Exhibit 10.12
DIGITAL LIFESTYLES GROUP,
INC.
2009 EQUITY COMPENSATION
PLAN
1.1
Purpose . The purpose of the Digital Lifestyles Group, Inc.
2009 Equity Compensation Plan is to enable the Company to offer to
its employees, officers, directors and consultants whose past,
present and/or potential contributions to the Company and its
Subsidiaries have been, are or will be important to the success of
the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in
the Company. The types of long-term incentive Awards that may be
provided under the Plan will enable the Company to respond to
changes in compensation practices, tax laws, accounting regulations
and the size and diversity of its businesses.
2.1
Definitions . For purposes of the Plan, the following terms
shall be defined as set forth below:
(a) “
Agreement ” means the agreement between the Company
and the Holder setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award
under the Plan. Agreements shall be in the form(s) attached
hereto.
(b) “
Award ” means Stock Options, Restricted Stock and/or
other Stock Based Awards awarded under the Plan.
(c) “
Board ” means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
(d) “
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
(e) “
Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the
Board or any other committee of the Board that the Board may
designate to administer the Plan or any portion
thereof. If no Committee is so designated, then all
references in this Plan to “Committee” shall mean the
Board.
(f) “
Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company,
$0.03 par value per share.
(g) “
Company ” means Digital Lifestyles Group, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
(h) “
Disability ” means physical or mental impairment as
determined under procedures established by the Committee for
purposes of the Plan.
(i) “
Effective Date ” means the date set forth in Section
12.1, below.
(j) “
Fair Market Value ”, unless otherwise required by any
applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued
thereunder, means, as of any given date: (i) if the Common Stock is
listed on a national securities exchange, the closing price of the
Common Stock in the principal trading market for the Common Stock
on such date, as reported by the exchange (or on the last preceding
trading date if such security was not traded on such date); (ii) if
the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange,
but is traded in the over-the-counter market, the closing bid price
for the Common Stock on such date, as reported by the OTC Bulletin
Board or the Pink OTC Markets Inc. or similar publisher of
such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the Common
Stock cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above,
such price as the Committee shall determine, in good
faith.
(k) “
Holder ” means a person who has received an Award
under the Plan.
(l) “
Incentive Stock Option ” means any Stock Option
intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock
option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code.
(m) “
Nonqualified Stock Option ” means any Stock Option
that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(n) “
Normal Retirement ” means retirement from active
employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, other than for Cause
or due to death or disability, of a Holder who; (i) has reached the
age of 65; (ii) has reached the age of 62 and has completed 5 years
of service with the Company; or (iii) has reached the age of 60 and
has completed 10 years of service with the Company.
(o) “
Other Stock-Based Award ” means an Award under Section
9, below, that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is
otherwise based upon, Common Stock.
(p) “
Parent ” means any present or future “parent
corporation” of the Company, as such term is defined in
Section 424(e) of the Code.
(q) “
Plan ” means the Digital Lifestyles Group, Inc. 2009
Equity Compensation Plan, as hereinafter amended from time to
time.
(r) “
Repurchase Value ” shall mean the Fair Market Value in
the event the Award to be repurchased under Section 10.2 is
comprised of shares of Common Stock and the difference between Fair
Market Value and the Exercise Price (if lower than Fair Market
Value) in the event the Award is a Stock Option or Stock
Appreciation Right; in each case, multiplied by the number of
shares subject to the Award.
(s) “
Restricted Stock ” means Common Stock, received under
an Award made pursuant to Section 8, below that is subject to
restrictions under said Section 8.
(t) “
SAR Value ” means the excess of the Fair Market Value
(on the exercise date) over the exercise price that the participant
would have otherwise had to pay to exercise the related Stock
Option, multiplied by the number of shares for which the Stock
Appreciation Right is exercised.
(u) “
Stock Appreciation Right ” means the right to receive
from the Company, on surrender of all or part of the related Stock
Option, without a cash payment to the Company, a number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the SAR Value divided by the Fair Market
Value (on the exercise date).
(v) “
Stock Option ” or “ Option ” means
any option to purchase shares of Common Stock that is granted
pursuant to the Plan.
(w) “
Subsidiary ” means any present or future
“subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as such term
is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3.1
Committee Membership . The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee, the Board or a committee designated by the Board.
Committee members shall serve for such term as the Board may in
each case determine, and shall be subject to removal at any time by
the Board. The Committee members, to the extent deemed to be
appropriate by the Board, shall be “non-employee
directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange
Act”), and “outside directors” within the meaning
of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall conduct itself
in conformance with the provisions of the Compensation Committee
Charter.
3.2
Powers of Committee . The Committee shall have the authority
and responsibility to recommend to the Board for approval, Awards
for Board members, executive officers, non-executive employees and
consultants of the Company, pursuant to the terms of the Plan: (i)
Stock Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Restricted
Stock, and/or (iv) Other Stock-Based Awards. For purposes of
illustration and not of limitation, the Committee shall have the
authority (subject to the express provisions of this
Plan):
(a) to
select the officers, employees, directors and consultants of the
Company or any Subsidiary to whom Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Restricted Stock, and/or Other Stock-Based Awards may from
time to time be awarded hereunder.
(b) to
determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms
of the Plan or requisite Board approval, of any Award granted
hereunder including, but not limited to, number of shares, share
exercise price or types of consideration paid upon exercise of
Stock Options and the purchase price of Common Stock awarded under
the Plan (including without limitation by a Holder’s
conversion of deferred salary or other indebtedness of the Company
to the Holder), such as other securities of the Company or other
property, any restrictions or limitations, and any vesting,
exchange, surrender, cancellation, acceleration, termination,
exercise or forfeiture provisions, as the Committee shall
determine;
(c) to
determine any specified performance goals or such other factors or
criteria which need to be attained for the vesting of an Award
granted hereunder;
(d) to
determine the terms and conditions under which Awards granted
hereunder are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction
with or apart from other equity awarded under this Plan and cash
Awards made by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of this Plan;
and
(e) to
determine the extent and circumstances under which Common Stock and
other amounts payable with respect to an Award hereunder shall
be deferred that may be either automatic or at the election of the
Holder; and
3.3 Interpretation
of Plan.
3.1
Committee Authority . Subject to Section 11, below, the
Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan
as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable, to interpret the
terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the
Plan (and to determine the form and substance of all Agreements
relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of
the Plan. Subject to Section 11, below, all decisions made by the
Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in
the Committee’s sole discretion, subject to Board
authorization if indicated, and shall be final and binding upon all
persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries and
Holders.
3.2
Incentive Stock Options . Anything in the Plan to the
contrary notwithstanding, no term or provision of the Plan
relating to Incentive Stock Options (including but limited to Stock
Appreciation rights granted in conjunction with an Incentive Stock
Option) or any Agreement providing for Incentive Stock Options
shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion
or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so as to
disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or, without the
consent of the Holder(s) affected, to disqualify any Incentive
Stock Option under such Section 422.
4. Stock
Subject to Plan.
4.1
Number of Shares . The total number of shares of Common
Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be
four million eight hundred thousand (4,800,000) shares. Shares of
Common Stock under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of
authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares. If any shares of
Common Stock that have been granted pursuant to a Stock Option
cease to be subject to a Stock Option, or if any shares of Common
Stock that are subject to any Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted
Stock, Deferred Stock Award, or Other Stock-Based Award granted
hereunder are forfeited or any such Award otherwise terminates
without a payment being made to the Holder in the form of Common
Stock, such shares shall again be available for distribution in
connection with future grants and Awards under the Plan.
4.2
Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization, Etc . In the
event of any dividend (other than a cash dividend) payable on
shares of Common Stock, stock split, reverse stock split,
combination or exchange of shares, or other similar event (not
addressed in Section 4.3, below) occurring after the grant of an
Award, which results in a change in the shares of Common Stock of
the Company as a whole, (i) the number of shares issuable in
connection with any such Award and the purchase price thereof, if
any, shall be proportionately adjusted to reflect the occurrence of
any such event and (ii) the Committee shall determine whether such
change requires an adjustment in the aggregate number of shares
reserved for issuance under the Plan or to retain the number of
shares reserved and available under the Plan in their sole
discretion. Any adjustment required by this Section 4.2 shall be
made by the Committee, in good faith, subject to Board
authorization if indicated, whose determination will be final,
binding and conclusive.
4.3
Certain Mergers and Similar Transactions . In the event of
(a) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (b) a merger or
consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation
(other than a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned
subsidiary, a reincorporation of the Company in a different
jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there is no substantial
change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative stock
holdings and the Awards granted under this Plan are assumed,
converted or replaced by the successor corporation, which
assumption will be binding on all Awardees, (c) a merger in which
the Company is the surviving corporation but after which the
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger (other
than any stockholder that merges, or which owns or controls another
corporation that merges, with the Company in such merger) cease to
own their shares or other equity interest in the Company, (d) the
sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (e) the
acquisition, sale, or transfer of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Company by tender offer or similar transaction, any
or all outstanding Awards may be assumed, converted or replaced by
the successor corporation (if any), which assumption, conversion or
replacement will be binding on all Awardees. In the alternative,
the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Awards or
provide substantially similar consideration to Awardees as was
provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing
provisions of the Awards). The successor corporation may also
issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the Company held by the
Holder, substantially similar shares or other property subject to
repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Holder. In the
event such successor corporation (if any) refuses or otherwise
declines to assume or substitute Awards, as provided above, (i) the
vesting of any or all Awards granted pursuant to this Plan will
accelerate immediately prior to the effective date of a transaction
described in this Section 4.3 and (ii) any or all Options granted
pursuant to this Plan will become exercisable in full prior to the
consummation of such event at such time and on such conditions as
the Committee determines. If such Options are not exercised prior
to the consummation of the corporate transaction, they shall
terminate at such time as determined by the Committee. Subject to
any greater rights granted to Awardees under the foregoing
provisions of this Section 4.3, in the event of the occurrence of
any transaction described in this Section 4.3, any outstanding
Awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or
plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of
assets.
Awards may be
made or granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants
who are deemed to have rendered or to be able to render significant
services to the Company or its Subsidiaries and who are deemed to
have contributed or to have the potential to contribute to the
success of the Company. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted
to any person who is not an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary
at the time of grant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in the Plan, Awards covered or to be covered under a
registration statement on Form S-8 may be made under the Plan only
if (a) they are made to natural persons, (b) who provide bona fide
services to the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (c) the services
are not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a
capital raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly
promote or maintain a market for the Company’s
securities.
6.1
Grant and Exercise . Stock Options granted under the Plan
may be of two types: (i) Incentive Stock Options and (ii)
Nonqualified Stock Options. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan
shall contain such terms, not inconsistent with this Plan, or with
respect to Incentive Stock Options, not inconsistent with the Plan
and the Code, as the Committee may from time to time approve. The
Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options
or Non-qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options,
which may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted
under the Plan. To the extent that any Stock Option intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option does not so qualify, it shall
constitute a separate Nonqualified Stock Option.
6.2
Terms and Conditions . Stock Options granted under the Plan
shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)
Option Term . The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed
by the Committee; provided, however, that an Incentive Stock Option
may be granted only within the ten-year period commencing from the
Effective Date and may only be exercised within ten years of the
date of grant (or five years in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option granted to an optionee who, at the time of grant, owns
Common Stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company (“10%
Stockholder”).
(b)
Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common
Stock purchasable under a Stock Option shall be determined by
the Committee at the time of grant and may not be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value on the day of grant; provided, however, that
the exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10%
Stockholder shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on
the date of grant.
(c)
Exercisability . Stock Options shall be exercisable at such
time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be
determined by the Committee and as set forth in Section 10, below.
If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option
is exercisable only in installments, i.e., that it vests over time,
the Committee may waive such installment exercise provisions at any
time at or after the time of grant in whole or in part, based upon
such factors as the Committee shall determine.
(d)
Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment,
exercise and waiting period provisions are applicable in a
particular case; Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part
at any time during the term of the Option, by giving written notice
of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of
Common Stock to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by
payment in full of the purchase price, which shall be in cash or,
if provided in the Agreement, either in shares of Common Stock
(including Restricted Stock and other contingent Awards under this
Plan) or partly in cash and partly in such Common Stock, or such
other means which the Committee determines are consistent with the
Plan’s purpose