SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.5
SCICLONE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(For Residents of the People’s Republic of China)
SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted to the Participant named in the Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the “Grant Notice”) to which this Stock Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) is attached an option (the “Option”) to purchase certain shares of Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Option Agreement. The Option has been granted pursuant to and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions of the SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as amended to the Date of Grant, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. By signing the Grant Notice, the Participant: (a) acknowledges receipt of, and represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with, the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement, the Plan and a prospectus for the Plan prepared in connection with the registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of shares issuable pursuant to the Option (the “Plan Prospectus”), (b) accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan and (c) agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement or the Plan.
1. Definitions and Construction. |
1.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Grant Notice or the Plan. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below: |
(a) “Date of Grant” means the effective date of grant of the Option as set forth in the Grant Notice. |
(b) “Exercise Price” means the purchase price per share of Stock as set forth in the Grant Notice and as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 9. |
(c) “Local Law” means the laws, rules and regulations of the Peoples’ Republic of China. |
(d) “Number of Option Shares” means the total number of shares of Stock subject to the Option as set forth in the Grant Notice and as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 9. |
(e) “Option Expiration Date” means the date ten (10) years from the Date of Grant. |
(f) “Vested Shares” mean, on any relevant date, that portion of the Number of Option Shares which has vested in accordance with vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice. Provided that the Participant’s Service has not terminated prior to the relevant date, an initial installment of shares will become Vested Shares on the initial “Full Vest” date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Initial Vesting Date”), and thereafter the remaining shares will
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become Vested Shares in substantially equal installments determined from the Initial Vesting Date at the periodic rate set forth in the Grant Notice, with the last such installment vesting on the last “Full Vest” date set forth in the Grant Notice. |
1.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Option Agreement. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. |
2. Certain Conditions of the Option. |
2.1 Compliance with Local Law. The Participant agrees that the Participant will not acquire shares pursuant to the Option or transfer, assign, sell or otherwise deal with such shares except in compliance with Local Law. |
2.2 Special Conditions Applicable to the People’s Republic of China. The following terms and conditions are applicable only to residents of the People’s Republic of China: |
(a) Cashless Exercise Procedure. The Participant acknowledges that in order to comply with Local Law, the Option may be exercised only by means of a “Cashless Exercise,” as described in Section 4.3 below. By accepting this Option and in order to implement the Cashless Exercise procedure, the Participant hereby: |
(i) irrevocably appoints the Company as the Participant’s agent to instruct a brokerage firm designated by the Company (the “Brokerage Firm”) to sell on behalf of the Participant at the prevailing market price on the Option exercise date (or on the next trading day if the exercise date is not a day on which the markets are open for trading) the shares of Stock issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the Option; and |
(ii) authorizes and directs the Company to deposit the shares of Stock sold upon the exercise of the Option with the Brokerage Firm in accordance with Section 4.5; and |
(iii) irrevocably assigns to the Company or any other Participating Company out of the proceeds of such sale of shares an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate Exercise Price of the shares for which the Option is being exercised and the Tax Obligations required to be withheld in accordance with Section 4.4, and authorizes the Company to instruct the Brokerage Firm to pay to the Company the amount of such aggregate Exercise Price and to pay to the Company or another Participating Company an amount equal to the Tax Obligations required to be withheld; and |
(iv) authorizes and directs the Company to instruct the Brokerage Firm to deliver the proceeds of such sale of shares, net of brokerage commissions, fees, aggregate Exercise Price and Tax Obligations withheld, to the Company for the benefit of the Participant and to be deposited to a designated custodial account for payment to the Participant; and |
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(v) authorizes the Company and any other Participating Company to provide to the Brokerage Firm information regarding the details of the Option and the Tax Obligations, and authorizes the Brokerage Firm to provide to the Company and any other Participating Company confirmation of the details of the sale of the shares of Stock. |
(b) Special Administration. The grant and vesting of the Option and the Participant’s ability to receive funds upon the sale of shares to be issued upon the exercise of the Option, as described above, will be contingent upon the Company or its Affiliate obtaining approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) of the People’s Republic of China for the related foreign exchange transaction and the establishment of a SAFE-approved bank account. The receipt of funds by the Participant from the sale of the shares and the conversion of those funds to the local currency must be approved by SAFE. In order to comply with the SAFE regulations, the proceeds from the sale of the shares must be repatriated to China through a SAFE-approved bank account established and monitored by the Company or its Affiliate. |
2.3 Employment Conditions. In accepting the Option, the Participant acknowledges that: |
(a) Any notice period mandated under Local Law shall not be treated as Service for the purpose of determining the vesting of the Option; and the Participant’s right to exercise the Option after termination of Service, if any, will be measured by the date of termination of the Participant’s active Service and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under Local Law. Subject to the foregoing and the provisions of the Plan, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination. |
(b) The vesting of the Option shall cease upon, and no shares shall become Vested Shares following, the Participant’s termination of Service for any reason except as may be explicitly provided by the Plan or this Agreement. |
(c) The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company. It is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Option Agreement. |
(d) The grant of the Option is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Options, or benefits in lieu of Options, even if Options have been granted repeatedly in the past. |
(e) All decisions with respect to future Option grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. |
(f) The Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further Service with any Participating Company and shall not interfere with the ability of any Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time, with or without cause. |
(g) The Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan. |
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(h) The Option is an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for Service of any kind rendered to any Participating Company, and which is outside the scope of the Participant’s employment contract, if any. |
(i) The Option is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments. |
(j) In the event that the Participant is not an employee of the Company, the Option grant will not be interpreted to form an employment contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore the Option grant will not be interpreted to form an employment contract with any other Participating Company. |
(k) The future value of the underlying shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty. If the underlying shares do not increase in value, the Option will have no value. If the Participant exercises the Option and obtains shares, the value of those shares acquired upon exercise may increase or decrease in value, even below the Exercise Price. |
2.4 Data Privacy Consent. |
(a) The Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of the Participant’s personal data as described in this document by and among the members of the Participating Company Group for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. |
(b) The Participant understands that the Participating Company Group holds certain personal information about the Participant, including, but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Options or any other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for the purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan (“Data”). The Participant understands that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients may be located in the Participant’s country or elsewhere, and that the recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the Participant’s country. The Participant understands that he or she may request a list
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with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting the Participant’s local human resources representative. The Participant authorizes the recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Participant may elect to deposit any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option. The Participant understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Participant understands that he or she may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing the Participant’s local human resources representative. The Participant understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing the Participant’s consent may affect the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of the Participant’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Participant understands that he or she may contact the Participant’s local human resources representative. |
3. Administration. |
All questions of interpretation concerning the Grant Notice, this Option Agreement, the Plan or any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or the Option shall be determined by the Committee. All such determinations by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Option, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or the Option or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Option. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, or election.
4. Exercise of the Option. |
4.1 Right to Exercise. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Option shall be exercisable on and after the Initial Vesting Date and prior to the termination of the Option (as provided in Section 6) in an amount not to exceed the number of Vested Shares less the number of shares previously acquired upon exercise of the Option. In no event shall the Option be exercisable for more shares than the Number of Option Shares, as adjusted pursuant to Section 9. |
signed by the Participant and delivered in person, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by confirmed facsimile transmission, or by such other means as the Company may permit, to the Company, or an authorized representative of the Company (including a third-party administrator designated by the Company). Each Exercise Notice, whether electronic or written, must state the Participant’s election to exercise the Option, the number of whole shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised and such other representations and agreements as to the Participant’s investment intent with respect to such shares as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this Option Agreement. Further, each Exercise Notice must be received by the Company prior to the termination of the Option as set forth in Section 6 and must be accompanied by full payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such electronic or written Exercise Notice and the aggregate Exercise Price. |
(a) In General. Regardless of any action taken by the Company or any other Participating Company with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (the “Tax Obligations”), the Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax Obligations legally due by the Participant is and remains the Participant’s responsibility and that the Company (a) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax Obligations in connection with any aspect of the Option, including the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option, the subsequent sale of shares acquired pursuant to such exercise, or the receipt of any dividends and (b) does not commit to structure the terms of the grant or any other aspect of the Option to reduce or eliminate the Participant’s liability for Tax Obligations. At the time of exercise of the Option, the Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and any other Participating Company. In this regard, at the time the Option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company or any other Participating Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding of all applicable Tax Obligations from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for withholding of all applicable Tax Obligations, if any, by each Participating Company which arise in connection with the Option. Alternatively, or in addition, if permissible under applicable law, including Local Law, the Company or any other Participating Company may sell or arrange for the sale of shares acquired by the Participant to satisfy the Tax Obligations. Finally, the Participant shall pay to the Company or any other Participating Company any amount of the Tax Obligations that any
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such company may be required to withhold as a result of the Participant’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company shall have no obligation to process the exercise of the Option or to deliver shares until the Tax Obligations as described in this Section have been satisfied by the Participant. |
(b) Assignment of Sale Proceeds. Subject to compliance with applicable law, including Local Law, and the Company’s Trading Compliance Policy, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy the Tax Obligations in accordance with procedures established by the Company providing for delivery by the Participant to the Company or a broker approved by the Company of properly executed instructions, in a form approved by the Company, providing for the assignment to a Participating Company of the proceeds of a sale with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option. |
(c) Withholding in Shares. . If permissible under applicable law, including Local Law, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Participant to satisfy all or any portion of the Tax Obligations upon exercise of the Option by deducting from the shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon such exercise a number of whole shares having a fair market value, as determined by the Company as of the date of exercise, not in excess of the amount of such Tax Obligations determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates if required to avoid liability classification of the Option under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. |
the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the exercise of the Option, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company. |
4.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise of the Option. |
During the lifetime of the Participant, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. The Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Following the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent provided in Section 7, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.
The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised after the first to occur of (a) the close of business on the Option Expiration Date, (b) the close of business on the last date for exercising the Option following termination of the Participant’s Service as described in Section 7, or (c) a Change in Control to the extent provided in Section 8.
(a) Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for Vested Shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of six (6) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. |
(b) Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for Vested Shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of six (6) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
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The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months after the Participant’s termination of Service. |
(c) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Option Agreement to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act. |
(d) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for Vested Shares by the Participant on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. |
7.2 Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of the Participant’s Service for Cause, if the exercise of the Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 7.1 is prevented by the provisions of Section 4.6, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (a) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions, or (b) the end of the applicable time period under Section 7.1, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. |
In the event of a Change in Control, except to the extent that the Committee determines to cash out the Option in accordance with Section 13.1(c) of the Plan, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the “Acquiror”), may, without the consent of the Participant, assume or continue in full force and effect the Company’s rights and obligations under all or any portion of the Option or substitute for all or any portion of the Option a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiror’s stock. For purposes of this Section, the Option or any portion thereof shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Option confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to such portion of the Option immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each share of Stock subject to the Option, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control. The Option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in
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Control to the extent that the Option is neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the time of the Change in Control.
Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number, Exercise Price and kind of shares subject to the Option, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights under the Option. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the Exercise Price shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. In no event may the Exercise Price be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to the Option. The Committee in its sole discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of the Option to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate. All adjustments pursuant to this Section shall be determined by the Committee, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
10. Rights as a Stockholder, Director, Employee or Consultant. |
The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of the shares for which the Option has been exercised (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date the shares are issued, except as provided in Section 9. If the Participant is an Employee, the Participant understands and acknowledges that, except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between a Participating Company and the Participant, the Participant’s employment is for no specified term. Nothing in this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the Service of a Participating Company or interfere in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time.
11. Legends. |
The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of stock subject to the provisions of this Option Agreement. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section.
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12. Miscellaneous Provisions. |
12.1 Termination or Amendment. The Committee may terminate or amend the Plan or the Option at any time; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 8 in connection with a Change in Control, no such termination or amendment may have a materially adverse effect on the Option or any unexercised portion hereof without the consent of the Participant unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law or government regulation. No amendment or addition to this Option Agreement shall be effective unless in writing. |
12.2 Further Instruments. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Option Agreement. |
12.3 Binding Effect. This Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns. |
12.4 Delivery of Documents and Notices. Any document relating to participation in the Plan or any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this Option Agreement provides for effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such notice) upon personal delivery, electronic delivery at the e-mail address, if any, provided for the Participant by a Participating Company, or upon deposit in the U.S. Post Office or foreign postal service, by registered or certified mail, or with a nationally recognized overnight courier service, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address of such party set forth in the Grant Notice or at such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party. |
(b) Consent to Electronic Delivery. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has read Section 12.4(a) of this Option Agreement and consents to the electronic delivery of the Plan documents and, if permitted by the Company, the delivery of the Grant Notice and Exercise Notice, as described in Section 12.4(a). The Participant acknowledges that he or she may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost to the Participant by contacting the Company by telephone or in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that the Participant will be provided with a
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paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. Similarly, the Participant understands that the Participant must provide the Company or any designated third party administrator with a paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. The Participant may revoke his or her consent to the electronic delivery of documents described in Section 12.4(a) or may change the electronic mail address to which such documents are to be delivered (if the Participant has provided an electronic mail address) at any time by notifying the Company of such revoked consent or revised e-mail address by telephone, postal service or electronic mail. Finally, the Participant understands that he or she is not required to consent to electronic delivery of documents described in Section 12.4(a). |
12.5 Integrated Agreement. The Grant Notice, this Option Agreement and the Plan, together with any employment, service or other agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company referring to the Option, shall constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersede any prior agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties among the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to such subject matter. To the extent contemplated herein, the provisions of the Grant Notice, the Option Agreement and the Plan shall survive any exercise of the Option and shall remain in full force and effect. |
12.6 Language. If Participant has received this Option Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control. |
12.7 Applicable Law. This Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California as such laws are applied to agreements between California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of California. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties as evidenced by this Option Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of California and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of the County of San Mateo, California, or the federal courts of the United States for the Northern District of California, and no other courts, where this Option Agreement is made and/or performed. |
12.8 Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. |
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