UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 14C
(Rule 14c-101)
SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Check the appropriate box:
x | Preliminary Information Statement | ¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2)) |
¨ | Definitive Information Statement |
GRANDPARENTS.COM, INC. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x | No Fee required. |
o | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11. |
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: | |
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | |
(5) | Total fee paid: |
o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
(3) | Filing Party: |
(4) | Date Filed: |
GRANDPARENTS.COM, INC.
589 EIGHTH AVENUE, 6TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018
THE COMPANY IS NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED
NOT TO SEND THE COMPANY A PROXY.
Dear Stockholder:
The purpose of this notice and information statement (the “Information Statement”) is to inform you of the following actions taken by the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) of Grandparents.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“we,” “us,” “our” or the “Corporation”) and the holder representing a majority of the total outstanding voting power of the Corporation’s voting securities (the “Majority Stockholder”), each of which will become effective on March __, 2012, the date that is twenty (20) calendar days after the date this Information Statement was first sent or given to the Corporation’s stockholders:
(1) | on February 23, 2012, the Board of Directors approved, ratified and adopted, and recommended that the Corporation’s stockholders approve, ratify and adopt, the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”), which provides for 10,317,691 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), to be eligible for issuance to employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors who provide services to the Corporation under the 2012 Plan; and |
(2) | on February 23, 2012, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock from 30,000,000 to 150,000,000 shares (the “Amendment”) and recommended that the Corporation’s stockholders approve and adopt the Amendment. |
On February 23, 2012, the Majority Stockholder, who controls 65% of the total outstanding voting power of the Corporation’s voting securities, executed a written consent adopting and approving the actions with respect to the 2012 Plan and the Amendment (collectively, the “Actions”) set forth above.
Pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), an Information Statement must be provided to the holders of voting stock of the Corporation who did not sign the written consent adopting and approving the Actions at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the effective date of the Actions set forth in the consents. The Actions will become effective on March __, 2012, the date that is twenty (20) calendar days after the date this Information Statement was first sent or given to our stockholders.
This Information Statement shall be considered the notice required under Section 228(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). No additional action will be undertaken by the Corporation with respect to the receipt of written consents, and no dissenters’ rights with respect to the receipt of the written consents, and no dissenters’ rights under the DGCL, are afforded to the Corporation’s stockholders as a result of the ratification, adoption or approval of the Actions.
This Information Statement is being provided to all holders of record of Common Stock, Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”), and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series B Preferred Stock”), as of March __, 2012. The date of this Information Statement is March __, 2012. This Information Statement was first sent or given to the Corporation’s stockholders on or about March __, 2012.
Sincerely, | |
Joseph Bernstein | |
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
March __, 2012 |
GRANDPARENTS.COM, INC.
589 EIGHTH AVENUE, 6TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018
INFORMATION STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
THE COMPANY IS NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED
NOT TO SEND THE COMPANY A PROXY.
The purpose of this Information Statement is to inform you of the following actions taken by the Board of Directors and the Majority Stockholder, each of which will become effective on March __, 2012, the date that is twenty (20) calendar days after the date this Information Statement was first sent or given to our stockholders:
(1) | on February 23, 2012, the Board of Directors approved, ratified and adopted, and recommended that the Corporation’s stockholders approve, ratify and adopt, the 2012 Plan, which provides for 10,317,691 shares of Common Stock to be eligible for issuance to employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors who provide services to the Corporation under the 2012 Plan; |
(2) | on February 23, 2012, the Board of Directors approved the Amendment and recommended that the Corporation’s stockholders approve and adopt the Amendment. |
As of March __, 2012 there were (i) 16,996,151 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, (ii) one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and (iii) 3,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters requiring stockholder approval. The one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock entitles its holder to 55,887,491 votes on all matters requiring stockholder approval. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock entitles its holder to 4.299 votes per share on all matters requiring stockholder approval. As of February 23, 2012, the Majority Stockholder held the one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock representing 55,887,491 votes, or approximately 65% of the total votes entitled to be cast with regard to the Actions.
Pursuant to Rule 14c-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, the earliest date that the Actions can become effective is twenty (20) calendar days after this Information Statement is first sent or given to our stockholders. In addition, the Amendment will not become effective until the Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation effectuating the Amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware after the twenty (20) calendar day period has elapsed.
The Board of Directors is not soliciting your proxy or vote in connection with the ratification, adoption or approval of the Actions and proxies and votes are not being requested from stockholders. This Information Statement, which is being provided to all holders of record of Corporation Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock as of March __, 2012, is first being sent or given to our stockholders on or about March __, 2012.
The Corporation is distributing this Information Statement to its stockholders in satisfaction of the notice requirement under Section 228 of the DGCL. No additional action will be undertaken by the Corporation with respect to the receipt of written consents, and no dissenters’ rights with respect to the receipt of the written consents, and no dissenters’ rights under the DGCL, are afforded to the Corporation’s stockholders as a result of the ratification, adoption or approval of the Actions.
Expenses in connection with the distribution of this Information Statement will be paid by the Corporation. The Corporation will request brokerage houses, nominees, custodians, fiduciaries, and other similar persons or entities to forward this Information Statement to beneficial owners of the Corporation’s voting securities held of record by them, and the Corporation will reimburse those persons or entities for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in forwarding the Information Statement.
By order of the Board of Directors. |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ACTIONS
Q. Why did I receive this Information Statement?
A. Applicable laws require us to provide you information regarding the Actions even though your vote is neither required nor requested for the Actions to become effective.
Q. What will I receive if the Actions become effective?
A. Nothing. The Actions will become effective with no further notice or information to the stockholders regarding the Actions other than as required in the Corporation’s periodic filings with the SEC.
Q. When do you expect the Actions to become effective?
A. The Actions will become effective twenty (20) calendar days after this Information Statement is first sent or given to our stockholders, currently anticipated to be on or about March __, 2012; provided that the Amendment will become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which will occur no sooner than twenty (20) calendar days after this Information Statement is first sent or given to our stockholders.
Q. Why am I not being asked to vote?
A. The Majority Stockholder has already ratified, approved or adopted the Actions pursuant to written consents in lieu of a special meeting of stockholders. Such ratification, approval or adoption, together with the approval of the Board of Directors, is sufficient under Delaware law, and no further approval by the Corporation’s stockholders is required.
Q. What do I need to do now?
A. Nothing. This Information Statement is purely for your information and does not require or request you to do anything.
Q. Whom can I call with questions?
A. If you have any questions about the Actions, please contact Peter Visalli, Esq., company counsel, at (973) 643-4386.
VOTE REQUIRED; MANNER OF APPROVAL
Under Section 242 of the DGCL, approval of an amendment to the Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s voting securities. In addition, pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders can be effected through the written consent of those stockholders having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting of stockholders at which all shares entitled to vote on such action were present and voted and so long as prompt notice of the action taken by written consent is provided to all other stockholders. In accordance with the DGCL, the affirmative written consent to the Actions by the Majority Stockholder was received by the Corporation on February 23, 2012 and, as a result, no additional vote or proxy is required by the Corporation’s other stockholders to approve the Actions.
The Corporation has no class of voting stock outstanding other than the Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock. As noted above, as of March __, 2012 there were (i) 16,996,151 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, (ii) one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and (iii) 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters requiring stockholder approval. The one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock entitles its holder to 55,887,491 votes on all matters requiring stockholder approval. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock entitles its holder to approximately 4.299 votes per share on all matters requiring stockholder approval. Accordingly, the votes or written consents of stockholders representing at least 42,890,322 votes were necessary to implement the Actions.
On February 23, 2012, the Majority Stockholder executed and delivered to the Corporation a written consent approving the Actions. The number of votes held by the Majority Stockholder and voted in favor of the Actions was 55,887,491, or approximately 65% of the total outstanding voting power of the Corporation’s voting securities. Accordingly, in compliance with the DGCL, stockholders representing at least a majority of the total outstanding voting power of the Corporation’s voting securities have approved the Actions. As a result, no vote or proxy is required by the stockholders to approve the adoption of the Actions.
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EFFECTIVE DATE OF ACTIONS
Under Rule 14c-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Actions cannot take effect until twenty (20) calendar days after this Information Statement is first sent or given to the Corporation’s stockholders, currently anticipated to be on or about March __, 2012. The Amendment will become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which is anticipated to be on or about March __, 2012. If, at any time prior to the effective date of the Amendment, the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, determines that the Amendment is no longer in the Corporation’s and its stockholders’ best interest, the Amendment may be abandoned.
DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS
Under Delaware law, stockholders do not have any dissenters’ or appraisal rights in connection with the Actions or any of the matters described in this Information Statement.
DISTRIBUTION
We will deliver only one Information Statement to multiple security holders sharing an address unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of such security holders sharing an address. Also, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of this Information Statement and future stockholder communication documents to any security holder at a shared address to which a single copy of this Information Statement was delivered, or deliver a single copy of this Information Statement and future stockholder communication documents to any security holder or holders sharing an address to which multiple copies are now delivered, upon written request to us at Grandparents.com, Inc., 589 Eighth Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10018, or by telephone request at (646) 839-8800.
Security holders may also address future requests regarding delivery of information statements by contacting us at the address or telephone number set forth in the foregoing paragraph.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information contained in this Information Statement includes some statements that are not purely historical and that are “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Corporation’s and the Corporation’s management’s expectations or beliefs regarding the future, including the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations. The forward-looking statements contained in this Information Statement are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments. There can be no assurance that future developments actually affecting the Corporation will be those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Corporation’s control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and other risks described in the Corporation’s filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Corporation’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
CHANGE OF CONTROL
On February 23, 2012 (the “Closing Date”), the Corporation entered into an Asset Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) with GP.com Holding Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company formerly known as Grandparents.com, LLC (“GP.com”). Under the terms of the Contribution Agreement, GP.com contributed substantially all of its assets to us in exchange for our assumption of certain liabilities of GP.com and our issuance to GP.com of one (1) share of our newly designated Series A Preferred Stock and a warrant to purchase shares of our Common Stock (the “Transaction”). As of the Closing Date and after giving effect to the issuance of 3,000,000 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to a private placement with certain accredited investors that was also consummated on the Closing Date, the one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock held by GP.com represented approximately 65% of the total voting power of our securities on as-converted basis of the Series A and Series B Preferred Stock. In connection with the Transaction, we changed our fiscal year from June 30 to December 31.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation of New Executive Officers of the Corporation
Employment Agreements with Current Executive Officers
In connection with the closing of the Transaction, we entered into employment agreements with each of (i) Steven E. Leber, our newly appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, (ii) Joseph Bernstein, our newly appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and member of our Board of Directors, (iii) Jeffrey S. Mahl, our newly appointed President, and (iv) Matthew Schwartz, our newly appointed Vice President – Administration, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary (collectively, the “Current Named Executive Officers”). The following sets forth a summary of such employment agreements.
Steven E. Leber
On the Closing Date, we entered into an employment agreement with Steven E. Leber, our newly appointed Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer. The term of the agreement commenced on the Closing Date and expires on the one year anniversary of the Closing Date. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $225,000. Mr. Leber was also granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The options are exercisable for a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant with one-third (1/3) of such options vesting and becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) of such options becoming vested and exercisable in eight (8) equal quarterly installments thereafter. Mr. Leber is also entitled to participate in any bonus, incentive, pension or profit sharing plan or other type of additional benefits provided by the Corporation for the benefit of officers and/or regular employees. The options are exercisable at a price per share of $0.60, which was the closing trading price of our Common Stock on February 24, 2012, the date of grant.
We may terminate Mr. Leber’s employment for “cause” which shall be deemed to exist if Mr. Leber (i) is in breach of any material obligation owed to us under his employment agreement, or (ii) engages in a criminal act or engages in any act of moral turpitude. We may terminate his employment for cause upon five (5) day’s prior written notice to Mr. Leber. In the event of termination of his employment for cause, Mr. Leber will be paid only at the then applicable base salary rate up to and including the date of termination.
Mr. Leber may terminate his employment at his discretion by providing at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to us. In the event of termination of his employment by Mr. Leber, we may immediately relieve Mr. Leber of all duties and immediately terminate his employment agreement, provided that we pay Mr. Leber at the then applicable base salary rate to the date of termination set forth in Mr. Leber’s original notice of his termination.
In the event we are acquired, or are the non-surviving party in a merger, or sell all or substantially all of our assets, we will pay Mr. Leber two (2) times the then applicable base salary rate less any money to be received by Mr. Leber from the surviving entity or buyer.
In the event we terminate Mr. Leber without cause, we shall be bound to pay the unpaid salary and vacation amounts remaining under his employment agreement and pay a pro rata amount of any bonus earned as of the date of termination.
The agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions and provides that Mr. Leber will be subject to noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants for a period of one year following the termination of his employment. The agreement also contains a mandatory arbitration provision.
Joseph Bernstein
On the Closing Date, we entered into an employment agreement with Joseph Bernstein, our newly Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and member of our Board of Directors. The term of the agreement commenced on the Closing Date and expires on the one year anniversary of the Closing Date. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $225,000. Mr. Bernstein was also granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The options are exercisable for a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant with one-third (1/3) of such options vesting and becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) of such options becoming vested and exercisable in eight (8) equal quarterly installments thereafter. Mr. Bernstein is also entitled to participate in any bonus, incentive, pension or profit sharing plan or other type of additional benefits provided by us for the benefit of officers and/or regular employees. The options are exercisable at a price per share of $0.60, which was the closing trading price of our Common Stock on February 24, 2012, the date of grant.
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We may terminate Mr. Bernstein’s employment for “cause” which shall be deemed to exist if Mr. Bernstein (i) is in breach of any material obligation owed to the Corporation under his employment agreement, or (ii) engages in a criminal act or engages in any act of moral turpitude. We may terminate his employment for cause upon five (5) day’s prior written notice to Mr. Bernstein. In the event of termination of his employment for cause, Mr. Bernstein will be paid only at the then applicable base salary rate up to and including the date of termination.
Mr. Bernstein may terminate his employment at his discretion by providing at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to us. In the event of termination of his employment by Mr. Bernstein, we may immediately relieve Mr. Bernstein of all duties and immediately terminate his employment agreement, provided that we pay Mr. Bernstein at the then applicable base salary rate to the date of termination set forth in Mr. Bernstein’s original notice of his termination.
In the event we are acquired, or are the non-surviving party in a merger, or sell all or substantially all of our assets, we will pay Mr. Bernstein two (2) times the then applicable base salary rate less any money to be received by Mr. Bernstein from the surviving entity or buyer.
In the event we terminate Mr. Bernstein without cause, we shall be bound to pay the unpaid salary and vacation amounts remaining under his employment agreement and pay a pro rata amount of any bonus earned as of the date of termination.
The agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions and provides that Mr. Bernstein will be subject to noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants for a period of one year following the termination of his employment. The agreement also contains a mandatory arbitration provision.
Jeffrey S. Mahl
On the Closing Date, we entered into an employment agreement with Jeffrey S. Mahl, our newly appointed President. The term of the agreement commenced on the Closing Date and expires on the one year anniversary of the Closing Date. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $150,000. Mr. Mahl was also granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The options are exercisable for a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant with one-third (1/3) of such options vesting and becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) of such options becoming vested and exercisable in eight (8) equal quarterly installments thereafter. Mr. Mahl is also entitled to participate in any bonus, incentive, pension or profit sharing plan or other type of additional benefits provided by us for the benefit of officers and/or regular employees. The options are exercisable at a price per share of $0.60, which was the closing trading price of our Common Stock on February 24, 2012, the date of grant.
We may terminate Mr. Mahl’s employment for “cause” which shall be deemed to exist if Mr. Mahl (i) is in breach of any material obligation owed to us under his employment agreement, or (ii) engages in a criminal act or engages in any act of moral turpitude. We may terminate his employment for cause upon five (5) day’s prior written notice to Mr. Mahl. In the event of termination of his employment for cause, Mr. Mahl will be paid only at the then applicable base salary rate up to and including the date of termination.
Mr. Mahl may terminate his employment at his discretion by providing at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to us. In the event of termination of his employment by Mr. Mahl, we may immediately relieve Mr. Mahl of all duties and immediately terminate his employment agreement, provided that we pay Mr. Mahl at the then applicable base salary rate to the date of termination set forth in Mr. Mahl’s original notice of his termination.
In the event we are acquired, or are the non-surviving party in a merger, or sell all or substantially all of our assets, we will pay Mr. Mahl two (2) times the then applicable base salary rate less any money to be received by Mr. Mahl from the surviving entity or buyer.
In the event we terminate Mr. Mahl without cause, we shall be bound to pay the unpaid salary and vacation amounts remaining under his employment agreement and pay a pro rata amount of any bonus earned as of the date of termination.
The agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions and provides that Mr. Mahl will be subject to noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants for a period of one year following the termination of his employment. The agreement also contains a mandatory arbitration provision.
Matthew Schwartz
On the Closing Date, we entered into an employment agreement with Matthew Schwartz, our newly appointed Vice President – Administration, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary. The term of the agreement commenced on the Closing Date and expires on the one year anniversary of the Closing Date. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $100,000. Mr. Schwartz was also granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. The options are exercisable for a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant with one-third (1/3) of such options vesting and becoming exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) of such options becoming vested and exercisable in eight (8) equal quarterly installments thereafter. Mr. Schwartz is also entitled to participate in any bonus, incentive, pension or profit sharing plan or other type of additional benefits provided by us for the benefit of officers and/or regular employees. The options are exercisable at a price per share of $0.60 which was the closing trading price of our Common Stock on February 24, 2012, the date of grant.
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We may terminate Mr. Schwartz’s employment for “cause” which shall be deemed to exist if Mr. Schwartz (i) is in breach of any material obligation owed to the Corporation under his employment agreement, or (ii) engages in a criminal act or engages in any act of moral turpitude. We may terminate his employment for cause upon five (5) day’s prior written notice to Mr. Schwartz. In the event of termination of his employment for cause, Mr. Schwartz will be paid only at the then applicable base salary rate up to and including the date of termination.
Mr. Schwartz may terminate his employment at his discretion by providing at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to us. In the event of termination of his employment by Mr. Schwartz, we may immediately relieve Mr. Schwartz of all duties and immediately terminate his employment agreement, provided that we shall pay Mr. Schwartz at the then applicable base salary rate to the date of termination set forth in Mr. Schwartz’s original notice of his termination.
In the event we are acquired, or are the non-surviving party in a merger, or sell all or substantially all of our assets, we will pay Mr. Schwartz two (2) times the then applicable base salary rate less any money to be received by Mr. Schwartz from the surviving entity or buyer.
In the event we terminate Mr. Schwartz without cause, we shall be bound to pay the unpaid salary and vacation amounts remaining under his employment agreement and pay a pro rata amount of any bonus earned as of the date of termination.
The agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions and provides that Mr. Schwartz will be subject to noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants for a period of one year following the termination of his employment. The agreement also contains a mandatory arbitration provision.
Equity Incentive Plans
In connection with the closing of the Transaction, the Board of Directors adopted the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan. See “Action 1 – Approval, Ratification and Adoption of the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan” in this Information Statement for a description of such plan.
Effective at the closing of the Transaction, we terminated our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, except that all outstanding options will continue in accordance with their terms. As of March __, 2012, there are 200,000 outstanding stock options under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, and these options vested and became fully exercisable immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction.
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GP.com Summary Compensation Table
The following table shows for each of the two fiscal years of GP.com ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, compensation awarded or paid by GP.com to, or earned from GP.com by, the Current Named Executive Officers.
Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($) | Option Awards (1) ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||
Steven E. Leber (2) | 2011 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | 2010 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Joseph Bernstein (2) | 2011 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer, | 2010 | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer and | ||||||||||||||||||||
Treasurer | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey S. Mahl | 2011 | $ | 120,000 | $ | 45,000 | $ | 20,736 | (3) | $ | 185,736 | ||||||||||
President | 2010 | 61,875 | 90,000 | 13,625 | (3) | 165,500 | ||||||||||||||
Matthew Schwartz | 2011 | 75,000 | 18,000 | - | 93,000 | |||||||||||||||
VP – Administration, | 2010 | 32,083 | 4,500 | - | 36,583 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Compliance Officer and | ||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary |
(1) | The amounts reported in the Option Awards column represent the grant date fair value of such awards to the Current Named Executive Officers, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. In 2011, GP.com granted Mr. Mahl an option to purchase 100,000 of its Class B Units at an exercise price of $0.86 and granted Mr. Schwartz an option to purchase 40,000 Class B Units at an exercise price of $0.86. The estimated grant date fair market value of the options granted in 2011 was $0.45 per option. In 2010, GP.com granted Mr. Mahl an option to purchase 200,000 of its Class A Units at an exercise price of $0.625 and granted Mr. Schwartz an option to purchase 10,000 Class A Units at an exercise price of $0.625. The grant date fair market value of the options granted in 2010 was $0.45 per option. GP.com uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: (i) risk-free interest rate 1.18%, (ii) expected life (years) 5.0, (iii) expected volatility 95.00%, and (iv) dividend yield 0.00%. |
(2) | GP.com did not award or pay any compensation directly to Messrs. Leber and Bernstein in 2011 or 2010. GP.com paid management fees to Leber-Bernstein Group, LLC, an entity controlled by Messrs. Leber and Bernstein (“LBG”), for management services provided by LBG to GP.com. Through the Closing Date, Grandparents owed $612,500 in management fees to LBG, which were assumed by the Corporation at the closing of the Transaction and the Corporation issued a promissory note therefore. |
(3) | Reflects commission of five percent (5%) on gross advertising revenues actually received by GP.com during the applicable fiscal year. |
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GP.com Outstanding Equity Awards at 2011 Fiscal Year-End
The following table presents information about unexercised options in GP.com held by each of the Current Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2011. There were no unvested equity awards of GP.com as of December 31, 2011. In addition, none of the Current Named Executive Officers held any equity awards in the Corporation as of December 31, 2011.
Option Awards | ||||||||||||||||
Number of | Number of | |||||||||||||||
Securities | Securities | |||||||||||||||
Underlying | Underlying | |||||||||||||||
Unexercised | Unexercised | |||||||||||||||
Options | Options | Option | Option | |||||||||||||
(#) | (#) | Exercise | Expiration | |||||||||||||
Name | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Price | Date | ||||||||||||
$ | ||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey S. Mahl | 66,667 | 133,333 | 0.625 | 10/1/2015 | ||||||||||||
- | 100,000 | 0.86 | 10/1/2015 | |||||||||||||
Matthew Schwartz | 3,337 | 6,663 | 0.86 | 10/14/2016 | ||||||||||||
- | 40,000 | 0.86 | 10/14/2016 |
Compensation of Former Executive Officers of the Corporation
Summary Compensation Table
The following table shows for each of the two fiscal years of the Corporation ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, compensation awarded or paid to, or earned by, Ronald R. Helm, our former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Elizabeth T. Leary, Ph.D., our former Chief Scientific Officer and Michael P. Murphy, Ph.D., our former Chief Operating Officer (collectively, the “Former Named Executive Officers”), each of which resigned on August 31, 2011, in connection with the sale of substantially all of our assets to Emerald Star Holdings, Inc. (“Emerald Star”).
Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards(1) ($) | Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | All Other Comp. ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald R. Helm | 2011 | $ | 308,833 | - | - | $ | 234,000 | - | $ | 5,865 | (2) | $ | 548,698 | |||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief Executive | 2010 | 285,417 | - | $ | 88,000 | 174,000 | $ | 56,250 | 7,983 | 611,650 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Officer and Chairman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elizabeth T. Leary | 2011 | 139,809 | - | - | 25,500 | - | 3,209 | (3) | 168,517 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief Scientific | 2010 | 142,500 | - | 5,400 | 12,325 | 15,818 | 5,875 | 181,918 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael P. Murphy | 2011 | 170,674 | - | - | 25,500 | - | 10,960 | (4) | 207,134 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Chief | 2010 | 170,231 | - | 15,000 | 12,325 | 21,852 | 7,351 | 226,759 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Officer |
(1) | The amounts reported in the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns represent the grant date fair value of such awards to the Former Named Executive Officers, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the calculated value of our share-based payments. Stock options are valued as of the date of grant. The volatility assumption used in the Black-Scholes formula is based on the volatility of our common stock. For the stock option awards made to the Former Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2011, we used the following assumptions to compute fair value: (i) expected volatility of 117-148%, (ii) expected dividend yield of 0.00%, (iii) risk-free interest rate of 2.54-2.96%, and (iv) expected life of 10 years. |
(2) | The amount listed under “All Other Compensation” in fiscal 2011 consists of $2,615 in life insurance premiums paid by us for Mr. Helm’s benefit and $3,250 in company-contributions for Mr. Helm’s account in the 401(k) plan. |
(3) | The amount listed under “All Other Compensation” in fiscal 2011 consists of $2,120 of life insurance premiums paid by us for Dr. Leary’s benefit and $1,088 in company-contributions for Dr. Leary’s account in the 401(k) plan. |
(4) | The amount listed under “All Other Compensation” in fiscal 2011 consists of $2,464 in life insurance premiums paid by us for Dr. Murphy’s benefit and $8,497 in company-contributions for Dr. Murphy’s account in the 401(k) plan. |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2011 Fiscal Year-End
The following table presents information about unexercised stock options and unvested stock awards held by each of the Former Named Executive Officers as of June 30, 2011. All of the stock options terminated and stock awards vested in full upon the sale of substantially all of our assets to Emerald Star.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Number of | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities | Securities | Market | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Underlying | Underlying | Number | Value of | |||||||||||||||||||||
Unexercised | Unexercised | of Shares | Shares of | |||||||||||||||||||||
Options | Options | Option | Option | of Stock | Stock | |||||||||||||||||||
(#) | (#) | Exercise | Expiration | That Have | That Have | |||||||||||||||||||
Name | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Price | Date | Not Vested | Not Vested (1) | ||||||||||||||||||
($) | (#) | ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald R. Helm | 340,000 | - | 0.81 | 01/30/2014 | 4,167 | $ | 1,042 | |||||||||||||||||
4,049 | - | 0.81 | 01/30/2014 | 62,719 | 15,680 | |||||||||||||||||||
133,333 | 16,667 | 0.41 | 10/01/2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
116,666 | 83,334 | 0.88 | 10/01/2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
150,000 | 450,000 | 0.39 | 10/01/2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Elizabeth T. Leary | 21,922 | - | 0.51 | 08/27/2012 | 750 | 188 | ||||||||||||||||||
157,887 | - | 0.81 | 01/30/2014 | 5,000 | 1,250 | |||||||||||||||||||
16,666 | 8,334 | 0.60 | 07/01/2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
25,000 | 50,000 | 0.34 | 07/01/2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Michael P. Murphy | 4,000 | - | 0.51 | 08/27/2012 | 1,167 | 292 | ||||||||||||||||||
90,000 | - | 0.86 | 08/29/2015 | 13,889 | 3,472 | |||||||||||||||||||
18,000 | - | 0.99 | 08/25/2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||
16,666 | 8,334 | 0.60 | 07/01/2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
25,000 | 50,000 | 0.34 | 07/01/2020 |
(1) | Market value is calculated on $0.25 per share, the closing price of our common stock on June 30, 2011. |
Compensation of Officers in Fiscal 2012 following the Emerald Star Asset Sale
Stanley L. Schloz, our former President immediately prior to the Transaction, and Curtis J. Scheel, our former Secretary and Treasurer immediately prior to the Transaction, did not receive any compensation for serving as executive officers. Messrs. Schloz and Scheel resigned as officers of the Corporation effective upon the closing of the Transaction.
Compensation of Current Directors
Our newly appointed non-employee directors will each receive an annual fee of $25,000, which shall be paid quarterly. Non-employee directors will also earn $1,000 for each meeting attended in person or $500 for each meeting attended telephonically. On February 24, 2012, we issued the following options to our newly appointed non-employee directors:
· | A non-qualified stock option to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock to Dr. Cohen of which one-third (1/3) of such shares shall become vested and exercisable upon the one year anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) of such shares shall become vested and exercisable in eight (8) equal quarterly installments thereafter. |
· | A non-qualified stock option to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock to Mr. Office of which 150,000 of such option shall become vested and exercisable upon the one year anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining shares shall become vested and exercisable in eight (8) equal quarterly installments thereafter. |
· | A non-qualified stock option to purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock to Mr. Wasserman which shall become fully vested and exercisable upon the one year anniversary of the date of grant. |
The options are exercisable for a period of ten (10) years from the date of grant and shall become fully vested and exercisable upon the one year anniversary of the date of grant. The options are exercisable at a price per share of $0.60, which was the closing trading price of the Common Stock on February 24, 2012, the date of grant.
Directors who are also officers of the Corporation will not receive additional compensation for serving on the Board of Directors.
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Compensation of Former Directors
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, we did not separately pay our former directors who were also our employees any additional compensation for serving as a director, other than customary reimbursement of expenses. This applied to Ronald R. Helm, our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Kenneth R. Waters, our former Director of Strategic Planning and Corporate Secretary.
The following table presents information about the compensation that was paid or earned during our fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 by our former directors for their service on the Board of Directors (other than Ronald R. Helm, our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, whose compensation is presented in the Summary Compensation Table under “Compensation of Executive Officers – Compensation of Former Executive Officers”).
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Stock Awards | Option Awards | Total | ||||||||||||
($) | ($)(1) | ($)(1)(2) | ($) | |||||||||||||
Mario Ehlers (3) | $ | 19,000 | - | $ | 18,700 | $ | 37,700 | |||||||||
Paul G. Kanan (3) | 15,313 | - | 11,900 | 27,213 | ||||||||||||
Richard W. Palfreyman (3) | 23,750 | - | 11,900 | 35,650 | ||||||||||||
Curtis J. Scheel (3) | 23,750 | - | 11,900 | 35,650 | ||||||||||||
Stanley L. Schloz (3) | 21,375 | - | 11,900 | 33,275 | ||||||||||||
Kenneth R. Waters (3)(5) | - | - | - | - |
(1) | As of the end of the 2011 fiscal year, the directors listed in the Director Compensation Table held the following aggregate number of stock awards and stock options. All of the stock options terminated and stock awards vested in full upon the sale of substantially all of our assets to Emerald Star. |
· | Dr. Ehlers held 17,500 shares of restricted stock and 176,178 stock options. |
· | Mr. Kanan held zero shares of restricted stock and zero stock options. |
· | Mr. Palfreyman held 30,000 shares of restricted stock and 106,761 stock options. |
· | Mr. Scheel held 30,000 shares of restricted stock and 60,000 stock options. |
· | Mr. Schloz held 30,000 shares of restricted stock and 35,000 stock options. |
· | Mr. Waters held 39,000 shares of restricted stock and 238,043 stock options. |
(2) | The amounts reported in the Option Awards columns represent the grant date fair value of their awards, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the calculated value of these Option Awards as of the date of grant. The volatility assumption used in the Black-Scholes formula is based on the volatility of our common stock. For the Option Awards granted to the directors in fiscal 2011, we used the following assumptions to compute the fair value, (i) expected volatility of 117%, (ii) expected dividend yield of 0.00%, (iii) risk-free interest rate of 2.96%, and (iv) expected life of ten (10) years. |
(3) | Dr. Ehlers, Mr. Palfreyman and Mr. Water resigned from the Board of Directors on August 31, 2011. Mr. Kanan resigned from the Board of Directors on February 26, 2011. Messrs. Scheel and Schloz resigned from the Board of Directors on the Closing Date. |
(4) | During fiscal year 2011, Mr. Waters was an employee, serving as our Director of Strategic Planning, and he received no separate cash or equity compensation for serving on the Board of Directors. |
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Compensation of Former Directors in Fiscal 2012 following the Emerald Star Asset Sale
Effective on September 1, 2011, immediately following closing of the asset sale to Emerald Star, our Board of Directors consisted of four directors – Curtis J. Scheel, Stanley L. Schloz, Fred Burstein and Andrew Ecclestone. On September 16, 2011, our former Board of Directors approved compensation to the directors consisting of a grant of performance based stock options and cash compensation. All former directors were treated equally and there was no separate compensation for directors who served as executive officers. Specifically, our former Board of Directors approved an award of 3-year stock options for 100,000 shares of Common Stock to each former director at an exercise price of $0.30 per share. These options are performance based such that they would vest and become exercisable only upon consummation of an acquisition transaction with an operating company, with the effect of the transaction that we would longer be deemed a shell company. Such options became fully vested and exercisable upon the closing of the Transaction. The former Board of Directors also approved monthly cash compensation to each director in the amount of $1,500. We paid a bonus of $5,000 to each of our directors upon the closing of the Transaction.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Common Stock beneficially owned as of March __, 2012, for (i) each stockholder known to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding shares of our voting securities, (ii) each Current Named Executive Officer and each current director, and (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group. A person is considered to beneficially own any shares over which such person, directly or indirectly, exercises sole or shared voting or investment power, or of which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within sixty (60) days through an exercise of stock options or warrants. Unless otherwise indicated, voting and investment power relating to the shares shown in the table for directors and executive officers will be exercised solely by the beneficial owner or shared by the owner and the owner’s spouse or children.
For purposes of computing the percentage of shares of our securities expected to be held by each person or group of persons named above, any shares that such person has or persons have the right to acquire within sixty (60) days of March __, 2012 is deemed to be outstanding, but is not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The inclusion herein of any shares listed as beneficially owned does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership.
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock |
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock |
Common Stock (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (1) |
% of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (2) |
% of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
% of Shares Beneficially Owned |
% of Total Voting Rights (1), (2), (4) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officers and Directors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Steven E. Leber (5) (6) | 1 | 100 | % | - | - | 55,887,491 | 65.15 | % | 65.15 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Bernstein (5) (6) | 1 | 100 | % | - | - | 55,887,491 | 65.15 | % | 65.15 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey S. Mahl | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew Schwartz | - | - | 25,000 | * | 107,476 | * | * | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Robert Cohen (5) (6) | 1 | 100 | % | - | - | 55,887,491 | 65.15 | % | 65.15 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Jeremy Office | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey L. Wasserman | - | - | 25,000 | * | 107,476 | * | * | |||||||||||||||||||||
Directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons) (5) (6) | 1 | 100 | % | 50,000 | * | 56,102,442 | 65.40 | % | 65.40 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Other 5% stockholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GP.com Holding Company, LLC (5) (6) | 1 | 100 | % | - | - | 55,887,491 | 65.15 | % | 65.15 | % |
* Less than 1%
(1) | On any matter presented to the stockholders of the Corporation for their action or consideration at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (or any action by written consent of stockholders in lieu of meeting), GP.com, as the holder of Series A Preferred Stock, will be entitled to cast 55,887,491 votes. Except as provided by law or by the other provisions of the Corporation’s Second and Amended Certificate of Incorporation, GP.com, as the holder of Series A Preferred Stock, will vote together with the holders of Common Stock and with the holders of any other series of the Corporation’s preferred stock the terms of which so provide, including the Series B Preferred Stock, as a single class. The share of Series A Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 55,887,491 shares of Common Stock upon the date on which the Corporation files the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Until such time, the Series A Preferred Stock will not be convertible into Common Stock. |
(2) | On any matter presented to the stockholders of the Corporation for their action or consideration at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (or any action by written consent of stockholders in lieu of meeting), each holder of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number determined by dividing $1.00 (the stated value of each share of Series B Preferred Stock) by the conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock then in effect, which as of March __, 2012 is $0.23261 per share (or 4.299 shares of Common Stock for each share of Series B Preferred Stock). Except as provided by law or by the other provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Series B Preferred Stock will vote together with the holders of Common Stock and with the holders of any other series of the Corporation’s preferred stock the terms of which so provide, including the Series A Preferred Stock, as a single class. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock will automatically convert into approximately 12,897,124 shares of Common Stock upon the date on which the Corporation files the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Until such time, the Series B Preferred Stock will not be convertible into Common Stock. |
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(3) | Based on 16,996,151 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of March __, 2012. Also reflects the conversion of Series A and Series B Preferred Stock upon filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. |
(4) | Reflects (i) the combined voting power with respect to shares of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Common Stock prior to the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and (ii) total voting power with respect to shares of Common Stock following the automatic conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Common Stock upon the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. |
(5) | The board of managers of GP.com has voting and investment power with respect to securities owned by GP.com. In order to take any action, the approval of a majority of the members of the board of managers is required. Messrs. Leber and Bernstein and Dr. Cohen serve as the only members of the GP.com board of managers. As a result, Messrs. Leber and Bernstein and Dr. Cohen may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power with respect to securities owned by GP.com. Messrs. Leber and Bernstein and Dr. Cohen each disclaim beneficial ownership of securities owned by GP.com, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(6) | GP.com entered into a lock-up agreement with the Corporation prohibiting the transfer of our equity securities beneficially owned by GP.com, subject to certain exceptions, for a period of twelve (12) months following the closing of the Transaction. The lock-up agreement automatically terminates upon the upon the final closing of an offering of Common Stock or other equity interest of the Corporation for the account of the Corporation having a price per share of at least $2.00 and resulting in at least $25,000,000 in gross proceeds (before underwriters’ discounts and selling commissions) to the Corporation. |
ACTION 1 – APPROVAL, RATIFICATION AND ADOPTION
OF THE 2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On February 23, 2012, the Board of Directors approved and adopted the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”). On February 23, 2012, the Majority Stockholder approved, ratified and adopted the 2012 Plan.
The 2012 Plan reserves 10,317,691 shares of Common Stock for issuance to employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Corporation in accordance with the 2012 Plan’s terms. The purpose of the 2012 Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Corporation by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Corporation’s future performance through equity awards. The various types of incentive awards that may be provided under the 2012 Plan are intended to enable the Corporation to respond to changes in compensation practices, tax laws, accounting regulations and the size and diversity of its business. As of March __, 2012, 5,420,000 of the shares reserved under the 2012 Plan relate to options previously granted under the 2012 Plan.
Background
As noted above, the Board of Directors approved and adopted the 2012 Plan on February 23, 2012. Upon stockholder approval of the 2012 Plan (which will become effective on March __, 2012, the date that is twenty (20) calendar days after the date this Information Statement was first sent or given to our stockholders), certain options to be granted under the 2012 Plan may qualify for treatment as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and certain awards under the 2012 Plan may constitute performance-based compensation not subject to Section 162(m) of the Code.
All of the Corporation’s employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Corporation are eligible to be granted awards under the 2012 Plan. An incentive stock option may be granted under the 2012 Plan only to a person who, at the time of the grant, is an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any present or future parent or subsidiary of the Corporation. All awards will be subject to the control of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors, which the Board of Directors may designate in accordance with the 2012 Plan. For purposes of this Information Statement, the Board of Directors and such committee are referred to herein as the “Committee.”
A summary of the principal features of the 2012 Plan is provided below, but is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2012 Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit A to this Information Statement. Additionally, the terms of the 2012 Plan are subject, in certain circumstances, to the terms of the award agreement between the Corporation and the participant.
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General
Awards. The 2012 Plan provides for the grant of any or all of the following types of awards (collectively, “Awards”): (i) stock options, and (ii) restricted stock. Awards may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, as determined by the Board of Directors or the Committee. A total of 10,317,691 shares of Common Stock have been reserved for distribution pursuant to the 2012 Plan. Subject to anti-dilution adjustments, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which options or restricted stock may be granted to any participant under the 2012 Plan during any calendar year or part thereof shall not exceed 10,317,691 shares. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options may be granted under the 2012 Plan is 2,000,000. If any outstanding Award is canceled, forfeited, delivered to us as payment for the exercise price or surrendered to us for tax withholding purposes, shares of Common Stock allocable to such Award may again be available for Awards under the 2012 Plan.
Administration. The 2012 Plan is administered by the Committee. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of the 2012 Plan, the Committee will determine, among other things, the persons to whom Awards will be granted, the type of Awards to be granted, the number of shares subject to each Award and the share price. The Committee will also determine the term of each Award, the restrictions or limitations thereon, and the manner in which each such Award may be exercised. The Committee may delegate some of the functions referred to above to one or more officers of the Corporation for participants who are not insiders of the Corporation.
Eligibility and Participation. Employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Corporation or any parent or subsidiary of the Corporation (provided such consultants and advisors render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction) are eligible to be granted Awards under the 2012 Plan. Eligibility under the 2012 Plan shall be determined by the Committee.
A participant’s right, if any, to continue to serve as the Corporation’s director, officer, other employee, or otherwise, will not be enlarged or otherwise affected by his or her designation as a participant under the 2012 Plan. Participants may receive one or more Awards under the 2012 Plan.
Forms of Awards
Stock Options. The 2012 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. The Committee shall determine those persons to whom stock options may be granted.
Options granted pursuant to the 2012 Plan are nontransferable by the optionee, other than by will or by laws of descent and distribution, except as may be otherwise provided with respect to a non-qualified stock option pursuant to the specific provision of the stock option agreement for such an award. Except as otherwise provided in the stock option agreement relating to a non-qualified stock option, all options are exercisable, during the optionee’s lifetime, only by the optionee or his or her guardian or legal representative. The Committee shall fix the term of each stock option. With respect to incentive stock options granted to an eligible employee owning stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Corporation’s stock or the stock of a parent or subsidiary of the Corporation immediately before the grant (“10% Stockholder”), such incentive stock option shall not be exercisable more than five (5) years from the date of grant. Under certain circumstances set forth in the 2012 Plan, options may be exercised within twelve (12) months following termination of employment twelve (12) months in the event of death or disability of the optionee), unless the term of the option, pursuant to the stock option agreement, expires earlier. Options may be granted to optionees in such amounts and at such prices as may be determined from time to time by the Committee. The exercise price of an incentive stock option will not be less than the fair market value of the shares underlying the option on the date the option is granted, provided, however, that the exercise price of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% Stockholder may not be less than 110% of such fair market value. The exercise price of a non-qualified stock option may not be less than fair market value of the shares underlying the option on the date the option is granted.
Under the 2012 Plan, the Corporation may not, in the aggregate, grant incentive stock options that are first exercisable by any individual optionee during any calendar year (under all such plans of the optionee’s employer corporation and its “parent” and “subsidiary” corporations, as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code) to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the underlying stock (determined at the time the option is granted) exceeds $100,000.
The 2012 Plan contains anti-dilution provisions authorizing appropriate adjustments in certain circumstances. Shares of Common Stock subject to Awards which expire without being exercised or which are cancelled as a result of the cessation of employment are available for further grants. No shares of Common Stock may be issued upon the exercise of any option granted under the 2012 Plan until the full option price has been paid by the optionee. The Committee may grant individual options under the 2012 Plan with more stringent provisions than those specified in the 2012 Plan.
The 2012 Plan will remain in effect until all stock options are exercised or terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no options may be granted on or after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2012 Plan.
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Restricted Stock Awards. Under the 2012 Plan, the Committee may grant shares of restricted Common Stock either alone or in tandem with other Awards. Restricted stock awards give the recipient the right to receive a specified number of shares of Common Stock, subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate. Restrictions may include limitations on the right to transfer the stock until the expiration of a specified period of time and forfeiture of the stock upon the occurrence of certain events such as the termination of employment prior to expiration of a specified period of time.
Performance-Based Awards and Performance Goals. Certain Awards made under the 2012 Plan may be granted so that they qualify as “performance-based compensation” (as this term is used in Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder) and are exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code (these Awards are referred to as “Performance-Based Awards”). Under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Corporation’s tax deduction may be limited to the extent total compensation paid to the chief executive officer, or any of the four most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief executive officer), exceeds $1,000,000 in any one tax year. Among other criteria, Awards only qualify as performance-based awards if at the time of grant the compensation committee is comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” (as this term is used in Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder). In addition, stockholder approval of material terms of performance goals for such “performance-based compensation” is required.
All stock options and certain stock awards and performance awards granted under the 2012 Plan, and the compensation attributable to such Awards, are intended to (i) qualify as performance-based awards or (ii) be otherwise exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code.
The Committee may set performance targets with respect to Awards intended to qualify as performance-based award.
Effect of a Change of Control. In the event of: (i) a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving corporation (other than any transaction in which there is no substantial change in the stockholders of the Corporation and the Awards granted under the 2012 Plan are assumed or replaced by the successor corporation), (ii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, (iii) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, or (iv) any other transaction which qualifies as a “corporate transaction” under Section 424(a) of the Code wherein the stockholders of the Corporation give up all of their equity interest in the Corporation (except for the acquisition, sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of the Corporation), in each case, all outstanding Awards shall automatically accelerate so that each such Award shall, immediately prior to the specified effective date of any such event, become 100% vested and exercisable. Such Award shall not so accelerate, however, if and to the extent that such Award is, in connection with any such event, either to be assumed by the successor corporation or parent thereof or to be replaced with a comparable award for the purchase of shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation.
Termination of Employment. With respect to a participant whose employment is terminated for any reason other than death or disability, the participant may exercise his or her stock options only to the extent the options would have been exercisable upon the termination date no later than twelve (12) months after the termination date (or such shorter time period as may be specified in the stock option agreement), but no later than the expiration date of the options. The 2012 Plan provides for certain periods after termination of employment during which a participant may exercise a stock option if employment is terminated due to death or disability.
Term and Amendment. The 2012 Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on February 23, 2012. No Award will be granted more than ten years after such date of effectiveness. The Board of Directors may at any time terminate or amend the 2012 Plan in any respect, including amendment of any form of Award agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to the 2012 Plan; provided, however, that: (i) the Board of Directors shall not, without the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders, amend the 2012 Plan in any manner that requires such stockholder approval pursuant to the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder as such provisions apply to incentive stock option plans or pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) no outstanding Award will be deemed affected by such amendment without the advance written consent of the participant holding the Award at the time of the proposed termination or amendment.
Options Granted to Date. As of the date of this Informational Statement, 5,420,000 options have been granted under the 2012 Plan.
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Summary of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following information is not intended to be a complete discussion of the federal income tax consequences of participation in the 2012 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by references to the Code and the regulations adopted under the Code. The provisions of the Code described in this section include current tax law only and do not reflect any proposals to revise current tax law. The federal income tax consequences applicable to officers, directors, and other persons who are subject to potential liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act may be different than the federal income tax consequences applicable to persons who are not subject to Section 16(b). The federal income tax consequences applicable to all persons, whether or not subject to Section 16(b), are described below.
Incentive Stock Options. Generally, under the Code, an optionee will not realize taxable income by reason of the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option granted pursuant to the 2012 Plan (see, however, discussion of alternative minimum tax below). If an optionee exercises an incentive stock option and does not dispose of the shares until the later of (i) two years from the date the option was granted, and (ii) one year from the date of exercise, the entire gain, if any, realized upon disposition of such shares will be taxable to the optionee as long-term capital gain, and the Corporation will not be entitled to any deduction. If an optionee disposes of the shares within the period of two years from the date of grant or one year from the date of exercise (referred to as a “disqualifying disposition”), the optionee generally will realize ordinary income in the year of disposition and the Corporation will receive a corresponding deduction in an amount equal to the excess of (a) the lesser of (1) the amount, if any, realized on the disposition, and (2) the fair market value of the shares on the date the option was exercised over (b) the option price. Any additional gain realized on the disposition will be short-term or long-term capital gain and any loss will be long-term or short-term capital loss. The optionee will be considered to have disposed of a share if he or she sells, exchanges, makes a gift of or transfers legal title to the share (except transfers, among others, by pledge, upon death or to a spouse). If the disposition is by sale or exchange, the optionee’s tax basis will equal the amount paid for the shares plus any ordinary income realized as a result of the disqualifying disposition.
The exercise of an incentive stock option may subject the optionee to the so-called “alternative minimum tax” (referred to as “AMT”). The amount by which the fair market value of the shares purchased at the time of the exercise exceeds the option exercise price is an adjustment for purposes of computing the AMT. In the event of a disqualifying disposition of the shares in the same taxable year as exercise of the incentive stock option, no adjustment is then required for purposes of the AMT, but regular income tax, as described above, may result from such disqualifying disposition.
An optionee who surrenders shares as payment of the exercise price of his or her incentive stock option generally will not recognize gain or loss on his or her surrender of such shares. The surrender of shares previously acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option in payment of the exercise price of another incentive stock option, is, however, a “disposition” of such stock. If the incentive stock option holding period requirements described above have not been satisfied with respect to such stock, such disposition will be a disqualifying disposition that may cause the optionee to recognize ordinary income as discussed above.
Under the Code, all of the shares received by an optionee upon exercise of an incentive stock option by surrendering shares will be subject to the incentive stock option holding period requirements. Of those shares, a number of shares (referred to as the “Exchange Shares”) equal to the number of shares surrendered by the optionee will have the same tax basis for capital gains purposes (increased by any ordinary income recognized as a result of a disqualifying disposition of the surrendered shares if they were incentive stock option shares) and the same capital gains holding period as the shares surrendered.
For purposes of determining ordinary income upon a subsequent disqualifying disposition of the Exchange Shares, the amount paid for such shares will be deemed to be the fair market value of the shares surrendered. The balance of the shares received by the optionee will have a tax basis (and a deemed purchase price) of zero and a capital gains holding period beginning on the date of exercise. The incentive stock option holding period for all shares will be the same as if the option had been exercised for cash.
Non-Qualified Stock Options. Generally, there will be no federal income tax consequences to either the optionee or the Corporation on the grant of non-qualified stock options pursuant to the 2012 Plan. On the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the optionee has taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares acquired on the exercise date over the option price of the shares. The Corporation will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction (subject to the limitations contained in Section 162(m) of the Code) in an amount equal to such excess, provided that the Corporation complies with applicable reporting rules.
Upon the sale of stock acquired by exercise of a non-qualified stock option, optionees will realize long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending upon their holding period for such stock. For individuals, capital losses are deductible only to the extent of capital gains for the year plus $3,000. An optionee who surrenders shares in payment of the exercise price of a non-qualified stock option will not recognize gain or loss with respect to the shares so delivered unless such shares were acquired pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option and the delivery of such shares is a disqualifying disposition. See “Incentive Stock Options.” The optionee will recognize ordinary income on the exercise of the non-qualified stock option as described above. Of the shares received in such an exchange, that number of shares equal to the number of shares surrendered have the same tax basis and capital gains holding period as the shares surrendered. The balance of shares received will have a tax basis equal to their fair market value on the date of exercise and the capital gains holding period will begin on the date of exercise.
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Stock Awards. The taxability of a stock Award to a participant is dependent upon the extent to which the award is restricted on the date of grant. If a stock Award is either transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, a participant will recognize taxable ordinary income on the date of grant. If a stock Award is both non-transferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture on the date of grant, then unless an election is made as described below, a participant will not recognize taxable ordinary income on the date of grant, but will at such time or times as the stock Award becomes either transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares at that time. Within thirty days of receipt of a stock Award that is not transferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, a participant may file an election with the Internal Revenue Service to include as taxable ordinary income in the year of receipt an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares subject to the award at the time of receipt. In such event, any subsequent appreciation in the value of such shares will not be taxable as compensation to a participant upon the vesting of shares subject to the Award. However, if shares subject to the Award are forfeited subsequent to such election, a participant will not be entitled to a tax deduction. For purposes of determining the amount of taxable gain or loss upon a subsequent disposition of shares issued pursuant to such an award, the amount recognized as ordinary income to a participant will be treated as the cost basis for such shares. Shares which are held for more than one year after vesting (or in the event of an election as described above, the date of receipt) generally will qualify for long-term capital gain treatment. The Corporation will be entitled to a deduction in such amount and at such time as ordinary income becomes taxable to the participant.
Performance Awards. The tax consequences of a performance award depend upon the nature of the underlying award and if and when the performance goals are achieved. If a performance award consists of a promise to deliver Common Stock at a future date based upon the satisfaction of certain targets, such awards will be subject to federal income taxation as ordinary income based upon the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such performance awards are earned by a participant by satisfying the performance targets, provided such awards are not then subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
Corporation Deduction. Generally, whenever a participant realizes ordinary income under the 2012 Plan, a corresponding deduction is available to the Corporation provided the Corporation complies with certain reporting requirements. Under Section 162(m) of the Code, however, the Corporation will be denied a deduction for certain compensation exceeding $1,000,000 paid to its chief executive officer and the four other highest paid executive officers, excluding (among other things) certain performance-based compensation.
ACTION 2 – APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK
On February 23, 2012, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution declaring it advisable to amend the Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 30,000,000 to 150,000,000 shares (the “Amendment”) and recommended that the Amendment be submitted to the Corporation’s stockholders for approval. On February 23, 2012, the Majority Stockholder approved the Amendment, which will become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware no earlier than the date that is twenty (20) calendar days after the date this Information Statement was first sent or given to our stockholders. The form of the proposed Certificate of Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
As of March __, 2012 there were (i) 16,996,151 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, (ii) one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and (iii) 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. The share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into 55,887,491 shares of Common Stock upon the effective date of the Certificate of Amendment being filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible, in the aggregate, into approximately 12,897,124 shares of Common Stock upon the effective date of the Certificate of Amendment being filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. As of the same date, 5,620,000 shares were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding stock options and 7,221,273 shares were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants. Assuming (i) the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, and (ii) the exercise of all of the outstanding stock options and warrants, there would be a total of approximately 98,622,039 shares of Common Stock outstanding, and 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized (prior to the approval of the Amendment).
The Board of Directors believes that the Amendment is in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders to maintain flexibility in responding to business and financing needs and opportunities. The additional approved shares may be used for any proper corporate purposes without further stockholder approval, including, among others, raising capital, providing equity incentives to employees, officers or directors, establishing strategic relationships with other companies, expanding the Corporation’s business through acquisitions and other investment opportunities and other purposes. Management has no present intention of using the proposed increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock as an anti-takeover device. However, the authorized but unissued Common Stock could be used to make an attempt to effect a change in control more difficult.
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The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock in the future might dilute the ownership and voting rights of stockholders and, depending upon the price at which the shares are issued, could be dilutive to existing stockholders and have a negative effect on the trading price of the Corporation’s Common Stock.
The Amendment will become effective upon the acceptance for filing of a Certificate of Amendment by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which, as noted above, will occur no earlier than twenty (20) calendar days after this Information Statement was first been sent or given to our stockholders.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN OR IN
OPPOSITION TO THE MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
The directors and executive officers could have a substantial and direct interest in the ratification, approval and adoption of the 2012 Plan in that they may be the recipient of an award or option pursuant to the 2012 Plan.
Other than as described above, to the Corporation’s knowledge, in their capacity as stockholders, no person who has served as a director or executive officer of the Corporation since the beginning of the Corporation’s last fiscal year, and no associate of any such person, has any interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in the Amendment that is not otherwise shared by the remaining stockholders other than as a result of receiving shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of Common Stock under the 2012 Plan
The Actions were approved unanimously by the Board of Directors on February 23, 2012. Thus, no member of the Board of Directors opposed the Actions.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The Corporation files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. The Corporation’s SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document the Corporation files with the SEC at its public reference room, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330.
THE ACTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SEC OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF THE ACTIONS NOR UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NEITHER A REQUEST FOR YOUR VOTE NOR A PROXY STATEMENT, BUT RATHER AN INFORMATION STATEMENT DESIGNED TO INFORM YOU OF THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |
Joseph Bernstein | |
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
March __, 2012 |
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EXHIBIT A
GRANDPARENTS.COM, INC.
2012 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Grandparents.com, Inc. 2012 Stock Incentive Plan (the “PLAN”) is to enhance the long-term stockholder value of Grandparents.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “COMPANY”), by offering opportunities to employees, directors, officers, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 2) to participate in the Company’s growth and success, and to encourage them to remain in the service of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to acquire and maintain stock ownership in the Company.
Section 2. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
“AWARD” means an award or grant made pursuant to the Plan, including, without limitation, awards or grants of Options and Stock Awards, or any combination of the foregoing.
“BOARD” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“CAUSE” means dishonesty, fraud, misconduct, unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information, trade secrets or other intellectual property, or conviction or confession (including a plea of no contest) of a crime punishable by law (except minor violations), or conduct that adversely affects the Company’s business or reputation, in each case as determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, and its determination as to whether an action constitutes Cause shall be conclusive and binding.
“CODE” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“COMMON STOCK” means the Company common stock, $0.01 par value per share.
“CORPORATE TRANSACTION” means any of the following events:
(a) Consummation of any merger or consolidation of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation, or pursuant to which shares of the Common Stock are converted into cash, securities or other property, if following such merger or consolidation the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such merger or consolidation own less than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation;
(b) Consummation of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than a transfer of the Company’s assets to a majority-owned subsidiary corporation of the Company; or
(c) Approval by the holders of the Common Stock of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include ownership as determined by applying Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) (as in effect on the date of adoption of the Plan) under the Exchange Act.
“DISABILITY” means “disability” as that term is defined for purposes of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. As of the date of adoption of this Plan, such terms means the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable mental or physical impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
“EMPLOYEE” means any person, including officers and directors, employed by the Company (or one of its parent corporations or subsidiary corporations), with the status of employment determined based upon such minimum number of hours or periods worked as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion, subject to any requirements of the Code, including for purposes of granting Incentive Stock Options, that such person is an employee within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h). For purposes of this provision, “parent corporation” and “subsidiary corporation” shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in Section 424 of the Code.
“EXCHANGE ACT” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“FAIR MARKET VALUE” shall be the fair market value of the Common Stock, as of any date, as determined by the Plan Administrator as follows:
(a) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), the Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or if no sales were reported, the closing sales price on the last preceding trading date), as quoted on such system or exchange, or the system or exchange with the greatest volume of trading in Common Stock, for the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Plan Administrator deems reliable;
(b) If the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq system (but not on the National Market tier thereof), on the OTC Bulletin Board or regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock for the Common Stock on the Grant Date, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Plan Administrator deems reliable; or
(c) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Plan Administrator.
“GRANT DATE” means the date the Plan Administrator adopted the granting resolution or a later date designated in a resolution of the Plan Administrator as the date an Award is to be granted.
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“HOLDER” means (a) the person to whom an Award is granted, (b) for a Holder who has died, the personal representative of the Holder’s estate, the person(s) to whom the Holder’s rights under the Award have passed by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, or the beneficiary designated in accordance with Section 10, or (c) the person(s) to whom an Award has been transferred in accordance with Section 10.
“INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION” means an Option to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7 with the intention that it qualify as an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.
“NET EXERCISE” means an arrangement pursuant to which the number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Holder in connection with the Holder’s exercise of the Option will be reduced by the Company’s retention of a portion of such shares of Common Stock. Upon such a Net Exercise of an Option, the Holder will receive a net number of shares of Common Stock that is equal to (a) the number of shares of Common Stock as to which the Option is being exercised minus (b) the quotient (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of the aggregate exercise price of the shares of Common Stock being exercised divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the Option. The number of shares of Common Stock covered by clause (b) will be retained by the Company and not delivered to the Holder. No fractional shares will be created as a result of a Net Exercise and the Holder must contemporaneously pay for any portion of the aggregate exercise price that is not covered by the shares of Common Stock retained by the Company under clause (b). The number of shares of Common Stock delivered to the Holder may be further reduced if Net Exercise is utilized under Section 12 to satisfy applicable tax withholding obligations.
“NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION” means an Option to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7 other than an Incentive Stock Option.
“OPTION” means the right to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7.
“PLAN ADMINISTRATOR” means the Board or any committee of the Board designated to administer the Plan under Section 3.1.
“RESTRICTED STOCK” means shares of Common Stock granted under Section 9, the rights of ownership of which are subject to restrictions prescribed by the Plan Administrator.
“SECURITIES ACT” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“STOCK AWARD” means an Award granted under Section 9.
“SUBSIDIARY” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 424(f) of the Code.
“SUCCESSOR CORPORATION” has the meaning set forth under Section 11.2.
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Section 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, or a committee or committees (which term includes subcommittees) appointed by, and consisting of two or more members of, the Board. If and so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, the Board shall consider in selecting the Plan Administrator and the membership of any committee acting as Plan Administrator, with respect to any persons subject or likely to become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the provisions regarding (a) “outside directors” as contemplated by Section 162(m) of the Code, (b) “nonemployee directors” as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (c) any requirements as to “independent directors” pursuant to rules of any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is quoted or listed for trading. The Board may delegate the responsibility for administering the Plan with respect to designated classes of eligible persons to different committees consisting of two or more members of the Board, subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate. Committee members shall serve for such term as the Board may determine, subject to removal by the Board at any time.
3.2 ADMINISTRATION AND INTERPRETATION BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have exclusive authority, in the Plan Administrator’s discretion, to determine all matters relating to Awards under the Plan, including the selection of individuals to be granted Awards, the type of Awards, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award, all terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations, if any, of an Award and the terms of any document, agreement or instrument that evidences the Award. The Plan Administrator shall also have exclusive authority to interpret the Plan and may from time to time adopt, and change, rules and regulations of general application for the Plan’s administration. The Plan Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan and its rules and regulations, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Plan Administrator pursuant to the Plan, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties involved or affected. The Plan Administrator may delegate administrative duties to such of the Company’s officers as it so determines.
3.3 REPLACEMENT OF OPTIONS. Without limiting the authority granted to the Plan Administrator under Section 3.2, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority, among other things, to (a) grant Options subject to the condition that Options previously granted at a higher or lower exercise price under the Plan be canceled or exchanged in connection with such grant (the number of shares covered by the new Options, the exercise price, the term and the other terms and conditions of the new Option, shall be determined in accordance with the Plan and may be different from the provisions of the canceled or exchanged Options), and (b) amend or modify outstanding and unexercised Options, with the consent of the Holder, to, among other things, reduce the exercise price per share, establish the exercise price at the then-current Fair Market Value or accelerate or defer the exercise date, vesting schedule or expiration date of any Option.
Section 4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11.1, a maximum of 10,317,691 shares of Common Stock shall be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares issued under the Plan shall be drawn from authorized and unissued shares or shares now held or subsequently acquired by the Company.
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4.2 REUSE OF SHARES. Any shares of Common Stock that have been made subject to an Award that cease to be subject to the Award (other than by reason of exercise or payment of the Award to the extent it is exercised for or settled in shares) shall again be available for issuance in connection with future grants of Awards under the Plan.
Section 5. ELIGIBILITY
Awards may be granted under the Plan to those Employees, officers and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Plan Administrator from time to time selects. Awards may also be made to consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors who provide services to the Company and its Subsidiaries, as the Plan Administrator from time to time selects. In granting Awards to consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors, the Plan Administrator shall give consideration to the requirements set forth in the instructions to the use of Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act. A member of the Board may be eligible to participate in or receive or hold Awards under this Plan; provided, however, that no member of the Board shall vote with respect to the granting of an Award to himself or herself.
Section 6. AWARDS
6.1 FORM AND GRANT OF AWARDS. The Plan Administrator shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to determine the type or types of Awards to be made under the Plan. Such Awards may include, but are not limited to, Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options and Stock Awards. Awards may be granted singly or in combination. An eligible person may receive one or more grants of Awards as the Plan Administrator shall from time to time determine, and such determinations may be different as to different Holders and may vary as to different grants, even when made simultaneously.
6.2 NUMBER OF SHARES. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the grant of an Award shall be as established by the Plan Administrator. Provided, however, to the extent required for compliance with the exclusion from the limitation on deductibility of compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan Administrator shall not grant Awards to any person in any one fiscal year of the Company in an amount that exceeds, in the aggregate, 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11).
6.3 ACQUIRED COMPANY AWARDS. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for awards issued under other plans, or assume under the Plan awards issued under other plans, if the other plans are or were plans of other acquired entities (“ACQUIRED ENTITIES”) (or the parent of the Acquired Entity) and the new Award is substituted, or the old award is assumed, by reason of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or of stock, reorganization or liquidation (the “ACQUISITION TRANSACTION”). In the event that a written agreement pursuant to which the Acquisition Transaction is completed is approved by the Board and said agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the substitution for or assumption of outstanding awards of the Acquired Entity, said terms and conditions shall be deemed to be the action of the Plan Administrator without any further action by the Plan Administrator, except as may be required for compliance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and the persons holding such Awards shall be deemed to be Holders.
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Section 7. AWARDS OF OPTIONS
7.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS. The Plan Administrator is authorized under the Plan, in its sole discretion, to issue Options as Incentive Stock Options or as Nonqualified Stock Options, which shall be appropriately designated.
7.2 OPTION EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be as determined by the Plan Administrator, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date.
7.3 TERM OF OPTIONS. The term of each Option shall be as established by the Plan Administrator or, if not so established, shall be 10 years from the Grant Date.
7.4 VESTING / EXERCISABILITY OF OPTIONS. The Plan Administrator shall establish and set forth in each agreement that evidences an Option the time at which or the installments in which, if any, the Option shall vest and become exercisable. In the absence of a defined vesting schedule in the agreement evidencing the Option, the Option covered by such agreement will vest over a period of three years from the Grant Date, with 1/12 of the Option vesting and becoming exercisable on the each quarterly anniversary of the Grant Date and become exercisable quarterly. The Plan Administrator, in its absolute discretion, may waive or accelerate any vesting requirement contained in outstanding and unexercised Options.
7.5 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Options shall be exercised in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
(a) PROCEDURE. To the extent that an Option has vested and is currently exercisable, an Option may be exercised from time to time by written notice to the Company, in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator, setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price. The Plan Administrator may determine at any time that an Option may not be exercised as to less than 100 shares at any one time (or the lesser number of remaining shares covered by the Option). Only whole shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of any Option.
(b) PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.
(1) The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be paid in full to the Company by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option exercise price and the number of shares being purchased. Such consideration must be paid in any combination of cash and/or bank-certified or cashier’s check (or personal check if determined acceptable by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion), either at the time the Option is granted or within five business days after notice of exercise is tendered to the Company.
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(2) In addition, to the extent provided for in the document, agreement or instrument that evidences the Award and as permitted by applicable law, the exercise price for shares purchased under an Option may be paid, either singly or in combination with one or more of the alternative forms of payment authorized by this Section 7.5, by (y) delivery of a full-recourse promissory note, or (z) such other consideration as the Plan Administrator may permit. The terms of any such promissory note, including the interest rate, terms of and security for repayment, and maturity, will be subject to the Plan Administrator’s discretion. Any such promissory note shall bear interest at a rate specified by the Plan Administrator, but in no case less than the rate required to avoid imputation of interest (taking into account any exceptions to the imputed interest rules) for federal income tax purposes.
(3) If and so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then, to the extent provided for in the document, agreement or instrument that evidences the Award and as permitted by applicable law and in accordance with any procedures established by the Plan Administrator, an Option also may be exercised by (a) delivery of shares of Common Stock (which shares, if tendered by an affiliate of the Company, shall have been held by the Holder for at least six months) having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price (such payment in stock may occur in the context of a single exercise of an option or successive and simultaneous exercises, sometimes referred to as “pyramiding,” which provides that, rather than physically exchanging certificates for a series of exercises, bookkeeping entries will be made pursuant to which the Holder is permitted to retain his existing stock certificate and a new stock certificate is issued for the net shares), (b) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to (i) a brokerage firm acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the Option exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such exercise, and (ii) the Company to deliver the certificates for such purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm, all in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Reserve Board, or (c) by Net Exercise.
7.6 RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to shares of Common Stock acquired on exercise of an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon proper exercise of the Option and payment in full of the aggregate exercise price. In the event that the exercise of an Option is treated in part as the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option (pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1), the Company shall issue a stock certificate evidencing the shares treated as acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and a separate stock certificate evidencing the shares treated as acquired upon the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option, and shall identify each such certificate accordingly in its stock transfer records. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 of this Plan.
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7.7 POST-TERMINATION EXERCISES. The Plan Administrator shall establish and set forth in each agreement that evidences an Option whether the Option will continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, if a Holder ceases to be employed by, or to provide services to, the Company or its Subsidiaries, which provisions may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time. If not so established in the instrument evidencing the Option, the Option will be exercisable according to the following terms and conditions, which may be waived or modified by the Plan Administrator at any time.
(a) TERMINATION OTHER THAN DEATH, DISABILITY OR CAUSE. In case of termination of the Holder’s employment or services other than by reason of death, Disability or Cause, the Holder may exercise his or her Options that have been vested at the time of termination of employment or other relationship an optionee may have had with the Company, any time prior to the expiration of twelve months after the date the Holder ceases to be an Employee, director, officer, consultant, agent, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or a Subsidiary (but in no event later than the remaining term of the Option), but only if and to the extent the Holder was entitled to exercise the option at the date of such termination. A transfer of employment or services between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be considered a termination of employment or services. The effect of a Company-approved leave of absence on the terms and conditions of an Option shall be determined by the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion.
(b) DISABILITY. In case of termination of the Holder’s employment or services by reason of the Holder’s Disability, the Holder (or personal representative) may exercise his or her Options at any time prior to the expiration of one year after the date of such termination (but in no event later than the remaining term of the Option), but only if and to the extent the Holder was entitled to exercise the option at the date of such termination.
(c) DEATH. In the event of the death of a Holder, any Options held may be exercised at any time on or prior to the expiration of one year after the date of death (but in no event later than the remaining term of the Option), but only if and to the extent the Holder was entitled to exercise the option at the date of his or her death, and only by the Holder’s personal representative (if then subject to administration as part of the Holder’s estate) or by the person(s) to whom the Holder’s rights under the Option shall have passed by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(d) CAUSE. In case of termination of the Holder’s employment or services for Cause, all Options held by Holder or shall automatically terminate upon first notification to the Holder of such termination, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise. If a Holder’s employment or services with the Company are suspended pending an investigation of whether the Holder shall be terminated for Cause, all the Holder’s rights under any Option likewise shall be suspended during the period of investigation.
7.8 WAIVER OR EXTENSION OF TIME PERIODS. The Plan Administrator shall have the authority, prior to or within the times specified in this Section 7 for the exercise of any such Option, to extend such time period or waive in its entirety any such time period to the extent that such time period expires prior to the expiration of the term of such option. In addition, the Plan Administrator may modify or eliminate the time periods specified in this Section 7 with respect to particular Option grants. However, no Incentive Stock Option may be exercised after the expiration of ten years from the date such option is granted. If a Holder holding an Incentive Stock Option exercises such Option, by express permission of the Plan Administrator, after the expiration of the time periods specified in this Section 7, the Option will no longer be treated as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code and shall automatically be converted into a Nonqualified Stock Option.
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7.9 TERMINATION OF OPTIONS. Any portion of an Option that is not vested and exercisable on the date of termination of the Holder’s employment or services shall terminate on such date, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise. In addition, to the extent that any Options of any Holder whose employment or services have terminated shall not have been exercised within the limited periods prescribed in this Section 7, the Options and all further rights to purchase shares pursuant to such Options shall cease and terminate at the expiration of such period.
Section 8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONS
To the extent required by Section 422 of the Code, Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following additional terms and conditions:
8.1 LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF GRANTS TO ANY ONE HOLDER. To the extent that a Holder is granted Incentive Stock Options that in the aggregate (together with all other Incentive Stock Options granted by the Company or Subsidiaries to such Holder under this Plan and any other stock option plans of the Company) entitle the Holder to purchase, in any calendar year during which such Options first become exercisable, Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date) in excess of $100,000, such portion of the Options in excess of $100,000 shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. In the event the Holder holds two or more such Options that become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, such limitation shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such Options are granted.
8.2 GRANTS TO 10% STOCKHOLDERS. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to a person who, at the time the option is granted, owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary only if (a) the exercise price per share shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date, and (b) the Option term shall not exceed five years from the Grant Date. The determination of 10% ownership shall be made by the Plan Administrator in accordance with Section 422 of the Code.
8.3 ELIGIBLE PERSONS. Only persons who are Employees may receive Incentive Stock Options. Persons who are not Employees may not be granted Incentive Stock Options and will only be eligible to receive Nonqualified Stock Options.
8.4 TERM. The term of an Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed 10 years.
8.5 EXERCISABILITY. To qualify for Incentive Stock Option tax treatment, an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option must be exercised within three months after termination of employment for reasons other than death, except that, in the case of termination of employment due to Disability, such Option must be exercised within one year after such termination. Employment shall not be deemed to continue beyond the first three months of a leave of absence unless the Holder’s reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or contract.
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8.6 TAXATION OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. In order to obtain certain tax benefits afforded to Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the Code, the Holder must hold the shares issued upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option for (a) at least two years after the Grant Date of the Incentive Stock Option and (b) at least one year from the date of exercise. The Plan Administrator may require a Holder to give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs prior to the expiration of such holding periods. A Holder may be subject to the alternative minimum tax at the time of exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
Section 9. STOCK AWARDS
9.1 GRANT OF STOCK AWARDS. The Plan Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Common Stock on such terms and conditions and subject to such restrictions, if any (which may be based on continuous service with the Company or the achievement of performance goals) as the Plan Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, which terms, conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award. The terms, conditions and restrictions that the Plan Administrator shall have the power to determine shall include, without limitation, the manner in which shares subject to Stock Awards are held during the periods they are subject to restrictions, the circumstances under which forfeiture of Restricted Stock shall occur by reason of termination of the Holder’s services, and the purchase price, if any.
9.2 ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Upon the satisfaction of any terms, conditions and restrictions prescribed in respect to a Stock Award, or upon the Holder’s release from any terms, conditions and restrictions of a Stock Award, as determined by the Plan Administrator, the Company shall release, as soon as practicable, to the Holder or, in the case of the Holder’s death, to the personal representative of the Holder’s estate or as the appropriate court directs, the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock.
9.3 WAIVER OF RESTRICTIONS. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, waive the forfeiture period and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any Restricted Stock under such circumstances (including the death or Disability of Holder, or material change in the Holder’s circumstances after the date of the Award) and subject to such terms and conditions (including forfeiture of the shares) as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.
Section 10. ASSIGNABILITY
No Option granted under the Plan may be assigned or transferred by the Holder other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and, during the Holder’s lifetime, such Awards may be exercised only by the Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may permit such assignment, transfer and exercisability and may permit a Holder of such Awards to designate a beneficiary who may exercise the Award or receive compensation under the Award after the Holder’s death; provided, however, that any Award so assigned or transferred shall be subject to all the same terms and conditions contained in the instrument evidencing the Award.
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Section 11. ADJUSTMENTS
11.1 ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. In the event that, at any time or from time to time, a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, or other similar change in the Company’s corporate or capital structure results in (a) the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or any securities exchanged therefor or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or class of securities of the Company or of any other corporation, or (b) new, different or additional securities of the Company or of any other corporation being received by the holders of shares of Common Stock, then the Plan Administrator shall make proportional adjustments in (i) the maximum number and kind of securities subject to the Plan as set forth in Section 4.1, (ii) the maximum number of securities set forth in Section 6.2, and (iii) the number and kind of securities that are subject to any outstanding Award and the per share price of such securities (but without any change in the aggregate price to be paid therefor). The determination by the Plan Administrator as to the terms of any of the foregoing adjustments shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Corporate Transaction shall not be governed by this Section 11.1 but shall be governed by Section 11.2.
11.2 ADJUSTMENTS UPON A CORPORATE TRANSACTION. Except as otherwise provided in the instrument that evidences the Award, in the event of any Corporate Transaction, each Award that is at the time outstanding shall automatically accelerate so that each such Award shall, immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Corporate Transaction, become 100% vested and exercisable. Such Award shall not so accelerate, however, if and to the extent that such Award is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either to be assumed by the successor corporation or parent thereof (the “SUCCESSOR CORPORATION”) or to be replaced with a comparable award for the purchase of shares of the capital stock of the Successor Corporation. The determination of Award comparability shall be made by the Plan Administrator, and its determination shall be conclusive and binding. All outstanding Awards shall terminate and cease to remain outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, except to the extent assumed by the Successor Corporation.
11.3 FURTHER ADJUSTMENT OF AWARDS. Subject to Section 11.2, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable at any time before a sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or change in control of the Company, as defined by the Plan Administrator, to take such further action as it determines to be necessary or advisable, and fair and equitable to Holders, with respect to Awards. Such authorized action may include (but shall not be limited to) establishing, amending or waiving the type, terms, conditions or duration of, or restrictions on, Awards so as to provide for earlier, later, extended or additional time for exercise, lifting restrictions and other modifications, and the Plan Administrator may take such actions with respect to all Holders, to certain categories of Holders or only to individual Holders. The Plan Administrator may take such action before or after granting Awards to which the action relates and before or after any public announcement with respect to such sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or change in control that is the reason for such action.
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11.4 NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any Award, any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be disregarded and each such option shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from such adjustment.
11.5 DETERMINATION OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR TO BE FINAL. All adjustments made pursuant to this Section 11 shall be made by the Plan Administrator and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive.
11.6 LIMITATIONS. The grant of Awards will in no way affect the Company’s right to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
Section 12. WITHHOLDING
The Company may require the Holder to pay to the Company the amount of any withholding taxes that the Company is required to withhold with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of any Award. Upon exercise of an Award, the Holder shall, upon notification of the amount due and prior to or concurrently with the delivery of the certificates representing the shares, pay to the Company all amounts necessary to satisfy applicable federal, state and local withholding tax requirements or shall otherwise make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for such requirements. Subject to the Plan and applicable law, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit the Holder to satisfy withholding obligations, in whole or in part, by paying cash, by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock or by transferring shares of Common Stock to the Company, in such amounts as are equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the withholding obligation. The Company shall have the right to withhold from any Award or any shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to an Award or from any cash amounts otherwise due or to become due from the Company to the Holder an amount equal to such taxes. The Company may also deduct from any Award any other amounts due from the Holder to the Company or a Subsidiary.
Section 13. LOANS, INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS AND LOAN GUARANTEES
To assist a Holder (other than any Holder who is an officer or a director of the Company) in acquiring shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may authorize, either at the Grant Date or at any time before the acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the Award, (a) the extension of a full-recourse loan to the Holder by the Company, (b) the payment by the Holder of the purchase price, if any, of the Common Stock in installments, or (c) the guarantee by the Company of a loan obtained by the Holder from a third party. The terms of any loans, installment payments or loan guarantees, including the interest rate and terms of and security for repayment, will be subject to the Plan Administrator’s discretion. The maximum credit available is the purchase price, if any, of the Common Stock acquired, plus the maximum federal and state income and employment tax liability that may be incurred in connection with the acquisition.
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Section 14. SECURITIES REGULATIONS
14.1 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an Award granted under this Plan unless the adoption of this Plan, the grant and exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, any applicable state securities laws, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange, national market system, over the counter system, or any electronic bulletin board, upon which the Common Stock may then be listed, quoted or traded, and shall further be subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. Inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall suspend the Company’s liability in respect of the nonissuance or sale of such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained, until such time as the requisite authority shall have been obtained. In addition, where required by law the Plan Administrator may bifurcate the Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of the Plan to Holders who are officers or directors subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act without so restricting, limiting or conditioning the Plan with respect to other Holders.
14.2 REPRESENTATIONS BY HOLDER. With respect to the exercise of an Option or any other receipt of Common Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, the Company may require the Holder to represent and warrant at the time of such exercise or receipt that the shares are being purchased or received only for Holder’s own account investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares, if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such representation is required by any relevant provision of the laws referred to in Section 14.1 above. At the option of the Company, a stop transfer order against any shares of stock may be placed on the official stock books and records of the Company, and a legend indicating that the stock may not be pledged, sold or otherwise transferred unless an opinion of counsel was provided (concurred in by counsel for the Company) stating that such transfer is not in violation of any applicable law or regulation, may be stamped on the stock certificate in order to assure exemption from registration. The Plan Administrator may also require such other action or agreement by the Holder as may from time to time be necessary to comply with the federal and state securities laws.
14.3 NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. The Company shall be under no obligation to any Holder to register for offering or resale or to qualify for exemption under the Securities Act, or to register or qualify under state securities laws, any shares of Common Stock, security or interest in a security paid or issued under, or created by, the Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made. The Company may issue certificates for shares with such legends and subject to such restrictions on transfer and stop-transfer instructions as counsel for the Company deems necessary or desirable for compliance by the Company with federal and state securities laws.
Section 15. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
15.1 AMENDMENT OF PLAN. With respect to unissued options, the Board may modify or amend the Plan in such respects as it shall deem advisable or in order to conform to any changes in law or regulation applicable thereto, or in other respects; provided, however, that, to the extent required for compliance with Section 422 of the Code or any applicable law or regulation, the Board may not, without further approval by the stockholders of the Company, effect any amendment that will (a) increase the total number of shares as to which Awards may be granted under the Plan, (b) modify the class of persons eligible to receive Awards, or (c) change the terms of the Plan which causes the Plan to lose its qualification as an incentive stock option plan under Section 422(b) of the Code, or (d) otherwise require stockholder approval under any applicable law, regulation or rule of any stock exchange. No amendment of the Plan shall be made which would impair the rights of any Holder, without such Holder’s written consent, under any outstanding Award, provided that no such Holder consent shall be required with respect to any amendment if the Plan Administrator determines in its sole discretion that such amendment is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy or conform to any law or regulation or to meet the requirements of any accounting standard.
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15.2 TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, provided that options issued prior to such suspension or termination shall not be affected. The Plan will have no fixed expiration date; provided, however, that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than 10 years after the earlier of the Plan’s adoption by the Board and approval by the stockholders.
15.3 CONSENT OF HOLDER. The amendment or termination of the Plan shall not, without the consent of the Holder of any Award under the Plan, impair or diminish any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan. Any change or adjustment to an outstanding Incentive Stock Option shall not, without the consent of the Holder, be made in a manner so as to constitute a “modification” that would cause such Incentive Stock Option to fail to continue to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
15.4 SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE. Awards granted hereunder are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to the extent Section 409A of the Code applies to such Awards, and any ambiguities in this Plan or Awards granted hereunder will be interpreted to so comply. The terms of the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with the foregoing intention to the extent the Plan Administrator deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, (a) if the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded and a Holder of an Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount shall be made upon a “separation from service” before a date that is six months following the date of such Holder’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) or, if earlier, the date of the Holder’s death, unless such distribution or payment can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, (b) the Plan Administrator, to the extent it unilaterally deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, reserves the right, but shall not be required, to amend or modify the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan so that the Award qualifies for exemption from or complies with Section 409A of the Code; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation that the Awards granted under the Plan shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to Awards granted under the Plan and (c) neither the Company, nor any Affiliate thereof, nor the Plan Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any affiliate thereof, or the Plan Administrator, shall be liable to any Holder by reason of any acceleration of income, or any additional tax (including any interest and penalties), asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
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Section 16. GENERAL
16.1 AWARD AGREEMENTS. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written agreement that shall contain such terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Plan Administrator shall deem advisable and that are not inconsistent with the Plan. In addition, all such agreements evidencing Options shall include or incorporate by reference the following terms and conditions: number of shares, exercise price, vesting schedule, term and termination.
16.2 NO RIGHTS TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE. Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted pursuant hereto, or any action of the Plan Administrator taken under the Plan, shall confer upon any Holder any right to be retained in the employment or service of the Company or any Subsidiary, or to remain a director thereof or a consultant thereto, or to interfere in anyway with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, to terminate such Holder’s employment or service at any time or to remove the Holder as a director or consultant at any time.
16.3 NO RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. No Option shall entitle the Holder to any cash dividend, voting or other right of a stockholder unless and until the date of issuance under the Plan of the shares that are the subject of such Option, free of all applicable restrictions.
16.4 NO TRUST OR FUND. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan. Nothing contained herein shall require the Company to segregate any monies or other property, or shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits for any immediate or deferred amounts payable to any Holder, and no Holder shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
16.5 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Plan Administrator, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the Plan Administrator’s determination, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 17. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Plan shall become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board and Awards Options may be granted immediately thereafter, but no Option may be exercised under the Plan unless and until the Plan shall have been approved by the stockholders within 12 months after the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors. If such approval is not obtained within such period the Plan and any Options granted shall be null and void.
Adopted by the Board of Directors on February 23, 2012, and approved by the Company’s stockholders on February 23, 2012.
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Exhibit B
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
SECOND CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
GRANDPARENTS.COM, INC.
Adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
The undersigned, being a duly authorized officer of Grandparents.com, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST: That the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, is hereby further amended by amending and replacing Article FOURTH thereof in its entirety with the following:
“FOURTH: The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is one hundred fifty-five million (155,000,000), which shall consist of:
One hundred fifty million (150,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share; and
Five million (5,000,000) shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share.
The Board of Directors has the express power, subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Article FOURTH, to provide for the issuance of any or all of the shares of preferred stock in classes or series, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each class or series, and to fix by resolution the voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of shares of each class or series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each class or series of preferred stock shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:
a. The number of shares constituting the class or series and the distinctive designation of the class or series;
b. The dividend rate on the shares of the class or series, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payments of dividends on shares of the class or series;
c. Whether the class or series will have voting rights, and, if so, the terms of the voting rights;
d. Whether the class or series will have conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of the conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors determines;
e. Whether or not the shares of the class or series will be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates;
f. Whether the class or series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of the class or series, and, if so, the terms and amount of the sinking fund;
g. The rights of the shares of the class or series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of the class or series; and
h. Any other powers, terms, rights, qualifications, preferences, limitations and restrictions, if any, of the class or series as the Board of Directors may lawfully fix under the laws of the State of Delaware as in effect at the time of the creation of such series.
Any of the powers, voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any such class or series of preferred stock may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside this Certificate of Incorporation or of any amendment thereof, or outside the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred stock adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the authority expressly granted herein, provided that the manner in which such facts shall operate upon the powers, voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such class or series of preferred stock is clearly and expressly set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation or in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred stock adopted by the Board of Directors.”
SECOND: That such amendment has been duly adopted by the written consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon and that prompt written notice of the corporate action shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
THIRD: That this Certificate of Amendment shall be effective upon filing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Certificate of Amendment this _____ day of ______, 2012.
GRANDPARENTS.COM, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Joseph Bernstein | ||
Co-Chief Executive Officer |