless the Company provides written notice to you within 90 days from the date of termination of your Service to the Company that the Company does not intend to exercise its Repurchase Right with respect to some or all of the Unvested Shares, the Repurchase Right shall be deemed automatically exercised by the Company as of the 90th day following such termination, provided that the Company may notify you that it is exercising its Repurchase Right as of a date prior to such 90th day. Unless you are otherwise notified by the Company pursuant to the preceding sentence that the Company does not intend to exercise its Repurchase Right as to some or all of the Unvested Shares, execution of this Agreement by you constitutes written notice to you of the Companys intention to exercise its Repurchase Right with respect to all Unvested Shares to which such Repurchase Right applies at the time of your termination of Service. The Company, at its choice, may satisfy its payment obligation to you with respect to exercise of the Repurchase Right by either (A) delivering a check to you in the amount of the purchase price for the Unvested Shares being repurchased, or (B) in the event you are indebted to the Company, canceling an amount of such indebtedness equal to the purchase price for the Unvested Shares being repurchased, or (C) by a combination of (A) and (B) so that the combined payment and cancellation of indebtedness equals such purchase price. In the event of any deemed automatic exercise of the Repurchase Right by canceling an amount of such indebtedness equal to the purchase price for the Unvested Shares being repurchased, such cancellation of indebtedness shall be deemed automatically to occur as of the 90th day following termination of your Service unless the Company otherwise satisfies its payment obligations. As a result of any repurchase of Unvested Shares pursuant to the Repurchase Right, the Company shall become the legal and beneficial owner of the Unvested Shares being repurchased and shall have all rights and interest therein or related thereto, and the Company shall have the right to transfer to its own name the number of Unvested Shares being repurchased by the Company, without further action by you.
3.3
Acceptance of Restrictions. Acceptance of the Shares shall constitute your agreement to such restrictions and the notation in the Companys direct registration system for stock issuance and transfer of such restrictions set forth in Section 4.1 with respect thereto. Notwithstanding such restrictions, however, so long as you are the holder of the Shares, or any portion thereof, he or she shall be entitled to receive all dividends declared on and to vote the Shares and to all other rights of a stockholder with respect thereto.
3.4
Non-Transferability of Unvested Shares. In addition to any other limitation on transfer created by applicable securities laws or any other agreement between the Company and you, you may not transfer any Unvested Shares, or any interest therein, unless consented to in writing by a duly authorized representative of the Company. Any purported transfer is void and of no effect, and no purported transferee thereof will be recognized as a holder of the Unvested Shares for any purpose whatsoever. Should such a transfer purport to occur, the Company may refuse to carry out the transfer on its books, set aside the transfer, or exercise any other legal or equitable remedy. In the event the Company consents to a transfer of Unvested Shares, all transferees of Shares or any interest therein will receive and hold such Shares or interest subject to the provisions of this Agreement, including, insofar as applicable, the Repurchase Right. In the event of any purchase by the Company hereunder where the Shares or interest are held by a transferee, the transferee shall be obligated, if requested by the Company, to transfer the Shares or interest you for consideration equal to the amount to be paid by the Company hereunder. In the event the Repurchase Right is deemed exercised by the Company, the Company may deem any transferee to have transferred the Shares or interest to you prior to their purchase by the Company, and payment of the purchase price by the Company to such transferee shall be deemed to satisfy your obligation to pay such transferee for such Shares or interest, and also to satisfy the Companys obligation to pay you for such Shares or interest.
3.5
Assignment. The Repurchase Right may be assigned by the Company in whole or in part to any persons or organization.
4.
Stop Transfer Orders.
4.1
Stop-Transfer Notices. You agree that, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue appropriate stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.
4.2
Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (a) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Agreement or (b) to treat as the owner or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so transferred.
5.
No Rights as Employee, Director or Consultant. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company, or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, to terminate your Service, for any reason, with or without Cause.
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6.
Miscellaneous.
6.1
Acknowledgement. The Company and you agree that the Restricted Shares are granted under and governed by the Notice, this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan (incorporated herein by reference). You: (a) acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Plan prospectus, (b) represent that you have carefully read and are familiar with their provisions, and (c) hereby accept the Restricted Shares subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and those set forth in the Plan and the Notice. You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, the Notice and the Restricted Stock Agreement.
6.2
Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This Agreement, the Plan and the Notice constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersede all prior discussions between them. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the purchase of the Shares hereunder are superseded. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement. The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.
6.3
Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance of Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and you with all applicable state, federal and foreign laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Companys Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer. The Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be endorsed with appropriate legends, if any, determined by the Company.
6.4
Governing Law; Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (b) the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (c) the balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that may arise directly or indirectly from the Plan, the Notice and this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to litigation in the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and agree that any such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of New York in New York County or the federal courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York and no other courts.
6.5
Construction. This Agreement is the result of negotiations between and has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and their respective counsel, if any; accordingly, this Agreement shall be deemed to be the product of all of the parties hereto, and no ambiguity shall be construed in favor of or against any one of the parties hereto.
6.6
Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of the Plan shall be addressed to the Company in care of its principal office, and any notice to be given to you shall be addressed to you at the address maintained by the Company for such person or at such other address as you may specify in writing to the Company.
6.7
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall he deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
6.8
U.S. Tax Consequences. Unless an Election (defined below) is made, upon vesting of Shares, you will include in taxable income the difference between the fair market value of the vesting Shares, as determined on the date of their vesting, and the price paid for the Shares. This will be treated as ordinary income by you and will be subject to withholding by the Company when required by applicable law. In the absence of an Election, the Company shall satisfy the withholding requirements as set forth in Section 7 below. If you make an Election, then you must, prior to making the Election, pay in cash (or check) to the Company an amount equal to the amount the Company is required to withhold for income and employment taxes.
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7.
Withholding Taxes and Stock Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or your actual employer (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (Tax-Related Items), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Shares received under this award, including the award or vesting of such Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares under this award and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the award or any aspect of the Restricted Shares to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items. 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.
The Company will only recognize you as a record holder of Shares if you have paid or made adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Employer. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you from your wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer. With the Companys consent, these arrangements may also include, if permissible under local law, (a) withholding Shares that otherwise would be released from the Repurchase Right when they vest, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding amount, (b) having the Company withhold taxes from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf and you hereby authorize such sales by this authorization), (c) your payment of a cash amount, or (d) any other arrangement approved by the Company; all under such rules as may be established by the Committee and in compliance with the Companys Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy, if applicable; provided however, that if you are a Section 16 officer of the Company under the Exchange Act, then the Committee (as constituted in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) shall establish the method of withholding from alternatives (a)-(d) above, and the Committee shall establish the method prior to the Tax-Related Items withholding event. The Fair Market Value of these Shares, determined as of the effective date when taxes otherwise would have been withheld in cash, will be applied as a credit against the withholding taxes. You shall 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 or your purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. Finally, you acknowledge that the Company has no obligation to deliver Shares to you until you have satisfied the obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this Section.
8.
Section 83(b) Election. You hereby acknowledges that you have been informed that, with respect to the purchase of the Shares, an election may be filed by you with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days of the purchase of the Shares, electing pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed currently on any difference between the purchase price of the Shares and their Fair Market Value on the date of purchase (the Election). Making the Election will result in recognition of taxable income to you on the date of purchase, measured by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares over the purchase price for the Shares. Absent such an Election, taxable income will be measured and recognized by you at the time or times on which the Companys Repurchase Right lapses. You are strongly encouraged to seek the advice of his or her own tax consultants in connection with the purchase of the Shares and the advisability of filing of the Election. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS SOLELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT THE COMPANYS RESPONSIBILITY, TO TIMELY FILE THE ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b) OF THE CODE, EVEN IF YOU REQUEST THE COMPANY, OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE, TO MAKE THIS FILING ON YOUR BEHALF.
9.
Consent to Electronic Delivery of All Plan Documents and Disclosures. By acceptance of this Restricted Stock Award, you consent to the electronic delivery of the Notice, this Agreement, the Plan, account statements, Plan prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. financial reports of the Company, and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) or other communications or information related to the Restricted Stock Award. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Companys discretion. You acknowledge that you may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if you contact the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. You further acknowledge that you will be provided with a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails; similarly, you understand that you must provide on request to the Company or any designated third party a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails. Also, you understand that your consent may be revoked or changed, including any change in the electronic mail address to which documents are delivered (if you have provided an electronic mail address), at any time by notifying the Company of such revised or revoked consent by telephone, postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. Finally, you understand that you are not required to consent to electronic delivery.
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10.
Adjustment. In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of Shares covered by the Restricted Stock Award and the purchase price per share may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
11.
Award Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Shares shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of your employment or other Service with the Company that is applicable to you. In addition to any other remedies available under such policy, applicable law may require the cancellation of your Shares (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to your Shares.
BY ACCEPTING THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.
The parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
By:
___________________________________________
Name:
___________________________________________
Its:
___________________________________________
RECIPIENT:
Signature: ________________________________________
Print Name: _______________________________________
26
NOTICE OF STOCK BONUS AWARD
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the VolitionRx Limited (the Company) 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) shall have the same meanings in this Notice of Stock Bonus Award (the Notice) and the attached Stock Bonus Award Agreement (the Stock Bonus Agreement). You have been granted an award of Shares under the Plan (the Stock Bonus Award) subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice and the attached Stock Bonus Agreement.
Name:
Address:
Number of Shares:
Date of Grant:
Vesting Commencement Date:
[INSERT DATE HERE].
Vesting Schedule:
[INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE HERE].
You acknowledge that the vesting of the Shares pursuant to this Notice is earned only by continuing Service. By accepting this Stock Bonus Award, you and the Company agree that this Stock Bonus Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice and the Stock Bonus Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that the Vesting Schedule may change prospectively in the event that your Service status changes between full and part-time status in accordance with Company policies relating to work schedules and vesting of awards. You further acknowledge that the grant of this Stock Bonus Award by the Company is at the Companys sole discretion, and does not entitle you to further grant(s) of Stock Bonus Award(s) or any other award(s) under the Plan or any other plan or program maintained by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company. By accepting this Stock Bonus Award, you consent to electronic delivery as set forth in the Stock Bonus Agreement.
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PARTICIPANT: Signature: ________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________ |
VOLITIONRX LIMITED By: ________________________________ Name: ________________________________ Its: ________________________________ |
27
STOCK BONUS AWARD AGREEMENT
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
You have been granted a Stock Bonus Award (Stock Bonus Award) by VolitionRx Limited (the Company), subject to the terms, restrictions and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Stock Bonus Award (the Notice) and this Stock Bonus Award Agreement (this Agreement).
1.
Issuance. Your Stock Bonus Award shall be issued in Shares, and the Companys transfer agent shall record ownership of such Shares in your name as soon as reasonably practicable.
2.
No Stockholder Rights. Unless and until you are recorded as the holder of such Shares on the stock records of the Company and its transfer agent, you shall have no right to dividends or to vote Shares.
3.
No Transfer. In addition to any other limitation on transfer created by applicable securities laws or any other agreement between the Company and you, you may not transfer any Unvested Shares, or any interest therein, unless consented to in writing by a duly authorized representative of the Company. Any purported transfer is void and of no effect, and no purported transferee thereof will be recognized as a holder of the Unvested Shares for any purpose whatsoever. Should such a transfer purport to occur, the Company may refuse to carry out the transfer on its books, set aside the transfer, or exercise any other legal or equitable remedy. In the event the Company consents to a transfer of Unvested Shares, all transferees of Shares or any interest therein will receive and hold such Shares or interest subject to the provisions of this Agreement. Unvested Shares are Shares that have not yet vested pursuant to the terms of the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice.
4.
Termination. If your Service terminates for any reason, all Unvested Shares shall immediately be forfeited to the Company, and all rights you have to such Unvested Shares shall immediately terminate. In case of any dispute as to whether a termination of Service has occurred, the Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether such termination has occurred and the effective date of such termination.
5.
Construction. This Agreement is the result of negotiations between and has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and their respective counsel, if any; accordingly, this Agreement shall be deemed to be the product of all of the parties hereto, and no ambiguity shall be construed in favor of or against any one of the parties hereto.
6.
Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of the Plan shall be addressed to the Company in care of its principal office, and any notice to be given to you shall be addressed to you at the address maintained by the Company for such person or at such other address as you may specify in writing to the Company.
7.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall he deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
8.
Tax Consequences. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE ACQUIRING THE SHARES IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH YOU ARE SUBJECT TO TAX. Shares shall not be issued under this Agreement unless you make arrangements acceptable to the Company to pay any withholding taxes that may be due as a result of the acquisition or vesting of Shares.
(a)
U.S. Tax Consequences. Upon vesting of Shares, you will include in taxable income the difference between the fair market value of the vesting Shares, as determined on the date of their vesting. This will be treated as ordinary income by you and will be subject to withholding by the Company when required by applicable law. The Company shall satisfy the withholding requirements as set forth in Section 9 below.
9.
Withholding Taxes and Stock Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or your actual employer (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (Tax-Related Items), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the award, including the award or vesting of such Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares under this award and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the award to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items. 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.
28
The Company will only recognize you as a record holder of Shares if you have paid or made adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Employer. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you from your wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer. With the Companys consent, these arrangements may also include, if permissible under local law, (a) withholding Shares that otherwise would be released when they vest, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding amount, (b) having the Company withhold taxes from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf and you hereby authorize such sales by this authorization), (c) your payment of a cash amount, or (d) any other arrangement approved by the Company; all under such rules as may be established by the Committee and in compliance with the Companys Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy, if applicable; provided however, that if you are a Section 16 officer of the Company under the Exchange Act, then the Committee (as constituted in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) shall establish the method of withholding from alternatives (a)-(d) above, and the Committee shall establish the method prior to the Tax-Related Items withholding event. The Fair Market Value of these Shares, determined as of the effective date when taxes otherwise would have been withheld in cash, will be applied as a credit against the withholding taxes. You shall 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 or your purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. Finally, you acknowledge that the Company has no obligation to deliver Shares to you until you have satisfied the obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this Section.
10.
Acknowledgement. The Company and you agree that the Stock Bonus Award is granted under and governed by the Notice, this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan (incorporated herein by reference). You: (a) acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Plan prospectus, (b) represent that you have carefully read and are familiar with their provisions, and (c) hereby accept the Stock Bonus Award subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and those set forth in the Plan and the Notice. You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, the Notice and the Stock Bonus Award.
11.
Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This Agreement, the Plan and the Notice constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersede all prior discussions between them. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the purchase of the Shares hereunder are superseded. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement. The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.
12.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance of Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and you with all applicable state, federal and foreign laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Companys Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer. The Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be endorsed with appropriate legends, if any, determined by the Company.
13.
Governing Law; Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (b) the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (c) the balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that may arise directly or indirectly from the Plan, the Notice and this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to litigation in the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and agree that any such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of New York in New York County or the federal courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York and no other courts.
14.
No Rights as Employee, Director or Consultant. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company, or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, to terminate your Service, for any reason, with or without Cause.
29
15.
Consent to Electronic Delivery of All Plan Documents and Disclosures. By acceptance of this Stock Bonus Award, you consent to the electronic delivery of the Notice, this Agreement, the Plan, account statements, Plan prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. financial reports of the Company, and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) or other communications or information related to the Stock Bonus Award. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Companys discretion. You acknowledge that you may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if you contact the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. You further acknowledge that you will be provided with a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails; similarly, you understand that you must provide on request to the Company or any designated third party a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails. Also, you understand that your consent may be revoked or changed, including any change in the electronic mail address to which documents are delivered (if you have provided an electronic mail address), at any time by notifying the Company of such revised or revoked consent by telephone, postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. Finally, you understand that you are not required to consent to electronic delivery.
16.
Adjustment. In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of Shares covered by the Stock Bonus Award may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
17.
Award Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Stock Bonus Award shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of your employment or other Service with the Company that is applicable to you. In addition to any other remedies available under such policy, applicable law may require the cancellation of your Stock Bonus Award (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to your Stock Bonus Award.
BY ACCEPTING THE STOCK BONUS AWARD, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.
30
NOTICE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT AWARD
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the VolitionRx Limited (the Company) 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) shall have the same meanings in this Notice of Stock Appreciation Right Award (the Notice of Grant) and the attached Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (the SAR Agreement). You have been granted an award of Stock Appreciation Rights (the SAR) of the Company under the Plan subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice of Grant and the SAR Agreement.
Name:
Address:
Date of Grant:
Vesting Commencement Date:
Fair Market Value on Date of Grant:
Total Number of Shares:
Expiration Date:
Vesting Schedule:
[INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE].
You acknowledge that the vesting of the SAR pursuant to this Notice of Grant is earned only by continuing Service. By accepting the SAR, you and the Company agree that the SAR is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Grant and the SAR Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that the Vesting Schedule may change prospectively in the event that your Service status changes between full and part-time status in accordance with Company policies relating to work schedules and vesting of awards. You further acknowledge that the grant of this SAR by the Company is at the Companys sole discretion, and does not entitle you to further grant(s) of SAR(s) or any other award(s) under the Plan or any other plan or program maintained by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. By accepting the SAR, you consent to electronic delivery as set forth in the SAR Agreement.
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PARTICIPANT: Signature: ________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________ |
VOLITIONRX LIMITED By: ________________________________ Name: ________________________________ Its: ________________________________ |
31
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT AWARD AGREEMENT
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
You have been granted an award of Stock Appreciation Rights (the SAR) by VolitionRx Limited (the Company) under the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Stock Appreciation Right Award (the Notice of Grant) and this Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (the Agreement).
1.
Grant of SAR. You have been granted a SAR for the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant at the fair market value set forth in the Notice of Grant. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.
2.
Termination Period.
2.1
General Rule. If your Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability, and other than for Cause, then this SAR will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date three (3) months after your termination of Service (subject to the expiration detailed in Section 6). In no event shall this SAR be exercised later than the Expiration Date set forth in the Notice of Grant. If your Service is terminated for Cause, this SAR will expire upon the date of such termination. The Company determines when your Service terminates for all purposes under this Agreement.
2.2
Death; Disability. If you die before your Service terminates (or you die within three (3) months of your termination of Service to the Company other than for Cause), then this SAR will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve (12) months after the date of death (subject to the expiration detailed in Section 6). If your Service terminates because of your Disability, then this SAR will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve (12) months after your termination date (subject to the expiration detailed in Section 6).
2.3
No Notice. You are responsible for keeping track of these exercise periods following your termination of Service for any reason. The Company will not provide further notice of such periods. In no event shall this SAR be exercised later than the Expiration Date set forth in the Notice of Grant.
3.
Vesting Rights. Subject to the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, this SAR may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant.
4.
Exercise of SAR.
4.1
Right to Exercise. This SAR is exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant and the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Agreement. In the event of your death, Disability, or other cessation of Service, the exercisability of the SAR is governed by the applicable provisions of the Plan, the Notice of Grant and this Agreement. This SAR may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
4.2
Method of Exercise. This SAR is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in a form specified by the Company (the Exercise Notice), which shall state the election to exercise the SAR, the number of Shares in respect of which the SAR is being exercised (the Exercised Shares), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be delivered in person, by mail, via electronic mail or facsimile or by other authorized method to the Secretary of the Company or other person designated by the Company. This SAR shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of a fully executed Exercise Notice and any applicable tax withholding due upon exercise of the SAR.
4.3
No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this SAR unless such issuance and exercise complies with all relevant provisions of law and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation service upon which the Shares are then listed. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered transferred to you on the date the SAR is exercised with respect to such Exercised Shares.
5.
Non-Transferability of SAR. This SAR may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or court order and may be exercised during your lifetime only by you unless otherwise permitted by the Committee on a case-by-case basis. The terms of the Plan and this Agreement shall be binding upon your executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assign.
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6.
Term of SAR. This SAR shall in any event expire on the expiration date set forth in the Notice of Grant, which date is ten (10) years after the Date of Grant.
7.
Tax Consequences. You should consult a tax adviser for tax consequences relating to this SAR in the jurisdiction in which you are subject to tax. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS SAR OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES. If you are an Employee or a former Employee, the Company may be required to withhold from your compensation an amount equal to the minimum amount the Company is required to withhold for income and employment taxes or collect from you and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise.
8.
Withholding Taxes and Stock Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or your actual employer (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (Tax-Related Items), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the SAR, including the grant, vesting or exercise of the SAR, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the SAR to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items. 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.
Prior to exercise of the SAR, you shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Employer. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you from your wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer. With the Companys consent, these arrangements may also include, if permissible under local law, (a) withholding Shares that otherwise would be issued to you when you exercise this SAR, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding amount, (b) having the Company withhold taxes from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf and you hereby authorize such sales by this authorization), (c) your payment of a cash amount, or (d) any other arrangement approved by the Company; all under such rules as may be established by the Committee and in compliance with the Companys Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy, if applicable; provided however, that if you are a Section 16 officer of the Company under the Exchange Act, then the Committee (as constituted in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) shall establish the method of withholding from alternatives (a)-(d) above, and the Committee shall establish the method prior to the Tax-Related Items withholding event. The Fair Market Value of these Shares, determined as of the effective date of the SAR exercise, will be applied as a credit against the withholding taxes. You shall 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 or your purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. Finally, you acknowledge that the Company has no obligation to honor the exercise or deliver Shares to you until you have satisfied the obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this Section.
9.
Acknowledgement. The Company and you agree that the SAR is granted under and governed by the Notice of Grant, this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan (incorporated herein by reference). You: (a) acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Plan prospectus, (b) represent that you have carefully read and are familiar with their provisions, and (c) hereby accept the SAR subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and those set forth in the Plan and the Notice of Grant. You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, the Notice of Grant and the SAR Agreement.
10.
Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This Agreement, the Plan and the Notice of Grant constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersede all prior discussions between them. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the purchase of the Shares hereunder are superseded. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement. The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.
11.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance of Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and you with all applicable state, federal and foreign laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Companys Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer. The Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be endorsed with appropriate legends, if any, determined by the Company.
33
12.
Governing Law; Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (b) the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (c) the balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that may arise directly or indirectly from the Plan, the Notice of Grant and this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to litigation in the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and agree that any such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of New York in New York County or the federal courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York and no other courts.
13.
No Rights as Employee, Director or Consultant. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company, or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, to terminate your Service, for any reason, with or without Cause.
14.
Consent to Electronic Delivery of All Plan Documents and Disclosures. By your acceptance of this SAR, you consent to the electronic delivery of the Notice of Grant, this Agreement, the Plan, account statements, Plan prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. financial reports of the Company, and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) or other communications or information related to the SAR. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Companys discretion. You acknowledge that you may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if you contact the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. You further acknowledge that you will be provided with a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails; similarly, you understand that you must provide on request to the Company or any designated third party a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails. Also, you understand that your consent may be revoked or changed, including any change in the electronic mail address to which documents are delivered (if you have provided an electronic mail address), at any time by notifying the Company of such revised or revoked consent by telephone, postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. Finally, you understand that you are not required to consent to electronic delivery.
15.
Adjustment. In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of Shares covered by this SAR and the exercise price per Share may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
16.
Lock-Up Agreement. Upon request of the Company or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering of the Companys securities, you hereby agree not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company however and whenever acquired (other than those included in the registration) without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) from the effective date of such registration as may be requested by the Company or such managing underwriters and to execute an agreement reflecting the foregoing as may be requested by the underwriters at the time of the public offering; provided however that, if during the last seventeen (17) days of the restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or prior to the expiration of the restricted period the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the sixteen (16)-day period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, then, upon the request of the managing underwriter, to the extent required by any FINRA rules, the restrictions imposed by this Section shall continue to apply until the end of the third trading day following the expiration of the fifteen (15)-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. In no event will the restricted period extend beyond two hundred sixteen (216) days after the effective date of the registration statement.
17.
Award Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the SAR shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of your employment or other Service that is applicable to you. In addition to any other remedies available under such policy, applicable law may require the cancellation of your SAR (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to your SAR.
BY ACCEPTING THIS SAR, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.
34
NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the VolitionRx Limited (the Company) 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) shall have the same meanings in this Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the Notice) and the attached Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (the RSU Agreement). You have been granted an award of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) under the Plan subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice and the attached RSU Agreement.
Name:
Address:
Number of RSUs:
Date of Grant:
Vesting Commencement Date:
Expiration Date:
The date on which settlement of all RSUs granted hereunder occurs. This RSU expires earlier if your Service terminates earlier, as described in the RSU Agreement.
Vesting Schedule:
[INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE].
Additional Terms:
. If this box is checked, the additional terms and conditions set forth on Attachment 1 hereto (as executed by the Company) are applicable and are incorporated herein by reference. No document need be attached as Attachment 1 if the box is not checked.
You acknowledge that the vesting of the RSUs pursuant to this Notice is earned only by continuing Service. By accepting this award, you and the Company agree that this award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice and the RSU Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that the Vesting Schedule may change prospectively in the event that your Service status changes between full and part-time status in accordance with Company policies relating to work schedules and vesting of awards. You further acknowledge that the grant of this RSU by the Company is at the Companys sole discretion, and does not entitle you to further grant(s) of RSU(s) or any other award(s) under the Plan or any other plan or program maintained by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. By accepting this RSU, you consent to electronic delivery as set forth in the RSU Agreement.
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PARTICIPANT: Signature: ________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________ |
VOLITIONRX LIMITED By: ________________________________ Name: ________________________________ Its: ________________________________ |
35
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
You have been granted Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) by VolitionRx Limited (the Company) subject to the terms, restrictions and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the Notice) and this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this RSU Agreement).
1.
Settlement. Settlement of RSUs shall be made in the same calendar year as the applicable date of vesting under the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice; provided, however, that if the vesting date under the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice is in December, then settlement of any RSUs that vest in December shall be within 30 days of vesting. Settlement of RSUs shall be in Shares. Settlement means the delivery of the Shares vested under an RSU. No fractional RSUs or rights for fractional Shares shall be created pursuant to this RSU Agreement.
2.
No Stockholder Rights. Unless and until such time as Shares are issued in settlement of vested RSUs, you shall have no ownership of the Shares allocated to the RSUs and shall have no right to dividends or to vote such Shares.
3.
Dividend Equivalents. Dividends, if any (whether in cash or Shares), shall not be credited to you.
4.
No Transfer. RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or court order or unless otherwise permitted by the Committee on a case-by-case basis.
5.
Termination. If your Service terminates for any reason, all unvested RSUs shall be forfeited to the Company forthwith, and all rights you have to such RSUs shall immediately terminate. In case of any dispute as to whether your termination of Service has occurred, the Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether such termination has occurred and the effective date of such termination.
6.
Construction. This RSU Agreement is the result of negotiations between and has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and their respective counsel, if any; accordingly, this RSU Agreement shall be deemed to be the product of all of the parties hereto, and no ambiguity shall be construed in favor of or against any one of the parties hereto.
7.
Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of the Plan shall be addressed to the Company in care of its principal office, and any notice to be given to you shall be addressed to you at the address maintained by the Company for such person or at such other address as you may specify in writing to the Company.
8.
Counterparts. This RSU Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall he deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
9.
Tax Consequences. You acknowledge that you will recognize tax consequences in connection with the RSUs. You should consult a tax adviser regarding your tax obligations in the jurisdiction where you are subject to tax.
9.1
U.S. Tax Consequences. You will not recognize taxable income when you are granted or vest in the RSUs. In general, the RSUs will be taxed when they are settled and you will recognize ordinary income equal to the value of the Shares that you receive from the Company.
10.
Withholding Taxes and Stock Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or your actual employer (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (Tax-Related Items), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the award, including the grant, vesting or settlement of the RSUs, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the award or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items. 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.
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Prior to the settlement of your RSUs, you shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Employer. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you from your wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer. With the Companys consent, these arrangements may also include, if permissible under local law, (a) withholding Shares that otherwise would be issued to you when your RSUs are settled, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding amount, (b) having the Company withhold taxes from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf and you hereby authorize such sales by this authorization), (c) your payment of a cash amount, or (d) any other arrangement approved by the Company; all under such rules as may be established by the Committee and in compliance with the Companys Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy, if applicable; provided however, that if you are a Section 16 officer of the Company under the Exchange Act, then the Committee (as constituted in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) shall establish the method of withholding from alternatives (a)-(d) above, and the Committee shall establish the method prior to the Tax-Related Items withholding event. The Fair Market Value of these Shares, determined as of the effective date when taxes otherwise would have been withheld in cash, will be applied as a credit against the withholding taxes. You shall 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 or your purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. Finally, you acknowledge that the Company has no obligation to deliver Shares to you until you have satisfied the obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this Section.
11.
Acknowledgement. The Company and you agree that the RSUs are granted under and governed by the Notice, this RSU Agreement and the provisions of the Plan (incorporated herein by reference). You: (a) acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Plan prospectus, (b) represent that you have carefully read and are familiar with their provisions, and (c) hereby accept the RSUs subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and those set forth in the Plan and the Notice. You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, the Notice and this RSU Agreement.
12.
Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This RSU Agreement, the Plan and the Notice constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersede all prior discussions between them. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the purchase of the Shares hereunder are superseded. No modification of or amendment to this RSU Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this RSU Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this RSU Agreement. The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this RSU Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.
13.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance of Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and you with all applicable state, federal and foreign laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Companys Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer. The Shares issued pursuant to this RSU Agreement shall be endorsed with appropriate legends, if any, determined by the Company.
14.
Governing Law; Severability. If one or more provisions of this RSU Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this RSU Agreement, (b) the balance of this RSU Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (c) the balance of this RSU Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. This RSU Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that may arise directly or indirectly from the Plan, the Notice and this RSU Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to litigation in the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and agree that any such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of New York in New York County or the federal courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York and no other courts.
15.
No Rights as Employee, Director or Consultant. Nothing in this RSU Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company, or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, to terminate your Service, for any reason, with or without Cause.
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16.
Consent to Electronic Delivery of All Plan Documents and Disclosures. By your acceptance of this RSU, you consent to the electronic delivery of the Notice, this RSU Agreement, the Plan, account statements, Plan prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. financial reports of the Company, and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) or other communications or information related to the RSU. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Companys discretion. You acknowledge that you may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if you contact the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. You further acknowledge that you will be provided with a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails; similarly, you understand that you must provide on request to the Company or any designated third party a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails. Also, you understand that your consent may be revoked or changed, including any change in the electronic mail address to which documents are delivered (if you have provided an electronic mail address), at any time by notifying the Company of such revised or revoked consent by telephone, postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. Finally, you understand that you are not required to consent to electronic delivery.
17.
Code Section 409A. For purposes of this RSU Agreement, a termination of employment will be determined consistent with the rules relating to a separation from service as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder (Section 409A). Notwithstanding anything else provided herein, to the extent any payments provided under this RSU Agreement in connection with your termination of employment constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, and you are deemed at the time of such termination of employment to be a specified employee under Section 409A, then such payment shall not be made or commence until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six-month period measured from your separation from service or (b) the date of your death following such a separation from service; provided, however, that such deferral shall only be effected to the extent required to avoid adverse tax treatment to you including, without limitation, the additional tax for which you would otherwise be liable under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) in the absence of such a deferral. To the extent any payment under this RSU Agreement may be classified as a short-term deferral within the meaning of Section 409A, such payment shall be deemed a short-term deferral, even if it may also qualify for an exemption from Section 409A under another provision of Section 409A. Payments pursuant to this Section are intended to constitute separate payments for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.
18.
Adjustment. In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of Shares covered by the RSUs may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
19.
Lock-Up Agreement. Upon request of the Company or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering of the Companys securities, you hereby agree not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company however and whenever acquired (other than those included in the registration) without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days) from the effective date of such registration as may be requested by the Company or such managing underwriters and to execute an agreement reflecting the foregoing as may be requested by the underwriters at the time of the public offering; provided however that, if during the last seventeen (17) days of the restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or prior to the expiration of the restricted period the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the sixteen (16)-day period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, then, upon the request of the managing underwriter, to the extent required by any FINRA rules, the restrictions imposed by this Section shall continue to apply until the end of the third trading day following the expiration of the fifteen (15)-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. In no event will the restricted period extend beyond two hundred sixteen (216) days after the effective date of the registration statement.
20.
Award Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the RSUs shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of your employment or other Service that is applicable to you. In addition to any other remedies available under such policy, applicable law may require the cancellation of your RSUs (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to your RSUs.
BY ACCEPTING THIS RSU, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.
38
NOTICE OF PERFORMANCE SHARES AWARD
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the VolitionRx Limited (the Company) 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) shall have the same meanings in this Notice of Performance Shares Award (the Notice) and the attached Performance Shares Award Agreement (the Performance Shares Agreement). You have been granted an award of Performance Shares (the Performance Shares Award) under the Plan subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, this Notice and the attached Performance Shares Agreement.
Name:
Address:
Number of Shares:
Date of Grant:
Fair Market Value on Date of Grant:
Vesting Commencement Date:
Vesting Schedule:
Subject to the limitations set forth in this Notice, the Plan and the Performance Shares Agreement, the Shares will vest in accordance with the following schedule: [INSERT VESTING SCHEDULE].
You acknowledge that the vesting of the Performance Shares Award pursuant to this Notice is earned only by continuing Service. By accepting the Performance Shares Award, you and the Company agree that the Performance Shares Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice and the Performance Shares Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that the Vesting Schedule may change prospectively in the event that your service status changes between full and part-time status in accordance with Company policies relating to work schedules and vesting of awards. You further acknowledge that the grant of this Performance Shares Award by the Company is at the Companys sole discretion, and does not entitle you to further grant(s) of Performance Share Award(s) or any other award(s) under the Plan or any other plan or program maintained by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. By accepting the Performance Shares Award, you consent to electronic delivery as set forth in the Performance Shares Agreement.
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PARTICIPANT: Signature: ________________________________ Print Name: ________________________________ |
VOLITIONRX LIMITED By: ________________________________ Name: ________________________________ Its: ________________________________ |
39
PERFORMANCE SHARES AGREEMENT
VOLITIONRX LIMITED
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
You have been granted a Performance Shares Award (Performance Shares Award) by VolitionRx Limited (the Company), subject to the terms, restrictions and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Performance Shares Award (Notice) and this Performance Shares Agreement (this Agreement).
1.
Settlement. Your Performance Shares Award shall be settled in Shares and the Companys transfer agent shall record ownership of such Shares in your name as soon as reasonably practicable after achievement of the Performance Factors enumerated in the Notice.
2.
No Stockholder Rights. Unless and until you are recorded as the holder of such Shares on the stock records of the Company and its transfer agent, you shall have no right to dividends or to vote Shares.
3.
No-Transfer. Your interest in this Performance Shares Award shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of.
4.
Termination. If your Service terminates for any reason, all of your rights under the Plan, this Agreement and the Notice in respect of this Award shall immediately terminate. In case of any dispute as to whether a termination of Service has occurred, the Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether such termination has occurred and the effective date of such termination.
5.
Construction. This Agreement is the result of negotiations between and has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and their respective counsel, if any; accordingly, this Agreement shall be deemed to be the product of all of the parties hereto, and no ambiguity shall be construed in favor of or against any one of the parties hereto.
6.
Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of the Plan shall be addressed to the Company in care of its principal office, and any notice to be given to you shall be addressed to you at the address maintained by the Company for such person or at such other address as you may specify in writing to the Company.
7.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall he deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
8.
Tax Consequences. YOU SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE ACQUIRING THE SHARES IN THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH HE OR SHE IS SUBJECT TO TAX. Shares shall not be issued under this Agreement unless you make arrangements acceptable to the Company to pay any withholding taxes that may be due as a result of the acquisition or vesting of Shares.
(a)
U.S. Tax Consequences. Upon vesting of Shares, you will include in taxable income the difference between the fair market value of the vesting Shares, as determined on the date of their vesting. This will be treated as ordinary income by you and will be subject to withholding by the Company when required by applicable law. The Company shall satisfy the withholding requirements as set forth in Section 9 below.
9.
Withholding Taxes and Stock Withholding. Regardless of any action the Company or your actual employer (the Employer) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (Tax-Related Items), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by you is and remains your responsibility and that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the award, including the award or vesting of such Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares under this award and the receipt of any dividends; and (2) do not commit to structure the terms of the award to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items. 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.
40
The Company will only recognize you as a record holder of Shares if you have paid or made adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Employer. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by you from your wages or other cash compensation paid to you by the Company and/or the Employer. With the Companys consent, these arrangements may also include, if permissible under local law, (a) withholding Shares that otherwise would be issued to you when they vest, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding amount, (b) having the Company withhold taxes from the proceeds of the sale of the Shares, either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf and you hereby authorize such sales by this authorization), (c) your payment of a cash amount, or (d) any other arrangement approved by the Company; all under such rules as may be established by the Committee and in compliance with the Companys Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy, if applicable; provided however, that if you are a Section 16 officer of the Company under the Exchange Act, then the Committee (as constituted in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act) shall establish the method of withholding from alternatives (a)-(d) above, and the Committee shall establish the method prior to the Tax-Related Items withholding event. The Fair Market Value of these Shares, determined as of the effective date when taxes otherwise would have been withheld in cash, will be applied as a credit against the withholding taxes. You shall 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 or your purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. Finally, you acknowledge that the Company has no obligation to deliver Shares to you until you have satisfied the obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this Section.
10.
Acknowledgement. The Company and you agree that the Performance Shares Award is granted under and governed by the Notice, this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan (incorporated herein by reference). You: (a) acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Plan prospectus, (b) represent that you have carefully read and are familiar with their provisions, and (c) hereby accept the Performance Shares Award subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and those set forth in the Plan and the Notice. You hereby agree to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, the Notice and this Agreement.
11.
Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights. This Agreement, the Plan and the Notice constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersede all prior discussions between them. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning the purchase of the Shares hereunder are superseded. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement. The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.
12.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations. The issuance of Shares will be subject to and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and you with all applicable state, federal and foreign laws and regulations and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Companys Common Stock may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer. The Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be endorsed with appropriate legends, if any, determined by the Company.
13.
Governing Law; Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (a) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (b) the balance of this Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (c) the balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms. This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that may arise directly or indirectly from the Plan, the Notice and this Agreement, the parties hereby submit and consent to litigation in the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of New York and agree that any such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of New York in New York County or the federal courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York and no other courts.
14.
No Rights as Employee, Director or Consultant. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company, or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, to terminate your Service, for any reason, with or without Cause.
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15.
Consent to Electronic Delivery of All Plan Documents and Disclosures. By acceptance of this Performance Shares Award, you consent to the electronic delivery of the Notice, this Agreement, the Plan, account statements, Plan prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. financial reports of the Company, and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements) or other communications or information related to the Performance Shares Award. Electronic delivery may include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other delivery determined at the Companys discretion. You acknowledge that you may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost if you contact the Company by telephone, through a postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. You further acknowledge that you will be provided with a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails; similarly, you understand that you must provide on request to the Company or any designated third party a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically if electronic delivery fails. Also, you understand that your consent may be revoked or changed, including any change in the electronic mail address to which documents are delivered (if you have provided an electronic mail address), at any time by notifying the Company of such revised or revoked consent by telephone, postal service or electronic mail at notice@volitionrx.com. Finally, you understand that you are not required to consent to electronic delivery.
16.
Adjustment. In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of Shares covered by the Performance Shares Award may be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
17.
Award Subject to Company Clawback or Recoupment. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Performance Shares Award shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Board or required by law during the term of your employment or other Service with the Company that is applicable to you. In addition to any other remedies available under such policy, applicable law may require the cancellation of your Performance Shares Award (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to your Performance Shares Award.
BY ACCEPTING THE PERFORMANCE SHARES AWARD, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND IN THE PLAN.
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