EX-10.30
Published on March 14, 2024
TERRASCEND CORP.
AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Adopted by the Board as of March 8, 2017, as amended and restated on November 2, 2021, April 19, 2023, June 22, 2023 and June 26, 2023)
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
For the purposes of this Plan, the following terms have the following meanings:
“10% Shareholder” means a U.S. Participant who, at the time the Option is granted, owns, taking into account the constructive ownership rules set forth in section 424(d) of the Code, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent Corporation or Affiliate Corporation).
“Affiliate” means (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, controls (as well as is controlled by or under common or joint control with) the Corporation; or (ii) any entity in which the Corporation has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Shares subject to any Options or SAR that are granted to a service provider of an Affiliate constitutes "service recipient stock" for purposes of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise does not subject the Award to the excise tax under Section 409A of the Code, provided that in respect of any Option granted to a Canadian Grantee, an Affiliate shall only include a corporation that deals at non-arm's length, within the meaning of the ITA, with the Company, and further provided that, in respect of any Deferred Share Unit granted to a Canadian Grantee, an Affiliate shall only include a corporation that is related to the Corporation, within the meaning of the ITA.
“Affiliate Corporation” means any subsidiary, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, of the Corporation.
“Applicable Laws” means, at any time, with respect to any Person, property, transaction or event, all applicable laws, statutes, regulations, treaties, judgments and decrees and (whether or not having the force of law) all applicable official directives, rules, consents, approvals, by-laws, permits, authorizations and orders of any Governmental Authority having authority over that Person, property, transaction or event.
“Blackout Period” means the period during which designated Persons cannot trade Shares pursuant to the Corporation’s policy, if any, respecting restrictions on trading which is in effect at that time.
“Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.
“Business Day” means any day excluding a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday in the Province of Ontario, and also excluding any day on which the principal chartered banks located in the City of Toronto are not open for business during normal banking hours.
“Cause” in respect of a Participant means “just cause” “or “cause” for termination of employment by the Corporation or an Affiliate as determined under Applicable Laws; provided that, for a U.S. Participant who is employed in the United States, “Cause” means any of the following: (a) Participant materially breaches any fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or an Affiliate, including the duty of loyalty; (b) Participant fails to comply with any valid and legal directive of the Corporation that is material and is consistent with Participant’s obligations under the Participant’s employment agreement, which has not been complied with within ten (10) calendar days of written notice to Participant of such noncompliance; (c) Participant is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a crime that constitutes a felony (or state law equivalent) or a crime that constitutes a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or that results in material, reputational, or financial harm to the Corporation, its agents representatives, or its affiliates; (d) Participant engages in
2
any act or omission that constitutes a material breach by Participant of any of Participant’s duties, responsibilities, and obligations under the Participant’s employment agreement, or any material written policy (as they may be in effect from time to time during Participant’s employment) of the Corporation or any Affiliate, assuming such obligations are lawful, which has not been cured within ten (10) calendar days of written notice to the Participant; (e) Participant commits an act which negatively impacts the Corporation or its employees including, but not limited to, engaging in competition with the Corporation, disclosing confidential information or engaging in sexual harassment or discrimination in violation of policies of the Corporation; or (f) Participant engages in the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information of the Corporation. For purposes of this definition of “Cause,” an act or failure to act shall not be deemed willful or intentional unless Participant acted (or failed to act) in bad faith or without a reasonable belief that Participant’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Corporation. For avoidance of doubt, Participant’s failure to meet performance goals or objectives, by itself, shall not constitute Cause.
“Change of Control Transaction” means:
“Consultant” means a Person, or an individual employed by a Person, other than an Employee or a Director, that:
3
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Corporation” means TerrAscend Corp. and includes any successor corporation thereof.
“California Supplement” means the California Supplement attached hereto as Schedule 1.
“Director” means a director of the Corporation or any Affiliate.
“Disability” means a physical or mental incapacity or disability that prevents the Eligible Person from performing the essential duties of the Eligible Person’s employment or service with the Corporation or any Affiliate, and which cannot be accommodated under applicable human rights laws without imposing undue hardship on the Corporation or the Affiliate employing or engaging; the Eligible Person, as determined by the Board for the purposes of this Plan.
“Early Expiry Date” is defined in Section 4.10.1.2.
“Eligible Person” means any Employee, Director or Consultant.
“Employee” means:
Income Tax Act (Canada);
“Exchange” means the stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Shares are then listed or posted for trading or quoted, as the case may be.
“Governmental Authority” means:
“Grant Date” means, for any Option, the date on which that Option is granted, provided that, with respect to Nonqualified Stock Options, “Grant Date” means the date specified in U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(vi)(B), and with respect to Incentive Stock Options, “Grant Date” means the date specified in U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.421- 1(c).
“Incentive Stock Option” means an incentive stock option as defined in section 422 of the Code.
4
“Insider” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Securities Act (Ontario).
“Investor Relations Activities” has the meaning ascribed thereto in NI 45-106.
“Investor Relations Participant” means a Consultant that performs Investor Relations Activities or an Employee or Director whose roles and duties primarily consist of Investor Relations Activities.
“NI 45-106” means National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus and Registration Exemptions or any successor instrument adopted from time to time by the Canadian Securities Administrators, or such other successor and/or additional regulatory rules, instruments or policies from time to time of Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities which may govern the trades of securities pursuant to this Plan.
“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option granted to a U.S. Participant that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
“Option” means an option to purchase Shares granted to an Eligible Person under the terms of this Plan.
“Option Agreement” means the option agreement evidencing an Option issued pursuant to this Plan.
“Option Exercise Price” is defined in Section 4.3.
“Option Expiry Date” is defined in Section 4.4.
“Parent Corporation” means any parent, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, of the Corporation.
“Participant” means an Eligible Person to whom an Option has been granted.
“Person” will be broadly interpreted and includes:
“Plan” means this amended and restated stock option plan of the Corporation, as the same may be further amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Remittance Amount” is defined in Section 4.9.1.1.
“Retirement” means retirement from active employment or service with the Corporation or an Affiliate:
“Rule 701” means Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act.
5
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Section 25102(o)” means Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code, as may be amended from time to time.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as may be amended from time to time.
“Share Compensation Arrangement” means the Plan and any other stock option, stock option plan, share unit plan, employee stock purchase plan, long term incentive plan, share distribution plan, or stock appreciation right involving an issuance of Shares from treasury, or any other compensation or incentive mechanism involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares to one or more Eligible Persons.
“Shares” means common shares in the capital of the Corporation or, in the event of an adjustment contemplated by this Plan, such other share to which a Participant may be entitled as a result of such adjustment.
“Termination Date” means the date on which a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person and, in the case of an Employee, means the date on which the Employee ceases to actively perform services for the Corporation or any Affiliate (excluding any notice period which may extend beyond the date on which active services cease).
“U.S. Participant” means a Participant who is employed primarily in the United States, and is a United States resident or United States citizen for United States federal income tax purposes or is otherwise subject to the applicable provisions of the Code.
This Plan and each Option Agreement is governed by, and is to be construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable in that Province.
6
ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN
The Corporation establishes this Plan to govern the grant, administration and exercise of Options which may be granted to bona fide Eligible Persons.
The principal purposes of this Plan are to provide the Corporation with the advantages of the incentive inherent in equity ownership on the part of Eligible Persons who are responsible for the continued success of the Corporation; to create in those Eligible Persons a proprietary interest in, and a greater concern for, the welfare and success of the Corporation; to encourage Eligible Persons to remain with the Corporation and any Subsidiaries; and to attract new Employees, Directors and Consultants.
This Plan is expected to benefit shareholders by enabling the Corporation to attract and retain personnel of the highest calibre by offering them an opportunity to share in any increase in value of the Shares resulting from their efforts.
The number of Shares that may be reserved for issuance under this Plan and under any other Share Compensation Arrangement will not exceed, in the aggregate, 10% of the outstanding Shares on each Grant Date (on a non-diluted basis), provided that the maximum number of Shares reserved under this Plan for issuance upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options is 10,000,000.
The Corporation will at all times during the term of this Plan reserve and keep available the number of Shares necessary to satisfy the requirements of this Plan.
An Option may only be granted to a Consultant under this Plan if the number of Shares reserved for issuance under that Option, when combined with the number of Shares reserved for issuance under all options granted within the one-year period before the Grant Date by the Corporation to Consultants, does not exceed, in aggregate, 2% of the outstanding Shares on the Grant Date (with the outstanding Shares being calculated on a non-diluted basis, and excluding Shares issued to Consultants within the previous one-year period pursuant to the exercise of Options).
An Option may only be granted to an Investor Relations Participant under this Plan if the number of Shares reserved for issuance under that Option, when combined with the number of Shares reserved for issuance under all options granted within the one-year period before the Grant Date by the Corporation to Investor Relations Participants, does not exceed, in aggregate, 2% of the outstanding Shares on the Grant Date (with the outstanding Shares being calculated on a non-diluted basis, and excluding Shares issued to Investor Relations Participants within the previous one-year period pursuant to the exercise of Options). Further, Options issued to an Investor Relations Participant under this Plan shall vest in stages over a period of not less than 12 months with not more than 1/4 of the Options vesting in any three (3) month period.
An Option may only be granted to a Person under this Plan if the number of Shares reserved for issuance under that Option, when combined with the number of Shares reserved for issuance under all awards granted within the one-year period before the Grant Date by the Corporation to that Person under all other Share Compensation Arrangements, does not exceed, in aggregate, 5% of the outstanding Shares on the Grant Date (with the outstanding Shares being calculated on a non-diluted basis, and excluding Shares issued to that Person within the previous one-year period pursuant to the exercise of Options), unless any disinterested shareholder approval required by the Exchange has been obtained.
7
Unless disinterested shareholder approval is obtained, the number of Shares that may be reserved for issuance to Insiders pursuant to the grant of Options under this Plan and under any other Share Compensation Arrangement will not exceed, in the aggregate, 10% of the outstanding Shares (with the outstanding Shares being calculated on a non-diluted basis) at any point in time.
Unless disinterested shareholder approval is obtained, an Option may only be granted to an Insider under this Plan if the number of Shares issued to insiders within the one-year period before the Grant Date by the Corporation to Insiders under all other Share Compensation Arrangements, does not exceed, in aggregate, 10% of the outstanding Shares (on a non-diluted basis, and excluding Shares issued to Insiders within the previous one-year period pursuant to the exercise of Options) on the Grant Date.
For the purposes of calculating the limits in this Section 2.3:
Any number of Shares which have been issued on the exercise of an Option will again be available for grants under this Plan, and will be considered to be part of the pool of Shares available for Options under this Plan.
If and to the extent any Option granted under this Plan expires or is terminated without having been exercised in whole or in part, the number of Shares then subject to that Option will be considered to be part of the pool of Shares available for Options under this Plan.
Nothing contained in this Plan will prevent the Board from adopting other or additional incentive compensation arrangements, whether Share Compensation Arrangements or otherwise.
ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN
Subject to the provisions of this Plan, Applicable Laws, and the applicable rules and policies of the Exchange, the Board will have full power and authority to:
8
9
All determinations made in good faith on the matters referred to in this Section 3.1.1 will be final, conclusive, and binding on the Corporation and the relevant Participant.
Subject to Applicable Laws, and the applicable rules and policies of the Exchange, the Board may, by resolution, at any time:
The Corporation will maintain a register in which will be recorded:
with respect to each Option granted to a Participant:
the aggregate number of Shares subject to Options.
If any material change in the outstanding Shares occurs by reason of any stock dividend, split, recapitalization, amalgamation, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, the Board may make any proportionate adjustments to this Plan and any outstanding Options that the Board deems equitable and appropriate to reflect that change. Any adjustment under this Section 3.3.1 will be made in the sole discretion of the Board, and will be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Plan.
No fractional Shares will be issued on the exercise of an Option. If, as a result of any adjustment as provided in this Section 3.3, a Participant would be entitled to a fractional Share, the Participant will have the right to purchase only the number of full Shares that is calculated under that adjustment, and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to that fractional Share.
10
The Board may terminate this Plan at any time in its absolute discretion (without shareholder approval). If this Plan is terminated, no further Options will be granted but the Options then outstanding will continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions of this Plan, until the time they are exercised or terminated or expire under the terms of this Plan and the applicable Option Agreements.
The existence of any Option will not affect, in any way, the right or power of the Corporation to:
make or authorize any recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Corporation’s capital structure or business;
participate in any amalgamation, combination, merger or consolidation;
create or issue any securities or change the rights and conditions attaching to any of its securities;
effect the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business; or
effect any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of similar character or otherwise.
This Plan, the grant and exercise of Options, the Corporation’s obligation to issue Shares on the exercise of Options, and all other actions taken under this Plan will be subject to Applicable Laws, to the applicable rules and policies of the Exchange and to any approvals by any Governmental Authority which, in the opinion of counsel to the Corporation, are necessary or advisable.
No Option will be granted and no Shares issued under this Plan if that grant or issue would require registration of this Plan or of Shares under the securities laws of any foreign jurisdiction. Any purported grant of any Option or issue of Shares under this Plan in violation of this Section 3.6.2 will be void.
Shares issued to Participants pursuant to the exercise of Options may be subject to limitations on sale or resale under Applicable Laws.
ARTICLE 4 TERMS OF OPTIONS
11
12
Each Option must be confirmed by an Option Agreement executed by the Corporation and by the Participant to whom that Option is granted. Subject to specific variations approved by the Board in respect of any Option, those variations not to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, all terms and conditions set out in this Plan will be incorporated by reference into and form part of each Option Agreement.
If an Option is to be granted to an Employee or a Consultant, the Corporation and the Person to whom that Option is proposed to be granted are responsible for ensuring and confirming that the Person is a bona fide Employee or Consultant.
An Eligible Person may be granted Options on more than one occasion under this Plan and be granted separate Options on any one occasion.
The Board will set the option exercise price (the “Option Exercise Price”) in respect of each Share issuable under an Option granted to a Participant. The Option Exercise Price will not be less than the “fair market value” of a Share on the Grant Date and, if the Shares are listed on an Exchange, will be subject to the minimum Option Exercise Price permitted by the Exchange. For the purposes of this Section 4.3, “fair market value” means:
if the Shares are listed on an Exchange, the five (5) day volume weighted average price of the Shares based on the Grant Date of the Option;
if the Shares are not then listed on an Exchange, but are listed on another stock exchange or market, the last closing price of the Shares on the stock exchange or market before the grant of the Option; or
if Sections 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 do not apply, the fair market value of a Share determined by the Board, taking into account any considerations which it determines to be appropriate at the relevant time.
The Board will, on the Grant Date, set the option expiry date (the “Option Expiry Date”) of each Option granted to a Participant. The Option Expiry Date set under this Section 4.4 will be no later than ten (10) years after the Grant Date, and will be subject to earlier expiry in accordance with Section 4.10 and Section 4.11, and later expiry in accordance with Section 4.7.
Subject to Section 4.5.3, and unless accelerated by the Board under Section 4.5.2 or Section 4.11 or otherwise specified in the relevant Option Agreement, an Option will vest and become exercisable as to 1/4 of the Shares issuable under the Option on each of the following dates:
13
Subject to Section 4.5.3, the Board may, at any time, accelerate the date on which any Option will vest and become exercisable.
An Option granted to an Investor Relations Participant will vest over a period of not less than 12 months from the Grant Date, and as to no more than 1/4 of the Shares issuable under the Option in any three-month period.
An Option will be exercisable until 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the Option Expiry Date, but only to the extent that it has vested and has not expired or been terminated.
Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the related Option Agreement, an Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time by delivery to the Corporation of a written notice of exercise, substantially in the form to be included with the Option Agreement or in such matter as may be permitted by the Corporation, specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and accompanied by payment in full of the Option Exercise Price of the Shares to be purchased. Payment of the Option Exercise Price must be made in cash or by check, or in such other manner as may be permitted by the Corporation in its discretion.
No Option may be exercised during a Blackout Period, if the Participant is then restricted from trading in Shares pursuant to any policy of the Corporation or Applicable Laws. If an Option Expiry Date set under Section 4.4 falls on a date within a Blackout Period or within ten (10) Business Days following the expiration of a Blackout Period, the expiry date for that Option will be automatically extended, without any further act or formality, to that date which is the tenth Business Day after the end of the Blackout Period. This Section 4.7 will not extend any termination or expiry date determined under Section 4.4., 4.10, 4.11, or 4.14.
The Board may amend, suspend or discontinue the Plan or any Option at any time at its discretion, in good faith, acting reasonably, without obtaining the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation or Participants, provided, however, that no amendment, suspension or discontinuance of the Plan or of any Option may (i) materially and adversely affect any Option previously granted under the Plan without the consent of the Participant; or (ii) contravene the requirements (if any) of the Exchange (including, without limitation, the requirement that disinterested shareholder approval will be required to be obtained in certain circumstances) or any securities commission or regulatory body to which the Plan or the Corporation is subject to. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the ability of the Board to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Options granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
For greater certainty and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shareholder approval shall not be required for the following amendments, subject to any regulatory approvals, including, where required, the approval of the Exchange:
14
permanent disability, the termination of the Participant’s employment, term of office or consulting engagement or the Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Person shall not apply for any reason acceptable to the Board;
The Corporation and any Affiliate may take reasonable steps for the withholding of any taxes or other source deductions that it is required by Applicable Laws or the requirements of any Governmental Authority to remit in connection with this Plan, any Option or any issuance of Shares upon the exercise of an Option, including:
Any Shares of a Participant that are sold by the Corporation, or by a broker engaged by the Corporation, to fund a Remittance Amount will be sold as soon as practicable, and, if applicable, in transactions effected on the exchange on which the Shares are then listed for trading. In effecting the sale of any Shares, the Corporation or the broker will exercise its sole judgment as to the timing and manner of sale and will not be obligated to seek or obtain a minimum price. Neither the Corporation nor the broker will be liable for any loss arising out of any sale of Shares, including any loss relating to the manner or timing of any sale, the prices at which the Shares are sold, or otherwise. In addition, neither the Corporation nor the broker will be liable for any loss arising from a delay in transferring any Shares to a Participant. The sale price of Shares sold on behalf of Participants will fluctuate with the market price of the Shares and no assurance can be given that any particular price will be received upon any sale.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board under Section 4.11 or otherwise specified in the relevant Option Agreement, if a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person:
15
16
(the date determined under Sections 4.10.1.2.1 to 4.10.1.2.4, the “Early Expiry Date”).
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, Options will not be affected by any change of employment or provision of services within or among the Corporation or any Subsidiaries, so long as the Participant continues to be an Eligible Person.
The Early Expiry Date will be determined based on the first of the events described in Sections 4.10.1.2.1 to
4.10.1.2.5 to occur.
Options granted under this Plan are not part of a Participant’s regular employment or consulting compensation, and no value will be attributed to any Options as part of calculating any Participant’s damages for wrongful dismissal, or any amount due to a Participant with respect to reasonable notice, notice of termination, severance or termination pay, or compensation in lieu of notice.
Notwithstanding Section 4.10.1.1 and subject to the terms of a Participant’s written employment or consulting agreement with the Corporation or an Affiliate, in the event a Participant’s employment is terminated by the Corporation, or a Subsidiary, as applicable, without Cause, the Participant dies or experiences a Disability prior to the anniversary of a vesting period:
4.10.5.1 the number of Options determined by the formula A x B/C, where:
A: equals the total number of Options relating to such vesting period that have not previously vested in respect of such vesting period,
B: equals the total number of days between the first day of such vesting period relating to such Grant and the Participant’s Termination Date, and
C: equals total number of days in the vesting period relating to such vesting period, shall become vested Options on the Participant’s Termination Date.
17
The Corporation will use its best efforts to give the affected Participants written notice of any determination made by the Board under Section 4.11.1 at least 14 days before the effective date of the Change of Control Transaction.
Subject to Section 4.12.2, the Options and all benefits and rights accruing to a Participant in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Plan are not directly or indirectly transferable and cannot be assigned, charged, pledged or hypothecated, or otherwise alienated, by a Participant, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise.
On a Participant’s death, vested Options, benefits and rights may pass by the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution to the legal representative of the Participant’s estate or any other Person who acquires the Participant’s vested Options by bequest or inheritance. No transfer of a vested Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution will be effective to bind the Corporation until the Corporation has been furnished with any evidence that the Corporation may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the transferee of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the relevant Option Agreement.
In addition to the other provisions of this Plan (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary), the limitations and requirements of this Section 4.13, as well as those contained in Section 4.15, will apply to Options granted to a Participant who is a U.S. Participant on the Grant Date.
The Option Agreement relating to any Option granted to a U.S. Participant shall specify whether such Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. If no such specification is made, then the Option will be (a) an Incentive Stock Option if all of the requirements under the Code are satisfied with respect to such grant, or (b) in all other cases, a Nonqualified Stock Option.
The Option Exercise Price will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a Share on the Grant Date of the applicable Option. If the Shares are not readily tradeable on an established securities market on the
18
Grant Date, then fair market value will be determined by the Board by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, as contemplated under Section 409A of the Code, taking into consideration factors relevant to such valuation in accordance with regulations under Section 409A of the Code and other applicable guidance.
Any adjustment to an outstanding Option granted to a U.S. Participant (including, but not limited to, any adjustment contemplated under Sections 3.3.1 and 4.11.1.2 with respect to the Option Exercise Price and number of Shares subject to an Option, or with respect to the Option Expiry Date) will be made so as to comply with, and not create any adverse consequences under, Section 409A of the Code.
An Option granted to a U.S. Participant may not be granted with any right to payments equivalent in amount to dividends paid to the Corporation’s shareholders with respect to the Shares.
A U.S. Participant may only be granted an Option to the extent that the Shares underlying the Option qualify as “service recipient stock” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) with respect to such U.S. Participant.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan or any Option Agreement to the contrary, each Option granted to a U.S. Participant shall be designed, granted, and administered in such a manner that the Option will be exempt from the application of the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The exercisability of an Option granted to a U.S. Participant shall not be extended to the extent that such extension would subject the U.S. Participant to additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code.
In addition to the other provisions of this Plan (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary), the limitations and requirements of this Section 4.14 will apply to an Incentive Stock Option.
An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to an employee (including a director or officer who is also an employee) of the Corporation or any Affiliate. For purposes of Section 4.14, the term “employee” shall mean a person who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.
To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any U.S. Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan and all other plans of the Corporation and of any Parent Corporation or Affiliate Corporation) exceeds US$100,000 or any limitation subsequently set forth in Section 422(d) of the Code, such excess shall be considered to be Nonqualified Stock Options. For this purpose, the “fair market value” of the Shares subject to Options shall be determined as of the Grant Date of the Options. In reducing the number of Options treated as Incentive Stock Options to meet the US$100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first. To the extent that a reduction of simultaneously granted Options is necessary to meet the US$100,000 limit, the Board may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which Shares are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
The Option Exercise Price upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a Share on the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option, provided that, in the case of the grant of an Incentive Stock Option to a U.S. Participant who, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, is a 10% Shareholder, the Option Exercise Price upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option will be not less than 110% of the fair market value of a Share on the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option.
Notwithstanding Section 4.4 of this Plan, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a U.S. Participant who, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, is a 10% Shareholder, such Incentive Stock Option will terminate and no longer be exercisable no later than five (5) years after the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.10.1 of this Plan, if a U.S. Participant’s employment with the Corporation or any Affiliate terminates by reason of a permanent and total disability (as defined below),
19
any
20
Incentive Stock Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, for a period of no more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Termination Date or until the Option Expiry Date, whichever period is the shorter. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “permanent and total disability” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
An Incentive Stock Option granted to a U.S. Participant may be exercised during such U.S. Participant’s lifetime only by such U.S. Participant.
An Incentive Stock Option granted to a U.S. Participant may not be transferred, assigned or pledged by such
U.S. Participant, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
No Incentive Stock Option may be granted under this Plan on or after the date that is ten (10) years from the earlier of the date that this Plan, as amended, is adopted by the Board or the date that this Plan, as amended, is approved by the shareholders of the Corporation.
If any U.S. Participant shall make any disposition of Shares issued to such U.S. Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such U.S. Participant shall notify the Corporation of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.
This Plan is intended to be a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Rule 701 or, to the extent applicable, Section 25102(o); however, grants may be made to U.S. Participants pursuant to this Plan which do not specifically qualify for exemption from registration under Rule 701 or, to the extent applicable, Section 25102(o). Any requirement of this Plan which is required in law only because of Section 25102(o) will not apply with respect to a particular Option grant to which Section 25102(o) will not apply in light of the particular U.S. Participant.
Any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with Rule 701 (or, to the extent applicable, Section 25102(o)) shall, without further act or amendment by the Corporation, be reformed to comply with the requirements of Rule 701 (and, to the extent applicable, Section 25102(o)). Any Option granted to any U.S. Participant hereunder will not be effective unless such grant is made in compliance in all respects with Applicable Laws, including all applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws, rules and regulations of any Governmental Authority, as well as the requirements of any U.S. or foreign stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Corporation’s securities may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of the Option grant and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. The Corporation shall be under no obligation to register or qualify the Shares underlying the Option with the SEC, any state or foreign securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance, and the Corporation will have no liability for any inability or failure so do.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, the Corporation shall have no obligation to issue or deliver any securities under this Plan to any U.S. Participant prior to (i) obtaining any approvals from any governmental agency that the Corporation determines in its discretion are necessary or advisable, and/or
(ii) compliance with any exemption, completion of any registration or other qualification of such securities under any federal, state or foreign law or ruling of any Governmental Authority that the Corporation determines in its discretion to be necessary or advisable.
For the avoidance of doubt, a Consultant shall only be eligible to receive an Option grant in reliance on Rule 701 to the extent that such Consultant is a natural person as described under Section 1.1.7.5.
21
ARTICLE 5 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
The holder of an Option will not have any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to any of the Shares issuable on exercise of that Option until that holder has exercised that Option in accordance with the terms of this Plan and has been issued the Shares.
Nothing in this Plan or any Option will confer on a Participant any right to continue in the employment or service of the Corporation or any Affiliate or affect in any way the right of the Corporation or any Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time; nor will anything in this Plan or any Option be deemed or construed to constitute an agreement, or an expression of intent, on the part of the Corporation or any Affiliate to extend the employment or service of any Participant beyond the date on which the Participant’s relationship with the Corporation or any Affiliate would otherwise be terminated due to Retirement or pursuant to the provisions of any employment, consulting or other contract for services with the Corporation or any Affiliate.
The Participants, by participating in this Plan, will be deemed to have accepted all risks associated with acquiring Shares pursuant to this Plan. Each Participant acknowledges that the Shares are subject to, and may be required to be held indefinitely under, applicable securities laws. The Corporation and the Subsidiaries make no undertaking, representation, warranty or guarantee as to the future value or price, or as to the listing on any stock exchange or other market, of any Shares issued under this Plan, and will not be liable to any Participant for any loss resulting from that Participant’s participation in this Plan or as a result of the amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan or any Option in accordance with its terms.
The Options issued under this Plan, and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Options, may, in certain circumstances be subject to a 4 month hold period, or other resale restriction, commencing on the Grant Date of the Option in accordance with the polices of the Exchange and/or applicable securities laws.
All written notices to be given by a Participant to the Corporation will be delivered personally or by registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
330-357 South Gulph Road King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Any notice given by a Participant pursuant to the terms of an Option will not be effective until actually received by the Corporation at the above address.
Each Participant will, when requested to do so by the Corporation, sign and deliver all documents relating to the granting or exercise of Options deemed necessary or desirable by the Corporation. Each Participant will provide the Corporation with all information (including personal information) which is necessary for the administration of this Plan, and each Participant consents to the collection, use and disclosure of information by the Corporation necessary for the administration of this Plan.
22
The Corporation and each Participant irrevocably and unconditionally submits and attorns to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario to determine all issues, whether at law or in equity, arising from this Plan and each Option Agreement. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Corporation and each Participant:
irrevocably waives any objection, including any claim of inconvenient forum, that it may now or in the future have to the venue of any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Plan or any Option Agreement in the courts of that Province, or that the subject matter of this Plan or any Option Agreement may not be enforced in those courts;
irrevocably agrees not to seek, and waives any right to, judicial review by any court which may be called on to enforce the judgment of the courts referred to in this Section 5.7, of the substantive merits of any suit, action or proceeding; and
to the extent the Corporation or any Participant has or may acquire any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process, whether through service or notice, attachment before judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise, with respect to itself or its property, that Person irrevocably waives that immunity in respect of its obligations under this Plan and any Option Agreement.
[Remainder of page left intentionally blank.]
23
SCHEDULE 1 CALIFORNIA SUPPLEMENT
The Board has adopted this California Supplement for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 25102(o). All capitalized terms used but not defined in this California Supplement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the TerrAscend Corp. Stock Option Plan, as the same may be amended or varied from time to time (the “Plan”).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, and except as otherwise determined by the Corporation, the provisions set forth in this California Supplement shall apply to any Options granted under the Plan to a U.S. Participant who is a resident of the State of California on the date of the Grant (each, a “California Optionholder”) and which are intended to be exempt from registration in California pursuant to Section 25102(o).
All California Optionholders will be subject to the following additional limitations, terms and conditions:
Unless a California Optionholder’s employment is terminated for cause (as defined by applicable law or the terms of any contract of employment between the Corporation and such California Optionholder), in the event of any other termination of employment of such California Optionholder, such California Optionholder shall have the right to exercise an Option, to the extent that he or she was otherwise entitled to exercise such Option on the date employment terminated, until the earlier of: (i) at least six (6) months from the date of termination, if termination was caused by such California Optionholder’s death or “permanent and total disability” (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), (ii) at least thirty (30) days from the date of termination, if termination was caused other than by such California Optionholder’s death or “permanent and total disability” (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), and (iii) the Option Expiry Date.
No Option granted to a California Optionholder shall become exercisable, vested or realizable unless the Plan has been approved by the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities (i) within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) prior to or within twelve (12) months following the granting of any Option to a California Optionholder.
No Option granted to a California Optionholder will be granted for a term in excess of ten (10) years. The terms of all Options granted to a California Optionholder shall comply, to the extent applicable, with Section 260.140.41 or Section 260.140.42 of the California Code of Regulations. The Corporation will make such adjustments to an Option held by a California Optionholder as may be required by Section 260.140.41 or Section 260.140.42 of the California Code of Regulations.
To the extent required by Section 260.140.46 of the California Code of Regulations (or any successor provision thereto), the Corporation shall provide to each California Optionholder and to each California Optionholder who acquires Shares pursuant to the Plan, not less frequently than annually, copies of annual financial statements (which need not be audited). The Corporation shall not be required to provide such statements to key persons whose duties in connection with the Corporation assure their access to equivalent information. In addition, this information requirement shall not apply to the Plan to the extent that it complies with all conditions of Rule 701, as determined by the Board; provided that, for purposes of determining such compliance, any registered domestic partner shall be considered a “family member” as that term is defined in Rule 701.
24