Treatment of Equity Awards (a) The Company Board (or, if appropriate, a committee administering a Company equity incentive plan, inducement award program or other similar plan, program or arrangement under which equity awards or equity-based rights are outstanding (the “Company Equity Plans” and each such plan or program, a “Company Equity Plan”)) has adopted, or, as soon as practicable following the date hereof (and, in any event, prior to the Effective Time), shall adopt, resolutions providing that, as of the Effective Time:
(i) each option to acquire Shares, other than awards under the Company’s 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) (each such option, a “Company Stock Option”), and each other equity award or right measured by the value of Shares (or pursuant to which Shares may be delivered) (including deferred units or similar rights or awards of non-employee directors), other than awards under the ESPP (collectively, “Company Equity Awards”), that is outstanding and unvested immediately prior to the Effective Time shall vest in full at the Effective Time;
(ii) each Company Stock Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that has an exercise price per Share that is less than the Merger Consideration shall be cancelled, without any action on the part of the holder of such Company Stock Option, and, in exchange therefor, the former holder of such cancelled Company Stock Option shall be entitled to receive (without interest), in consideration of the cancellation of such Company Stock Option, an amount in cash (less applicable tax withholdings pursuant to Section 3.6) equal to the product of (x) the total number of Shares subject to the unexercised portion of such Company Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective Time (determined after giving effect to the accelerated vesting described in Section 3.2(a)(i) above) multiplied by (y) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the applicable exercise price per Share under such Company Stock Option;
(iii) each Company Stock Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that has an exercise price per Share that is greater than or equal to the Merger Consideration shall be cancelled at the Effective Time, without any action on the part of the holder of such Company Stock Option, and the holder of such Company Stock Option shall not be entitled to receive any payment in exchange for such cancellation; and
(iv) each Company Equity Award, other than a Company Stock Option, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled, and the former holder of such cancelled Company Equity Award shall be entitled, in exchange therefor, to receive (without interest) an amount in cash (less applicable tax withholdings pursuant to Section 3.6) equal to the product of (x) the total number of Shares subject to (or deliverable under) such Company Equity Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (determined after giving effect to the accelerated vesting described in Section 3.2(a)(i) above) multiplied by (y) the Merger Consideration.
(b) Subject to Section 3.6, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to make all payments to former holders of Company Equity Awards required under Section 3.2(a) as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, and in any event, no later than five (5) Business Days after the Effective Time, in accordance with the foregoing and the terms of the applicable Company Equity Plans pursuant to which such Company Equity Awards were issued.
(c) As soon as practicable following the date hereof, the Company shall take all actions with respect to the ESPP that are necessary to provide that (i) with respect to the Purchase Period (as defined in the ESPP) in effect on the date hereof (“Current Purchase Period”), no individual may enroll in the ESPP after the date hereof with respect to such Current Purchase Period and no participant may increase the percentage amount of his or her payroll deduction election from that in effect on the date hereof for such Current Purchase Period and (ii) no new offering period shall be commenced under the ESPP after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time. If the Effective Time is expected to occur prior to the end of the Current Purchase Period, the Company shall take action to provide for an earlier exercise date (including for purposes of determining the Purchase Price (as defined in the ESPP) for the Current Purchase Period) (such earlier date, the “Early ESPP Exercise Date”). The Early ESPP Exercise Date shall be as close to the Effective Time as is administratively practicable. The Company shall suspend the commencement of any future Purchase Period (as defined in the ESPP) unless and until this Agreement is terminated and shall terminate the ESPP as of the Effective Time.
Treatment of Stock Options At the Effective Time, with respect to each outstanding option to purchase Shares (a “Company Option”) under the Company Stock Plans, whether vested or unvested, (x) if the exercise price of such Company Option is equal to or greater than the Cash Election Consideration, such Company Option shall terminate and be cancelled as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, without any consideration being payable in respect thereof, and have no further force or effect, and (y) if the exercise price of such Company Option is less than the Cash Election Consideration, thirty percent (30%) of such Company Options held by each holder thereof (rounded to the nearest whole share), other than any Company Option that is not held by a Company Employee and any Company Option held by a non-employee Director, shall be deemed to be “Rollover Options” and the remaining Company Options (other than Company Options cancelled pursuant to clause (x) above) shall be deemed to be “Cash-Out Options”. At the Effective Time, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof:
(i) each such Cash-Out Option shall terminate and be cancelled as of immediately prior to the Effective Time in exchange for the right to receive, in accordance with this Section 4.6(a), a lump sum cash payment in the amount equal to (i) the number of Shares subject to the Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any, of the dollar value of the Cash Election Consideration (the “Cash Award Consideration”), over the applicable exercise price (the “Option Payment”). The Option Payment (if any) payable under this Section 4.6(a) to each former holder of a Company Option that was outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be paid through the Surviving Company’s payroll to such former holder as soon as practicable following the Effective Time (but in any event not later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter), net of any Taxes withheld pursuant to Section 4.2(h); and
(ii) each Rollover Option shall be assumed and converted automatically into a fully-vested option (an “Adjusted Stock Option”) to purchase, on substantially the same terms and conditions (other than vesting) as were applicable under such Rollover Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, the number of shares of Series C Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares) equal to the product of (A) the number of Shares subject to such Rollover Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (B) the Option Exchange Ratio, which Adjusted Stock Option shall have an exercise price per share of Series C Common Stock equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (x) the exercise price per Share subject to such Rollover Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (y) the Option Exchange Ratio. The “Option Exchange Ratio” shall equal the quotient (rounded to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (i) the weighted average price of the Class A Shares on the NASDAQ on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of the Effective Time by (ii) the Average Parent Stock Price.
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.
Treatment of Options (a) Upon and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, immediately prior to the Effective Time, each option to purchase Company Common Stock then outstanding (each, a “Company Option”) to the extent then exercisable (after giving effect to any acceleration resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), at an exercise price per share less than the Merger Consideration (each such Company Option, a “Cashed Out Option”), shall entitle the holder thereof to receive from Parent as soon as practicable following the Effective Time, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of (x) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option multiplied by (y) the excess of the amount of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock under such Company Option (with the aggregate amount of such payment rounded up to the nearest cent, less applicable taxes, if any, required by Applicable Law to be withheld by the Company or Merger Sub on behalf of such holder).
(b) Upon and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, each Company Option other than a Cashed Out Option, granted under any Company Stock Plan and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into an option to acquire such number of shares of Parent Common Stock (a “Converted Option”) equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Converted Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the Merger Consideration by (2) the average of the closing prices of one (1) share of Parent Common Stock, as quoted on NASDAQ for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Closing Date (the “Exchange Ratio”), rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock. The terms and conditions of the Converted Option, including the vesting schedule thereof (except to the extent otherwise provided in any agreement between the Company and the holder of such Converted Option), shall otherwise remain the same as the terms and conditions of the Company Option, except that the exercise price per share of each Converted Option shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the exercise price per share of such Converted Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (2) the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole cent.
(c) On the Closing Date, Parent shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the case may be (or any successor or other appropriate forms), with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to the Converted Options and shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement or registration statements (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such Converted Options remain outstanding.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (a) It is intended that any payment or benefit which is provided pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement which is considered to be deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be paid and provided in a manner, and at such time and form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance.
(b) Neither Company nor Executive shall take any action to accelerate or delay the payment of any monies and/or provision of any benefits in any manner which would not be in compliance with Section 409A of the Code (including any transition or grandfather rules thereunder).
(c) Because Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, any payments to be made or benefits to be delivered in connection with Executive’s “Separation from Service” (as determined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code) that constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall not be made until the earlier of (i) Executive’s death or (ii) six months after Executive’s Separation from Service (the “409A Deferral Period”) as required by Section 409A of the Code. Payments otherwise due to be made in installments or periodically during the 409A Deferral Period (“Delayed Payments”) shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum as soon as the 409A Deferral Period ends, and the balance of the payment shall be made as otherwise scheduled. Any such benefits subject to the rule may be provided under the 409A Deferral Period at Executive’s expense, with Executive having a right to reimbursement from Company once the 409A Deferral Period ends, and the balance of the benefits shall be provided as otherwise scheduled. Any Delayed Payments shall bear interest at the United States 5-year Treasury Rate plus 2%, which accumulated interest shall be paid to Executive as soon as the 409A Deferral Period ends.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, all rights to payments and benefits hereunder shall be treated as rights to receive a series of separate payments and benefits to the fullest extent allowed by Section 409A of the Code.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither Company nor its subsidiaries or affiliates shall be liable to Executive if any payment or benefit which is to be provided pursuant to this Agreement and which is considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code otherwise fails to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
Payment of Awards The payment of the Award shall be made in shares of Common Stock. The payment of an Award shall be made within 70 days following the end of the Restricted Period.
Dividend Equivalent Payments Until your RSUs convert to Shares, if MSCI pays a dividend on Shares, you will be entitled to a dividend equivalent payment in the same amount as the dividend you would have received if you held Shares for your vested and unvested RSUs immediately prior to the record date. No dividend equivalents will be paid to you with respect to any canceled or forfeited RSUs. MSCI will decide on the form of payment and may pay dividend equivalents in Shares, in cash or in a combination thereof, unless otherwise provided in Exhibit C. MSCI will pay the dividend equivalent when it pays the corresponding dividend on its common stock or on the next regularly scheduled payroll date. The gross amount of any dividend equivalents paid to you with respect to RSUs that do not vest and convert to Shares shall be subject to potential recoupment or payback (such recoupment or payback of dividend equivalents, the “Clawback”) following the cancellation or forfeiture of the underlying RSUs. You consent to the Company’s implementation and enforcement of the Clawback and expressly agree that MSCI may take such actions as are necessary to effectuate the Clawback consistent with applicable law. If, within a reasonable period, you do not tender repayment of the dividend equivalents in response to demand for repayment, MSCI may seek a court order against you or take any other actions as are necessary to effectuate the Clawback.
Payment of Restricted Stock Units (a) The Restricted Stock Units that have become non-forfeitable pursuant to Section 1 of this Schedule B will be paid in Common Shares transferred to you within 10 business days following the Vesting Date, provided, however, that, subject to Section 3(b) of this Schedule B, (i) in the event a Change of Control occurs prior to the Vesting Date or (ii) in the event your employment terminates on account of the reasons set forth in Section 1(b)(ii) of this Schedule B prior to the Vesting Date, the Restricted Stock Units will be paid within 10 business days following such Change of Control or the date of the termination of your employment, whichever applies. If PolyOne determines that it is required to withhold any federal, state, local or foreign taxes from any payment, PolyOne will withhold Common Shares with a Market Value per Share equal to the amount of these taxes from the payment.
(b) If the event triggering the right to payment under Section 3(a) of this Schedule B does not constitute a permitted distribution event under Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code, then notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of Common Shares will be made to you, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, on the earliest of (i) your “separation from service” with PolyOne or a Subsidiary (determined in accordance with Section 409A) that occurs after the event giving rise to payment; (ii) the Vesting Date; or (iii) your death. In addition, if you are a “key employee” as determined pursuant to procedures adopted by PolyOne in compliance with Section 409A of the Code and any payment of Common Shares made pursuant to this Schedule B is considered to be a “deferral of compensation” (as such phrase is defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code) that is payable upon your “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), then the payment date for such payment shall be the date that is the tenth business day of the seventh month after the date of your “separation from service” with PolyOne or a Subsidiary (determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code).
Right of Deferral (i) The Company shall not be obligated to Register or qualify Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.1:
(1) if, within ten (10) days of the receipt of any request of the Holders to Register any Registrable Securities under Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(b), the Company gives notice to the Initiating Holders of its bona fide intention to effect the filing for its own account of a Registration Statement of Common Shares within sixty (60) days of receipt of that request; provided, that the Company is actively employing in good faith its reasonable best efforts to cause that Registration Statement to become effective within sixty (60) days of the initial filing; provided, further, that the Holders are entitled to join such Registration subject to Section 2.2; or
(2) during the period starting with the date of filing by the Company of, and ending six (6) months following the effective date of any Registration Statement pertaining to the Common Shares of the Company; provided, that the Holders are entitled to join such Registration subject to Section 2.2 (other than a registration of securities in a transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act or with respect to an employee benefit plan).
(ii) If, after receiving a request from the Holders pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(b) hereof, the Company furnishes to the Holders a certificate signed by the chief executive officer of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be materially detrimental to the Company or its members for a Registration Statement to be filed in the near future, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period during which such filing would be materially detrimental, provided, that such deferral by the Company shall not exceed ninety (90) days from the receipt of any request duly submitted by the Holders under Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(b) to Register Registrable Securities; provided, further, that the Company may not Register any other of its Securities during such ninety (90) day period (except for Registrations contemplated by Section 2.2(d)); provided, further, that the Company shall not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period.
Payment Options The exercise price shall be paid by one or any combination of the following forms of payment that are applicable to this option, as indicated on the cover page hereof:
(i) by check payable to the order of the Company; or
(ii) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking, satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or delivery by the Optionee to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions, satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price; or
(iii) subject to Section 7(b) below, if the Common Stock is then traded on a national securities exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market (or successor trading system), by delivery of shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal as of the date of exercise to the option price. In the case of (iii) above, fair market value as of the date of exercise shall be determined as of the last business day for which such prices or quotes are available prior to the date of exercise and shall mean (i) the last reported sale price (on that date) of the Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then traded on a national securities exchange; or (ii) the last reported sale price (on that date) of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market (or successor trading system), if the Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange.
