S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2022

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

NETAPP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   77-0307520

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

3060 Olsen Drive

San Jose, California

  95128
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. 2018 Stock Option Plan

(Full title of the plan)

George Kurian

Chief Executive Officer

NetApp, Inc.

3060 Olsen Drive

San Jose, California 95128

(Name and address of agent for service)

(408) 822-6000

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Ed Batts, Esq.

Chris Trester, Esq.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

1881 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 849-5300

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information

The documents containing the information specified in this Item 1 will be sent or given to employees, officers, directors or others as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

Item 2. Registration Information and Employee Plan Annual Information

The documents containing the information specified in this Item 2 will be sent or given to employees, officers, directors or others as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. Such documents, together with the documents incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act, and are available upon written or oral request to: NetApp, Inc., Attn: Chief Legal Officer, 3060 Olsen Drive, San Jose, California 95128, Tel: (408) 822-6000.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Commission (other than information supplied in a Current Report on Form 8-K that is furnished and not filed and, except as may be noted in any such Form 8-K, exhibits filed on such form that are related to such information):

 

  (a)

The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2022, filed with the Commission on June 15, 2022, pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”); and

 

  (b)

The Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 000-27130 on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on November 1, 1995, which contains a description of the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the Registrant’s common stock, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.

All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed (whether before or after the date of this Registration Statement) in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


Item 4. Description of Securities

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) authorizes a court to award or a corporation’s board of directors to grant indemnification to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit the indemnification under some circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act. Article IX of the Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that, subject to Delaware law, its directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties to the Registrant and its stockholders, except for any matter in respect of which such director shall be liable under Section 174 of the DGCL or any amendment thereto or shall be liable by reason that, in addition to any and all other requirements for such liability, such director (1) shall have breached the director’s duty or loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (2) shall have acted in a manner involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or, in failing to act, shall have acted in a manner involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (3) shall have derived an improper personal benefit. This provision does not eliminate any director’s fiduciary duties, and in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

Article VII of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) provides for indemnification of its directors to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware General Corporation Law. The Bylaws also provide that:

 

   

The Registrant is required to advance the expenses, as incurred, of any such individual in connection with defending a proceeding, action or suit by reason of such individual’s serving on behalf of and at the Registrant’s request, except that such officer or director shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

   

The rights conferred in the Bylaws are not exclusive, and the Registrant is authorized to enter into indemnification arrangements with any person other than a director who is made a party to any action, suit or proceedings by reason of the fact that he is or was an officer or employee of the Registrant.

 

   

The Registrant may not retroactively amend the Bylaw provisions described above to reduce its indemnification obligations to its directors, officers, employees and agents.

In addition, the Registrant’s policy is to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers to provide for the maximum indemnification allowed to directors and executive officers by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and which allow for certain additional procedural protections. The Registrant also maintains directors and officers insurance to insure such persons against certain liabilities.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

Not applicable.


Item 8. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Documents

    4.1    Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 13, 2021).
    4.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 13, 2021).
    5.1*    Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
  23.1*    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
  23.2*    Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
  24.1*    Power of Attorney (contained on the signature page of this Registration Statement).
  99.1*    Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. 2018 Stock Option Plan.
107.1*    Filing Fee Table.

 

 

*

Filed herewith.

Item 9. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

Provided, however, that Paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the


Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on June 16, 2022.

 

NETAPP, INC.
By:   /s/ George Kurian
  George Kurian
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints George Kurian and Michael J. Berry, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ George Kurian

George Kurian

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Operating Officer)

  June 16, 2022

/s/ Michael J. Berry

Michael J. Berry

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
  June 16, 2022

/s/ Robert Parks

Robert Parks

  

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  June 16, 2022

/s/ T. Michael Nevens

T. Michael Nevens

  

Chairman of the Board

  June 16, 2022

/s/ Deepak Ahuja

Deepak Ahuja

  

Director

  June 16, 2022

/s/ Gerald Held

Gerald Held

  

Director

  June 16, 2022

/s/ Katherine M. Hill

Katherine M. Hill

  

Director

  June 16, 2022


/s/ Deborah L. Kerr

Deborah L. Kerr

   Director   June 16, 2022

/s/ Carrie Palin

Carrie Palin

   Director   June 16, 2022

/s/ Scott Schenkel

Scott Schenkel

   Director   June 16, 2022

/s/ George T. Shaheen

George T. Shaheen

   Director   June 16, 2022
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

   LOGO
   Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
   1881 Page Mill Road
   Palo Alto, CA 94304

June 16, 2022

   +1 650 849 5300

NetApp, Inc.

3060 Olsen Drive

  

San Jose, California 95128

  

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8, (the “Registration Statement”) of NetApp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the offering by the Company of up to 309,124 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”). 182,540 of the Shares subject to the Registration Statement are to be issued with respect to outstanding options under the Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. 2018 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) and 126,584 of the Shares subject to the Registration Statement are to be issued with respect to outstanding restricted stock units under the Plan.

In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render the opinion set forth below. In our examination, we have assumed without independent investigation the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to this opinion, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others. We have also assumed that there are no agreements or understandings between or among the Company and any participants in the Plan that would expand, modify or otherwise affect the terms of the Plan or the respective rights or obligations of the participants thereunder.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued against payment therefor in accordance with the terms set forth in the Plan as set forth in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). We are not admitted to practice in the State of Delaware; however, we are generally familiar with the DGCL as currently in effect and have made such inquiries as we consider necessary to render the opinions above. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the DGCL and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such law or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the use of our name wherever it appears in the Registration Statement. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated June 15, 2022, relating to the consolidated financial statements of NetApp, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 2022.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

San Jose, California

June 15, 2022

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED INSTACLUSTR US HOLDING, INC.

2018 STOCK OPTION PLAN

SECTION 1 GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

The name of the plan is the Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding 2018 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive and enable the officers, employees, directors, Consultants and other key persons of Instaclustr US Holding Inc., a Delaware corporation (including any successor entity, the “Company”) and its Subsidiaries, upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business, to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant. Stock Purchase Rights may also be granted under the Plan.

The Plan was amended and restated on May 17, 2022 in connection with that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 6, 2022 by and between the Company, NetApp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Acquiror”), Kangaroo Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Acquiror and Fortis Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, solely in its capacity as the initial Securityholder Representative thereunder, pursuant to which the Company is expected to become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Acquiror and the Plan will be assumed by the Acquiror, contingent upon the closing of the transactions contemplated therein.

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

Administrator” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

Affiliate” of any Person means a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the first mentioned Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses directly or indirectly the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of the second Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units or any combination of the foregoing.

Award Agreement means a written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Agreement may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan; provided, however, in the event of any conflict in the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.


Cause” shall have the meaning as set forth in a contract of employment or service agreement between the grantee and the Company or in the Award Agreement(s). For any equity award granted prior to May 17, 2022, in the case that neither the Award Agreement nor an employment or service agreement contain a definition of “Cause,” it shall mean (i) grantee’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of documents or records of the Company or any Affiliate; (ii) the grantee’s material failure to abide by a code of conduct or other policies of the Company or any Affiliate (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the grantee’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction, or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of the Company or any Affiliate (including, without limitation, the grantee’s improper use or disclosure of the Company’s confidential or proprietary information; (iv) any intentional act by the grantee which has a material detrimental effect on the reputation of the Company or any Affiliate; (v) the grantee’s failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from the Company or any Affiliate of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (vi) any material breach by the grantee of any employment or service agreement between the grantee and the Company or any Affiliate, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Optionee’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation, or moral turpitude, or which impairs the grantee’s ability to perform his or her duties with the Company or any Affiliate.

Chief Executive Officer means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, then the President of the Company.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

Consultant means any natural person that provides bona fide services to the Company (including a Subsidiary), and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

Disability” means “disability” as defined in Section 422(c) of the Code.

Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan is adopted as set forth on the final page of the Plan.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Fair Market Value” of the Stock on any given date means the fair market value of the Stock determined in good faith by the Administrator based on the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method not inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code. If the Stock is admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to the closing price reported on such exchange. If there is no closing price for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there is a closing price. If the date for which Fair Market Value is determined is the first day when trading prices for the Stock are reported on a national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the “Price to the Public” (or equivalent) set forth on the cover page for the final prospectus relating to the Company’s Initial Public Offering.

Holder means, with respect to an Award or any Shares, the Person holding such Award or Shares, including the initial recipient of the Award or any designated beneficiary or other successor.

 

2


Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

Initial Public Offering” means the consummation of the first firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the offer and sale by the Company of its equity securities, as a result of or following which the Stock shall be publicly held.

Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

Option” or “Stock Option” means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.

Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership (limited or general), limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust, joint venture, unincorporated organization or any similar entity.

Restricted Stock Award means Awards granted pursuant to Section 6 and “Restricted Stock means Shares issued pursuant to such Awards.

Restricted Stock Unit means an Award representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share to a grantee, which may be settled in cash or Shares as determined by the Administrator, pursuant to Section 8.

Sale Event means the consummation of (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (iii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power of the surviving or resulting entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable), (iv) the acquisition of all or a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company in a single transaction or a series of related transactions by a Person or group of Persons, or (v) any other acquisition of the business of the Company, however structured, as determined by the Board; provided, however, that the Company’s Initial Public Offering, any subsequent public offering or another capital raising event, or a merger effected solely to change the Company’s domicile shall not constitute a “Sale Event.”

Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Service Relationship means any relationship as a full-time employee, part-time employee, director or other key person (including Consultants) of the Company or any Subsidiary or any successor entity (e.g., a Service Relationship shall be deemed to continue without interruption in the event an individual’s status changes from full-time employee to part-time employee or Consultant).

Shares means shares of Stock.

Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

3


Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has more than a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.

Ten Percent Owner means an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent of the Company or any Subsidiary.

Unrestricted Stock Award means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7 and “Unrestricted Stock means Shares issued pursuant to such Awards.

SECTION 2 ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; COMMITTEE AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

(a) Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, or at the discretion of the Board, by a committee appointed by the Board, comprised of not less than two directors. All references herein to the “Administrator” shall be deemed to refer to the group then responsible for administration of the Plan at the relevant time (i.e., either the Board of Directors or a committee or committees of the Board, as applicable).

(b) Powers of the Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

(i) To determine the Fair Market Value;

(ii) to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

(iii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the amount, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;

(iv) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by any Award and, subject to the provisions of the Plan, the price, exercise price, conversion ratio or other price relating thereto;

(v) to determine and, subject to Section 12, to modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees, and to approve the form of Award Agreements;

(vi) to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;

(vii) to impose any limitations on Awards, including limitations on transfers, repurchase provisions and the like, and to exercise repurchase rights or obligations;

(viii) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan as the Administrator may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law;

(ix) subject to Section 5(a)(ii) and any restrictions imposed by Section 409A, to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised; and

 

4


(x) at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including Award Agreements); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and all Holders.

(c) Award Agreement. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award.

(d) Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Administrator (and any delegate thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under the Company’s governing documents, including its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.

(e) Foreign Award Recipients. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to facilitate compliance with the laws in other countries in which the Company and any Subsidiary operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries, if any, shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals, if any, outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Administrator determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to the Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3(a) hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals.

SECTION 3 STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS; SUBSTITUTION

(a) Stock Issuable. The maximum number of Shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 24,768,030 Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b). For purposes of this limitation, the Shares underlying any Awards that are forfeited, canceled, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) and Shares that are withheld upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding shall be added back to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitations, Shares may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award, and no more than 24,768,030 Shares may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. The Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares reacquired by the Company.

 

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(b) Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional Shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such Shares or other securities, in each case, without the receipt of consideration by the Company, the Administrator shall make an appropriate and proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the repurchase price, if any, per Share subject to each outstanding Award, and (iv) the exercise price for each Share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options) as to which such Stock Options remain exercisable. The Administrator shall in any event make such adjustments as may be required by Section 25102(o) of the California Corporation Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional Shares shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

(c) Sale Events.

(i) Options.

(A) In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Options issued hereunder shall terminate upon the effective time of any such Sale Event unless assumed or continued by the successor entity, or new stock options or other awards of the successor entity or parent thereof are substituted therefor, with an equitable or proportionate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree (after taking into account any acceleration hereunder and/or pursuant to the terms of any Award Agreement).

(B) In the event of the termination of the Plan and all outstanding Options issued hereunder pursuant to Section 3(c), each Holder of Options shall be permitted, within a period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as specified by the Administrator, to exercise all such Options which are then exercisable or will become exercisable as of the effective time of the Sale Event; provided, however, that the exercise of Options not exercisable prior to the Sale Event shall be subject to the consummation of the Sale Event.

(C) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3(c)(i)(A), and in lieu of permitting an exercise of the Options pursuant to Section 3(c)(i)(B), in the event of a Sale Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make or provide for a cash payment to the Holders of Options, without any consent of the Holders, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable per share of Stock pursuant to the Sale Event (the “Sale Price”) times the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options being cancelled (to the extent then vested and exercisable, including by reason of acceleration in connection with such Sale Event, at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding vested and exercisable Options.

(ii) Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

 

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(A) In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, all unvested Restricted Stock and unvested Restricted Stock Unit Awards (other than those becoming vested as a result of the Sale Event) issued hereunder shall be forfeited immediately to the Company for no consideration prior to the effective time of any such Sale Event unless assumed or continued by the successor entity, or awards of the successor entity or parent thereof are substituted therefor, with an equitable or proportionate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares subject to such awards as such parties shall agree (after taking into account any acceleration hereunder and/or pursuant to the terms of any Award Agreement).

(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3(c)(ii)(A), in the event of a Sale Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make or provide for a cash payment to the Holders of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Awards, without consent of the Holders, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the Sale Price times the number of Shares subject to such Awards, to be paid at the time of such Sale Event or upon the later vesting of such Awards

SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY

Grantees under the Plan will be such full or part-time officers and other employees, directors, Consultants and key persons of the Company and any Subsidiary who are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that Awards shall be granted only to those individuals described in Rule 701(c) of the Securities Act.

SECTION 5 STOCK OPTIONS

Upon the grant of a Stock Option, the Company and the grantee shall enter into an Award Agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award Agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(a) Terms of Stock Options. The Administrator in its discretion may grant Stock Options to those individuals who meet the eligibility requirements of Section 4. Stock Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable.

(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Shares covered by a Stock Option shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the exercise price per share for the Shares covered by such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.

(ii) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years from the Grant Date. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the Grant Date.

 

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(iii) Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable and/or vested at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the Grant Date. The Award Agreement may permit a grantee to exercise all or a portion of a Stock Option immediately at grant; provided that the Shares issued upon such exercise shall be subject to restrictions and a vesting schedule identical to the vesting schedule of the related Stock Option, such Shares shall be deemed to be Restricted Stock for purposes of the Plan, and the optionee may be required to enter into an additional or new Award Agreement as a condition to exercise of such Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to Shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options. An optionee shall not be deemed to have acquired any Shares unless and until a Stock Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement and this Plan and the optionee’ s name has been entered on the books of the Company as a stockholder.

(iv) Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised by an optionee in whole or in part, by the optionee giving written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods (or any combination thereof) to the extent provided in the Award Agreement:

(A) In cash, by certified or bank check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;

(B) If permitted by the Administrator, by the optionee delivering to the Company a promissory note, if the Board has expressly authorized the loan of funds to the optionee for the purpose of enabling or assisting the optionee to effect the exercise of his or her Stock Option; provided, that at least so much of the exercise price as represents the par value of the Stock shall be paid in cash if required by state law;

(C) If permitted by the Administrator and the Initial Public Offering has occurred (or the Stock otherwise becomes publicly-traded), through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of Shares that have been purchased by the optionee on the open market or that are beneficially owned by the optionee and are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. To the extent required to avoid variable accounting treatment under ASC 718 or other applicable accounting rules, such surrendered Shares if originally purchased from the Company shall have been owned by the optionee for at least six months. Such surrendered Shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

(D) If permitted by the Administrator and the Initial Public Offering has occurred (or the Stock otherwise becomes publicly-traded), by the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or

(E) If permitted by the Administrator, and only with respect to Stock Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of Shares issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of Shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. No certificates for Shares so purchased will be issued to the optionee or, with respect to uncertificated Stock, no transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company will take place, until the Company has completed all steps it has deemed necessary

 

8


to satisfy legal requirements relating to the issuance and sale of the Shares, which steps may include, without limitation, (i) receipt of a representation from the optionee at the time of exercise of the Option that the optionee is purchasing the Shares for the optionee’s own account and not with a view to any sale or distribution of the Shares or other representations relating to compliance with applicable law governing the issuance of securities, (ii) the legending of the certificate (or notation on any book entry) representing the Shares to evidence the foregoing restrictions, and ( iii) obtaining from optionee payment or provision for all withholding taxes due as a result of the exercise of the Option. The delivery of certificates representing the shares of Stock (or the transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company with respect to uncertificated Stock) to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon (A) receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his or her stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such Shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Award Agreement or applicable provisions of laws and (B) if required by the Company, the optionee shall have entered into any stockholders agreements or other agreements with the Company and/or certain other of the Company’s stockholders relating to the Stock. In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned Shares through the attestation method, the number of Shares transferred to the optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of Shares attested to.

(b) Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and any Subsidiary that become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000 or such other limit as may be in effect from time to time under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(c) Termination. Any portion of a Stock Option that is not vested and exercisable on the date of termination of an optionee’s Service Relationship shall immediately expire and be null and void. Once any portion of the Stock Option becomes vested and exercisable, the optionee’s right to exercise such portion of the Stock Option (or the optionee’s representatives and legatees as applicable) in the event of a termination of the optionee’s Service Relationship shall continue until the earliest of: (i) the date which is: (A) 12 months following the date on which the optionee’s Service Relationship terminates due to death or Disability (or such longer period of time as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement), or (B) three months following the date on which the optionee’s Service Relationship terminates if the termination is due to any reason other than death or Disability (or such longer period of time as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement), or (ii) the Expiration Date set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, an Award Agreement may provide that if the optionee’s Service Relationship is terminated for Cause, the Stock Option shall terminate immediately and be null and void upon the date of the optionee’s termination and shall not thereafter be exercisable.

SECTION 6 RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other purchase price determined by the Administrator) to an eligible individual under Section 4 hereof a Restricted Stock Award under the Plan. The Administrator shall determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each Restricted Stock Award at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship), achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives and/or such other criteria as the Administrator may determine. Upon the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Company and the grantee shall enter into an Award Agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award Agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

 

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(b) Rights as a Stockholder. Upon the grant of the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a grantee of Restricted Stock shall be considered the record owner of and shall be entitled to vote the Restricted Stock if, and to the extent, such Shares are entitled to voting rights, subject to such conditions contained in the Award Agreement. The grantee shall be entitled to receive all dividends and any other distributions declared on the Shares; provided, however, that the Company is under no duty to declare any such dividends or to make any such distribution. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Stock is vested as provided in subsection (d) below of this Section, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company a stock power endorsed in blank and such other instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.

(c) Restrictions. Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Award Agreement. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Agreement or, subject to Section 12 below, in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, if a grantee’s Service Relationship with the Company and any Subsidiary terminates, the Company or its assigns shall have the right, as may be specified in the relevant instrument, to repurchase some or all of the Shares subject to the Award at such purchase price as is set forth in the Award Agreement.

(d) Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify in the Award Agreement the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the substantial risk of forfeiture imposed shall lapse and the Restricted Stock shall become vested, subject to such further rights of the Company or its assigns as may be specified in the Award Agreement.

SECTION 7 UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other purchase price determined by the Administrator) to an eligible person under Section 4 hereof an Unrestricted Stock Award under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such grantee.

SECTION 8 RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

(a) Nature of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant to an eligible person under Section 4 hereof Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. The Administrator shall determine the restrictions and conditions applicable to each Restricted Stock Unit at the time of grant. Vesting conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship), achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives and/or other such criteria as the Administrator may determine. Upon the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the grantee and the Company shall enter into an Award Agreement. The terms and conditions of each such Award Agreement shall be determined by the Administrator and may differ among individual Awards and grantees. On or promptly following the vesting date or dates applicable to any Restricted Stock Unit, but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year in which such vesting occurs, such Restricted Stock Unit(s) shall be settled in the form of cash, shares of Stock or a combination of both, as specified in the Award Agreement. Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of.

 

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(b) Rights as a Stockholder. A grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to Shares, if any, acquired upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units. A grantee shall not be deemed to have acquired any such Shares unless and until the Restricted Stock Units shall have been settled in Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement, the Company shall have issued and delivered a certificate representing the Shares to the grantee (or transferred on the records of the Company with respect to uncertificated stock), and the grantee’s name has been entered in the books of the Company as a stockholder.

(c) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, a grantee’s right in all Restricted Stock Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s cessation of Service Relationship with the Company and any Subsidiary for any reason.

SECTION 9 TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.

Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (which, for purposes of clarification, shall be deemed to include through a beneficiary designation if available in accordance with Section 14(e) of the Plan), and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the grantee, only by the grantee. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

SECTION 10 TAX WITHHOLDING

(a) Payment by Grantee. Each grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Shares or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld by the Company with respect to such income. Arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator may include: (a) paying cash, check or other cash equivalents; (b) 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 greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (c) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine, in each case, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (d) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the grantee through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld or paid; (e) such other consideration and method of payment for the meeting of tax liabilities or withholding obligations as the Administrator may determine to the extent permitted by applicable laws; or (f) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. The Company and any Subsidiary shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee. The Company’s obligation to deliver stock certificates (or evidence of book entry) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on any such tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the grantee.

(b) Payment in Stock. The Company’s minimum required tax withholding obligation may be satisfied, in whole or in part, by the Company withholding from Shares to be issued pursuant to an Award a number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the minimum withholding amount due.

 

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SECTION 11 SECTION 409A AWARDS.

To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as may be specified by the Administrator from time to time. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a grantee who is considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of ( i) six months and one day after the grantee’s separation from service, or (ii ) the grantee’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to any grantee under the Plan or any other Person with respect to any penalties or taxes under Section 409A that are, or may be, imposed with respect to any Award.

SECTION 12 AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the consent of the holder of the Award except as permitted herein. The Administrator may exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or effect repricing through cancellation of outstanding Stock Options and by granting such holders new Awards in replacement of the cancelled Stock Options. To the extent determined by the Administrator to be required either by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code or otherwise, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Nothing in this Section 12 shall limit the Board’s or Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(c). The Board reserves the right to amend the Plan and/or the terms of any outstanding Stock Options to the extent reasonably necessary to comply with the requirements of the exemption pursuant to paragraph (f)(4) of Rule 12h-1 of the Exchange Act.

SECTION 13 STATUS OF PLAN

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly so determine in connection with any Award.

SECTION 14 GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Administrator may require each person acquiring Shares pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares without a view to distribution thereof. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities law and other legal and stock exchange or similar requirements have been satisfied. The Administrator may require the placing of such stop-orders and restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate.

(b) Delivery of Stock Certificates. Stock certificates to grantees under the Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company; provided that stock certificates to be held in escrow pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan shall be deemed delivered when the Company shall have recorded the issuance in its records.

 

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Uncertificated Stock shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records).

(c) No Employment Rights. The adoption of the Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any Person any right to continued employment or Service Relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary.

(d) Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading policy-related restrictions, terms and conditions as may be established by the Administrator, or in accordance with policies set by the Administrator, from time to time.

(e) Designation of Beneficiary. Each grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award on or after the grantee’s death or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantee’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the grantee’s estate.

(f) Legend. Any certificate(s) representing the Shares shall carry substantially the following legend (and with respect to uncertificated Stock, the book entries evidencing such shares shall contain the following notation):

The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions (including repurchase and restrictions against transfers) contained in the Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding 2018 Stock Option Plan and any agreements entered into thereunder by and between the company and the holder of this certificate (a copy of which is available at the offices of the company for examination).

(g) Information to Holders of Options. In the event the Company is relying on the exemption from the registration requirements of Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act contained in paragraph (f)(1) of Rule 12h-1 of the Exchange Act, the Company shall provide the information described in Rule 701(e)(3), (4) and (5) of the Securities Act to all holders of Options in accordance with the requirements thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company shall not be required to provide such information unless the optionholder has agreed in writing, on a form prescribed by the Company, to keep such information confidential.

(h) Other Agreements. If required by the Company, prior to, or simultaneously with, the receipt from the Company of Shares pursuant to an Award under the Plan, Holder shall become a party to any stockholders agreement or other agreement in such form as may be presented to the Holder by the Company.

SECTION 15 EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

The Plan shall become effective upon adoption by the Board and shall be approved by stockholders in accordance with applicable state law and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws within 12 months thereafter. If the stockholders fail to approve the Plan within 12 months after its adoption by the Board of Directors, then any Awards granted or sold under the Plan shall be rescinded and no additional grants or sales shall thereafter be made under the Plan. Subject to such approval by stockholders and to the

 

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requirement that no Shares may be issued hereunder prior to such approval, Stock Options and other Awards may be granted hereunder on and after adoption of the Plan by the Board. No grants of Stock Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders, whichever is earlier.

SECTION 16 GOVERNING LAW

This Plan, all Awards and any controversy arising out of or relating to this Plan and all Awards shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as to matters within the scope thereof and the laws of the State of New South Wales, Australia as to matters within the scope thereof, and as to all other matters shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of California.

 

DATE ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:    May 17, 2022
DATE APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS:    May 17, 2022

 

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THE SECURITIES WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE OR DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.

INSTACLUSTR US HOLDING, INC.

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Instaclustr US Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) has granted to the individual (the “Optionee”) named in the Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the “Notice”) to which this Stock Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) is attached an option (the “Option”) to purchase certain shares of Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice and this Option Agreement. The Option has been granted pursuant to and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions of the Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as amended to the Date of Option Grant, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. By signing the Notice, the Optionee: (a) represents that the Optionee has received copies of, and has read and is familiar with the terms and conditions of, the Notice, the Plan and this Option Agreement; (b) accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Notice, the Plan and this Option Agreement; and (c) agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board upon any questions arising under the Notice, the Plan or this Option Agreement.

 

  1.

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

1.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Notice or the Plan.

1.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Option Agreement. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

 

  2.

TAX CONSEQUENCES.

2.1 Tax Status of Option. This Option is intended to have the tax status designated in the Notice.

(a) Incentive Stock Option. If the Notice so designates, this Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code, but the Company does not represent or warrant that this Option qualifies as such. The Optionee should consult with the Optionee’s own tax advisor regarding the tax effects of this Option and the requirements necessary to obtain favorable income tax treatment under Section 422 of the

 

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Code, including, but not limited to, holding period requirements. (NOTE TO OPTIONEE: If the Option is exercised more than three (3) months after the date on which you cease to be an Employee (other than by reason of your death or permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), the Option will be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option and not as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code.)

(b) Nonstatutory Stock Option. If the Notice so designates, this Option is intended to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option and shall not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

2.2 ISO Fair Market Value Limitation. If the Notice designates this Option as an Incentive Stock Option, then to the extent that the Option (together with all Incentive Stock Options granted to the Optionee under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) becomes exercisable for the first time during any calendar year for shares having a Fair Market Value greater than $100,000, the portion of such options which exceeds such amount will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 2.2, options designated as Incentive Stock Options are taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock is determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a different limitation from that set forth in this Section 2.2, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If the Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section 2.2, the Optionee may designate which portion of such Option the Optionee is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Optionee shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Separate certificates representing each such portion shall be issued upon the exercise of the Option. (NOTE TO OPTIONEE: If the aggregate Exercise Price of the Option (that is, the Exercise Price multiplied by the Number of Option Shares) plus the aggregate exercise price of any other Incentive Stock Options you hold (whether granted pursuant to the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Participating Company Group) is greater than $100,000, you should contact the President of the Company to ascertain whether the entire Option qualifies as an Incentive Stock Option.)

 

  3.

ADMINISTRATION.

All questions of interpretation concerning this Option Agreement shall be determined by the Board. All determinations by the Board shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Option. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, or election.

 

  4.

EXERCISE OF THE OPTION.

 

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4.1 Right to Exercise. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Option shall be exercisable on and after (a) the first date on which the Option vesting conditions are met with respect to a portion of the Option (the “Initial Vesting Date” and the shares for which such vested portion may be exercised, “Vested Shares”) and prior to the termination of the Option (as provided in Section 6), and (b) immediately prior to the consummation of and effective simultaneous with a Change in Control, in an amount not to exceed the number of Vested Shares less the number of shares previously acquired upon exercise of the Option. Such exercise right shall be subject to the Company’s repurchase rights set forth in Section 11 and Section 12, and the Company’s cash settlement rights in Section 8 and Section 20. In no event shall the Option be exercisable for more shares than the Number of Option Shares.

4.2 Method of Exercise. Exercise of the Option shall be by written notice to the Company which must state the election to exercise the Option, the number of whole shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised and such other representations and agreements as to the Optionee’s investment intent with respect to such shares as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The written notice must be signed by the Optionee and must be delivered in person, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by confirmed facsimile transmission, or by such other means as the Company may permit, to the President of the Company, or other authorized representative of the Participating Company Group, prior to the consummation date of the Change in Control and prior to the termination of the Option as set forth in Section 6, accompanied by (i) full payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased and (ii) an executed copy, if required herein, of the then current forms of escrow and security agreement referenced below. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised, upon receipt by the Company of such written notice, the aggregate Exercise Price, and, if required by the Company, such executed agreements. If, upon a Change in Control, the Option is not exercised, then this Option Agreement and the Option shall be terminated, and any Vested Shares shall be settled in accordance with Section 8.

4.3 Payment of Exercise Price.

(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised shall be made (i) in cash, by check, or cash equivalent, (ii) by means of a Cashless Exercise, as defined in Section 4.3(b), or (iii) by any combination of the foregoing.

(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration.

(i) Cashless Exercise. A Cashless Exercisemeans the delivery of a properly executed notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker in a form acceptable to the Company providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares of Stock acquired upon the exercise of the Option pursuant to a program or procedure approved by the Company (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to decline to approve or terminate any such program or procedure.

 

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4.4 Tax Withholding. At the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, the Optionee hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Optionee, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for (including by means of a Cashless Exercise to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group, if any, which arise in connection with the Option, including, without limitation, obligations arising upon (i) the exercise, in whole or in part, of the Option, (ii) the transfer, in whole or in part, of any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option, (iii) the operation of any law or regulation providing for the imputation of interest, or (iv) the lapsing of any restriction with respect to any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option. The Option is not exercisable unless the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group are satisfied. Accordingly, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock until the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group have been satisfied by the Optionee.

4.5 Certificate Registration. Except in the event the Exercise Price is paid by means of a Cashless Exercise, the certificate for the shares as to which the Option is exercised shall be registered in the name of the Optionee, or, if applicable, in the names of the heirs of the Optionee.

4.6 Restrictions on Grant of the Option and Issuance of Shares. The grant of the Option and the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities. The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, the Option may not be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. THE OPTIONEE IS CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE OPTIONEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares subject to the Option shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

4.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise of the Option.

 

  5.

NONTRANSFERABILITY OF THE OPTION.

 

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The Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative and may not be assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Following the death of the Optionee, the Option, to the extent provided in Section 7, may be exercised by the Optionee’s legal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Optionee’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

  6.

TERMINATION OF THE OPTION.

The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised after the first to occur of (a) the Option Expiration Date, (b) the last date for exercising the Option following termination of the Optionee’s Service as described in Section 7, or (c) a Change in Control to the extent provided in Section 8.

 

  7.

EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

Except as otherwise provided herein and in the Plan, the Option shall be exercisable after the Optionee’s termination of Service only during the applicable time periods determined in accordance with Section 6.6 of the Plan and thereafter shall terminate.

 

  8.

CHANGE IN CONTROL.

In the event of a Change in Control, and provided that the Optionee’s Service has not terminated prior to such date, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the Acquiror), may, without the consent of the Optionee, either assume the Company’s rights and obligations under the Option or substitute for the Option a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiror’s stock. The Option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the date of the Change in Control to the extent that the Option is neither assumed or substituted for by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of the Option prior to the Change in Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change in Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions of this Option Agreement except as otherwise provided herein. Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the corporation the stock of which is subject to the Option immediately prior to an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(u)(i) of the Plan constituting a Change in Control is the surviving or continuing corporation and immediately after such Ownership Change Event less than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of its voting stock is held by another corporation or by other corporations that are members of an affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the provisions of Section 1504(b) of the Code, the Option shall not terminate unless the Board otherwise provides in its discretion. The Board may, in its discretion, determine that upon a Change in Control the Option shall be canceled in exchange for payment with respect to each Vested Share subject to such Option immediately prior to its cancellation in (a) cash, (b) stock of the Company or the Acquiror or (c) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control over the Exercise Price per share under the Option (subject to any required tax withholding).

 

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  9.

ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number, Exercise Price and class of shares of stock subject to the Option. If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to the Option are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the New Shares), the Board may unilaterally amend the Option to provide that the Option is exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the Number of Option Shares and the Exercise Price shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner, as determined by the Board, in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 9 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the Exercise Price be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to the Option. The adjustments determined by the Board pursuant to this Section 9 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

  10.

RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT.

The Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of a certificate for the shares for which the Option has been exercised (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 9. If the Optionee is an Employee, the Optionee understands and acknowledges that, except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between a Participating Company and the Optionee, the Optionee’s employment is “at will” and is for no specified term. Nothing in this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the Service of a Participating Company or interfere in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the Optionee’s Service as an Employee or Consultant, as the case may be, at any time.

 

  11.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

11.1 Grant of Right of First Refusal. Except as provided in Section 11.7 below, in the event the Optionee, the Optionee’s legal representative, or other holder of shares acquired upon exercise of the Option proposes to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option (the Transfer Shares) to any person or entity, including, without limitation, any stockholder of a Participating Company, the Company shall have the right to repurchase the Transfer Shares under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 11 (the Right of First Refusal).

 

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11.2 Notice of Proposed Transfer. Prior to any proposed transfer of the Transfer Shares, the Optionee shall deliver written notice (the Transfer Notice) to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of Transfer Shares, the name and address of the proposed transferee (the Proposed Transferee) and, if the transfer is voluntary, the proposed transfer price, and containing such information necessary to show the bona fide nature of the proposed transfer. In the event of a bona fide gift or involuntary transfer, the proposed transfer price shall be deemed to be the Fair Market Value of the Transfer Shares, as determined by the Board in good faith. If the Optionee proposes to transfer any Transfer Shares to more than one Proposed Transferee, the Optionee shall provide a separate Transfer Notice for the proposed transfer to each Proposed Transferee. The Transfer Notice shall be signed by both the Optionee and the Proposed Transferee and must constitute a binding commitment of the Optionee and the Proposed Transferee for the transfer of the Transfer Shares to the Proposed Transferee subject only to the Right of First Refusal.

11.3 Bona Fide Transfer. If the Company determines that the information provided by the Optionee in the Transfer Notice is insufficient to establish the bona fide nature of a proposed voluntary transfer, the Company shall give the Optionee written notice of the Optionee’s failure to comply with the procedure described in this Section 11, and the Optionee shall have no right to transfer the Transfer Shares without first complying with the procedure described in this Section 11. The Optionee shall not be permitted to transfer the Transfer Shares if the proposed transfer is not bona fide.

11.4 Exercise of Right of First Refusal. If the Company determines the proposed transfer to be bona fide, the Company shall have the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Transfer Shares (except as the Company and the Optionee otherwise agree) at the purchase price and on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice by delivery to the Optionee of a notice of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within thirty (30) days after the date the Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company. The Company’s exercise or failure to exercise the Right of First Refusal with respect to any proposed transfer described in a Transfer Notice shall not affect the Company’s right to exercise the Right of First Refusal with respect to any proposed transfer described in any other Transfer Notice, whether or not such other Transfer Notice is issued by the Optionee or issued by a person other than the Optionee with respect to a proposed transfer to the same Proposed Transferee. If the Company exercises the Right of First Refusal, the Company and the Optionee shall thereupon consummate the sale of the Transfer Shares to the Company on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within sixty (60) days after the date the Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company (unless a longer period is offered by the Proposed Transferee); provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provides for the payment for the Transfer Shares other than in cash, the Company shall have the option of paying for the Transfer Shares by the present value cash equivalent of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice as reasonably determined by the Company. For purposes of the foregoing, cancellation of any indebtedness of the Optionee to any Participating Company shall be treated as payment to the Optionee in cash to the extent of the unpaid principal and any accrued interest canceled.

 

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11.5 Failure to Exercise Right of First Refusal. If the Company fails to exercise the Right of First Refusal in full (or to such lesser extent as the Company and the Optionee otherwise agree) within the period specified in Section 11.4 above, the Optionee may conclude a transfer to the Proposed Transferee of the Transfer Shares on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice, provided such transfer occurs not later than ninety (90) days following delivery to the Company of the Transfer Notice. The Company shall have the right to demand further assurances from the Optionee and the Proposed Transferee (in a form satisfactory to the Company) that the transfer of the Transfer Shares was actually carried out on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice. No Transfer Shares shall be transferred on the books of the Company until the Company has received such assurances, if so demanded, and has approved the proposed transfer as bona fide. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by the Optionee, shall again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance by the Optionee with the procedure described in this Section 11.

11.6 Transferees of Transfer Shares. All transferees of the Transfer Shares or any interest therein, other than the Company, shall be required as a condition of such transfer to agree in writing (in a form satisfactory to the Company) that such transferee shall receive and hold such Transfer Shares or interest therein subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement, including this Section 11 providing for the Right of First Refusal with respect to any subsequent transfer. Any sale or transfer of any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option shall be void unless the provisions of this Section 11 are met.

11.7 Transfers Not Subject to Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal shall not apply to any transfer or exchange of the shares acquired upon exercise of the Option if such transfer or exchange is in connection with an Ownership Change Event. If the consideration received pursuant to such transfer or exchange consists of stock of a Participating Company, such consideration shall remain subject to the Right of First Refusal unless the provisions of Section 11.9 below result in a termination of the Right of First Refusal.

11.8 Assignment of Right of First Refusal. The Company shall have the right to assign the Right of First Refusal at any time, whether or not there has been an attempted transfer, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.

11.9 Early Termination of Right of First Refusal. The other provisions of this Option Agreement notwithstanding, the Right of First Refusal shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control, unless the Acquiror assumes the Company’s rights and obligations under the Option or substitutes a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiror’s stock for the Option, or (b) the existence of a public market for the class of shares subject to the Right of First Refusal. A public marketshall be deemed to exist if (i) such stock is listed on a national securities exchange (as that term is used in the Exchange Act) or (ii) such stock is traded on the over-the-counter market and prices therefor are published daily on business days in a recognized financial journal.

 

  12.

VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION.

 

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12.1 Grant of Vested Share Repurchase Option. Except as provided in Section 12.4 below, in the event of the occurrence of any Repurchase Event, as defined below, the Company shall have the right to repurchase the shares acquired by the Optionee pursuant to the Option (the Repurchase Shares) under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 12 (the Vested Share Repurchase Option). Each of the following events shall constitute a Repurchase Event:

(a) Termination of the Optionee’s Service with the Participating Company Group for any reason or no reason, with or without Cause, including death or Disability. The Repurchase Period, as defined below, shall commence on the date of termination of the Optionee’s Service.

(b) For the Optionee directly or indirectly to own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or render services as an employee, consultant or independent contractor to, any business whether in corporate, proprietorship or partnership form or otherwise with respect to any product or service that is the same as or competitive with the Company’s business. The Repurchase Period, as defined below, shall commence on the date the Company receives actual notice of such activities by Optionee.

(c) The Optionee, the Optionee’s legal representative, or other holder of shares acquired upon exercise of the Option attempts to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any Repurchase Shares without complying with the provisions of Section 11. The Repurchase Period, as defined below, shall commence on the date the Company receives actual notice of such attempted sale, exchange, transfer, pledge or other disposition.

(d) The receivership, bankruptcy or other creditor’s proceeding regarding the Optionee or the taking of any of the Optionee’s shares of Stock by legal process, such as a levy of execution. The Repurchase Period, as defined below, shall commence on the date the Company receives actual notice of the commencement of pendency of the receivership, bankruptcy or other creditor’s proceeding or the date of such taking, as the case may be. The Fair Market Value of the Repurchase Shares shall be determined as of the last day of the month preceding the month in which the proceeding involved commenced or the taking occurred.

12.2 Exercise of Vested Share Repurchase Option. The Company may exercise the Vested Share Repurchase Option by written notice to the Optionee, the Optionee’s legal representative, or other holder of the Repurchase Shares, as the case may be, at any time after a Repurchase Event (the “Repurchase Period”). The Vested Share Repurchase Option may be exercised for some or all of the Repurchase Shares, in the discretion of the Company.

12.3 Payment for Repurchase Shares. The repurchase price per share being repurchased by the Company pursuant to the Vested Share Repurchase Option shall be an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares determined as of the date of the Repurchase Event. Payment by the Company to the Optionee shall be made in cash on or before the last day of the Repurchase Period. For purposes of the foregoing, cancellation of any indebtedness of the Optionee to the Company shall be treated as payment to the Optionee in cash to the extent of the unpaid principal and any accrued interest canceled.

 

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12.4 Transfers Not Subject to Vested Share Repurchase Option. The Vested Share Repurchase Option shall not apply to any transfer or exchange of shares acquired upon exercise of the Option if such transfer or exchange is in connection with an Ownership Change Event. If the consideration received pursuant to such transfer or exchange consists of stock of a Participating Company, such consideration will remain subject to the Vested Share Repurchase Option unless the provisions of Section 12.6 below result in a termination of the Vested Share Repurchase Option.

12.5 Assignment of Vested Share Repurchase Option. The Company shall have the right to assign the Vested Share Repurchase Option at any time, whether or not such option is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.

12.6 Early Termination of Vested Share Repurchase Option. The other provisions of this Option Agreement notwithstanding, the Vested Share Repurchase Option shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control, unless the Acquiror assumes the Company’s rights and obligations under the Option or substitutes a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiror’s stock for the Option, or (b) the existence of a public market, as defined in Section 11.9, for the class of shares subject to the Vested Share Repurchase Option.

 

  13.

ESCROW.

13.1 Establishment of Escrow. To ensure that shares subject to the Right of First Refusal or the Vested Share Repurchase Option will be available for repurchase, the Company may require the Optionee to deposit the certificate evidencing the shares which the Optionee purchases upon exercise of the Option with an escrow agent designated by the Company under the terms and conditions of escrow and security agreements approved by the Company. If the Company does not require such deposit as a condition of exercise of the Option, the Company reserves the right at any time to require the Optionee to so deposit the certificate in escrow. Upon the occurrence of an Ownership Change Event or a change, as described in Section 9, in the character or amount of any of the outstanding stock of the corporation the stock of which is subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which the Optionee is entitled by reason of the Optionee’s ownership of shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option that remain, following such Ownership Change Event or change described in Section 9, subject to the Right of First Refusal, the Vested Share Repurchase Option, or any security interest held by the Company shall be immediately subject to the escrow to the same extent as such shares of Stock immediately before such event. The Company shall bear the expenses of the escrow.

13.2 Delivery of Shares to Optionee. As soon as practicable after the expiration of the Right of First Refusal, the Vested Share Repurchase Option and after full repayment of any promissory note secured by the shares in escrow, but not more frequently than twice each calendar year, the escrow agent shall deliver to the Optionee the shares no longer subject to such restrictions and no longer securing any promissory note.

 

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13.3 Notices and Payments. In the event the shares held in escrow are subject to the Company’s exercise of the Right of First Refusal or the Vested Share Repurchase Option, the notices required to be given to the Optionee shall be given to the escrow agent, and any payment required to be given to the Optionee shall be given to the escrow agent. Within thirty (30) days after payment by the Company, the escrow agent shall deliver the shares which the Company has purchased to the Company and shall deliver the payment received from the Company to the Optionee.

 

  14.

STOCK DISTRIBUTIONS SUBJECT TO OPTION AGREEMENT.

If, from time to time, there is any stock dividend, stock split or other change, as described in Section 9, in the character or amount of any of the outstanding stock of the corporation the stock of which is subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement, then in such event any and all new, substituted or additional securities to which the Optionee is entitled by reason of the Optionee’s ownership of the shares acquired upon exercise of the Option shall be immediately subject to the Right of First Refusal, the Vested Share Repurchase Option, and any security interest held by the Company with the same force and effect as the shares subject to the Right of First Refusal, the Vested Share Repurchase Option and such security interest immediately before such event.

 

  15.

NOTICE OF SALES UPON DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.

The Optionee shall dispose of the shares acquired pursuant to the Option only in accordance with the provisions of this Option Agreement. In addition, if the Notice designates this Option as an Incentive Stock Option, the Optionee shall (a) promptly notify the President of the Company if the Optionee disposes of any of the shares acquired pursuant to the Option within one (1) year after the date the Optionee exercises all or part of the Option or within two

(2) years after the Date of Option Grant and (b) provide the Company with a description of the circumstances of such disposition. Until such time as the Optionee disposes of such shares in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Option Agreement, unless otherwise expressly authorized by the Company, the Optionee shall hold all shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the Optionee’s name (and not in the name of any nominee) for the one-year period immediately after the exercise of the Option and the two-year period immediately after Date of Option Grant. At any time during the one-year or two-year periods set forth above, the Company may place a legend on any certificate representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option requesting the transfer agent for the Company’s stock to notify the Company of any such transfers. The obligation of the Optionee to notify the Company of any such transfer shall continue notwithstanding that a legend has been placed on the certificate pursuant to the preceding sentence.

 

  16.

LEGENDS.

The Company may at any time place legends referencing the Right of First Refusal, the Vested Share Repurchase Option, and any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of stock subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The Optionee shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the possession of the Optionee in order to carry out the provisions of this Section. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, legends placed on such certificates may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

 

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16.1 “THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT COVERING SUCH SECURITIES, THE SALE IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 OR RULE 701 UNDER THE ACT, OR THE CORPORATION RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION, STATING THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT.”

16.2 “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OPTION IN FAVOR OF THE CORPORATION OR ITS ASSIGNEE SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR SUCH HOLDER’S PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION.”

16.3 “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION IN FAVOR OF THE CORPORATION OR ITS ASSIGNEE SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR SUCH HOLDER’S PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION.”

16.4 “THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED BY THE CORPORATION TO THE REGISTERED HOLDER UPON EXERCISE OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 422 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (“ISO). IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PREFERENTIAL TAX TREATMENT AFFORDED TO ISOs, THE SHARES SHOULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO [INSERT DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION DATE HERE]. SHOULD THE REGISTERED HOLDER ELECT TO TRANSFER ANY OF THE SHARES PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND FOREGO ISO TAX TREATMENT, THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE SHARES SHALL NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IMMEDIATELY. THE REGISTERED HOLDER SHALL HOLD ALL SHARES PURCHASED UNDER THE INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION IN THE REGISTERED HOLDER’S NAME (AND NOT IN THE NAME OF ANY NOMINEE) PRIOR TO THIS DATE OR UNTIL TRANSFERRED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.”

 

12


  17.

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT.

The Optionee hereby agrees that in the event of any underwritten public offering of stock, including an initial public offering of stock, made by the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, the Optionee shall not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of stock of the Company or any rights to acquire stock of the Company for such period of time from and after the effective date of such registration statement as may be established by the underwriter for such public offering; provided, however, that such period of time shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days plus such additional reasonable period as the underwriters of the Company may request in order to facilitate compliance with applicable regulations from the effective date of such registration as may be requested by the Company or such managing underwriters. The foregoing limitation shall not apply to shares registered in the public offering under the Securities Act.

 

  18.

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

No shares acquired upon exercise of the Option may be sold, exchanged, transferred (including, without limitation, any transfer to a nominee or agent of the Optionee), assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, including by operation of law, in any manner which violates any of the provisions of this Option Agreement and any such attempted disposition shall be void. The Company shall not be required (a) to transfer on its books any shares which will have been transferred in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Option Agreement or (b) to treat as owner of such shares or to accord the right to vote as such owner or to pay dividends to any transferee to whom such shares will have been so transferred.

 

  19.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

19.1 Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

19.2 Additional Agreements. As a condition to receiving the Options or exercising the Options, the Optionee understands that he or she may be required to execute additional agreements, such as a stockholder agreement, rights of first refusal and co-sale agreement, voting agreement and/or otherwise, in the form provided by the Company, which may subject the shares acquired upon exercise of the Option to additional restrictions with regards to transfer, voting or otherwise. Any benefits hereunder are conditioned on the Optionee executing any such additional agreements as may be required by the Company.

19.3 Termination or Amendment. The Board may terminate or amend the Plan or the Option at any time; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 8 in connection with a Change in Control, no such termination or amendment may adversely affect the Option or any unexercised portion hereof without the consent of the Optionee unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law or government regulation or is required to enable the Option, if designated an Incentive Stock Option in the Notice, to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. No amendment or addition to this Option Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.

 

13


19.4 Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this Option Agreement provides for effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such notice) upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address shown below that party’s signature or at such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party.

19.5 Integrated Agreement. The Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan together with any employment, service or other related agreement with the Optionee and a Participating Company referring to the Option shall constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the Optionee and the Participating Company Group with respect to the subject matter contained herein or therein and supersedes any prior agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties among the Optionee and the Participating Company Group with respect to such subject matter other than those as set forth or provided for herein or therein. To the extent contemplated herein or therein, the provisions of the Notice and the Option Agreement shall survive any exercise of the Option and shall remain in full force and effect.

19.6 Applicable Law. This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware as such laws are applied to agreements between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware.

19.7 Counterparts. The Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

  20.

COMPANY CASH SETTLEMENT RIGHT.

Upon a Qualifying Event, the Company may, in its discretion, elect to cancel some or all of the vested and/or unvested portion of the Option (the “Cash Settlement Right”) in exchange for a cash payment to the Optionee in an amount equal to the per share Fair Market Value of the Company Common Stock (determined in the Board’s sole discretion) over the per share exercise price under the Option (reduced by any applicable withholding taxes) (the “Cash Payment”).

If the Company exercises the Cash Settlement Right, the Company shall notify the Optionee of such election in writing, and shall deliver the Cash Payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Optionee or pursuant to the Company’s standard payroll processes, in the Company’s discretion. For purposes of the foregoing, the Company may elect to offset outstanding indebtedness of the Optionee owed to the Company, in satisfaction of the Cash Payment. If the Company elects to exercise the Cash Settlement Right with respect to a portion of the Option, the portion against which the Company did not exercise the Cash Settlement Right shall continue to vest and be governed by the Plan and this Option Agreement.

 

14


Qualifying Event” means:

 

(a)

Receipt by the Company of a Notice of Exercise from the Optionee pursuant to which Optionee would elect to exercise to purchase 20,000 or fewer Shares; or

 

(b)

The Company’s determination to (i) amend or not enforce Section 7 of this Option Agreement, or (ii) extend the exercise period of the Option for any time period beyond the termination of the Optionee’s service with the Company and/or its Affiliates or any time period set forth in Section 6.6 of the Plan.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

15


☐ Incentive Stock Option     Optionee:  

 

☐ Nonstatutory Stock Option      
   

Date:

 

 

STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

Instaclustr US Holding, Inc.

Attention: President

 

                                                         

                                                         

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Option. I was granted an option (the “Option”) to purchase shares of the common stock (the “Shares”) of Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), my Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the “Notice”) and my Stock Option Agreement (the Option Agreement”) as follows:

 

Grant Number:      

 

Date of Option Grant:      

 

Number of Option Shares:      

 

Exercise Price per Share:    $   

 

2. Exercise of Option. I hereby elect to exercise the Option to purchase the following number of Shares, all of which are Vested Shares in accordance with the Notice and the Option Agreement:

 

Total Shares Purchased:     

 

Total Exercise Price (Total Shares X Price per Share)   $   

 

3. Payments. I enclose payment in full of the total exercise price for the Shares in the following form(s), as authorized by my Option Agreement:

 

☐ Cash:    $   

 

☐ Check:

  

$

  

 

Notice of Option Exercise

 

1


4. Tax Withholding. I authorize payroll withholding and otherwise will make adequate provision for the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company, if any, in connection with the Option. If I am exercising a Nonstatutory Stock Option, I enclose payment in full of my withholding taxes, if any, as follows:

(Contact Plan Administrator for amount of tax due.)

 

               ☐ Cash:       $  

 

  ☐ Check:       $  

 

5. Optionee Information.

 

               My address is:   

 

    

 

            My social security number is:    

 

          

My email address is: 

  

 

    

(your preferred non-Company email address)

I am exercising the Option in connection with the termination of my Service with the Company:

 

 

Yes. If so, my estimated last day of Service is ,                                 20        .

 

 

No

6. Email Notice Authority. In the interests of speed, convenience and minimizing expenses, I understand the Company would prefer to use email as its principal method of communication with me. Section 232 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits use of email for notices to shareholders if a shareholder agrees. By providing my preferred email address above, I hereby agree that email notices for all Company notices and mailings, statutory and otherwise, are acceptable.

7. Notice of Disqualifying Disposition. If the Option is an Incentive Stock Option, I agree that I will promptly notify the President of the Company if I transfer any of the Shares within one (1) year from the date I exercise all or part of the Option or within two (2) years of the Date of Option Grant.

8. Binding Effect. I agree that the Shares are being acquired in accordance with and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Option Agreement, including the Right of First Refusal and the Vested Share Repurchase Option set forth therein, to all of which I hereby expressly assent. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

9. Transfer. I understand and acknowledge that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and that consequently the Shares must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act, an exemption from such registration is available, or they are sold in accordance with Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act. I further understand and acknowledge that the Company is under no obligation to register the Shares. I understand that the certificate or certificates evidencing the Shares will be imprinted with legends which prohibit the transfer of the Shares unless they are registered or such registration is not required in the opinion of legal counsel satisfactory to the Company.

 

2


I am aware that Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which permits limited public resale of securities acquired in a nonpublic offering, is not currently available with respect to the Shares and, in any event, is available only if certain conditions are satisfied. I understand that any sale of the Shares that might be made in reliance upon Rule 144 may only be made in limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of such rule and that a copy of Rule 144 will be delivered to me upon request.

10. Shares Bound by Additional Agreements. I understand and acknowledge that, as a condition to my receipt of the Shares, I may be required to execute additional agreements, such as a stockholder agreement, rights of first refusal and co-sale agreement, voting agreement and/or otherwise, which may subject the Shares to additional restrictions with regards to transfer, voting or otherwise.

I understand that I am purchasing the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Notice and my Option Agreement, copies of which I have received and carefully read and understand.

 

Very truly yours,

 

(Signature)

Receipt of the above is hereby acknowledged.

INSTACLUSTR US HOLDING, INC.

 

By:  

 

Title:  

 

Dated:  

 

 

3


Confidential

INSTACLUSTR US HOLDING, INC.

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants you (the “Participant”) an award of Restricted Stock Units (“Restricted Stock Units”) under the Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding 2018 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”). Subject to the provisions of Appendix A and Appendix B (both attached) and of the Plan, the principal features of this award are as follows:

Participant:

Name:                                                                  

Address:                                                             

City, State, Postal Code:                                     

Country:                                                                 

Grant Date:                                                          

Number of Restricted Stock Units:                 

Vesting Commencement Date:                         

Vesting of Restricted Stock Units: Subject to the terms of the Agreement (as defined below), the Restricted Stock Units will vest according to the following schedule:

One-third (1/3) of the Restricted Stock Units will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to Participant’s continuous Service (as defined herein) through each such anniversary.

For purposes of this award of Restricted Stock Units, “Service” shall mean the provision of services to the Company (or any parent, affiliate or subsidiary and including through any co-employer or professional employer organization) by the Participant, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or this Agreement (as defined below). Notwithstanding anything in Section 3 of Appendix A below, the Participant shall be considered as providing continuous Service (and, therefore, continue to vest in accordance with the above vesting schedule) if Participant is on the Company’s (including any Successor Company’s or Subsidiary’s) payroll or experiencing one of the following circumstances:

 

   

Sick leave by law or Company-approved sick leave;

 

   

Any statutory leave (such as military or maternity leave);

 

   

Disability leave by law or Company-approved short or long term disability leave; or

 

   

any other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company, with such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

Unless otherwise defined herein or in Appendix A or Appendix B, capitalized terms herein or in Appendix A or Appendix B will have the defined meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.


Participant acknowledges and agrees that Participant’s execution of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (including Appendix A and Appendix B attached hereto, collectively, the “Agreement”) will result in a contract between Participant and the Company with respect to this award of Restricted Stock Units. Participant agrees and acknowledges that Participant’s execution of this Agreement indicates Participant’s agreement and understanding that this award of Restricted Stock Units is subject to all of the terms and conditions contained in Appendix A and Appendix B and the Plan. For example, important additional information on vesting and forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Units is contained in Sections 3 through 5 of Appendix A. PLEASE BE SURE TO READ ALL OF APPENDIX A AND APPENDIX B, WHICH CONTAINS THE SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

Participant should retain a copy of Participant’s signed Agreement. A copy of the Plan is available upon request made to Stock Administration.

 

PARTICIPANT:    INSTACLUSTR US HOLDING, INC.
________________________________
Signature
   ________________________________
Signature
________________________________
Print Name / Title
  

Peter Lilley, Chief Executive Officer
Print Name / Title

________________________________
Date
   ________________________________
Date

 

2


APPENDIX A

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

  1.

Grant. The Company hereby grants to the Participant under the Plan an award of Restricted Stock Units, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this Agreement and the Plan.

 

  2.

Companys Obligation to Pay. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive a Share, a cash amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date it becomes vested if the Company elects to settle the Restricted Stock Units in cash or a combination thereof on the date it becomes vested. Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units have vested in the manner set forth in Sections 3 and 4, the Participant will have no right to payment of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual settlement of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such Restricted Stock Units will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.

 

  3.

Vesting Schedule. Subject to Section 4, the Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Agreement will vest according to the vesting schedule set forth on the attached Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, subject to the Participant’s continuous Service through each vesting date. For the purposes of this Agreement, Service shall not include any notice of termination period (e.g., garden leave, etc.) during which the Participant is not providing active Service to the Company or an Affiliate.

 

  4.

Forfeiture upon Termination of Continuous Service. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, if the Participant’s continuous Service terminates for any or no reason, the then-unvested Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Agreement will thereupon be forfeited at no cost to the Company, and the Participant will have no further rights thereunder.

 

  5.

Payment after Vesting.

 

  a.

Any Restricted Stock Units that vest in accordance with Section 3 will be paid to the Participant (or in the event of the Participant’s death, to his or her estate) in whole Shares; provided that to the extent determined appropriate by the Company, any federal, state, foreign and local withholding taxes (including but not limited to income tax, payment on account and social insurance contributions) with respect to such Restricted Stock Units will be paid by reducing the number of Shares actually paid to the Participant (see Section 8). Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 and 5(b), vested Restricted Stock Units will be paid in whole Shares as soon as practicable after vesting, but in each such case no later than the date that is two-and-one-half (2 12) months from the later of (i) the end of the Company’s tax year that includes the vesting date, or (ii) the end of Participant’s tax year that includes the vesting date.

 

Appendix A


  b.

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, if the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the Restricted Stock Units is accelerated in connection with Participant’s termination of continuous Service (provided that such termination is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A to the extent Section 409A is applicable, as determined by the Company), other than due to death, and if (x) Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of such termination of continuous Service and (y) the payment of such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will result in the imposition of additional tax under Section 409A if paid to Participant on or within the six (6)-month period following Participant’s termination of continuous Service, then the payment of such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will not be made until the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Participant’s termination of continuous Service, unless Participant dies following his or her termination, in which case, the Restricted Stock Units will be paid in Shares in accordance with Section 6 as soon as practicable following his or her death. It is the intent of this Agreement to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the Restricted Stock Units provided under this Agreement or Shares issuable thereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so comply. For purposes of this Agreement, “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any proposed, temporary or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time.

 

  6.

Payments after Death. Any distribution or delivery to be made to the Participant under this Agreement will, if the Participant is then deceased, be made to the Participant’s designated beneficiary or in accordance with applicable local laws, or if no beneficiary survives the Participant, administrator or executor of the Participant’s estate or other party entitled to the rights under applicable local laws. Any such transferee must furnish the Company with (a) written notice of his or her status as transferee, and (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer and compliance with any laws or regulations pertaining to said transfer.

 

  7.

Transaction/Change in Control.

 

  a.

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Restricted Stock Units shall immediately vest in full in the event of any Sale Event, except to the extent (i) the Restricted Stock Units are assumed or exchanged by the purchaser or any affiliate or parent thereof, in connection with such Sale Event pursuant to the provisions of the Plan or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 6, 2022 by and between the Company, NetApp, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Kangaroo Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Fortis Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company shall not constitute a Sale Event.

 

A-2


  b.

The Administrator shall have the discretionary authority, exercisable at any time while the Restricted Stock Units are unvested, to provide that this Award shall immediately vest upon a Sale Event or upon an event or events associated with such transactions.

 

  8.

Withholding of Taxes. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, no Shares will be issued to the Participant, unless and until satisfactory arrangements (as determined by the Administrator) will have been made by the Participant with respect to the payment of income (including federal, state, foreign and local taxes), employment, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account and other taxes which the Company determines must be withheld with respect to such Shares so issuable (the “Withholding Taxes”). Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Withholding Taxes legally due by the Participant is and remains the Participant’s responsibility and that the Company and/or the Participant’s actual employer (the “Employer”) (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Withholding Taxes in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, the vesting of Restricted Stock Units, the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units in Shares or the receipt of an equivalent cash payment, the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired at vesting and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units to reduce or eliminate the Participant’s liability for Withholding Taxes.

To satisfy the Withholding Taxes, the Company may withhold otherwise deliverable Shares upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units, according to the vesting schedule, having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld for the payment of the Withholding Taxes pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may specify from time to time. The Company will not retain fractional Shares to satisfy any portion of the Withholding Taxes. If the Administrator determines that the withholding of whole Shares results in an over-withholding to meet the minimum tax withholding requirements, a reimbursement will be made to the Participant as soon as administratively possible.

If the Company does not withhold in Shares as described above, prior to the issuance of Shares upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units or the receipt of an equivalent cash payment, the Participant shall pay, or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company or to the Employer (in their sole discretion) to satisfy all withholding and payment on account obligations of the Company and/or the Employer. In this regard, the Participant authorizes the Company or the Employer to withhold all applicable Withholding Taxes legally payable by the Participant from the Participant’s wages or other cash compensation payable to the Participant by the Company or the Employer or from any equivalent cash payment received upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units. Alternatively, or in addition, if permissible under local law, the Company may allow Participant to satisfy the Withholding Taxes payable by the Participant, by providing irrevocable instructions to a Company-designated broker to sell a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes, provided that such sale does not violate Company policy or applicable laws.

 

A-3


If the Participant fails to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of the Withholding Taxes hereunder at the time any applicable Restricted Stock Units otherwise are scheduled to vest pursuant to Section 3, the Participant will permanently forfeit such Restricted Stock Units and any Shares otherwise deliverable with respect thereto, and the Restricted Stock Units will not be issued to Participant.

 

  9.

Rights as Stockholder. Neither the Participant nor any person claiming under or through the Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder (if any) unless and until certificates representing such Shares are issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Participant.

 

  10.

No Effect on Service. The Participant’s service with the Company and its subsidiaries is on an at-will basis only unless contrary to the terms of an employment agreement or applicable local law. Accordingly, the terms of the Participant’s service with the Company and its subsidiaries will be determined from time to time by the Company or the subsidiary employing or retaining the Participant (as the case may be), and the Company or the subsidiary, as applicable, will have the right, which is hereby expressly reserved, to terminate or change the terms of the employment or service of the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without good cause subject to the terms of the Participant’s employment agreement or applicable local law.

 

  11.

Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Agreement will be addressed to the Company at c/o NetApp, Inc., 3060 Olsen Drive, San Jose, CA, 95128, or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.

 

  12.

Grant is Not Transferable. Except to the limited extent provided in Section 6, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby will not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and will not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this grant, or any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment or similar process, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby immediately will become null and void.

 

  13.

Leave of Absence. The vesting of Restricted Stock Units will not be suspended and will continue in accordance with the vesting schedule under this Agreement during Participant’s authorized leave of absence from the Company, or the parent or subsidiary employing Participant, subject to the remaining terms of this Agreement and the Plan.

 

  14.

Binding Agreement. Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this grant contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

A-4


  15.

Additional Conditions to Issuance of Shares. If at any time the Company determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state, foreign or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the issuance of Shares to the Participant (or his or her estate), such issuance will not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval will have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Where the Company determines that the delivery of the payment of any Shares will violate federal or foreign securities laws or other applicable laws, the Company will defer delivery until the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the delivery of Shares will no longer cause such violation (to the extent such deferral is not in violation of such laws). The Company will make all reasonable efforts to meet the requirements of any such state, foreign or federal law or securities exchange and to obtain any such consent or approval of any such governmental authority.

 

  16.

Plan Governs. This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of this Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan will govern unless the Plan specifically provides that the terms of the Agreement may control.

 

  17.

Administrator Authority. The Administrator will have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Restricted Stock Units have vested). All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Agreement.

 

  18.

Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

  19.

Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision in this Agreement will be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

 

  20.

Labor Law. By accepting this award of Restricted Stock Units, the Participant acknowledges that: (a) the grant of this award of Restricted Stock Units is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units; (b) all determinations with respect to any future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when the Restricted Stock Units shall be granted, the number of Shares issuable pursuant to each award of Restricted Stock Units, the time or times when Restricted Stock Units shall vest, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (c) the Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary; (d) this award of Restricted Stock Units is an extraordinary item of

 

A-5


  compensation which is outside the scope of the Participant’s employment contract, if any; (e) this award of Restricted Stock Units is not part of the Participant’s normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments; (f) the vesting of this award of Restricted Stock Units ceases upon termination of Service for any reason except as may otherwise be explicitly provided in the Plan or this Agreement; (g) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty; (h) this award of Restricted Stock Units has been granted to the Participant in the Participant’s status as an Employee, a non-employee member of the Board or a consultant or independent advisor of the Company or its parent or subsidiary; (i) any claims resulting from this award of Restricted Stock Units shall be enforceable, if at all, against the Company; (j) in consideration of the grant of this award, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the award or diminution in value of the award or any of the Shares issuable under the award from termination of Participant’s Service by the Company or Employer, as applicable (and for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of contract or local labor laws), and Participant irrevocably releases his or her Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable, from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing this Agreement, Participant shall be deemed to have irrevocably waived his or her entitlement to pursue such claim; and (k) in the event that Employer is not the Company, the grant of the award will not be interpreted to form an employment contract or relationship with the Company and, furthermore, the grant of the Restricted Stock Units will not be interpreted to form an employment contract with the Employer or any subsidiary.

 

  21.

Disclosure of Participant Information.

 

  a.

Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Participant’s personal data as described in this Agreement by and among, as applicable, Participant’s employer, the Company and its subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

  b.

For Participants outside the U.S., Participant understands that Participant’s employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, as applicable, hold certain personal information about Participant regarding Participant’s employment, the nature and amount of Participant’s compensation and the fact and conditions of Participant’s participation in the Plan, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, health, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company and its subsidiaries, details of all options, awards or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participant’s favor, for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (the “Data”). Participant understands that the Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients may be located in Participant’s country, or

 

A-6


  elsewhere, and that the recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than Participant’s country. Participant understands that Participant may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting Participant’s local human resources representative. Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party. Participant understands that the Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant understands that Participant may, at any time, view the Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data, require any necessary amendments to the Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing Participant’s local human resources representative. Participant understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing Participant’s consent may affect Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of Participant’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant understands that Participant may contact his or her local human resources representative.

 

  22.

Governing Law. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without resort to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules.

 

  23.

Imposition of Other Requirements. The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on Participant’s participation in the Plan, on the award and on any Shares acquired under the Plan, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable in order to comply with any applicable law or facilitate the administration of the Plan. Participant agrees to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing. Furthermore, Participant acknowledges that the laws of the country in which Participant is working at the time of grant, vesting or the sale of Shares received pursuant to this award (including any rules or regulations governing securities, foreign exchange, tax, labor, or other matters) may subject Participant to additional procedural or regulatory requirements that Participant is and will be solely responsible for and must fulfill.

 

  24.

Translations. If Participant has received this Agreement or any other document or communication related to the Plan or this grant in a language other than English and the meaning in the translation is different than in the English version, the terms expressed in the English version will govern.

 

  25.

Appendix B. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement, the award shall be subject to any special terms and conditions set forth in any appendix to this Agreement (the “Appendix B”) for Participant’s country. The Appendix B constitutes part of this Agreement.

 

A-7


APPENDIX B

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE

INSTACLUSTR US HOLDING, INC.

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

FOR UNITED KINGDOM RESIDENTS

Form of Settlement. Restricted Stock Units granted to employees resident in the United Kingdom shall be paid in Shares only, notwithstanding any discretion to settle Restricted Stock Units in cash as set out in Section 2 of the Agreement and Section 8 of the Plan.

Joint Election. As a condition of participation in the Plan, you agree to accept any liability for secondary Class 1 NICs which may be payable by the Company and/or its Affiliate employing or retaining you in connection with the Restricted Stock Units and any event giving rise to Withholding Taxes (the “Employer’s NICs”). Without limitation to the foregoing, you agree to enter into a joint election with the Company (the “Joint Election”), the form of such Joint Election being formally approved by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”), and to execute any other consents or elections required to accomplish the transfer of the Employer’s NICs to you. You further agree to execute such other joint elections as may be required between you and any successor to the Company and/or its Affiliate employing or retaining you. You further agree that the Company and/or its Affiliate employing or retaining you may collect Employer’s NICs from you by any of the means set forth in Section 8 of the Agreement.

If you do not enter into a Joint Election, if approval of the Joint Election has been withdrawn by HMRC or if such Joint Election is jointly revoked by you and the Company or its Affiliate employing or retaining you, as applicable, the Company, in its sole discretion and without any liability to you, may choose not to issue or deliver any Shares to you at vesting and you will forfeit your Restricted Stock Units.

Tax and National Insurance Contributions Acknowledgment. The following provisions supplement Section 8 of the Agreement:

Without limitation to Section 8 of the Agreement, you agree that you are liable for all Withholding Taxes and hereby covenant to pay all such Withholding Taxes, as and when requested by the Company or the Employer or by HMRC (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority). You also agree to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and the Employer against any Withholding Taxes that they are required to pay or withhold or have paid or will pay on your behalf to HMRC (or any other tax authority or any other relevant authority).

You acknowledge that the amount of any income tax not collected within ninety (90) days of the end of the U.K. tax year in which the event giving rise to the Withholding Taxes occurs may constitute an additional benefit to you on which additional income tax and National Insurance Contributions may be payable. You agree that you will be responsible for reporting and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime and for paying the Company or the Employer (as appropriate) for the value of any National Insurance Contributions due on this additional benefit, which the Company or the Employer may collect from you by any of the means referred to in the Plan or Section 8 of the Agreement.

 

Appendix B


If so required by the Company or the Employer, you agree to enter into a joint election within Section 431 of (UK) Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (“ITEPA”) in respect of computing any tax charge on the acquisition of “restricted securities” (as defined in Section 423 and 424 of ITEPA).

FOR GERMANY RESIDENTS

The following is a description of German tax law consequences with regard to the award of Restricted Stock Units under the Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding 2018 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) to German employees. Please note that the following is only a brief summary of the applicable tax laws and regulations. This summary does not address all possible tax aspects of transactions that may arise under the Plan. The description is intended solely for general information and does not make specific representation to any participant. This description is based on current law; you should note that tax laws change frequently. You should consult with your own tax advisor as to the tax consequences of your particular transactions under the Plan.

Shares Vested Under the Plan. You will not recognize any taxable income at the time a Restricted Stock Unit, or RSU, is granted under the Plan.

Upon vesting and settlement of the RSUs through the payment of cash or the issuance of shares you will recognize taxable income in the cash amount or in the amount of the fair market value of the shares on the date of settlement under the Plan. This income will be treated as compensation income and taxed at your personal tax rate in the tax year in which the shares are delivered or the cash is paid. Your German employer will withhold, at the time of the settlement, income tax, solidarity surcharge, church tax (if applicable) and social security contributions with respect to that income. You will be subject to social security contributions on such income to the extent you have not exceeded the wage base threshold for the taxable year. If your actual tax liability differs from the amount withheld, it is your responsibility to pay the additional tax. You must report the settlement of the RSUs to your German employer immediately on vesting to enable your German employer to make the necessary withholdings. If the Plan is available to all German employees and subject to further conditions, a tax-free allowance of EUR 1.440 per annum may apply if shares are received on vesting of the RSUs.

If you subsequently sell the shares, any gain upon the sale of shares will be taxed, regardless of any holding period. The tax basis in any shares received on the vesting of the RSUs, for purposes of determining gain or loss on any subsequent disposition of the shares, will be the fair market value of the shares on the date of settlement. You will be subject to the “flat tax regime” (Abgeltungssteuer) of 26.375 % plus church tax (if applicable), unless at any point in time during the five years preceding the sale you held a stake representing 1% or more directly or indirectly of stock in the Company. It is your responsibility to report and pay any taxes due as a result of the sale of the shares. Any gains upon a sale of the shares are not subject to social security contributions.

 

B-2


FOR AUSTRALIA RESIDENTS

Transfers. Without limiting any other restriction on transfers provided in the Plan, no Restricted Stock Units issued under this Agreement may be transferred during the 12 month period commencing on the date of issue of such Restricted Stock Units under this Agreement, and Participant agrees to any mechanism that may be proposed by the Company to enforce this restriction.

No financial advice. Participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) the invitation to enter into this Agreement has been made by the Company without regard to Participant’s personal circumstances and is not financial product advice or a recommendation to Employee to acquire securities in the Company; (ii) this Agreement, and the Plan documentation, have been prepared without taking into account Participant’s specific objectives, financial situation or needs and should not be construed as financial, taxation, legal or other advice; and (iii) Company is not licensed to provide financial product advice in respect of its securities or any other financial products.

 

B-3

EX-FILING FEES

Exhibit 107.1

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

FORM S-8

(Form Type)

NETAPP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

               
Security Type   Security
Class
Title (1)
  Fee
Calculation
Rule
  Amount
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit
  Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
  Fee Rate   Amount of
Registration
Fee
               

Equity

  Common stock, par value $0.001 per share (2)   Rule 457(a) (4)   182,540 (2)   $11.97 (4)   $2,185,003.80   $92.70 per $1,000,000   $202.55
               

Equity

  Common stock, par value $0.001 per share (3)   Rule 457(a) (5)   125,064 (3)   $66.90 (5)   $8,366,781.60   $92.70 per $1,000,000   $775.60
         
Total Offering Amounts     $10,551,785.40     $978.15
         
Total Fee Offsets         —  
         
Net Fee Due               $978.15

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock of NetApp, Inc. (the “Registrant”) that become issuable under the Amended and Restated Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. 2018 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s common stock.

(2)

Represents 182,540 shares of common stock of the Registrant subject to outstanding unvested stock options as of May 20, 2022, granted under the Plan (the “Assumed Options”), which were assumed by the Registrant on May 20, 2022, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 6, 2022, by and among the Registrant, Kangaroo Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, Instaclustr US Holding, Inc. and Fortis Advisors LLC, solely as the securityholder representative thereunder (the “Merger Agreement”).

(3)

Represents 125,064 shares of common stock of the Registrant subject to restricted stock units as of May 20, 2022, granted under the Plan, which were assumed by the Registrant on May 20, 2022, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

(4)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share is based upon the weighted average exercise price for the shares subject to the Assumed Options.

(5)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share is based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of the Registrant’s common stock on June 10, 2022, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.