THE KNOT, INC.
2009 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN
The purpose of this 2009 Stock Incentive Plan
(the “ Plan ”) of The Knot, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”),
is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by
enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and
motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions
to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership
opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to
better align the interests of such persons with those of the
Company’s stockholders. Except where the context
otherwise requires, the term “ Company ”
shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent
or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations
thereunder (the “ Code ”) and any other
business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or
limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling
interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company
(the “ Board ”).
All of the Company’s employees, officers,
and directors are eligible to be granted options, stock
appreciation rights (“ SARs ”),
restricted stock, restricted stock units (“
RSUs ”) and other stock- and cash-based awards
(each, an “ Award ”) under the
Plan. Consultants and advisors to the Company (as such
terms are defined and interpreted for purposes of Form S-8 (or any
successor form)) are also eligible to be granted Awards. Each
person who is granted an Award under the Plan is deemed a “
Participant .”
3. Administration
and Delegation
(a) Administration
by Board of Directors . The Plan will be
administered by the Board. The Board shall have
authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan
as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and
interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered
into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect,
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or
any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient
to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final
judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board
shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be
final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in
the Plan or in any Award.
(b) Appointment of
Committees . To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan
to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “
Committee ”). All references in the
Plan to the “ Board ” shall mean the
Board or a Committee of the Board or the officers referred to in
Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or
authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or
officers.
(c) Delegation to
Officers . To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the Company
the power to grant Options and other Awards that constitute rights
under Delaware law (subject to any limitations under the Plan) to
employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or
future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers
under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board
shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers
(including the exercise price of the Awards, which may include a
formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the
maximum number of shares subject to such Awards that the officers
may grant; provided further, however, that no officer shall be
authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer”
of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange
Act ”)) or to any “officer” of the
Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange
Act). The Board may not delegate authority under this
Section 3(c) to grant restricted stock, unless Delaware law then
permits such delegation.
(d) Awards to
Non-Employee Directors . Discretionary Awards to
non-employee directors will only be granted and administered by a
Committee, all of the members of which are independent as defined
by Section 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
4. Stock
Available for Awards
(a) Number of
Shares; Share Counting .
(1) Authorized
Number of Shares . Subject to adjustment under
Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for a number of shares
of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (the
“ Common Stock ”), that is equal to the
sum of:
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1,000,000
shares of Common Stock; plus
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such additional
number of shares of Common Stock (up to 4,829,344 shares) as is
equal to the sum of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance under the Company’s 1999 Stock
Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated as of March 27, 2001 (the
“ Existing Plan ”) that remain available
for grant under the Existing Plan as of the date of stockholder
approval of this Plan and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to awards granted under the Existing Plan which awards
expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited
or repurchased by the Company at their original issuance price
pursuant to a contractual repurchase right (subject, however, in
the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined) to any
limitations of the Code).
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Any or all of
which Awards under the Plan may be in the form of Incentive Stock
Options. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in
whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury
shares.
(2) Share
Counting . For purposes of counting the number of
shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan and under
the sublimit contained in Section 4(b)(2), (i) all shares of Common
Stock covered by independent SARs shall be counted against the
number of shares available for the grant of Awards; provided,
however , that independent SARs that may be settled only in
cash shall not be so counted; (ii) if any Award (A) expires or is
terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully
exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the
result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being
repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant
to a contractual repurchase right) or (B) results in any Common
Stock not being issued (including as a result of an independent SAR
that was settleable either in cash or in stock actually being
settled in cash), the unused Common Stock covered by such Award
shall again be available for the grant of Awards; provided,
however , in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as
hereinafter defined), the foregoing shall be subject to any
limitations under the Code; and provided further, in the case of
independent SARs, that the full number of shares subject to any
stock-settled SAR shall be counted against the shares available
under the Plan and against the sublimits listed in the first clause
of this Section in proportion to the portion of the SAR actually
exercised regardless of the number of shares actually used to
settle such SAR upon exercise; (iii) shares of Common Stock
delivered (either by actual delivery, attestation, or net exercise)
to the Company by a Participant to (A) purchase shares of Common
Stock upon the exercise of an Award or (B) satisfy tax withholding
obligations (including shares retained from the Award creating the
tax obligation) shall not be added back to the number of shares
available for the future grant of Awards; and (iv) shares of Common
Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market using the
proceeds from the exercise of an Award shall not increase the
number of shares available for future grant of Awards.
(b) Sub-limits
. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, the following
sub-limits on the number of shares subject to Awards shall
apply:
(1) Section 162(m)
Per-Participant Limit . The maximum number of shares
of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any
Participant under the Plan shall be five hundred thousand (500,000)
per calendar year provided, however, that for the calendar year in
which such person first commences services to the Company, the
limit shall be increased to one million (1,000,000) shares of
Common Stock. For purposes of the foregoing limit, the
combination of an Option in tandem with a SAR (as each is hereafter
defined) shall be treated as a single Award. The per
Participant limit described in this Section 4(b)(1) shall be
construed and applied consistently with Section 162(m) of the Code
or any successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder
(“ Section 162(m) ”).
(2) Limit on Awards
to Directors . The maximum number of shares with
respect to which Awards may be granted to directors who are not
employees of the Company at the time of grant shall be 1% of the
maximum number of authorized shares set forth in Section
4(a)(1).
(c) Substitute
Awards . In connection with a merger or
consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by
the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant
Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or
stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate
thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms
as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances,
notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the
Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the
overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a)(1) or any sublimits
contained in the Plan, except as may be required by reason of
Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.
(a) General
. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock
(each, an “ Option ”) and determine the
number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the
exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations
applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions
relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it
considers necessary or advisable. An Option that is not
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter defined)
shall be designated a “ Nonstatutory Stock
Option .”
(b) Incentive Stock
Options . An Option that the Board intends to be an
“incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of
the Code (an “ Incentive Stock Option ”)
shall only be granted to employees of The Knot, Inc., any of The
Knot, Inc.’s present or future parent or subsidiary
corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and
any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive
Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and
shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section
422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to
a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part
thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an
Incentive Stock Option or if the Company converts an Incentive
Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(c) Exercise
Price . The Board shall establish the exercise price
of each Option and specify the exercise price in the applicable
option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date
the Option is granted; provided that if the Board approves the
grant of an Option with an exercise price to be determined on a
future date, the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value on such future date.
(d) Duration of
Options . Each Option shall be exercisable at such
times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may
specify in the applicable option agreement; provided,
however , that no Option will be granted with a term in excess
of 10 years.
(e) Exercise of
Option . Options may be exercised by delivery to the
Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person
or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice)
approved by the Company, together with payment in full as specified
in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is
exercised. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option
will be delivered by the Company as soon as practicable following
exercise.
(f) Payment Upon
Exercise . Common Stock purchased upon the exercise
of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as
follows:
(1) in cash or by
check, payable to the order of the Company;
(2) except as may
otherwise be provided in the applicable option agreement, by (i)
delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a
creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient
funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or
(ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of
irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker
to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to
pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;
(3) to the extent
provided for in the applicable option agreement or approved by the
Board, in its sole discretion, by delivery (either by actual
delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock owned by the
Participant valued at their fair market value as determined by (or
in a manner approved by) the Board (“ Fair Market
Value ”), provided (i) such method of payment is then
permitted under applicable law, (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired
directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant for such
minimum period of time, if any, as may be established by the Board
in its discretion and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any
repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar
requirements;
(4) to the extent
provided for in the applicable Nonstatutory Stock Option agreement
or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, by delivery of a
notice of “net exercise” to the Company, as a result of
which the Participant would receive the number of shares of Common
Stock underlying the Option so exercised reduced by the number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise;
(5) to the extent
permitted by applicable law and provided for in the applicable
Option agreement or approved by the Board, in its sole discretion,
by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the
Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such
other lawful consideration as the Board may determine;
or
(6) by any combination
of the above permitted forms of payment.
(g) Limitation on
Repricing . Unless such action is approved by the
Company’s stockholders: (1) no outstanding Option
granted under the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price
per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per
share of such outstanding Option (other than adjustments pursuant
to Section 9) and (2) the Board may not cancel any outstanding
option (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in
substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same
or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an
exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price
per share of the cancelled option.
6. Stock
Appreciation Rights
(a) General
. The Board may grant Awards consisting of SARs
entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount of Common
Stock or cash or a combination thereof (such form to be determined
by the Board) determined by reference to appreciation, from and
after the date of grant, in the Fair Market Value of a share of
Common Stock over the measurement price established pursuant to
Section 6(c). The date as of which such appreciation is
determined shall be the exercise date.
(b) Grants
. SARs may be granted in tandem with, or independently
of, Options granted under the Plan.
(1) Tandem
Awards . When SARs are expressly granted in tandem
with Options, (i) the SAR will be exercisable only at such time or
times, and to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable
(except to the extent designated by the Board in connection with a
Reorganization Event) and will be exercisable in accordance with
the procedure required for exercise of the related Option; (ii) the
SAR will terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the
termination or exercise of the related Option, except to the extent
designated by the Board in connection with a Reorganization Event
and except that a SAR granted with respect to less than the full
number of shares covered by an Option will not be reduced until the
number of shares as to which the related Option has been exercised
or has terminated exceeds the number of shares not covered by the
SAR; (iii) the Option will terminate and no longer be exercisable
upon the exercise of the related SAR; and (iv) the SAR will be
transferable only with the related Option.
(2) Independent
SARs . A SAR not expressly granted in tandem with an
Option will become exercisable at such time or times, and on such
conditions, as the Board may specify in the SAR Award.
(c) Measurement
Price . The Board shall establish the measurement
price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR
agreement. The measurement price shall not be less than
100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted;
provided that if the Board approves the grant of a SAR with a
measurement price to be determined on a future date, the
measurement price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value on such future date.
(d) Duration of
SARs . Each SAR shall be exercisable at such times
and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify
in the applicable SAR agreement; provided, however , that no
SAR will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.
(e) Exercise of
SARs . SARs may be exercised by delivery to the
Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person
or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice)
approved by the Company, together with any other documents required
by the Board.
(f) Limitation on
Repricing . Unless such action is approved by the
Company’s stockholders: (1) no outstanding SAR granted under
the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that
is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such
outstanding SAR (other than adjustments pursuant to Section 9) and
(2) the Board may not cancel any outstanding SAR (whether or not
granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new
Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of
shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower
than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled
SAR.
7. Restricted
Stock; Restricted Stock Units
(a) General
. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to
acquire shares of Common Stock (“ Restricted
Stock ”), subject to the right of the Company to
repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other
stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if
issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions
specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied
prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods
established by the Board for such Award. Instead of
granting Awards for Restricted Stock, the Board may grant Awards
entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock or cash
to be delivered at the time such Award vests (“
Restricted Stock Units ”) (Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “
Restricted Stock Award ”).
(b) Terms and
Conditions for All Restricted Stock Awards . The
Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted
Stock Award, including the conditions for vesting and repurchase
(or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any. Restricted
Stock Awards that vest solely based on the passage of time shall be
zero percent vested prior to the first anniversary of the date of
grant (or, in the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if
earlier, the date of the first annual meeting held after the date
of grant), no more than one-third vested prior to the second
anniversary of the date of grant (or, in the case of Awards to
non-employee directors, if earlier, the date of the second annual
meeting held after the date of grant), and no more than two-thirds
vested prior to the third anniversary of the date of grant (or, in
the case of Awards to non-employee directors, if earlier, the date
of the third annual meeting held afte