Company RSUs (i) Except as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Company Disclosure Letter, at the Effective Time each award of Company RSUs that (A) is vested and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time or (B) pursuant to its terms as in effect as of the date hereof, would become vested as of the Effective Time (in each case, with any performance conditions applicable to such award of Company RSUs determined in accordance with the applicable award agreement relating thereto as of immediately prior to the Effective Time), will automatically, without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, without interest thereon and subject to applicable withholding Taxes, equal to the product of (x) the Per Share Price and (y) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such award of Company RSUs as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Cash-Out RSU Consideration,” and together with the Cash-Out Option Consideration, the “Cash-Out Equity Award Consideration”).
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Company Disclosure Letter, at the Effective Time, each award of Company RSUs that (A) was granted prior to the date hereof and (B) is outstanding and unvested as of the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without further action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and converted into the contractual right to receive a payment in an amount in cash (without interest and subject to applicable withholding Taxes) equal to the product of (x) the Per Share Price and (y) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such award of Company RSUs as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a “Converted RSU Cash Award”). Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.8(c)(ii), each Converted RSU Cash Award shall be subject to the same terms and conditions (including time-based vesting conditions) as applied to the corresponding award of Company RSUs immediately prior to the Effective Time and will become payable to the holder thereof in accordance with the original vesting schedule applicable to the corresponding Company RSU; provided, that each Converted RSU Cash Award shall provide that the unvested portion, if any, of such Converted RSU Cash Award will immediately vest and become payable upon a termination of the holder’s employment or services by the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries without “Cause” or a resignation by the holder for “Good Reason” (each as defined in Section 6.10(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter) that occurs within the twelve (12) month period following the Effective Time.
(iii) At the Effective Time, each award of Company RSUs that is (A) granted on or after the date hereof (to the extent expressly permitted pursuant to Section 5.2(g)) and (B) outstanding and unvested as of the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without further action on the part of the holder thereof, be assumed by Parent and converted into an Ultimate Parent restricted stock unit award (each, an “Assumed RSU Award”) on the same terms and conditions (including applicable vesting and expiration provisions) as applied to each such award of Company RSUs immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that each Assumed RSU Award shall cover that number of whole shares of Ultimate Parent Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock underlying such award of Company RSUs immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (y) the Equity Award Exchange Ratio, with the result rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of Ultimate Parent Common Stock.
Company Stock Plans (a) Effective as of the Effective Time, each outstanding stock option, stock equivalent right or right to acquire Shares (each a “Company Option” and collectively, the “Company Options”) granted under the Company’s 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1997 Stock Option Plan or 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Company Stock Plans”) or granted outside of a plan, without regard to the extent then vested and exercisable, shall be cancelled and, in consideration of such cancellation, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, promptly following the Effective Time, pay to such holders of Company Options, an amount in respect thereof equal to the product of (x) the excess, if any, of the Offer Price over the exercise price of each such Company Option and (y) the number of unexercised Shares subject thereto (such payment, if any, to be net of applicable Taxes withheld pursuant to Section 2.5).
(b) Effective as of the Effective Time, restrictions on each restricted stock award (each a “Company Restricted Share” and collectively, the “Company Restricted Shares”) granted under any Company Stock Plan, which is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, will lapse as of such Effective Time and such Company Restricted Shares shall be treated in the same manner as other Shares pursuant to Section 2.1(c) (except that with respect to any restrictions which by the terms provide for a lapse to a lesser extent upon the consummation of the Merger, such restrictions shall only lapse to such lesser extent) (such payment, if any, to be net of applicable Taxes withheld pursuant to Section 2.5).
(c) As of the Effective Time, the Company Stock Plans shall terminate and all rights under any provision of any other plan, program or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of any other interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company, or any Company Subsidiary (as defined in Section 3.4(a)), shall be cancelled. The Company shall ensure that, after the Effective Time, no person shall have any right under the Company Stock Plans to acquire any capital stock of the Company or the Surviving Corporation or any other equity interest therein (including “phantom” stock or stock appreciation rights), except as set forth herein. The Company Board of Directors (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the Company Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions, or take such other actions as may be required, to effect the foregoing.
Equity Awards You will be eligible to receive awards of stock options or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Board or Committee, as applicable, will determine in its sole discretion whether you will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time.
Company Option Plans At the Effective Time, all options (the "Company Options") then outstanding, whether or not vested and exercisable, under the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan, 1996 Equity Incentive Plan, 1996 Directors Stock Option Plan and 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, in each case as amended (collectively, the "Company Option Plans"), shall be assumed by Parent. Each Company Option assumed by Parent other than Company Options issued pursuant to the Company 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan shall be subject to, and exercisable upon, the same terms and conditions as under the applicable Company Option Plan and the applicable option agreement issued thereunder, except that (a) each assumed Company Option shall be exercisable for, and represent the right to acquire, that number of shares of Parent Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio; and (b) the option price per share of Parent Common Stock subject to each assumed Company Option shall be an amount equal to (i) the option price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (ii) the Exchange Ratio (rounded up to the nearest whole cent). The Company represents and warrants that each of the foregoing actions may be taken and effected by the Company without the consent of any holder of Company Options. Each assumed purchase right under the Company 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan shall continue to have, and be subject to, the terms and conditions set forth in the Company 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the documents governing the assumed purchase right, except that the purchase price of such shares of Parent Common Stock for each respective purchase date under each assumed purchase right shall be the lower of (i) the quotient determined by dividing eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of Company Common Stock on the offering date of each assumed offering period by the Exchange Ratio or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of the Parent Common Stock on each purchase date of each assumed offering period occurring after the Effective Time (with the number of shares rounded to the nearest whole share and the purchase price rounded to the nearest whole cent). The assumed purchase rights shall be exercised at such times following the Effective Time as set forth in the Company 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and each participant shall, accordingly, be issued shares of Parent Common Stock at such times pursuant to the Company 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan shall terminate with the exercise of the last assumed purchase right, and no additional purchase rights shall be granted under the Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan following the Effective Time. Parent agrees that from and after the Effective Time, employees of the Surviving Corporation may participate in Parent's employee stock purchase plan, subject to the terms and conditions of such plan. The adjustment provided herein with respect to stock options shall be and is intended to be effected in a manner which is consistent with Section 424(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The duration, vesting schedule, exercisability and other terms of each option immediately after the Effective Time shall be the same as the corresponding terms in effect immediately before the Effective Time, except that all references to Company in the Company Option Plans (and the corresponding references in the option agreement documenting such option) shall be deemed to be references to Parent. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Disclosure Schedule (as defined in Article III hereof), vesting of Company Options shall not be accelerated as a result of the Merger. Continuous employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries shall be credited to the optionee for purposes of determining the vesting of all assumed Company Options after the Effective Time. As soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than 30 days after the Effective Time, Parent will issue to each holder of an assumed Company Option notice of the foregoing assumption by Parent. Parent shall file with the SEC, no later than ten business days after the Effective Time, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable with respect to the Company Options assumed by Parent in accordance with this Section 2.6.
Company Equity Awards (a) Each option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock that has been granted under the Company Stock Plans (each, a “Company Option”) and that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or the holders thereof, be treated as follows:
(i) as of the Effective Time, each Company Option (whether or not vested) that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time and that has a per share exercise price less than the Merger Consideration (an “In-the-Money Option”) will be canceled in exchange for payment to the holder of such In-the-Money Option of an amount in cash equal to (A) the number of shares of Company Common Stock remaining subject to such In-the-Money Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (B) the amount by which (x) the Merger Consideration exceeds (y) the per share exercise price for such In-the-Money Option (the “Company Option Cash Out Amount”); and
(ii) each Company Option that is not an In-the-Money Option will be canceled at the Effective Time without payment of any consideration.
(b) As of the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit award subject to time-based or other vesting restrictions that is outstanding under any Company Stock Plan (each, a “Company RSU Award””) immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, to the extent not vested, become fully vested and then (ii) each such Company RSU Award shall be canceled without any action of the part of any holder or beneficiary thereof in consideration for the right to receive a lump sum cash payment with respect thereto equal to the product of (x) the Merger Consideration and (y) the number of shares of Company Stock represented by such Company RSU Award (the “Company RSU Cash Out Amount”).
(c) All Company Options (whether or not vested) that are outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time, all Company RSU Awards that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, and rights under the Company Stock Plans, will terminate as of, and contingent upon the occurrence of, the Effective Time (after given effect to this Section 2.3), and, following the Effective Time, no holder of any Company Option, Company RSU Award, or any other rights under the Company Stock Plans will have any right to acquire any equity securities of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or the Surviving Corporation as a result of such holder’s Company Options, Company RSU Awards, or other rights under the Company Stock Plans and the Company shall have no further Liability under or with respect to any such Company Option, Company RSU Awards, or the Company Stock Plans (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(i) in respect of In-The-Money Options), or as provided pursuant to Section 2.3(b) in respect of the Company RSU Awards.
(d) Payment of the Company Option Cash Out Amount for each In-the-Money Option and the Company RSU Cash Out Amount for each Company RSU Award is subject to Section 2.7 and will be made as follows: No later than thirty (30) Business Days after the Closing Date, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, deliver (through the Surviving Corporation payroll or such other means of payment as Parent may provide) to the holder of any In-the-Money Option or Company RSU Award the applicable Company Option Cash Out Amount or Company RSU Cash Out Amount, net of Tax withholdings. To the extent that such Taxes are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority, the amounts thereof will be treated for all purposes hereunder as having been paid to the Person to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid.
(e) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take (or cause there to be taken, as the case may be) all such actions as are necessary to effect the treatment of Company Options and Company RSU Awards provided for under this Section 2.3, under all Contracts governing the terms of all Company Options and Company RSU Awards, and under any other applicable plan or arrangement to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound with respect to such Company Options, Company RSU Awards or the Company Stock Plans, including (A) to accelerate the vesting of any unvested Company Options that are outstanding and unvested immediately prior to the Effective Time and (B) at the request of Parent or as otherwise may be required, sending to any holders of Company Options notices (if drafted and at the request of Parent, subject to reasonable review and approval by the Company, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) with respect to the treatment of such instruments under this Agreement. The Company shall not send or otherwise make available any notices to any holders of Company Options, or solicit any consents or other approvals from the holders of any Company Options unless and until Parent has reviewed and approved all such notices and related documentation (including any email messages and notifications) to be sent or made available to such holders (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), in each case, solely to the extent such notices, consents or approvals relate to the Merger Transaction.
(f) The Company shall promptly take (or cause there to be taken, as the case may be) all such actions as are necessary to ensure that no offering or purchase period commences under the Company ESPP and that no shares of Company Capital Stock are issued under the Company ESPP. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take (or cause there to be taken, as the case may be) all such actions as are necessary to terminate the Company ESPP such that, from and after the time of such termination, the Company shall have no Liability under or with respect to the Company ESPP.
Stock Plans (a) At the Effective Time, the Stock Plans (other than the ESPP) and each Option which is outstanding thereunder immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether or not then vested or exercisable) shall, subject to Schedule 5.8(a), be assumed by Parent. Each such Option so assumed by Parent under this Agreement shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Stock Plans and the stock option agreements, immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that (i) such Option will be exercisable for that number of whole Parent Ordinary Shares equal to the product of the number of shares of Company Common Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Option Exchange Ratio and rounded down to the nearest whole number of Parent Ordinary Shares, and (ii) the per share exercise price for the Parent Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of such assumed Option will be equal to the quotient determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock at which such Option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Option Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole cent. Except as set forth in Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Merger nor the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will terminate any of the outstanding Options under the Stock Plans or accelerate the exercisability or vesting of such Options or the Parent Ordinary Shares which will be subject to those Options upon Parent’s assumption of the Options in the Merger. It is the intention of the parties that the Options so assumed by Parent hereunder qualify, to the maximum extent permissible, following the Effective Time as “incentive stock options” as defined in Section 422 of the Code to the extent such Options qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Option Exchange Ratio” shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Merger Consideration by the Parent Fair Market Value, and (ii) “Parent Fair Market Value” means the average closing selling price per share of Parent Ordinary Shares as quoted on the London Stock Exchange for the ten (10) trading days preceding the Closing Date (as converted to U.S. Dollars at the Currency Exchange Rate as quoted in the New York edition of The Wall Street Journal on the Effective Date).
Company Options (a) At the Effective Time, each Company Option, whether vested or unvested, will be assumed by NetRatings as contemplated by this Section 5.7. Section 5.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule hereto sets forth a true and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of all holders of outstanding Company Options, including the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to each such option, the exercise or vesting schedule, the exercise price per share and the term of each such Company Option. On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to NetRatings an updated Section 5.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule hereto current as of such date. Each such Company Option so assumed by NetRatings under this Agreement shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions set forth in the Company Option Plan and any other document governing such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that (i) such Company Option will be exercisable for that number of whole shares of NetRatings Common Stock equal to the product of the number of shares of Company Common Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Common Exchange Ratio and rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of NetRatings Common Stock, (ii) the per share exercise price for the shares of NetRatings Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such assumed option will be equal to the quotient determined by dividing the exercise price per share at which such Company Option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Common Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole tenth of a cent, and (iii) the term, vesting schedule and other provisions of such Company Option shall remain unchanged, provided that all outstanding Options shall be exercisable as of the Effective Time to the extent vested as of the Effective Time and will continue to become exercisable as they vest after the Effective Time. Consistent with the terms of the Company Option Plan and the documents governing the outstanding Company Options, the Merger will not result in the termination of any of the outstanding Company Options or, except as contemplated by the preceding sentence, the acceleration of the exercisability or vesting of such Company Options upon NetRatings' assumption of the Company Options in the Merger. Within 20 business days after the Effective Time, NetRatings will issue to each person who, immediately prior to the Effective Time, was a holder of an outstanding Company Option a document in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to ACN evidencing the foregoing assumption of such Company Option by NetRatings.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, but in any event within 30 days thereafter, NetRatings shall file a registration statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate forms), with respect to the shares of NetRatings Common Stock subject to the Company Options assumed by NetRatings and shall use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement or registration statements (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses in connection therewith) for so long as the assumed Company Options remain outstanding.
Equity Plans Executive shall be entitled to participate in any equity or other employee benefit plan that is generally available to senior executive officers, as distinguished from general management, of the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Executive’s participation in and benefits under any such plan shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the governing document of the particular plan.
Treatment of Company Equity Awards (i) All options to acquire shares of Company Common Stock and other awards (collectively, “Company Equity Awards”) made under the Company’s stock plans (collectively, the “Company Stock Plans”) prior to the Effective Time, which are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, are identified in Section 4.1(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(ii) In the event a Company Equity Award constitutes a grant of restricted stock and to the extent such award is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Company Restricted Stock Award”), such Company Restricted Stock Award shall be deemed to be fully vested as of the Effective Time, and the holder of such Company Restricted Stock Award shall receive the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Restricted Stock Award in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Company Stock Plan, including any terms and conditions regarding any Taxes required by Applicable Law to be withheld, if any, with respect to the vesting of such Company Restricted Stock Award.
(iii) In the event a Company Equity Award constitutes a stock option grant and to the extent such award is outstanding during the 30-day period that ends immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Company Stock Option Award”), (A) such Company Stock Option Award shall be deemed to be fully vested and exercisable during such period, and (B) to the extent such Company Stock Option Award is exercised during such period, the holder of such Company Stock Option Award shall receive the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option Award (to the extent exercised) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Company Stock Plan, including any terms and conditions regarding the payment of the exercise price and any Taxes required by Applicable Law to be withheld, if any, with respect to the exercise of such Company Stock Option Award. To the extent any Company Stock Option Awards remain outstanding and unexercised as of the close of the 30-day period that ends immediately prior to the Effective Time, such Company Stock Option Awards (A) shall be deemed to be fully vested and exercisable and (B) shall be continued and assumed by Parent as of the Effective Time pursuant to their terms (such awards are referred to herein as the “Rollover Awards”); provided, however, that Parent Common Stock shall replace the shares of Company Common Stock subject to such awards pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise price, if any, for such awards, if any, shall be adjusted as provided pursuant to this Agreement.
(iv) The assumption of Rollover Awards shall be made pursuant to this Section 4.1(f), so that at the Effective Time, the applicable Company Stock Plans shall be assumed by Parent (with such adjustments thereto as may be required to reflect the Merger, including the substitution of Parent Common Stock for Company Common Stock thereunder) and the Rollover Awards shall be assumed and adjusted by Parent, subject to the same terms and conditions as set forth in the applicable Company Stock Plans and the applicable award agreements entered into pursuant thereto; provided, however, that for periods beginning immediately following the Effective Time, (A) each Rollover Award shall be exercisable only for that whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole share) of the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Rollover Award immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, and (B) the exercise price per share of Parent Common Stock shall be an amount equal to the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Rollover Award in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio (the price per share, as so determined, being rounded up to the nearest whole cent); provided, that in no event shall the exercise price per share be less than the par value of Parent Common Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, any exercise of a Rollover Award shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Company Stock Plan, including any terms and conditions regarding the payment of the exercise price and any Taxes required by Applicable Law to be withheld, if any, with respect to the exercise of such Rollover Award. The adjustments provided in this paragraph with respect to any Rollover Awards shall be and are intended to be effective in a manner which is consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and, to the extent applicable, Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(v) Except as otherwise provided herein or as set forth in Section 4.1(f)(v) of the Company Disclosure Letter, from and after the period that begins as of the date of this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall take no action to provide for the extension of the term or exercise period with respect to any Company Equity Award (unless such extension is required under such Company Equity Awards or any applicable employment or change in control agreement pursuant any terms thereunder that are in effect as of the date of this Agreement). To the extent such extension is required under the terms of such Company Equity Awards (or any applicable employment or change in control agreement) or as set forth in Section 4.1(f)(v) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company shall, prior to the Effective Time, take all actions (if any) as may be required to cause such extension to occur at the Effective Time and immediately prior to any assumption of the Company Stock Plan by Parent (to the extent permitted under the terms of such Company Stock Plan as of the date of this Agreement).
(vi) Promptly following the Closing Date, Parent shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form) covering the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable upon exercise or vesting of the Company Equity Awards, and shall cause such registration statement to remain effective for as long as there are outstanding any such Company Equity Awards. Except as otherwise specifically provided by this Section 4.1(f), the terms of the Company Equity Awards and the relevant Company Stock Plans, as in effect on the Effective Time, shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the Company Equity Awards after giving effect to the Merger and the assumptions by Parent as set forth above. As soon as practicable following the Effective Time, Parent shall deliver to the holders of Rollover Awards appropriate notices stating that such Rollover Awards and such agreements shall have been assumed by Parent and shall continue in effect on the same terms and conditions (subject to the adjustments required by this Section 4.1(f)).
(vii) Nothing in this Section 4.1(f) is intended to release any employee or service provider to the Company from any provisions relating to any non-competition, non-solicitation, or confidentiality provisions (or similar provisions) of any Company Equity Award and any associated damages or forfeitures (the “Equity Award Restrictive Covenants”), which shall survive the Effective Time. The Company shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure the survival of the Equity Award Restrictive Covenants and the succession of Parent to the benefits of the Equity Award Restrictive Covenants.
Equity Award The Executive will be eligible to receive equity awards, if any, at such times and on such terms and conditions as the Board shall, in its sole discretion, determine.
