NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. STAND-ALONE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.3
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(A)
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Name of Grantee: | |||||
(B)
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Credit Date: | |||||
(C)
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Number of Units: | |||||
(D)
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Effective Date: | |||||
THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), is effective as of the date set forth
in Item D above (the “Effective Date”) between Nuance Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”) and the person named in Item A above (“Grantee”).
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
| 1. | Restricted Stock Units. Pursuant to terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee a number of restricted stock units set forth in Item C above (the “Restricted Stock Units”). |
| 2. | Company’s Obligation to Pay; Purchase Price. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive a Share on the date it becomes vested. Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units will have vested in the manner set forth in Section 4, the Grantee will have no right to payment of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual payment of any Restricted Stock Units, each Restricted Stock Unit will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company. | |
| 3. | Definitions. |
| (a) | “Administrator” means the Board or any committee of the Board that has been designated by the Board to administer this Agreement. | ||
| (b) | “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
| (c) | “Cause” means (i) a material breach of the Employee Proprietary Information, Inventions, and Non-Competition Agreement (or any similar agreement) between the Grantee and the Company (or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company), (ii) conviction of or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony, (iii) conviction of any crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty that causes, or is likely to cause, material harm to the Company (or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company), (iv) willful act of personal dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation, taken by the Grantee in connection with the Grantee’s responsibilities as an Employee, that causes, or is likely to cause, harm to the Company (or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company); (v) willful and continued failure of the Grantee to substantially perform his or her principal duties and/or obligations of employment after (A) the Grantee has received a |
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| written demand for performance which specifically sets forth the factual basis for the Company’s belief that the Grantee has not substantially performed his or her principal duties and/or obligations of employment and (B) the Grantee has been given at least 15 days to cure such deficiencies; or (vi) intentional and material damage to the Company’s property or the property of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company. |
| (d) | “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
| (e) | “Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company. |
| (f) | “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity |
| (g) | “Director” means a member of the Board or a member of the Board of Directors of any Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity. |
| (h) | “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and the Grantee has become entitled to receive benefits under the Company’s short and/or long-term disability policies, as they may be in effect from time to time, as a result of such permanent disability. |
| (i) | “Employee” means an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Service Provider shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary of the Company, or any successor. |
| (j) | “Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. |
| (k) | “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant. |
| (l) | “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 8 below. |
| (m) | “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. |
| 4. | Vesting. The Restricted Stock Units will vest in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. |
| 5. | Forfeiture upon Termination as Service Provider. If the Grantee ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason, the then-unvested Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Agreement will thereupon be forfeited at no cost to the Company and the Grantee will have no further rights to acquire Shares with respect thereto. |
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| 6. | Payment After Vesting. Subject to Section 10, any Restricted Stock Units that vest in accordance with Section 4 will be paid to the Grantee in whole Shares at the time or times set forth in Section 2. |
| 7. | Rights as Stockholder. Neither the Grantee nor any person claiming under or through the Grantee will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares will have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Grantee. | |
| 8. | Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or Asset Sale. |
| (a) | Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under this award of Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Agreement for any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), spin-off, increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to this award. |
| (b) | Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify Grantee as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously vested, this award of Restricted Stock Units will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. |
| (c) | Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation, or the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, this award of Restricted Stock Units to the extent it remains outstanding at such time shall be assumed or an equivalent right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for this award of Restricted Stock Units, the Grantee will fully vest in this award of Restricted Stock Units and the Shares issuable thereunder will be issued, even if the Restricted Stock Units would not otherwise be vested and all vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target levels and all other terms and conditions met. |
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| 9. | Tax Advice. The Company has made no warranties or representations to the Grantee with respect to the income tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement pursuant to which the Restricted Stock Units have been issued and the Shares issuable thereunder and the Grantee is in no manner relying on the Company or its representatives for an assessment of such tax consequences. The Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee has not relied and will not rely upon the Company or the Company’s counsel with respect to any tax consequences related to the Restricted Stock Units or the ownership, purchase, or disposition of the Shares issuable thereunder. The Grantee assumes full responsibility for all such consequences and for the preparation and filing of all tax returns and elections which may or must be filed in connection with the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares issuable thereunder. | |
| 10. | Withholding of Taxes. |
| (a) | Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, no certificate representing Shares may be released from the Company unless and until the Grantee shall have delivered to the Company the full amount of any federal, state or local income or other taxes which the Company may be required by law to withhold with respect to such Shares. At the election of the Company, any federal, state and local withholding taxes with respect to the Restricted Stock Units and/or the Shares issuable thereunder may be paid by reducing the number of vested Shares actually paid to the Grantee. |
| (b) | At the Grantee’s election, the Company may deduct from any payment of distribution of Shares the amount of any tax required by law to be withheld with respect to issuance of Shares hereunder. The Grantee must inform the Company of his or her preference for payment of his or her withholding tax obligations within 30 days of receipt of the documentation. An election form is attached hereto as Exhibit B. |
| 11. | Assignment; Binding Effect. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives, and successors of the parties hereto; provided, however, that the Grantee may not assign any of the Grantee’s rights under this Agreement. |
| 12. | Damages. Grantee shall be liable to the Company for all costs and damages, including incidental and consequential damages, resulting from a disposition of the Restricted Stock Units or Shares issuable hereunder which are not in conformity with the provisions of this Agreement. |
| 13. | Modifications to the Agreement. Modifications to this Agreement can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company reserves the right to revise this Agreement as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Grantee, to comply with Section 409A of the Code or to |
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| otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A of the Code in connection to this award of Restricted Stock Units. |
| 14. | Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts excluding those laws that direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. |
| 15. | Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing. Unless and until the Grantee is notified in writing to the contrary, all notices, communications, and documents directed to the Company and related to the Agreement, if not delivered by hand, shall be mailed, addressed as follows: |
| Unless and until the Company is notified in writing to the contrary, all notices, communications, and documents intended for the Grantee and related to this Agreement, if not delivered by hand, shall be mailed to Grantee’s last known address as shown on the Company’s books. Notices and communications shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid; documents shall be mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All mailings and deliveries related to the Agreement shall be deemed received when actually received, if by hand delivery, and two business days after mailing, if by mail. |
| 16. | Arbitration. Any and all disputes or controversies arising out of this Agreement shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted in Essex County in accordance with the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof; provided that nothing in this Section 16 shall prevent a party from applying to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain temporary relief pending resolution of the dispute through arbitration. The parties hereby agree that service of any notices in the course of such arbitration at their respective addresses as provided for in Section 15 shall be valid and sufficient. |
| 17. | No Rights to Restricted Stock Units, Shares, Options or Employment. Other than with respect to the Restricted Stock Units, neither the Grantee nor any other person shall have any claim or right to be issued Shares or granted an option to acquire Shares under this Agreement. Having received the Restricted Stock Units shall not give the Grantee any right to receive any other grant of options or other equity under any Company plan or otherwise. The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereunder and the vesting schedule set forth herein do not constitute an express or implied promise of the Grantee’s continuation as a Service Provider for the vesting period, for any period, or at all, and will not interfere with the Grantee’s right or the right of the Company (or the Subsidiary employing or retaining the Grantee) to terminate the Grantee’s status as a Service Provider at any time, with or without cause. |
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| 18. | Entire Agreement. Company and Grantee agree that this Agreement (including its attached Exhibits) is the complete and exclusive statement between Company and the Grantee regarding its subject matter and supersedes all prior proposals, communications, and agreements of the parties, whether oral or written, regarding the grant Restricted Stock Units and the Shares issuable thereunder to Grantee. |
| 19. | Additional Conditions to Issuance of Shares. If at any time the Company will determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the issuance of Shares to the Grantee, such issuance will not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval will have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Where the Company determines that the delivery of the payment of any Shares will violate federal securities laws or other applicable laws, the Company will defer delivery until the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the delivery of Shares will no longer cause such violation. The Company will make all reasonable efforts to meet the requirements of any such state or federal law or securities exchange and to obtain any such consent or approval of any such governmental authority. |
| 20. | Administrator Authority. The Administrator will have the power to interpret this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Restricted Stock Units have vested). All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding upon the Grantee, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Agreement. |
| 21. | Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement. |
| 22. | Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision in this Agreement will be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
| NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | ||||
| By: | ||||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
The Grantee hereby accepts and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
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EXHIBIT A
VESTING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
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EXHIBIT B
TO:
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Grantee | |
FROM:
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Global Equity Manager | |
RE:
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Payment of Withholding Taxes Applicable to Restricted Stock Unit Awards | |
As you know, Nuance Communications, Inc. (“Company”) granted you an award of restricted stock units
(the “Award”). In connection with the Award, you will have taxable income at the time the Award
vests, or, if applicable, at the time shares of Company common stock (“Shares”) are issued pursuant
to the Award.
Under applicable law, withholding taxes are due and payable at the time the Shares are issued
pursuant to the Award. Before Company delivers to you any Shares under the Award, Company must
withhold applicable federal, state, local, foreign and other taxes (the “Withholding Tax”). The
current federal supplemental wage withholding rate for U.S. employees is twenty-five percent (25%).
In addition to the federal supplemental wage withholding rate, withholding for state and local
taxes may also be required, the rate of which will vary depending on where you live.
In connection with your Award, you agreed to make appropriate arrangements regarding the
Withholding Tax applicable to your Award.
Company is offering you the opportunity to elect one of two methods to satisfy your Withholding
Tax. Select one of the two methods of payment described below:
| Payment by Check. Our stock administration department will contact you via e-mail with the amount of the Withholding Tax due and payable. Please make your check payable to Nuance Communications, Inc. and mail it to Nuance Communications, Inc., Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. You are required to satisfy your Withholding Tax obligations by tendering to Company the amount of the Withholding Tax due and payable the day after Company notifies you of the amount. | ||
| Retention of Shares by the Company. Company will retain the number of Shares equal to the amount of minimum withholding due and payable. Fractional Shares will not be retained to satisfy any portion of the Withholding Tax. Accordingly, you agree that in the event that the amount of Withholding Tax you owe would result in a fraction of a Share being owed, that amount will be satisfied by withholding the fractional amount from your paycheck. If such amount is required to be withheld, you expressly acknowledge that by checking this box you are giving the |
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| Company permission to withhold from your paycheck an amount equal to the remaining Withholding Tax due and payable. |
Please elect the method of payment that you wish to satisfy your Withholding Tax from the two
choices above, sign and date the form, and return it to the Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx at Nuance
Communications, Inc. You may either mail this election form to: Nuance Communications, Inc.,
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 or fax it to 000-000-0000,
attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx/Withholding Election.
By signing below, I understand (1) that Company will withhold an amount required by applicable law
to satisfy the minimum Withholding Tax applicable to my Award, and (2) agree to have such
Withholding Tax obligation satisfied by the method I checked above.
| , 2007 | ||||||
Grantee: [NAME]
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Date | |||||
