SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION STATEMENT
Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Information Statement
[X]
Definitive Information Statement
[ ] Confidential, of the Use of
the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d) (2))
XCELMOBILITY, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
_____________________________________________________________
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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XCELMOBILITY, INC.
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NOTICE OF ACTION TAKEN BY WRITTEN CONSENT OF
STOCKHOLDERS
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May 9, 2014
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May
23, 2014
Dear XcelMobility, Inc. Stockholders:
This
Information Statement is furnished by the Board of Directors (the
Board
) of XcelMobility, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the
Company
), to holders of record as of the close of business on May 9,
2014 (the
Stockholders
) of the Companys common stock, $0.001 par value
per share (the Common Stock), pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act
). The purpose of
this Information Statement is to inform our Stockholders that, on May 9, 2014,
holders of at least a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Company,
acted by written consent in lieu of a special meeting of stockholders in
accordance with Section 78.320 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (
NRS
) to
authorize and approve (i) an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (the
Amendment
) of the Company increasing the amount of authorized shares of
Common Stock to 400,000,000 shares, and (ii) our Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant
to which the Company will reserve for issuance thereunder 40,000,000 of the
Companys outstanding Common Stock. A copy of the Amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation is attached as
Annex A
to this Information Statement, and a
copy of the Equity Incentive Plan is attached as
Annex B
to this
Information Statement.
The
approval of the Amendment and the Equity Incentive Plan will not become
effective until at least 20 calendar days after the initial mailing of this
Information Statement (the
Effective Date
).
No
action is required by you. The accompanying Information Statement is furnished
to inform our Stockholders of the action described above before it takes effect
in accordance with Rule 14c-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act. This
Information Statement is being first mailed to you on or about May 23, 2014.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A
PROXY.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMPANYS CONTROLLING STOCKHOLDERS HAVE VOTED
TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT AND THE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN. THE NUMBER OF VOTES HELD
BY THE STOCKHOLDERS EXECUTING THE WRITTEN CONSENT IS SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE
STOCKHOLDER VOTE REQUIREMENT FOR THIS MATTER UNDER APPLICABLE LAW AND THE
COMPANYS CHARTER, SO NO ADDITIONAL VOTES WILL CONSEQUENTLY BE NEEDED TO APPROVE
THESE ACTIONS.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Renyan
Ge
Renyan Ge
Chief Executive Officer
Redwood City, CA
May 23, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
XCELMOBILITY, INC.
303 Twin Dolphins Drive, Suite
600
Redwood City, CA 94065
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INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(C)
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OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND
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REGULATION 14C PROMULGATED THEREUNDER
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INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
XcelMobility, Inc. (the
Company
) is a Nevada
corporation with principal executive offices located at 303 Twin Dolphins Drive,
Suite 600, Redwood City, CA 94065. Our telephone number is (650) 632-4210. On
May 9, 2014, the Companys Board of Directors (the
Board
), after
careful consideration, unanimously deemed advisable and approved and adopted (i)
an amendment to our articles of incorporation (the
Amendment
)
increasing the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to 400,000,000
shares, and (ii) our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the
Equity Incentive
Plan
), pursuant to which the Company reserved for issuance thereunder
40,000,000 shares of the Companys outstanding Common Stock. This Information
Statement is being sent to holders of record (the
Stockholders
) of the
Companys Common Stock as of May 9, 2014 (the
Record Date
), by the
Board to notify them about actions that the holders of at least a majority of
the outstanding capital stock of the Company (the
Consenting
Stockholders
) entitled to vote on the Amendment and the Equity Incentive
Plan (the
Required Vote
), have taken by written consent, in lieu of a
special meeting of the Stockholders. The Required Vote was obtained on May 9,
2014 in accordance with the relevant sections of the Nevada Revised Statutes
(
NRS
) and our Articles of Incorporation and our By-laws (the
Charter
).
Section 78.320 of the NRS generally provides that any action
required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders may be taken
without a meeting if, before or after the action, a written consent thereto is
signed by stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting power, except
that if a different proportion of voting power is required for such an action at
a meeting, then that proportion of written consents is required. In order to
eliminate the costs and management time involved in obtaining proxies and in
order to effect the above actions as early as possible in order to accomplish
the purposes of the Company as herein described, the Board consented to the
utilization of, and did in fact obtain, the written consent of the Consenting
Stockholders who collectively own shares representing a majority of our Common
Stock.
We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not
to send us a proxy.
Copies of this Information Statement are expected to be mailed
on or about May 23, 2014, to the holders of record on the Record Date of our
outstanding shares. The matters that are subject to approval of the Stockholders
will not be completed until at least 20 calendar days after the initial mailing
of this Information Statement. This Information Statement is being delivered
only to inform you of the corporate actions described herein before they take
effect in accordance with Rule 14c-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act
).
We have asked brokers and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to forward this Information Statement to the beneficial owners of
our capital stock held of record and will reimburse such persons for
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in forwarding such material.
Dissenting Stockholders
Under Nevada Law, our dissenting stockholders are not entitled
to appraisal rights with respect to the approval of the Amendment and the Equity
Incentive Plan, and we will not independently provide our stockholders with any
such right.
Information Statement Costs
The entire cost of furnishing this Information Statement will
be borne by the Company. We will request brokerage houses, nominees, custodians,
fiduciaries and other like parties to forward this Information Statement to the
beneficial owners of the Common Stock held of record by them and will reimburse
such persons for their reasonable charges and expenses in connection therewith.
THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF A MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND NO
STOCKHOLDERS MEETING WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER ANY MATTER DESCRIBED HEREIN.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMPANYS CONTROLLING STOCKHOLDERS HAVE
VOTED TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT AND THE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN. THE NUMBER OF
VOTES HELD BY THE STOCKHOLDERS EXECUTING THE CONSENT IS SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY
THE STOCKHOLDER VOTE REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH MATTER UNDER APPLICABLE LAW AND THE
COMPANYS CHARTER, SO NO ADDITIONAL VOTES WILL BE NEEDED TO APPROVE THIS ACTION.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this Information Statement
regarding the Company are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act),
and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. This information may involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual
results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe
our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by use
of the words may, will, should, expect, anticipate, estimate,
believe, intend or project or the negative of these words or other
variations on these words or comparable terminology. Actual events or results
may differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements as a
result of various factors. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can
be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this
Information Statement will in fact occur. We are not under any obligation, and
we expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
VOTE REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL
As of the Record Date, there were 73,349,579 shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one
vote. For the approval of the Equity Incentive Plan, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the
Record Date, or 36,674,790 Shares was required for approval.
CONSENTING STOCKHOLDERS
On the Record Date, 4 stockholders holding 38,352,000 shares of
the Companys issued and outstanding Common Stock (approximately 52.3%),
consented in writing to the approval of the Amendment and the Equity Incentive
Plan.
Under Section 14(c) of the Exchange Act, the transactions
cannot become effective until the expiration of the 20-day Period.
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO
THE COMPANYS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
General Information
As of the date hereof, pursuant to our Articles of
Incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to One Hundred Million
(100,000,000) shares of Common Stock. We propose to increase our authorized
shares of Common Stock from One Hundred Million (100,000,000) to Four Hundred
Million (400,000,000) shares of Common Stock.
The Consenting Shareholders representing a majority of the
Companys outstanding voting stock have given their written consent to increase
the authorized number of shares of Common Stock. Under the NRS, the consent of
the holders of a majority of the voting power is effective as shareholders
approval. We will file the Amendment with the Nevada Secretary of State in order
to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to Four Hundred
Million (400,000,000) shares of Common Stock no earlier than (20) calendar days
from the date of mailing of this Information Statement. A copy of the form of
Amendment is attached hereto as
Annex A
.
The Amendment will not result in any changes to the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company and will only affect the
number of shares that may be issued by the Company in the future.
Reasons for the Amendment
The primary purpose of this amendment to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock is to make available for future issuance by us
additional shares of Common Stock and to have a sufficient number of authorized
and unissued shares of Common Stock to maintain flexibility in our corporate
strategy and planning. We believe that it is in the best interests of our
Company and its shareholders to have additional authorized but unissued shares
available for issuance to meet business needs as they arise. The Board of
Directors believes that the availability of additional shares will provide our
Company with the flexibility to issue Common Stock for possible future
financings, stock dividends or distributions, acquisitions, stock option plans,
and other proper corporate purposes that may be identified in the future by the
Board of Directors, without the possible expense and delay of a special
shareholders meeting. The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock may
have a dilutive effect on earnings per share and, for shareholders who do not
purchase additional shares to maintain their pro rata interest in our Company,
on such shareholders percentage voting power.
The authorized shares of Common Stock in excess of those issued
will be available for issuance at such times and for such corporate purposes as
the Board of Directors may deem advisable, without further action by our
shareholders, except as may be required by applicable law or by the rules of any
stock exchange or national securities association trading system on which the
securities may be listed or traded. Upon issuance, such shares will have the
same rights as the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Holders of Common Stock
have no preemptive rights. The availability of additional shares of Common Stock
is particularly important in the event that the Board of Directors determines to
undertake any actions on an expedited basis and thus to avoid the time, expense
and delay of seeking shareholder approval in connection with any potential
issuance of Common Stock of which we have none contemplated at this time other
than as discussed herein.
We have no arrangements, agreements, understandings, or plans
at the current time for the issuance or use of the additional shares of common
stock proposed to be authorized. The Board of Directors does not intend to issue
any common stock except on terms which the Board of Directors deems to be in the
best interests of our company and its then existing stockholders.
Principal Effects on Outstanding Common Stock
The proposal to increase the authorized Common Stock will
affect the rights of existing holders of Common Stock to the extent that future
issuances of Common Stock will reduce each existing shareholders proportionate
ownership and may dilute earnings per share of the shares outstanding at the
time of any such issuance. The Amendment will be effective upon filing with the
Nevada Secretary of State.
Potential Anti-Takeover Aspects and Possible Disadvantages
of Shareholder Approval of the Increase
The increase in the authorized number of shares of Common Stock
could have possible anti-takeover effects. These authorized but unissued shares
could (within the limits imposed by applicable law) be issued in one or more
transactions that could make a change of control of the Company more difficult,
and therefore more unlikely. The additional authorized shares could be used to
discourage persons from attempting to gain control of the Company by diluting
the voting power of shares then outstanding or increasing the voting power of
persons that would support the Board of Directors in a potential takeover
situation, including by preventing or delaying a proposed business combination
that is opposed by the Board of Directors although perceived to be desirable by
some shareholders. The Board of Directors does not have any current knowledge of
any effort by any third party to accumulate our securities or obtain control of
the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, solicitation in opposition to
management or otherwise. While the Amendment may have anti-takeover
ramifications, our Board of Directors believes that the financial flexibility
offered by the Amendment outweighs any disadvantages. To the extent that the
Amendment may have anti-takeover effects, the Amendment may encourage persons seeking to acquire our Company to negotiate
directly with the Board of Directors enabling the Board of Directors to consider
the proposed transaction in a manner that best serves the shareholders
interests.
There are currently no plans, arrangements, commitments or
understandings for the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock.
Amendment
The Third Article of the Companys Articles of Incorporation
will be amended to read as follows:
The Corporation shall have authority to issue a total of Four
Hundred Million (400,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share, and 20,000,000 Preferred Shares, par value $0.001. To the fullest extent
permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada (currently set forth in NRS 78.195
and 78.1955), as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended or
supplemented, the board of directors may fix and determine the designations,
rights, preferences or other variations of each class or series within each
class of capital stock of the Corporation. The Corporation may issue the shares
of stock for such consideration as may be fixed by the board of directors.
A
copy of the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation is attached as
Annex
A
.
No Dissenters Rights
Under Nevada Law, our dissenting shareholders are not entitled
to appraisal rights with respect to the Amendment, and we will not independently
provide our shareholders with any such right.
APPROVAL OF THE COMPANYS
2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
General
The Equity Incentive Plan has been approved by the Board and
the Stockholders in order to ensure (i) favorable federal income tax treatment
for grants of incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code, and (ii)
continued eligibility to receive a federal income tax deduction for certain
compensation paid under our Plan by complying with Rule 162(m) of the Code.
Our Board and management all believe that the effective use of
stock-based long-term incentive compensation is vital to our ability to achieve
strong performance in the future. The Equity Incentive Plan will maintain and
enhance the key policies and practices adopted by our management and Board to
align employee and stockholder interests. In addition, our future success
depends, in large part, upon our ability to maintain a competitive position in
attracting, retaining and motivating key personnel. We believe that the adoption
of the Equity Incentive Plan is essential to permit our management to continue
to provide long-term, equity-based incentives to present and future employees.
There are currently no plans, arrangements, commitments or
understandings for the issuance of equity based incentives pursuant to the
Equity Incentive Plan.
The following is a brief summary of the Equity Incentive Plan.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Equity
Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached as
Annex B
to this
Information Statement.
Summary of the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan
The principal provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan are
summarized below. This summary is not a complete description of all of the
Equity Incentive Plans provisions, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Equity Incentive Plan which is attached as
Annex B
to
this Information Statement. Capitalized terms in this summary not defined in
this proxy statement have the meanings set forth in the Equity Incentive Plan.
Purpose and Eligible Participants.
The purpose of
the Equity Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and reward high-quality
executive, employees and other persons who provide services to the Company and
or its affiliates and subsidiaries, by enabling these persons to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company. As of the mailing date of this Information
Statement, 4 individuals are eligible to participate in the Equity Incentive
Plan.
Types of Awards.
The Equity Incentive Plan
permits the grant of the following types of awards, in the amounts and upon the
terms determined by the Committee:
Options.
Options may either be incentive stock options (ISOs) which are
specifically designated as such for purposes of compliance with Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code or non-qualified stock options (NSOs). Options shall
vest as determined by the Committee or the applicable employment agreement,
subject to certain statutory limitations regarding the maximum term of ISOs and
the maximum value of ISOs that may vest in one year. The exercise price of each
Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such price will not
be less than the fair market value of a share on the date of the grant of the
ISO. The term for the Options may be set by the Committee but in no event shall
the term exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant. Recipients of options
have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the award
until the award is exercised and a stock certificate or book entry evidencing
such shares is issued or made, respectively.
Stock
Appreciation Rights.
Generally, upon exercise of a stock appreciation right,
the recipient will receive cash, shares of Company stock, or a combination of
cash and stock, with a value equal to the excess of: (i) the fair market value
of a specified number of shares of Company stock on the date of the exercise,
over (ii) a specified exercise price or grant price. The grant price of a stock
appreciation right and all other terms and
conditions
will be established
by the Committee in its sole discretion or as set forth in the applicable Award
agreement. The term of a stock appreciation right will be set by the Committee
but in no event will the term exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant.
Restricted
Stock Awards.
Restricted stock awards consist of shares granted to a
participant that are subject to one or more risks of forfeiture. Restricted
stock awards may be subject to risk of forfeiture based on the passage of time
or the satisfaction of other criteria, such as continued employment or Company
performance
. Recipients of restricted stock awards are entitled to vote
and receive dividends attributable to the shares underlying the award beginning
on the grant date.
Restricted
Stock Units.
Restricted stock units consist of a right to receive shares in
the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the
fulfillment of such conditions during the Restriction Period as the Board may
specify. Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or
in consideration of a payment by a Participant that is less than the Fair Market Value at the date of
grant
. Recipients of
restricted stock units have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any
shares covered by the award until the date a stock certificate or book entry
evidencing such shares is issued or made, respectively.
Performance
Awards.
Performance awards are earned upon achievement of performance
objectives
during
a performance period established by the Committee.
Recipients of performance awards have no rights as a stockholder with respect to
any shares covered by the award until the date a stock certificate or book entry
evidencing such shares is issued or made, respectively.
Number of Shares.
Subject to adjustment as
provided in the Equity Incentive Plan, the total number of shares of Common
Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with awards under the
Equity Incentive Plan shall be 40,000,000 Any shares of Common Stock delivered
under the Equity Incentive Plan shall consist of authorized and issued or
unissued shares. Subject to the adjustments provided in Section 13(d) of the
Equity Incentive Plan, no contraction of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding will affect the validity or enforceability of any awards then
outstanding.
Administration.
Subject to the terms of the
Equity Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Board (the
Committee), or if none, the Board, shall have full and final authority, in
each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Equity Incentive
Plan, to: interpret the provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan; select Eligible
Employees, Directors and Consultants to become Participants; make Awards;
determine the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other
matters relating to, Awards; prescribe Award agreements (which need not be
identical for each Participant); adopt, amend and rescind rules and regulations
for the administration of the Equity Incentive Plan; construe and interpret the
Equity Incentive Plan and Award agreements and correct defects, supply omissions
or reconcile inconsistencies therein; and make all other decisions and
determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Equity Incentive Plan. Except as otherwise determined by
the Board, unless the context otherwise requires, all actions and determinations
that the Equity Incentive Plan contemplates that the Board may take may be taken
by the Committee in its stead.
Amendments.
The Board, or the Committee acting
pursuant to such authority as may be delegated to it by the Board, may amend,
alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Equity Incentive Plan or the
Committees authority to grant Awards under the Equity Incentive Plan, provided
that, without the consent of an affected Participant, except as otherwise
contemplated by the Equity Incentive Plan or the terms of an Award agreement, no
such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of a
Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. Except as
otherwise provided in the Equity Incentive Plan, the Committee may waive any
conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate
any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, provided
that, without the consent of an affected Participant, except as otherwise
contemplated by the Equity Incentive Plan or the terms of an Award agreement, no
Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such
Participant under such Award.
Term.
The Committee may grant awards pursuant to
the Equity Incentive Plan until it is discontinued or terminated; provided,
however, that no Award may be granted under the Equity Incentive Plan after
October 1, 2018.
Change of Control.
Notwithstanding any provision
of the Equity Incentive Plan to the contrary and unless otherwise provided in
the applicable Award agreement, in the event of any Change of Control:
(1)
Any Option carrying a right to exercise that was not previously exercisable and
vested shall become fully exercisable and vested as of the time of the Change of
Control and shall remain exercisable and vested for the balance of the stated
term of such Option without regard to any Termination of Employment, subject to
certain exceptions;
(2) Any
SARs outstanding as of the date the Change of Control occurs will become fully
vested and will be exercisable in accordance with procedures established by the
Committee;
(3)
Any restrictions and other conditions applicable to any Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant will lapse and such Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units will become fully vested as of the date of the
Change of Control;
(4)
Any Performance Shares or Performance Units held by the Participant relating to
Performance Periods before the Performance Period in which the Change of Control
occurs that have been earned but not paid will become immediately payable in
cash; and
(5)
Any Other Stock-Based Awards that vest solely on the basis of the passage
of time will be treated in connection with a Change of Control in the same
manner as are Awards of Restricted Shares and RSUs, as described in Section
13(a)(3) of the Equity Incentive Plan.
Payment.
Payment of Awards may be in the form of
cash, Stock, other Awards or combinations thereof as the Committee may
determine, and with such restrictions as it may impose. The Committee, either at
the time of grant or by subsequent amendment, may
require or permit deferral of the payment of Awards under such rules and procedures as it may establish. It also may provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other earnings on the deferred amounts, or the
payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in Stock equivalents.
Transfer Restrictions.
No Award or other right or interest of a Participant under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any party (other
than the Company or a subsidiary), or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and Options, SARs or Other Stock-Based Awards that
may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative, except that Options (other than ISOs), SARs and Other Stock-Based Awards may be transferred to one
or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Option, SAR, or Other Stock Based Award but only if and to the extent such transfers are
permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an Option, SAR or Other Stock-Based Award agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon). A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any
rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and
conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
Federal Income Tax Matters
Options.
Under present law, an optionee will not recognize any taxable income on the date an NSO is granted pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan. Upon exercise of the option, however, the optionee must recognize, in the year of
exercise, compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of Company common stock on the date of exercise. Upon the sale of the shares, any resulting gain or loss will
be treated as capital gain or loss. The Company will receive an income tax deduction in its fiscal year in which NSOs are exercised equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by those optionees exercising options, and must comply with
applicable tax withholding requirements.
ISOs granted under the Equity Incentive Plan are intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under Section 422, an optionee recognizes no taxable income when the option is granted. Further, the
optionee generally will not recognize any taxable income when the option is exercised if he or she has at all times from the date of the option’s grant until three months before the date of exercise been an employee of the Company. The Company
ordinarily is not entitled to any income tax deduction upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. This favorable tax treatment for the optionee, and the denial of a deduction for the Company, will not, however, apply if the optionee
disposes of the shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option within two years from the granting of the option or one year from the receipt of the shares.
Restricted Stock Awards.
Generally, no income is taxable to the recipient of a restricted stock award in the year that the award is granted. Instead, the recipient will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the
fair market value of the shares in the year in which the risks of forfeiture restrictions lapse. Alternatively, if a recipient makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, the recipient will, in the year that the restricted
stock award is granted, recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of the award. The Company normally will receive a corresponding deduction equal to the amount of compensation the
recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.
Restricted Stock Units.
A recipient of restricted stock units will generally recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares (or the amount of cash) distributed to settle the
restricted stock units on the vesting date(s). The Company normally will receive a corresponding deduction at the time of vesting, equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply
with applicable tax withholding requirements.
Performance Awards.
A recipient of performance awards will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the value of the shares of Company common stock or the cash received, as the case may be, in the year that the
recipient receives payment. The Company normally will receive a deduction equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
Generally, a recipient of a stock appreciation right will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the value of the shares of Company common stock or the cash received in the year that the
stock appreciation right is exercised. The Company normally will receive a corresponding deduction equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding
requirements.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO THE GRANT AND EXERCISE OF AWARDS UNDER THE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE, AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN
INDIVIDUAL’S
DEATH OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH ANY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL MAY RESIDE.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS, DIRECTORS, AND
OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information as of May 1,
2014, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock for (i) each
director and officer, (ii) all of our directors and officers as a group, and
(iii) each person known to us to own beneficially five percent (5%) or more of
the outstanding shares of our common stock. As of May 1, 2014, there were
73,349,579 shares of common stock outstanding.
To our knowledge, except as indicated in the footnotes to this
table or pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons named in
the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of
common stock indicated.
Name and Address of
Beneficial
Owner(1)
|
Shares Beneficially
Owned
|
Percentage Beneficially
Owned
|
|
|
|
Directors and Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronald Edward Strauss(2)
303 Twin Dolphins Drive, Suite 600
Redwood City, CA 94065
|
13,332,000
|
18.17%
|
|
|
|
Renyan Ge(3)
303 Twin
Dolphins Drive, Suite 600
Redwood City, CA 94065
|
16,968,000
|
23.13%
|
|
|
|
Xili Wang
303 Twin
Dolphins Drive, Suite 600
Redwood City, CA 94065
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
Gregory D. Tse
303 Twin Dolphins
Drive, Suite 600
Redwood City, CA 94065
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
All Officers and Directors as
a Group
|
30,300,000
|
41.31%
|
|
|
|
5% Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sheen Ventures Limited(2)
8th Floor, Henley Building,
5 Queens Road,
Central, Hong Kong
|
13,332,000
|
18.17%
|
|
|
|
CC Wireless Limited(3)
Room 15A, 17/F,
Mai On Industrial Building,
17-21 Kung Yip
Street,
Kwai Chung, Hong Kong
|
16,968,000
|
23.13%
|
|
|
|
Yixuan Li
Unit 904, Bldg
B, Jinmingxuan
Yangguang Mingju, Luohu District
Shenzhen
Guangdong, P.R.C.
|
6,000,000
|
8.18%
|
(1)
|
Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance
with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to the rules of the SEC,
shares of common stock which an individual or group has a right to acquire
within 60 days pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants are deemed
to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of
such individual or group, but are not deemed to be beneficially owned and
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any
other person shown in the table.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Ms. Guo Jie has direct ownership over the 13,332,000
shares held by Sheen Ventures Limited, a company organized under the laws
of Hong Kong. Ms. Guo Jie is the wife of Mr. Strauss. As such, Mr. Strauss
may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner of the securities by
reason of his influence or control over Ms. Guo Jies voting and
disposition decisions.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Mr. Renyan Ge holds voting and dispositive control over
the 16,968,000 shares held by CC Wireless Limited, a company organized
under the laws of Hong Kong.
|
Changes in Control
There are no existing arrangements that may result in a change
in control of the Company.
REASONS WE USED SHAREHOLDER CONSENT AS OPPOSED TO
SOLICITATION OF SHAREHOLDER
APPROVAL VIA PROXY STATEMENT AND SPECIAL
MEETING
The Amendment and the Equity Incentive Plan require shareholder
approval. Shareholder approval could have been obtained by us in one of two
ways: (i) by the dissemination of a proxy statement and subsequent majority vote
in favor of the actions at a shareholders meeting called for such purpose, or
(ii) by a written consent of the holders of a majority of our voting securities.
However, the latter method, while it represents the requisite shareholder
approval, is not deemed effective until twenty (20) days after this Information
Statement has been sent to all of our shareholders giving them notice of and
informing them of the actions approved by such consent.
Given that we have already secured the affirmative consent of
the holders of a majority of our voting securities to the Amendment and the
Equity Incentive Plan, we determined that it would be a more efficient use of
limited corporate resources to forego the dissemination of a proxy statement and
subsequent majority vote in favor of the actions at a shareholders meeting
called for such a purpose, and rather proceed through the written consent of the
holders of a majority of our voting securities. Spending the additional company
time, money and other resources required by the proxy and meeting approach would
have been potentially wasteful and, consequently, detrimental to completing the
Amendment in a manner that is timely and efficient for us and our shareholders.
INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN OR OPPOSITION TO MATTERS
ACTED UPON
No director, officer, nominee for election as a director,
associate of any director, officer of nominee or any other person has any
substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise,
resulting from the matters described herein which is not shared by all other
shareholders pro rata in accordance with their respective interest. No director
has informed the Company that he intends to oppose any of the corporate actions
to be taken by the Company as set forth in this Notice and Information
Statement.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS SHARING AN
ADDRESS
Only one copy of this Information Statement is being delivered
to multiple stockholders sharing an address, unless the Company has received
contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. The Company will
deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of this
Information Statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single
copy of this document was delivered. A stockholder may mail a written request to
XcelMobility, Inc., Attention: Secretary, 303 Twin Dolphins Drive, Suite 600
,
Redwood City, CA 94065
to request:
-
a separate copy of this Information Statement;
-
a separate copy of Information Statements in the future; or
-
delivery of a single copy of Information Statements, if such stockholder is
receiving multiple copies of those documents.
WHERE YOU CAN OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly, current and other reports and other
information with the SEC. Certain of our SEC filings are available over the
Internet at the SECs web site at
www.sec.gov
. You may also read and copy
any document we file with the SEC at its public reference room by writing to the
Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington,
D.C. 20549. Callers in the United States can also call 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the operations of the public reference facilities.
Dated: May 23, 2014
ANNEX A
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
ANNEX B
XCELMOBILITY, INC.
2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1.
Purpose
.
The purpose of this XcelMobility, Inc. 2014 Equity
Incentive Plan (the Plan) is to assist XcelMobility, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the Company), and its subsidiaries in attracting, retaining, and
rewarding high-quality executives, employees, and other persons who provide
services to the Company and/or its Affiliates and Subsidiaries, by enabling
these persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company.
2.
Definitions
.
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth
below, in addition to such terms defined in
Section 1
hereof:
(a)
Affiliate means an entity which is not a Subsidiary, but in which the Company
has an equity interest, provided, however, that no entity will be considered an
Affiliate for purposes of an Award of Nonqualified Stock Options or SARs to an
employee or director of, or consultant to, the entity unless the Stock would be
considered service recipient stock within the meaning of Code Section 409A, in
the context of such an Award.
(b) Award
means an award under the Plan of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units or Other Stock-Based Awards
granted under the Plan.
(c)
Beneficiary means the person(s), trust(s) or estate who or which by
designation of the Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary
designation filed with the Company or by operation of law succeeds to the rights
and obligations of the Participant under the Plan and Award agreement upon such
Participants death.
(d) Board
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e)
Cause means, unless otherwise defined in an Award agreement or in an
Employment Agreement:
(1)
the commission by the Participant of (A) a felony or (B) any serious crime
involving fraud, dishonesty or breach of trust;
(2) gross
negligence or intentional misconduct by the Participant with respect to the
Company or any affiliate thereof or in the performance of his duties to the
Company or any affiliate thereof;
(3) failure
to follow a reasonable, lawful and specific direction of the President and CEO
of the Company;
(4) failure
by the Participant to cooperate in any corporate investigation, or
(5)
breach by the Participant of any material provision of an employment agreement
entered into between the Company or its subsidiaries and the Participant, which
breach is not corrected by the Participant within ten (10) calendar days after
receipt by the Participant of written notice from the Company or Affiliate of
such breach.
For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act by
the Participant shall be considered intentional unless done or omitted to be
done by the Participant in bad faith and without reasonable belief that the Participants action or omission was
in the best interests of the Company or Affiliate.
(f)
Change of Control means the happening of any of the following events:
(1) The
acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a Person)) of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or
more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of Stock (the Outstanding
Company Common Stock) or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the Outstanding Company Voting Securities), provided, however, that
the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any
acquisition directly from the Company; (ii) any acquisition by the Company;
(iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored
or maintained by the Company or any company controlled by the Company; or (iv)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction described in
clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (3) of this Section 2(f)
; or
(2) Individuals
who, as of the effective date of the Plan, constitute the Board (the Incumbent
Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board,
provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such
effective date whose election, or nomination for election by the stockholders of
the Company, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual
were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or
threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors
or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on
behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(3) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of
a reorganization, merger, share exchange or consolidation (a Business
Combination), unless, in each case following such Business Combination: (A) all
or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of
such transaction owns the Company through one or more subsidiaries) in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such
Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; (B) no Person (excluding any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
corporation Company except to the extent that such Person owned 25% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities
prior to the Business Combination; and (C) at least a majority of the members of
the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of
the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for
such Business Combination; or
- 2
(4) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of
(A) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (B) the sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or other
disposition: (i) more than 50% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; (ii) less than
25% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such
Company and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
of such Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any Person (excluding any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such Company), except
to the extent that such Person owned 25% or more of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities prior to the sale or
disposition; and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of
the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing
for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company or were elected,
appointed or nominated by the Board.
(g)
Change of Control Price means the greater of (A) the highest Fair Market Value
of a share of Stock during the 60-day period ending on the date of the Change of
Control, and (B) the highest price per share of Stock paid to holders of Stock
in any transaction (or series of transactions) constituting or resulting from
the Change of Control, provided, however, that, in the case of ISOs, unless the
Committee otherwise provides, such price will be based only on transactions
occurring on the date on which the ISOs are cashed out.
(h)
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time,
including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations
thereto.
(i)
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
agency.
(j) Committee
means the Compensation Committee of the Board, if formed, and in the absence of
one, shall mean the Board or its delegate.
(k)
Common Stock or Stock means the common stock of the Company, and such other
securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Common Stock pursuant to
Section 13(d)
hereof.
(l) Company
means XcelMobility, Inc. or any successor thereto.
(m) Consultant
means any person who is engaged by the Company or any Subsidiary to render
consulting or advisory services to such entity, and any natural person,
including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Subsidiary, to render
bona fide consulting or advisory services to such entity and who is compensated
for the services.
- 3
(n) Director
means a member of the Board.
(o) Disability
or Disabled means the absence of the Participant from the Participants duties
with the Company on a full time basis for 180 consecutive days as a result of
incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and
permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably
acceptable to the Participant or the Participants legal representative.
(p) Effective
Date means June _, 2014.
(q) Eligible
Employee means such employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates, including each Executive Officer and employees who may also be
directors of the Company, that are selected by the Committee, in its sole
discretion, from time to time to receive an Award under the Plan. An employee on
leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company,
Subsidiary or Affiliate for purposes of eligibility for participation in the
Plan.
(r)
Employment Agreement means, with respect to any Participant, any written
agreement executed by the Participant and the Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate
setting forth the specific terms and conditions of the Participants employment
with the Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate.
(s) Exchange
Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time,
including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.
(t)
Executive Officer means an executive officer of the Company as defined under
the Exchange Act.
(u)
Fair Market Value means, on any date, the average of the opening and closing
sales prices of the Common Stock on the exchange on which the Common Stock is
traded on that date, or if no prices are reported on that date, on the last
preceding date on which such prices of the Common Stock are so reported. In the
event the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its
value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of its fair market
value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate,
consistent with Treasury regulations and other formal Internal Revenue Service
guidance under Code Section 409A so that Awards of Nonqualified Stock Options or
SARs granted under this Plan shall not constitute deferred compensation subject
to Code Section 409A.
(v) Good Reason means the Termination of
Employment by the Participant for any of the following reasons, the occurrence
of which has been properly noticed in writing and such Good Reason event has
not been cured within ten (10) business days after Participants receipt of such
written notice:
(1) involuntary
reduction in the Participants Base Salary unless such reduction occurs
simultaneously with a reduction in officers salaries generally applicable on a
company-wide basis;
(2)
involuntary discontinuance or reduction in bonus award opportunities for the
Participant under the Companys incentive or bonus plan unless a generally
applicable company-wide reduction or elimination of all officers bonus awards
occurs simultaneously with such discontinuance or reduction;
- 4
(3)
involuntary discontinuance of the Participants participation in any employee
benefit plans maintained by the Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate unless such
plans are discontinued by reason of law or loss of tax deductibility to the
Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate with respect to contributions to such plans, or
are discontinued as a matter of Company policy applied equally to all
participants in such plans that are in the same classification of employees as
the Participant;
(4)
failure to obtain an assumption of the Companys, Subsidiarys or Affiliates
obligations under the Participants Employment Agreement by any successor to the
Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate (as applicable), regardless of whether such
entity becomes a successor as a result of a merger, consolidation, sale of
assets, or other form of reorganization, except when the rights and obligations
of the Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate under such Employment Agreement are
vested in the successor by operation of law;
(5)
involuntary relocation of the Participants primary office as specified in the
applicable Award agreement to a location more than fifty (50) miles from the
location of that office; and
(6)
material reduction of the Participants duties in effect on the effective date
of the Participants most current Employment Agreement, provided, however that a
change in title or reporting line will not constitute Good Reason unless such
change is coupled with a material reduction in the actual duties of the
Participant.
(w) Incentive
Stock Option or ISO means any Option intended to be and designated as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 or any successor
provision thereto.
(x)
Management Objectives means the measurable performance objective(s) for the
Company or any Subsidiary, Affiliate or any unit, division, geographic region,
or function thereof or any individual that may be established by the Committee
for a Performance Period with respect to any performance-based Awards made under
the Plan, including Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units,
Performance Shares, Performance Units and Other Stock-Based Awards. Management
Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives
that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or of the
Affiliate, Subsidiary, division, department, geographic region or function
within the Company in which the Participant is employed. The Management
Objectives for Awards that are intended to constitute performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code will be based on
one or more of the following criteria: earnings per share; total shareholder
return; operating income; net income; cash flow; free cash flow; return on
equity; return on capital; revenue growth; earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); stock price; debt-to-capital ratio;
stockholders equity per share; operating income as a percent of revenue; gross
profit as a percent of revenue; selling, general and administrative expenses as
a percent of revenue; operating cash flow; pre-tax profit; orders; revenue;
customer value; or any of the foregoing criteria adjusted in a manner prescribed
within the time permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code by the Committee (i)
to exclude one or more specified components of the calculation thereof or (ii)
to include one or more other specified items, including, but not limited to,
exclusions under subsection (i) or inclusions under subsection (ii) designed to
reflect changes during the Performance Period in generally accepted accounting
principles or in tax rates, currency fluctuations, the effects of acquisitions
or dispositions of a business or investments in whole or in part, extraordinary
or nonrecurring items, the gain or loss from claims or litigation and related
insurance recoveries, the effects of impairment of tangible or intangible
assets, or the effects of restructuring or reductions in force or other business recharacterization activities, income
or expense related to defined benefit or defined contribution pension plans,
uninsured losses from natural catastrophes or political and legal developments
affecting the Companys business (including losses as a result of war,
terrorism, confiscation, expropriation, seizure, new regulatory requirements,
business interruption or similar events).
- 5
(y) Nonqualified
Stock Option means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(z)
Option means a right, granted to a Participant under
Section 7
hereof,
to purchase Common Stock at a specified price during specified time periods.
(aa)
Other Stock-Based Award means an Award made pursuant to
Section
12
.
(bb)
Participant means an Eligible Employee, Director or Consultant who has
been granted an Award under the Plan that remains outstanding, including a
person who is no longer an Eligible Employee, Director or Consultant.
(cc)
Performance Period means, in respect of a Performance Share or
Performance Unit, a period of time established by the Committee pursuant to
Section 11
of this Plan within which the Management Objectives relating
to such Performance Share or Performance Unit are to be achieved.
(dd)
Performance Share means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent
of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to
Section 11
of this Plan.
(ee)
Performance Unit means a bookkeeping entry that records a unit awarded
pursuant to
Section 11
of this Plan that has a value specified in the
agreement evidencing the Award.
(ff)
Plan means XcelMobility, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as set forth
herein and as may be amended from time to time.
(gg)
Restricted Stock means Common Stock awarded to a Participant in
accordance with the provisions of
Section 9
of the Plan.
(hh)
Restricted Stock Units or RSUs means an Award made pursuant to
Section 10
of this Plan of the right to receive shares of Common Stock at
the end of a specified Restriction Period.
(ii)
Spread Value means, with respect to a share of Stock subject to an
Award, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value, on the date such
value is determined, over the Awards exercise or grant price, if any.
(jj)
Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right granted pursuant to
Section 8
.
(kk)
Subsidiary shall have the meaning set forth in Code Section 424(f).
(ll)
Termination of Employment means the voluntary or involuntary termination of a
Participants employment with the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate or any
reason, including death, Disability, or retirement. With respect to an Eligible
Employee who is such solely by virtue of his service on the Board, Termination
of Employment means the Eligible Employees cessation of service on the Board.
The Committee, in it sole discretion, shall determine whether a Termination of Employment is a result of Disability, and shall
determine whether military or other government or eleemosynary service
constitutes a Termination of Employment. To the extent necessary, Termination
of Employment will be limited to those circumstances that constitute a
separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
- 6
(mm)
Valuation Date means each day on which the exchange on which the Common
stock is actively traded is open for business.
3.
Administration.
(a)
Authority
of the Committee.
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case subject to
and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to: interpret the provisions of
the Plan; select Eligible Employees, Directors and Consultants to become
Participants; make Awards; determine the type, number and other terms and
conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards; prescribe Award
agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant); adopt, amend and
rescind rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan; construe and
interpret the Plan and Award agreements and correct defects, supply omissions or
reconcile inconsistencies therein; and make all other decisions and
determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan. Except as otherwise determined by the Board, unless
the context otherwise requires, all actions and determinations that the Plan
contemplates that the Board may take may be taken by the Committee in its stead.
(b)
Manner
of Exercise of Committee Authority.
Any action of the Committee shall be
final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, Affiliates,
Subsidiaries, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees under
Section 13(c)
hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and
shareholders. The Committee shall exercise its authority only by a majority vote
of its members at a meeting or without a meeting by a writing signed by a
majority of its members. The express grant of any specific power to the
Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed
as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate
to officers or managers of the Company, Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or
committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall
determine, to perform administrative functions to the extent permitted under
applicable law. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering
the Plan.
(c)
Limitation of Liability
. The Committee and each member thereof shall be
entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon any report or other information
furnished to it, him or her by any Executive Officer, other officer or employee
of the Company or a subsidiary, the Companys independent auditors, consultants
or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the
Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary acting at
the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for
any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the
Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and
protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.
4.
Stock Subject
to Plan.
(a)
Overall
Number of Shares Available for Delivery.
Subject to adjustment as provided
in
Section 13(d)
hereof, the total number of shares of Common Stock
reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan
shall be
40,000,000
provided, however, that the total number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which ISOs may be granted shall not exceed 400,000,000. Any shares of Common Stock delivered under
the Plan shall consist of authorized and issued or unissued shares. Subject to
the adjustments provided in
Section 13(d)
hereof, no contraction of the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding will affect the validity or
enforceability of any Awards then outstanding.
- 7
(b)
Application of Limitation to Grants of
Awards.
No Award may be granted if the number of shares of Common Stock to
be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of shares of
Common Stock remaining available under the Plan minus the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Options.
The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate
counting, avoid double counting and make adjustments if the number of shares of
Common Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously
counted in connection with an Award.
(c)
Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards.
Shares of Common Stock
subject to an Award under the Plan which Award is canceled, expired, forfeited
or otherwise terminated without a delivery of shares to the Participant or with
the return to the Company of shares previously delivered, including the number
of shares surrendered in payment of any taxes relating to any Award, hereof will
again be available for Awards under the Plan, except that if any such shares
could not again be available for Awards to a particular Participant under any
applicable law or regulation, such shares shall be available exclusively for
Awards to Participants who are not subject to such limitation. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, (i) shares of Stock tendered in payment of the exercise price of
an Option, (ii) shares of Stock withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax
withholding obligation with respect to an Award, and (iii) shares of Stock that
are repurchased by the Company on the open market with the proceeds of the
exercise of an Option, may not again be available for issuance in connection
with Awards under the Plan. Also notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Spread
Value of a SAR is paid in shares of Stock, the shares representing the excess,
if any, of (a) the number of shares of Stock subject to the SAR over (b) the
number of shares of Stock delivered in payment of the Spread Value may not again
be available for issuance in connection with Awards under the Plan.
5.
Eligibility
.
Awards may be granted under the Plan to Eligible Employees, Directors and
Consultants.
6.
Awards General
Terms and Limitations
.
(a)
Awards
Granted at Fair Market Value
. The exercise price of an Option and the grant
price of a SAR may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of
grant. In addition, to the extent that the value of an Other Stock-Based Award
is based on Spread Value, the grant price for the Other Stock-Based Award may
not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any reorganization, merger,
consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate of the Company is a surviving corporation, the Committee may grant
Options, SARs or Other Stock-Based Awards in substitution for similar awards
granted under a plan of another party to the transaction, and in such case the
exercise price or grant price of the substituted Options, SARs or Other
Stock-Based Awards granted by the Company may equal or exceed 100% of the Fair
Market Value on the date of grant reduced by any unrealized gain existing as of
the date of the transaction in the option, stock appreciation right or other
award being replaced, with the adjusted exercise price determined in accordance
with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (in the case of a Nonqualified
Stock Option) or Section 425 of the Code (in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option).
(b)
Annual
Award Limitation
. The total number of Restricted Stock, RSUs and other shares of Stock subject to or underlying Options, SARs,
Performance Shares, Performance Units and Other Stock-Based Awards awarded to
any Participant during any year may not exceed 5,000,000 shares. A Performance
Share or Performance Unit paid to a Participant with respect to any Performance
Period may not exceed $1,000,000 times the number of years in the Performance
Period.
- 8
(c)
Performance-Based Awards
. In the discretion of the Committee, any Award
granted pursuant to the Plan may be designated as a performance-based award
intended to qualify, through the application of Management Objectives over a
specified Performance Period, as performance-based compensation within the
meaning, and in accordance with the provisions, of Code Section 162(m).
7.
Terms of
Options.
(a)
General.
Options may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in
this
Section 7
. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Option or
the exercise thereof, at the date of grant, such additional terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee
shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Options in the event of
the Participants Termination of Employment and terms permitting a Participant
to make elections relating to his or her Option. Options granted under the Plan
will be in the form of Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options.
The Committee shall (subject to
Section 13(i)
) retain full power and
discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of
an Option that is not mandatory under the Plan.
(b)
Specific Terms of Options.
The Committee is authorized to grant Options
to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(1)
Exercise
Price.
The exercise price per share of Common Stock purchasable under an
Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such exercise price
shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
date of grant of such Option.
(2)
Vesting.
Each Participant shall acquire a nonforfeitable right to Options awarded to
him in accordance with the provisions of the agreement evidencing the Award of
the Options.
(3)
Time and Method of Exercise.
The Committee shall determine, at the date
of grant or thereafter, the time(s) at which or the circumstances under which an
Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on completion of
future service requirements), the methods by which such exercise price may be
paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including, without
limitation, cash or Common Stock held for more than six months, and the methods
by or forms in which Common Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to
Participants. The specific circumstances under which a Participant may exercise
an Option will be set forth in the agreement evidencing the Award of the Option
to the Participant.
(4)
ISOs.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, the Committee
may designate, at the time of grant, that the Option is an ISO under Section 422
of the Code. ISOs may be granted only to those Eligible Employees who are
entitled to acquire incentive stock options from the Company under Code Section
422. The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects
with the provisions of Code Section 422. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding,
no term of the Plan relating to ISOs shall be interpreted, amended or altered,
nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as
to disqualify either the Plan or any ISO under Code Section 422, unless the
Participant has first requested the change that will result in such
disqualification. If any provision of the Plan or any Option designated by the
Committee as an ISO shall be held not to comply with requirements necessary to
entitle such Option to such tax treatment, then (1) such provision shall be
deemed to have contained from the outset such language as shall be necessary to
entitle the Option to the tax treatment afforded under Section 422 of the Code,
and (2) all other provisions of the Plan and the Award agreement shall remain in
full force and effect. An Option granted under the Plan will be an ISO only if
the agreement evidencing the award of the Option specifically states that the
Option is to be an ISO; if the Agreement does not so state, the Option will be a
Nonqualified Stock Option. In addition, an Option may be an ISO only if it is
awarded within ten years after the Effective Date.
- 9
(5)
Term of Options.
Options will terminate after the first to occur of the
following:
(i)
Expiration of the Option as provided in the applicable Award agreement as
determined by the Committee;
(ii)
Termination of the Option Award, as provided for in
Section 7(b)(7)
,
following the Participants Termination of Employment; or
(iii) Ten
years from the date of grant.
(6)
Acceleration/Extension of Exercise Time
. The Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall have the right (but shall not in any case be obligated) to
permit purchase of shares under any Option prior to the time such Option would
otherwise vest under the terms of the applicable Award agreement. In addition,
the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right (but shall not in
any case be obligated) to permit any Option granted under the Plan to be
exercised after its termination date described in
Section 7(b)(7)
, but in
no event later than the last day of the term of the Option as set forth in the
applicable Award agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee will
not extend the exercise period of any Option to the extent that the extension
would cause the Option to be considered nonqualified deferred compensation
subject to the provisions of Section 409A.
(7)
Exercise
of Options Upon Termination of Employment, Death or Disability
. Except as
otherwise provided in this
Section 7(b)(7)
or in
Section 7(b)(6)
,
or as otherwise expressly provided in a Participants Award agreement as
authorized by the Committee, the right of the Participant to exercise Options
shall terminate upon the Participants Termination of Employment, regardless of
whether or not the Options were vested in whole or in part on the date of
Termination of Employment.
(i)
Termination of Employment.
Any Option or portion thereof that is not
exercisable on the date of a Participants Termination of Employment shall
immediately expire, and any Option or portion thereof which is exercisable on
the date of such Termination of Employment may be exercised during a three-month
period after such date (after which period the Option shall expire), but in no
event may the Option be exercised after its expiration under the terms of the
Award agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participants Termination
of Employment is by the Company or an Affiliate for Cause or by the Participant
other than for Good Reason, then any Option or unexercised portion thereof
granted to said Participant shall immediately expire upon such
Termination of Employment.
- 10
(ii)
Disability or Death of Participant
. In the event of the Disability
or death of a Participant under the Plan while the Participant is employed by
the Company or an Affiliate, any Option or portion thereof which is not
exercisable on the date of such Disability or death shall immediately expire,
and any Option or portion thereof which is exercisable on the date of such
Disability or death may be exercised at any time from time to time, within a
one-year period after the date of such Disability or death, by the Participant,
the guardian of his estate, the executor or administrator of his estate or by
the person or persons to whom his rights under the Option shall pass by will or
the laws of descent and distribution (after which period the Option will
expire), but in no event may the Option be exercised after its expiration under
the terms of the Award agreement, and provided that an exercise of an Incentive
Stock Option later than three months after the date of the Participants death
shall be treated as the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option..
8.
Terms of Stock
Appreciation Rights.
(a)
General
. A SAR represents the right to receive a payment, in cash, shares
of Stock or both (as determined by the Committee), equal to the Spread Value on
the date the SAR is exercised. The grant price of a SAR and all other applicable
terms and conditions will be established by the Committee in its sole discretion
and will be set forth in the applicable Award agreement. Subject to the terms of
the applicable Award agreement, a SAR will be exercisable, in whole or in part,
by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, but in no event will a SAR
be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the date on which it was
granted.
(b)
Specific
Terms of SARs.
The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Participants on
the following terms and conditions:
(1)
Term of SARs.
SARs will terminate after the first to occur of the
following:
(i) Expiration
of the SAR as provided in the applicable Award agreement as determined by the
Committee;
(ii)
Termination of the SAR Award, as provided for in
Section 8(b)(2)
,
following the Participants Termination of Employment; or
(iii)
Ten years from the date of grant.
(2)
Exercise
of Stock Appreciation Rights Upon Termination of Employment, Death or
Disability
. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 8(b)(2)
, or
as otherwise expressly provided in a Participants Award agreement as authorized
by the Committee, the right of the Participant to exercise the SAR shall
terminate upon the Participants Termination of Employment, regardless of
whether or not the SAR was vested in whole or in part on the date of Termination
of Employment.
(i)
Termination
of Employment
. Any SAR or portion thereof that is not exercisable on the
date of a Participants Termination of Employment shall immediately expire, and
any SAR or portion thereof which is exercisable on the date of such Termination
of Employment may be exercised during a three-month period after such date
(after which period the SAR shall expire), but in no event may the SAR be exercised after its expiration under
the terms of the Award agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Participants Termination of Employment is by the Company or an Affiliate for
Cause or by the Participant other than for Good Reason, then any SAR or
unexercised portion thereof granted to said Participant shall immediately expire
upon such Termination of Employment.
- 11
(ii)
Disability
or Death of Participant
. In the event of the Disability or death of a
Participant under the Plan while the Participant is employed by the Company or
an Affiliate, any SAR or portion thereof which is not exercisable on the date of
such Disability or death shall immediately expire, and any SAR or portion
thereof that is exercisable on the date of such Disability or death may be
exercised at any time from time to time, within a one-year period after the date
of such Disability or death, by the Participant, the guardian of his estate, the
executor or administrator of his estate or by the person or persons to whom his
rights under the SAR shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution
(after which period the SAR will expire), but in no event may the SAR be
exercised after is expiration under the terms of the Award agreement.
9.
Terms of Restricted
Stock Awards.
(a)
General.
Shares of Restricted Stock may be granted on the terms and
conditions set forth in this
Section 9
. In addition, the Committee may
impose on any Award of Restricted Stock, at the date of grant, such additional
terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the
Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of shares of
Restricted Stock in the event of the Participants Termination of Employment and
terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her shares
of Restricted Stock. The Committee shall (subject to
Section 13(i)
)
retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time,
any term or condition of an Award of shares of Restricted Stock that is not
mandatory under the Plan. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized
to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other
forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Delaware law,
no consideration other than services may be required for the grant of any shares
of Restricted Stock.
(b)
Vesting.
Each Participant shall acquire a nonforfeitable right to shares of
Restricted Stock awarded to him in accordance with the provisions of the
agreement evidencing the Award of the Restricted Stock.
(c)
Ownership
Rights.
Subject to the terms of the Plan, to divestment based on the
forfeiture restrictions applying to an Award of Restricted Stock and to the
other terms of the Award agreement, (i) Restricted Stock granted pursuant to an
Award shall for all purposes be issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock,
and (ii) the Participant shall be the record owner of the Restricted Stock
granted by the Award, shall have the right to vote the Restricted Stock as
Common Stock on any matter upon which holders of Common Stock are entitled to
vote, and shall be entitled to dividends and distributions on the Restricted
Stock which are payable with respect to outstanding shares of Common Stock.
10.
Terms of Restricted Stock
Units.
(a)
Agreement
to Grant Stock.
Each such grant or sale shall constitute the agreement by
the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock to the Participant in the future
in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment
of such conditions during the Restriction Period as the Board may specify.
- 12
(b)
Exercise
Price.
Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration
or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Fair
Market Value at the date of grant.
(c)
Restrictions.
Each such grant or sale shall be subject to such forfeiture
and other restrictions as may be determined by the Board at the date of grant,
and may provide for the lapse or other modification of such restrictions in the
event of a Change of Control.
(d)
Voting
and Dividend Rights.
While and to the extent that forfeiture restrictions
apply to an Award, the Participant shall have no right to transfer any rights
under his or her Award and shall have no rights of ownership in the Restricted
Stock Units and shall have no right to vote them, but the Board may, at or after
the date of grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on the shares
underlying such units on either a current or deferred or contingent basis,
either in cash, in additional shares of Common Stock, or in other rights or
property.
11.
Performance Shares
and Performance Units.
(a)
Agreement
to Grant Units.
Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Shares or
Performance Units to which it pertains, which number may be subject to
adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.
(b)
Performance Periods.
The Performance Period with respect to each
Performance Share or Performance Unit shall be such period of time commencing
with the date of grant as shall be determined by the Board on the date of grant.
(c)
Specification
of Performance Goals.
Any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units
shall specify Management Objectives which, if achieved, will result in payment
or early payment of the Award, and each grant may specify in respect of such
specified Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement and
shall set forth a formula for determining the number of Performance Shares or
Performance Units that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum
level, but falls short of full achievement of the specified Management
Objectives. The grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units shall specify
that, before the Performance Shares or Performance Units shall be earned and
paid, the Board must certify that the Management Objectives have been satisfied.
(d)
Time and Form of Payment.
Each grant shall specify the time and manner of
payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned. Any
grant may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by
the Company in cash, in shares of Common Stock or in any combination thereof and
may either grant to the Participant or retain in the Board the right to elect
among those alternatives.
(e)
Limitations on Awards.
Any grant of Performance Shares may specify that
the amount payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by
the Board at the Date of Grant. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that
the amount payable or the number of shares of Common Stock issued with respect
thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Board at the date of grant.
(f)
Dividend
Equivalents.
The Board may, at or after the date of grant of Performance
Shares, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof on
either a current or deferred or contingent basis, either in cash, in additional
shares of Common Stock or in other rights or property.
- 13
12.
Other
Stock-Based Awards
.
(a)
Other
Stock-Based Awards
. The Committee may grant Awards, other than Options,
SARs, Restricted Stock, RSUs, Performance Shares or Performance Units, that are
denominated in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based
on or related to Stock. The purchase, exercise, exchange or conversion of Other
Stock-Based Awards granted under this
Section 12
and all other terms and
conditions applicable to the awards will be determined by the Committee in its
sole discretion and will be set forth in the applicable Award agreement.
13.
General Provisions.
(a)
Change
of Control.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary and
unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement, in the event of any
Change of Control:
(1) Any
Option carrying a right to exercise that was not previously exercisable and
vested shall become fully exercisable and vested as of the time of the Change of
Control and shall remain exercisable and vested for the balance of the stated
term of such Option without regard to any Termination of Employment, subject
only to (A) applicable restrictions set forth in
Section 13(b) and (c)
hereof and (B) the Boards right to cancel all Options and, if an Option in the
Boards judgment has value based on its exercise price, provide for a payment of
the aggregate spread in the cancelled Options. In addition, a Participant who is
an Executive Officer of the Company and whose employment is involuntarily
terminated by the Company within 60 days after a Change of Control will be
permitted to surrender for cancellation within 60 days after the Change of
Control any Option or portion of an Option to the extent not exercised and to
receive a payment of shares of Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value on
the date the Participant surrenders the Option equal to the excess, if any, of
(A) the Change of Control Price, over (B) the exercise price of the Option. The
provisions of this
Section 13(a)(1)
will not be applicable to any Options
granted to a Participant if the Change of Control results from the Participants
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d(3) under the Exchange Act)
of Stock or Voting Securities;
(2)
Any SARs outstanding as of the date the Change of Control occurs will become
fully vested and will be exercisable in accordance with procedures established
by the Committee. The provisions of this
Section 13(a)(2)
will not be
applicable to any SARs granted to a Participant if the Change of Control results
from the Participants beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d(3)
under the Exchange Act) of Stock or Voting Securities;
(3) Any
restrictions and other conditions applicable to any Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units held by the Participant will lapse and such Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units will become fully vested as of the date of the
Change of Control;
(4)
Any Performance Shares or Performance Units held by the Participant relating to
Performance Periods before the Performance Period in which the Change of Control
occurs that have been earned but not paid will become immediately payable in
cash. In addition, any Performance Shares or Performance Units awarded to a
Participant for a Performance Period that has not been completed at the time of
the Change of Control will be deemed satisfied at the target level for the
Performance Period, and payment with respect to the Performance Shares or Performance Units will be
made in cash upon the Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Committee in its sole discretion determines that any Performance Shares or
Performance Units awarded would be considered nonqualified deferred compensation
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and if the Change of Control
would not be considered a change in control for purposes of Section 409A of
the Code, then a Participants entitlement to payment with respect to the
Performance Shares or Performance Units will be determined as described above in
Section 13(a)(4)
, but payment with respect to such Performance Shares or
Performance Units will be made on the date originally scheduled for payment or,
if earlier, upon the Participants Termination of Employment; and
- 14
(5)
Any Other Stock-Based Awards that vest solely on the basis of the passage of
time will be treated in connection with a Change of Control in the same manner
as are Awards of Restricted Shares and RSUs, as described in
Section
13(a)(3)
above. Other Stock-Based Awards that vest on the basis of
satisfaction of performance criteria will be treated in connection with a Change
of Control in the same manner as are Performance Shares and Performance Units,
as described in
Section 13(a)(4)
above, except that payment will be made
only in shares of Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the committee in its
sole discretion determines that any Other Stock-Based Award would be considered
nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the
Code, and if the Change of Control would not be considered a change in control
for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, then a Participants entitlement to
payment with respect to the Other Stock-Based Award will be determined as
described above in this
Section 13(a)(5)
, but payment with respect to
such Other Stock-Based Award will be made on the date originally scheduled for
payment, or, if earlier, upon the Participants Termination of Employment.
(b)
Compliance
with Legal and Other Requirements.
The Company may, to the extent deemed
necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or delivery of
Common Stock or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of
such registration or qualification of such Common Stock or other required action
under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required
action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon
which the Common Stock or other securities of the Company may in the future be
listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the
Committee may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such
representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such
other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance
or delivery of Common Stock or payment of other benefits in compliance with
applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other
obligations.
(c)
Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries.
No Award or other right or
interest of a Participant under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or
otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such
Participant to any party (other than the Company or a subsidiary), or assigned
or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and
Options, SARs or Other Stock-Based Awards that may be exercisable shall be
exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his
or her guardian or legal representative, except that Options (other than ISOs),
SARs and Other Stock-Based Awards may be transferred to one or more
Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and
may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such
Option, SAR, or Other Stock Based Award but only if and to the extent such
transfers are permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an
Option, SAR or Other Stock-Based Award agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may
impose thereon). A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights
under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and
conditions of the Plan and any Award agreement applicable to such Participant,
except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and
conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
- 15
(d)
Adjustments.
In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of
cash, Common Stock, or other property), capital contribution, recapitalization,
forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, acquisition, consolidation,
spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or
other corporate transaction or event affects the Common Stock such that an
adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate under the Plan, then
the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all
of (1) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock which may be delivered in
connection with Awards granted thereafter, (2) the number and kind of shares of
Common Stock subject to or deliverable in respect of Awards and (3) the exercise
price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision
for payment of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award. In
addition, the Committee is authorized to make such adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards as the Committee deems
equitable in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without
limitation, events described in the preceding sentence, as well as acquisitions
and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, Subsidiary or
any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or Subsidiary, or
in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles,
tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in view of the Committees
assessment of the business strategy of the Company, Subsidiary or business unit
thereof, performance of comparable organizations, economic and business
conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances
deemed relevant.
(e)
Payments
and Payment Deferrals
. Payment of Awards may be in the form of cash, Stock,
other Awards or combinations thereof as the Committee may determine, and with
such restrictions as it may impose. The Committee, either at the time of grant
or by subsequent amendment, may require or permit deferral of the payment of
Awards under such rules and procedures as it may establish. It also may provide
that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other
earnings on the deferred amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend
equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in Stock equivalents.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action will be taken or authorized pursuant to
this
Section 13(e)
to the extent that it would violate the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code or cause any Award of Options or SARs to be
considered to provide for the deferral of compensation within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code.
The Committee may require that each
person acquiring shares of Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree
with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a
view to the distribution thereof. The certificates for such shares may include
any legend that the committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on
transfer. All certificates for shares of Stock or other securities delivered
under the Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations
and other requirements of the Commission, any stock exchange upon which the
Stock is then listed and any applicable Federal, state or foreign securities
law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such
certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(f)
Award
Agreements
. Each Award under the Plan will be evidenced by a written
agreement (which need not be signed by the recipient unless otherwise specified
by the Committee or otherwise provided under the Plan)
that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award. Such terms
may include, but are not limited to, the term of the Award, vesting and
forfeiture provisions, and the provisions applicable in the event of the
recipients Termination of Employment. The Committee may amend an Award
agreement, provided that no such amendment may materially and adversely affect
an outstanding Award without the Award recipients consent.
- 16
(g)
Foreign
Employees.
In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of
grants under this Plan, the Board may provide for such special terms for Awards
to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or
any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America as the Board may consider
necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or
custom. Moreover, the Board may approve such supplements to or amendments,
restatements or alternative versions of this Plan as it may consider necessary
or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this
Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the secretary or other appropriate
officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and
adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special terms, supplements,
amendments or restatements, however, shall include any provisions that are
inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect unless this Plan
could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval
by the stockholders of the Company.
(h)
Taxes.
The Company and any Affiliate or Subsidiary is authorized to withhold from
any payment to a Participant amounts of withholding and other taxes due or
potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and
to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the
Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding
taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall
include authority to withhold or receive Common Stock or other property and to
make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participants tax
obligations (not to exceed the minimum statutorily required tax withholding),
either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.
(i)
Changes
to the Plan and Awards.
The Board, or the Committee acting pursuant to such
authority as may be delegated to it by the Board, may amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue or terminate the Plan or the Committees authority to grant Awards
under the Plan, provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant,
except as otherwise contemplated by the Plan or the terms of an Award agreement,
no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of a
Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. Except as
otherwise provided in the Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights
under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore
granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, provided that, without the
consent of an affected Participant, except as otherwise contemplated by the Plan
or the terms of an Award agreement, no Committee action may materially and
adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award.
(j)
Limitation
on Rights Conferred under Plan.
Neither the Plan nor any action taken
hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Employee or Participant
the right to continue as an Eligible Employee or Participant or in the employ or
service of the Company or a subsidiary, (ii) interfering in any way with the
right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate any Eligible Employees or
Participants employment or service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible
Employee or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to
be treated uniformly with other Participants and employees, or (iv) conferring
on a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and
until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Common Stock in
accordance with the terms of an Option or an Award of Restricted Stock. To the
extent that an employee of a Subsidiary or Affiliate receives an Award under the
Plan, that Award can in no event be understood or interpreted to mean
that the Company is the employees employer or that the employee has an
employment relationship with the Company.
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(k)
Provisions
Held Invalid or Unenforceable
. If any provision of the Plan is held invalid
or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability will not affect the
remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be enforced and construed as if
such provision had not been included.
(l)
Nonexclusivity
of the Plan.
The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as
creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to
adopt such other compensation and incentive arrangements for employees, agents
and brokers of the Company and its subsidiaries as it may deem desirable.
(m)
Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares.
Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of a share of Common
Stock, Option or SAR with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other
consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other
consideration.
(n)
Governing
Law.
The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules and
regulations under the Plan, and any Award agreement shall be determined in
accordance with Delaware law, without giving effect to principles of conflicts
of laws, and applicable federal law.
(o)
Plan
Effective Date.
The Plan has been adopted by the Board and the shareholders
of the Company as of the Effective Date.
(p)
Last
Grant Date.
No Award may be granted under the Plan after
October 1,
2018.
(q)
Unfunded Status of Plan.
It is presently intended that the Plan
constitute an unfunded plan for incentive and deferred compensation. The
Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the
obligations created under the Plan to deliver Stock or make payments; however,
unless the Committee otherwise determines, the structure of such trusts or other
arrangements must be consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.
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